Veterans

Parade members are seen through the cenotaph at Veterans Memorial Park Friday, Nov. 11, during the 2022 Remembrance Day ceremony in Langford. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Langford remembers those who served

Veterans Memorial Park was overflowing as hundreds turned up to pay their respects

Parade members are seen through the cenotaph at Veterans Memorial Park Friday, Nov. 11, during the 2022 Remembrance Day ceremony in Langford. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Second World War veteran Gordie Quan as a young man. He will be available for a Q&A at the Chinese Canadian Museum on Nov. 11. (Courtesy of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum)

Chinese Canadian Museum hosts Victoria Second World War veterans for Remembrance Day

Gordie Quan, a local veteran, will share his experiences on Nov. 11

Second World War veteran Gordie Quan as a young man. He will be available for a Q&A at the Chinese Canadian Museum on Nov. 11. (Courtesy of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum)
The Victoria Cross Medal belonging to Pte. James Peter Robertson is seen in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Tilston Memorial Collection of Canadian Military Medals, Canadian War Museum

‘War hero of the family’: Canadian War Museum acquires 3 more Victoria Crosses

Museum now has 36 of the 73 Victoria Crosses awarded to Canadians in the First World War

The Victoria Cross Medal belonging to Pte. James Peter Robertson is seen in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Tilston Memorial Collection of Canadian Military Medals, Canadian War Museum
Stephane Marcotte and his service dog Sarge at Bear Mountain. (John Penner/ John’s Photography)

Saanich veteran Stephane Marcotte says Wounded Warriors Canada programs saved his life

For Remembrance Day, Marcotte wanted to emphasize the important role Wounded Warriors Canada plays

Stephane Marcotte and his service dog Sarge at Bear Mountain. (John Penner/ John’s Photography)
William Floyd poses for a photo at Veterans Memorial Lodge in Saanich. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Saanich veteran says he enjoyed every moment of his 42 years with air force

William Floyd has been able to fly to over a dozen countries

William Floyd poses for a photo at Veterans Memorial Lodge in Saanich. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Veteran Stephen LaSalle is shown in Ottawa, on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. When LaSalle first injured his foot in a military training exercise, he had only heard the stories about what it was like to deal with Veterans Affairs Canada. Five years later, the reservist naval lieutenant can talk about the experience firsthand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Frustration, anxiety persist as Liberals claim success on wait times for veterans

More than 23,000 veterans have disability claims that are waiting to be processed

Veteran Stephen LaSalle is shown in Ottawa, on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. When LaSalle first injured his foot in a military training exercise, he had only heard the stories about what it was like to deal with Veterans Affairs Canada. Five years later, the reservist naval lieutenant can talk about the experience firsthand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Sherry Deptuch and Mike Bieling lay out crosses at the gravesites of vets at the Westholme All Saints’ Churchyard. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Additions made to veterans’ Remembrance cross placements at Westholme

Research continually turns up more names for ceremonies around the valley

Sherry Deptuch and Mike Bieling lay out crosses at the gravesites of vets at the Westholme All Saints’ Churchyard. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Remembrance Day services across Greater Victoria, including at the provincial cenotaph on the legislative grounds, return to in-person form for 2022. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Remembrance Day ceremonies set to return to form Friday

Events return to pre-pandemic splendour

Remembrance Day services across Greater Victoria, including at the provincial cenotaph on the legislative grounds, return to in-person form for 2022. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Petty Officer 1st Class Steve Morrison and navy Capt. J. Jeffrey Hutchinson stand in the CFB Esquimalt base commander’s office Tuesday (Nov. 8) after Morrison was presented with the Aboriginal Veterans Millennium Medal on National Indigenous Veterans Day. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

‘This is for all of us’: Indigenous sailor honoured with medal from CFB Esquimalt commander

Petty Officer 1st Class Steve Morrison was awarded the Aboriginal Veteran Millennium Medal Tuesday

Petty Officer 1st Class Steve Morrison and navy Capt. J. Jeffrey Hutchinson stand in the CFB Esquimalt base commander’s office Tuesday (Nov. 8) after Morrison was presented with the Aboriginal Veterans Millennium Medal on National Indigenous Veterans Day. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Chief Petty Officer First Class (retired) Jake McDavid stands in Ottawa, on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Veterans’ parade returns to national Remembrance Day after two-year hiatus

Parade was cancelled the past two years due to health concerns associated with the COVID-19

Chief Petty Officer First Class (retired) Jake McDavid stands in Ottawa, on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Retired Staff Sgt.-Maj. Kathy Rochlitz (left), Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin, Craig Thompson, Dave Sinclair and Norm Scott pose for a photo after presenting the first poppy at Government House on Oct. 25. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

B.C. lieutenant governor presented with first poppy to kick off 2022 campaign

Funds raised from annual Royal Canadian Legion poppy campaign supports veteran

Retired Staff Sgt.-Maj. Kathy Rochlitz (left), Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin, Craig Thompson, Dave Sinclair and Norm Scott pose for a photo after presenting the first poppy at Government House on Oct. 25. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Victoria artist Fran Benton is putting on an exhibition in Saanich starting Oct. 25 of pieces she created after putting her own interpretation on war photos and memorabilia collected by her late father during his service in the Second World War. (Courtesy of Fran Benton)

Upcoming Saanich art exhibit takes personal look at Second World War

Fran Benton hopes exhibit encourages others to explore their own perspective on war

Victoria artist Fran Benton is putting on an exhibition in Saanich starting Oct. 25 of pieces she created after putting her own interpretation on war photos and memorabilia collected by her late father during his service in the Second World War. (Courtesy of Fran Benton)
North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney (left) in Gallipoli, Turkey in September. Photo courtesy Facebook/Rachel Blaney

North Island-Powell River MP dedicates memorial to WWI fighters in Turkey

Blaney is also NDP Critic for Veterans Affairs

  • Oct 14, 2022
North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney (left) in Gallipoli, Turkey in September. Photo courtesy Facebook/Rachel Blaney
Medical marijuana is shown in Toronto, Nov. 5, 2017. An internal audit outlining significant problems with Ottawa’s administration of hundreds of millions of dollars in medical marijuana for veterans is being met with shock and concern by mental-health providers and others.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

‘Wild West’: Audit on veterans’ medical cannabis sparks calls for oversight, research

Probe sparks calls to better protect at-risk veterans and taxpayer dollars

Medical marijuana is shown in Toronto, Nov. 5, 2017. An internal audit outlining significant problems with Ottawa’s administration of hundreds of millions of dollars in medical marijuana for veterans is being met with shock and concern by mental-health providers and others.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy
B.C. filmmaker Eric Brunt is working to preserve as many Second World War veterans’ stories on film as possible. (Credit: Phil Hossack)

‘Last possible second’: B.C. filmmaker racing to preserve remaining WWII veterans’ stories

Average Canadian WWII veteran now 97 years old

B.C. filmmaker Eric Brunt is working to preserve as many Second World War veterans’ stories on film as possible. (Credit: Phil Hossack)
A group of Canadian veterans headed to the mountains of Whistler Saturday (Aug. 27) for a hike drawing attention to chronic pain. (Black Press Media file photo)

Veterans seek adventure in Whistler to bring awareness to chronic pain

12 veterans helicoptered to Whistler peak Saturday (Aug. 27) for 7 km hike

  • Aug 29, 2022
A group of Canadian veterans headed to the mountains of Whistler Saturday (Aug. 27) for a hike drawing attention to chronic pain. (Black Press Media file photo)
A model of a Spitfire plane Pierce George Brewster flew in the Second World War was unveiled at Vancouver Island Military Museum Aug. 18. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Island Second World War Spitfire vet’s service saluted in military museum exhibit

Vancouver Island Military Museum expands Spitfire display

A model of a Spitfire plane Pierce George Brewster flew in the Second World War was unveiled at Vancouver Island Military Museum Aug. 18. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)
Medical marijuana is shown in Toronto, Nov. 5, 2017.The federal government is reimbursing a record number of veterans for medical marijuana, with new figures showing Ottawa shelled out more than $150 million in the last fiscal year alone – more than double the amount just three years ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

Ottawa on track to spend $200M per year on cannabis for veterans

Compensation for medical cannabis began in 2008 and has skyrocketed since

Medical marijuana is shown in Toronto, Nov. 5, 2017.The federal government is reimbursing a record number of veterans for medical marijuana, with new figures showing Ottawa shelled out more than $150 million in the last fiscal year alone – more than double the amount just three years ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy
North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney speaks during Question Period on April 1, 2022 in Ottawa. Credit: Christian Diotte, House of Commons Photo Services

North Island-Powell River MP calls for end of ‘sexist’ marriage-after-60 clause

Clause prevents spouses of veterans who marry after 60 from receiving survivor pension

North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney speaks during Question Period on April 1, 2022 in Ottawa. Credit: Christian Diotte, House of Commons Photo Services
RCMP Corp. Amadeo Vecchio (left) returns World War documents and medals to Michael Wintermute. The items belonged to his father and grandfather. (Photo Brittany Webster)

World War discharge certificate and medals come home to owner

Items were stolen from a home in fall 2021 but the theft was not reported to police

RCMP Corp. Amadeo Vecchio (left) returns World War documents and medals to Michael Wintermute. The items belonged to his father and grandfather. (Photo Brittany Webster)