Veteran's Luncheon Draws Quite a Crowd! 

Each year, from November 5 – 11, Canadians join together for Veteran’s Week 2010.  Join in honouring the service men and women who have served or are serving our country; with events going on across the nation, Veterans Affairs Canada is urging all Canadians to get involved to celebrate those who risked it all in the name of peace and freedom.

Brantford’s annual ‘Thank-a-Vet’ luncheon has become a traditional event in our community.  On Saturday, November 6, at Assumption College, this year’s event is expected drew a crowd of over 700.  Organizers went the extra mile for the 2010 luncheon to not only honour our veterans, but also celebrate a milestone anniversary. 

2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy, which is the theme of this year’s ‘Thank-a-Vet’ luncheon.  Brant MPP Dave Levac took the lead in making sure this anniversary was properly recognized.  With the help of WW2 naval veteran Don Spiece, Levac led a successful campaign to have a commemorative coin created by the Royal Canadian Mint.  Spiece is one of many veterans who were thirlled to have the support of the Canadian government, "it's really, really something to have a special coin for our 100th anniversary," he said.

In addition to the November 6 luncheon, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) has a variety of ideas that all Canadians can use to show our nation's veterans their support.  These are small things that everyone can do to show that we haven’t forgotten what our service men and women did and continue to do to ensure we continue to live happy, safe and peaceful lives.

The VAC challenges you to:

  • Pin a poppy above your heart
  • Attend a local Remembrance Day ceremony
  • Talk to a friend or relative who has just returned home from Afghanistan or who served in other areas of conflict
  • Listen to veterans talk about their experiences
  • Visit the VAC Facebook fan page and share your thoughts on their wall
  • Change your Facebook page to a poppy
  • Blog, tweet or update your Facebook status about the importance of remembrance

The main message?  Never forget.  Choose to remember in any way that is right for you, whether it’s through a conversation with a friend, attending the ‘Thank-a-Vet’ luncheon, wearing a poppy above your heart, or anything else that helps keep the memory of our Canadian veterans alive.

The ‘Thank-a-Vet’ luncheon is free to veterans, their spouses and widows.  Tickets can be purchased for $25 at: Brant MPP Dave Levac’s constituency office at 96 Nelson Street; or Your Credit Union’s three Brant branches at 7 Charlotte Street, Brantford; 403 Fairview Drive, Brantford; or 75 Grand River Street N., Paris.