MP Boissonnault announces support for Veterans and their families

From: Veterans Affairs Canada

News release

Veteran and Family Well-being Fund supports projects for homelessness and post-secondary education

March 6, 2025 – Edmonton, Alberta – Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada and Associate Minister of National Defence

Veterans in Canada and their families deserve the full backing of their fellow citizens and our government. Through the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) provides funding to organizations to conduct research and implement projects aimed at improving the lives of Veterans and their families.

Today, MP Boissonnault, on behalf of the Hon. Darren Fisher, Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada and Associate Minister of National Defence, announced the University of Alberta and Rural Development Network have been selected to receive funding from the  Veteran and Family Well-being Fund.

  • The Rural Development Network was awarded $800,000 in funding to support the development of their project “Responding to Veterans Homelessness in Rural and Remote and Indigenous communities.” This project is aimed at enhancing the capacity of the non-profit and volunteer sectors by building partnerships and networks across Turtle Island in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
  • The University of Alberta was awarded $800,000 for the “Canadian Military, Veteran and Family Connected Campus Consortium (CMVF3C).” This project equips post-secondary institutions to facilitate the academic success of military and Veteran students and their families, and leverage post-secondary education as key enabler for CAF recruitment.

The Veteran and Family Well-being Fund was launched by Veterans Affairs Canada in 2018. Since then, Veterans Affairs Canada has awarded over $57 million in funding for research and innovative initiatives that support the well-being of Veterans and their families. This investment is one of several approved projects under the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund. For information on previously funded projects, see the Veterans Affairs Canada website.

Quotes

“Veterans in Canada have fought to preserve our democracy and our values. Today’s announcement will address the housing challenges for Veterans living in rural and remote Indigenous communities. Our government is committed to supporting local partners to tackle homelessness and provide supports for our most vulnerable neighbours. I want to thank Veterans Affairs Canada and everyone involved for making supporting efforts like this in communities across Canada.”

Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre

“Canada’s Veterans have dedicated their lives to service for our country, and it’s our duty to support them in their civilian lives. By investing in the Rural Development Network and the University of Alberta, we are helping Veterans in rural and remote Indigenous communities, and enabling their academic success. Supporting these projects is the right thing to do for Canada’s Veterans – and I’m proud to help these organizations in their work through the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund.”

The Honourable Darren Fisher, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

“The Rural Development Network is honoured to receive funding from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund. By working alongside Veterans, engaging with those in the Veteran-serving and homelessness sectors and focusing on the unique challenges faced in rural and remote communities, we aim to better understand factors contributing to Veterans experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness, and develop practical resources to strengthen support systems across the country.”

Lisa Belanger, CEO, Rural Development Network

“We are very grateful to the Government of Canada for their continued support of the CMVF3C. Building on the foundational work from phase one, this funding will allow for the national network to continue to enable post-secondary institutions to better support the needs of military members, Veterans and their families as they pursue post-secondary education.’’

Suzette Bremault-Phillips, Professor; Director, HiMARC; Chair, CMVF3C

Quick facts

  • Rural Development Network is a non-profit organization that collaborates with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada to identify and bring focus to local issues, build capacity, and develop innovative solutions to social and economic challenges.

  • University of Alberta is a Top 4 Canadian university and one of the Top 100 in the world.

  • Between 2018 and 2024, the VFWF held six calls for applications, resulting in $57M in funding awarded to implement 150 initiatives.

  • Budget 2024 provided an additional $6 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, to Veterans Affairs Canada for the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund.

Associated links

Contacts

Media Relations
Veterans Affairs Canada
613-992-7468
media@veterans.gc.ca

Wyatt Westover
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
819-360-0949
wyatt.westover@veterans.gc.ca

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