Commemoration in the 21st Century Project

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is in the process of a comprehensive review of its Commemoration Program. The purpose of the Review is to identify the type of future program required to best meet that portion of VAC's mandate that is to keep alive in the minds and hearts of all Canadians, the memory of the sacrifices and contributions of Canadian veterans and peacekeepers.

A very important part of the review process was a series of consultations with many groups to get their views on what type of Commemoration Program is required for the 21st century.

As part of its current Commemoration Program, Veterans Affairs:

• organizes overseas and domestic pilgrimages to Canadian war monuments, memorials, and cemeteries;
• provides information and educational material about Canada's involvement in the major conflicts of the 20th Century to schools, teachers, and the public through publications, presentations, school kits, and over the Internet;
• maintains and operates Battlefield Memorials such as the one at Vimy Ridge;
• maintains cemeteries and graves in Canada and overseas;
• provides funding for funerals and burials of eligible veterans;
• carries out research and collects and protects archival material;
• issues medals and awards to eligible clients;
• and organizes and conducts international, national, and local ceremonies to honour the sacrifices and achievements of those who fought in the major conflicts of the 20th Century.

Results of the Commemoration Review are expected in the spring of 2001.