Veterans

A Canadian soldier keeps a close watch as one of his men investigates a suspicious device near a road between two of Canada’s bases in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, June 2, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel

Taliban victories prompt fresh questions, soul searching for Canadian veterans

Veterans, some still in uniform, have taken to social media in recent days to express their pain and sadness

 

John Hillman, 102, marks down the last lap for the day hitting 80 on July 6. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Donations lag as 102-year-old veteran laps Oak Bay courtyard for cause

John Hillman set to take his last laps Thursday morning

 

Stocky Edwards at his home in Comox, on June 4, 2021, one day before his 100th birthday. Photo by Erin Haluschak

Celebrating Stocky Edwards: Vancouver Island Spitfire pilot and flying legend turns 100

‘That’s my life. I just hope I lived it well because I’ve always done the best I could.’

 

Cynthia Cummings, decked out in tie-die at The Funky Food Truck in Royal Bay, Colwood. (Dawn Gibson/News Staff)

Psychedelic food truck the next thing for veteran’s wife in Colwood

From tropical resort to thrift store and now a food truck, if Cynthia Cummings thinks it, she’ll do it

Cynthia Cummings, decked out in tie-die at The Funky Food Truck in Royal Bay, Colwood. (Dawn Gibson/News Staff)
Victor Osborne, 102, of Nanaimo, who was born during the Spanish flu pandemic and took part in an influenza A vaccine trial while in the Royal Navy in 1934, will get his first COVID-19 vaccine dose on Monday, March 15. (News Bulletin file photo)

102-year-old B.C. veteran born during our last pandemic books his COVID-19 shot

Victor Osborne is no stranger to new vaccines

Victor Osborne, 102, of Nanaimo, who was born during the Spanish flu pandemic and took part in an influenza A vaccine trial while in the Royal Navy in 1934, will get his first COVID-19 vaccine dose on Monday, March 15. (News Bulletin file photo)
V2V Black Hops, a veteran-owned brewing company, will likely be closing its doors in January 2021 after less than a year of being open. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Veteran-owned Langford brew pub hanging on by a thin thread

V2V Black Hops Brewing is flat out of funds

V2V Black Hops, a veteran-owned brewing company, will likely be closing its doors in January 2021 after less than a year of being open. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Victoria residents pin poppies and flowers to the fence surrounding the Victoria cenotaph on Remembrance Day 2020. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Victoria residents pay their respects

Passerby pinned poppies to the fence surrounding the Victoria cenotaph on Nov. 11

Victoria residents pin poppies and flowers to the fence surrounding the Victoria cenotaph on Remembrance Day 2020. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
Norm Scott salutes after laying a wreath at the Remembrance Day ceremony at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Langford. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)

VIDEO: Langford Remembrance Day ceremony is small and heartfelt

People were asked to stay at home and watch livestreams of the ceremonies

Norm Scott salutes after laying a wreath at the Remembrance Day ceremony at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Langford. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)
Heather Maling and crash researcher Radovan Zivanovic searching for small pieces from the crash site where Officer Henry Carruthers, of Trail, was killed in the Second World War. Photo: Submitted

Remembering a young man from Trail who went to war and never came home

Henry Carruthers is buried in the Belgrade War Cemetery in Serbia.

Heather Maling and crash researcher Radovan Zivanovic searching for small pieces from the crash site where Officer Henry Carruthers, of Trail, was killed in the Second World War. Photo: Submitted
A poppy is projected on the side of the Peace Tower in Ottawa, Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. On the eve of Remembrance Day, the federal Liberal government is moving ahead with plans to provide emergency assistance to veterans organizations that have been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

VIDEO: Legion, other veterans groups to get $20M to weather COVID-19

Legion dominion president Tom Irvine welcomed the new funding as a long time coming

A poppy is projected on the side of the Peace Tower in Ottawa, Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. On the eve of Remembrance Day, the federal Liberal government is moving ahead with plans to provide emergency assistance to veterans organizations that have been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
BC Transit will be offering free transit services for military personnel on Remembrance Day, Nov. 11. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Free transit service for military personnel on Remembrance Day

Services will be free despite an enormous reduction in in-person events

BC Transit will be offering free transit services for military personnel on Remembrance Day, Nov. 11. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Korean War veterans Andy Barber, left, and Ron Kirk, raise the Canadian flag at the Halton Naval Veterans Association Burlington, Ont. on Friday November 6, 2020. Barber and Kirk served as in the navy as part of a peacekeeping force immediately following the armistice in July 1953. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch

70 years on, Canadian veterans keep memories of ‘forgotten’ Korean War alive

It took till May 1982 before the National War Memorial was rededicated to include the dates of the Korean War

Korean War veterans Andy Barber, left, and Ron Kirk, raise the Canadian flag at the Halton Naval Veterans Association Burlington, Ont. on Friday November 6, 2020. Barber and Kirk served as in the navy as part of a peacekeeping force immediately following the armistice in July 1953. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch
In 2005, Trevor Whitten (front right) served as an Honor Guard member during the Aboriginal Spiritual Journey at Vimy Ridge, honouring the Indigenous veterans of the First and Second World Wars. (Photo courtesy of Trevor Whitten)

Victoria man follows seven generations of Indigenous veterans

Joining the military at age 20 was a no-brainer for Trevor Whitten

In 2005, Trevor Whitten (front right) served as an Honor Guard member during the Aboriginal Spiritual Journey at Vimy Ridge, honouring the Indigenous veterans of the First and Second World Wars. (Photo courtesy of Trevor Whitten)
Norm Scott, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch no. 91 in Lanford, pins the first poppy to launch the annual Poppy Campaign on George Baker, who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1953 to 1989. Baker said it was an honour to be chosen for something so significant for veterans everywhere. (Rick Stiebel/News Staff)

Poppy campaign launches in Langford with pinning ceremony

The poppy campaign is officially underway with the first of the pins…

Norm Scott, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch no. 91 in Lanford, pins the first poppy to launch the annual Poppy Campaign on George Baker, who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1953 to 1989. Baker said it was an honour to be chosen for something so significant for veterans everywhere. (Rick Stiebel/News Staff)
Apted sisters Maylin, 6, Everly, 3, and Brylee, 9, show off some of their Remembrance Day paintings. The Metchosin girls sell their paintings locally and around the country to raise money for Canada’s veterans. (Courtesy of Dani Apted)

Metchosin sisters paint pictures for veterans

Girls donate proceeds from painting to Langford Legion

Apted sisters Maylin, 6, Everly, 3, and Brylee, 9, show off some of their Remembrance Day paintings. The Metchosin girls sell their paintings locally and around the country to raise money for Canada’s veterans. (Courtesy of Dani Apted)
FILE – A Canadian flag sits on a members of Canadian forces that are leaving from CFB Trenton, in Trenton, Ont., on October 16, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Feds gave 1,600 veterans priority hiring, but could have been higher: report

Act was launched on July 1, 2015 and was to intended to help veterans find post-military work

FILE – A Canadian flag sits on a members of Canadian forces that are leaving from CFB Trenton, in Trenton, Ont., on October 16, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg
A flyover is set to take place above B.C. Legislature on Sunday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. to remember the largest amount of Canadian lives lost in a single day to peace operations. (Michael Kaehler photo)

Flyover at B.C. Leg to commemorate National Peacekeepers’ Day

Aug.9 marks biggest single-day loss of Canadian lives from peace operations

A flyover is set to take place above B.C. Legislature on Sunday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. to remember the largest amount of Canadian lives lost in a single day to peace operations. (Michael Kaehler photo)
John Hillman, 101, completed his 101st lap for charity on May 16. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

PHOTOS: 101-year-old Oak Bay veteran completes 101 laps, raises nearly $150,000 for charity

‘I knew I could do it and I’ve done it,’ centenarian says

John Hillman, 101, completed his 101st lap for charity on May 16. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Sidney Town Crier Kenny Podmore is joined by Laine Bennett of the Saanich Peninsula Royal Canadian Legion Branch #37 holding the Canadian Flag, and Malcolm Braisford of the Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit #302 holding the Dutch Flag in remembrance of Canada’s role in the liberation of the Netherlands. (Town of Sidney/YouTube)

VIDEO: Sidney joins towns around the world in a ‘Cry for Peace’ on VE-Day

May 8 marks the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day

Sidney Town Crier Kenny Podmore is joined by Laine Bennett of the Saanich Peninsula Royal Canadian Legion Branch #37 holding the Canadian Flag, and Malcolm Braisford of the Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit #302 holding the Dutch Flag in remembrance of Canada’s role in the liberation of the Netherlands. (Town of Sidney/YouTube)
Dave Mitchell tweeted this photo to remember his grandfather, Douglas Mitchell, who was part of the Canadian Forces that liberated the Netherlands during the Second World War. Photos of tulips are appearing online in celebration of Liberation Day in the Netherlands on May 5. (Twitter/Dave Mitchell)

Canadians commemorate 75th anniversary of Netherlands liberation online with tulips

Internet inundated with photos of tulips posted with #Netherlands75 and #TulipsAtHome

Dave Mitchell tweeted this photo to remember his grandfather, Douglas Mitchell, who was part of the Canadian Forces that liberated the Netherlands during the Second World War. Photos of tulips are appearing online in celebration of Liberation Day in the Netherlands on May 5. (Twitter/Dave Mitchell)