The Quebec Veterans Foundation is proud to offer an innovative assistance program exclusively for women veterans, whose main objective is to meet their specific needs. The Barry F. Lorenzetti Foundation (BFLF) has generously agreed to provide major funding for a three-year period.

This program to help women veterans is also financially supported by Pratt & Whitney Canada and the Tenaquip Foundation.

Through this initiative, we hope to help reduce the rate of isolation and suicide among women veterans by encouraging organizations to offer resources adapted to their unique needs. When transitioning to civilian life, women veterans need access to a support system that fits their reality.

The aim of this platform is to centralize resources exclusively dedicated to women veterans. We encourage you to learn more about the listed organizations’ missions, services and codes of ethics. The Barry F. Lorenzetti Foundation and the Quebec Veterans Foundation are funding organizations and are not in a position to dispense or offer clinical advice of any kind. Please contact your family physician, your VAC representative or go to the hospital’s emergency ward if you are concerned about any aspect of your or someone else’s mental or physical health.

Women have been permitted to join the CAF for many years. However, it was not until 1989 that the federal government allowed women to serve in most military occupations. That is how we have seen the number of women in the military grow and being to work in jobs that have been traditionally reserved for men, but not necessarily adapted to them. The number of female veterans is increasing annually and according to the most recent data, approximately 12% of the Regular Force members released from the CAF are women. If the CAF’s efforts to recruit women are successful, the proportion of female veterans is likely to increase substantially in the coming years.

The military environment and veteran assistance system are constantly evolving. Over the coming decades, we will see the CAF and VAC transform to better adapt equipment, training, support, and treatment to match the specifics of women and men. For example, transitioning military women were often invited to join military spouse support groups, in the absence of dedicated services

It is in this spirit of change that the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, recently announced the creation of the Office of Status of Women and LGBTQ2 Veterans at Veterans Affairs Canada.

• Inclusion: Valuing diversity and enabling all veterans to have access to the same opportunities.
• Respect: Consideration for others, accompanied by courtesy, listening and openness. Prohibit and denounce all forms of harassment.
• Fairness and integrity: Behave fairly and honestly. Provide fair treatment with absolute respect for righteous. Proscribe and denounce all forms of discrimination, judgment or segregation.
• Impartiality: Be neutral and objective. Make decisions in accordance with the applicable rules and laws. Work without partisan consideration.
• Diligence: Act morally, responsibly, consistently and thoughtfully.
• Innovation: Openness to change paired with creativity to optimize performance

The Quebec Veterans Foundation (QVF) provides tangible support to veterans transitioning to civilian life. The QVF finances programs that provide direct services to veterans in long-term care at Ste. Anne’s Hospital, suffering from post-traumatic stress injuries or experiencing homelessness or addiction. The QVF strongly believes that women and men who have served our country should all feel pride and be able to continue to contribute to their communities in the context of their civilian lives.