Veterans

Janet Power, director of care at Veterans Memorial Lodge, speaks with CHEK News’ Tess van Straaten ahead of their Sept. 22 telethon event. Photo contributed

Greater Victoria seniors’ residence to broadcast its first telethon Sept. 22

Event will raises funds to upgrade kitchen areas at Broadmead Care’s Veterans Memorial Lodge

  • Sep 20, 2022
Janet Power, director of care at Veterans Memorial Lodge, speaks with CHEK News’ Tess van Straaten ahead of their Sept. 22 telethon event. Photo contributed
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
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)
Emilie Poulin celebrates after a successful powerlift at the 2022 Invictus Games. Photo by Lyndon Goveas, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services

Vancouver Island veterans enjoy experience of a lifetime at Invictus Games

Comox 19 Wing members Cpl. Emilie Poulin, chief warrant officer (retired) Rock…

Emilie Poulin celebrates after a successful powerlift at the 2022 Invictus Games. Photo by Lyndon Goveas, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services
People gather to honour the fallen during a Remembrance Day ceremony at God’s Acre. A candlelight vigil will be held at the cemetery May 26 starting at 6:45 p.m. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito file photo)

Candlelight tribute will glow Thursday at God’s Acre in Esquimalt

The ceremony is set to begin at 6:45 p.m. and will also feature a march and pipe band

People gather to honour the fallen during a Remembrance Day ceremony at God’s Acre. A candlelight vigil will be held at the cemetery May 26 starting at 6:45 p.m. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito file photo)
Premier John Horgan and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were in Vancouver Tuesday (May 24) to announce the 2025 Invictus Games will be held in the city. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

$30M pledged for Vancouver to host winter hybrid Invictus Games in 2025

Province, federal government each contributing $15 million to event

Premier John Horgan and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were in Vancouver Tuesday (May 24) to announce the 2025 Invictus Games will be held in the city. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
Stocky Edwards' funeral was at Christ the King Catholic Church in Courtenay on May 20. Photo by MIke Chouinard

World War II flying ace Stocky Edwards laid to rest in Courtenay

“He was a hero when we needed heroes.”

Stocky Edwards' funeral was at Christ the King Catholic Church in Courtenay on May 20. Photo by MIke Chouinard
A ceremony at Lakeview Memorial Cemetery on May 8, 2022 (Brittany Webster - Capital News)

Memorial ceremony in Kelowna disrupted when woman drives over graves

People were gathered at Lakeview Memorial Cemetery to mark the anniversary of the end of WWII

  • May 9, 2022
A ceremony at Lakeview Memorial Cemetery on May 8, 2022 (Brittany Webster - Capital News)
The 600-kilometre Wounded Warriors BC fundraiser and awareness campaign that started Feb. 27 on the North Island wraps Sunday in Victoria. (John Penner WWRBC photographer)

Wounded Warriors BC races for Victoria finish line to raise funds, awareness

600-kilometre relay finishes with finale March 6 in Market Square

The 600-kilometre Wounded Warriors BC fundraiser and awareness campaign that started Feb. 27 on the North Island wraps Sunday in Victoria. (John Penner WWRBC photographer)
View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst is taking on the challenge of the Wounded Warrior Run BC in February and March to help erase the stigma military personnel and first responders face dealing with mental health issues. (Photo courtesy of Paul Hurst)

Wounded Warrior run pays homage to family for View Royal fire chief

Paul Hurst hopes to raise awareness of mental health issues for military, first responders

View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst is taking on the challenge of the Wounded Warrior Run BC in February and March to help erase the stigma military personnel and first responders face dealing with mental health issues. (Photo courtesy of Paul Hurst)
Greg Devenish, Vancouver Island Military Museum director and volunteer, conducted research that revealed the identity of the recipient of a First World War medal that was found by a city worker and turned over to the museum in December. How the medal came to Nanaimo remains a mystery. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Research unearths history of First World War mystery medal found in Nanaimo

Military medal belonged to veteran who fought at Battle of Passchendaele

Greg Devenish, Vancouver Island Military Museum director and volunteer, conducted research that revealed the identity of the recipient of a First World War medal that was found by a city worker and turned over to the museum in December. How the medal came to Nanaimo remains a mystery. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
The grave of Sub-Lt. Edward Gorton Robbins is seen in the Killaghtee Old Graveyard, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. James Stewart lives an hour away from the cemetery and has been looking after the grave since he discovered it several years ago. He is now searching for Robbins’ surviving relatives in Greater Victoria. (Photo Courtesy of James Stewart)

Irish man searching for Greater Victoria family of Canadian wartime sailor buried abroad

James Stewart has looked after Edward Robbins’ grave, researched his history the past several years

The grave of Sub-Lt. Edward Gorton Robbins is seen in the Killaghtee Old Graveyard, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. James Stewart lives an hour away from the cemetery and has been looking after the grave since he discovered it several years ago. He is now searching for Robbins’ surviving relatives in Greater Victoria. (Photo Courtesy of James Stewart)
Ken Himes holds a photo of himself in his early 20s when he was doing military training in California. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Former peacekeeper proud of shifting gears, adding diploma to his toolbox

Ken Himes recalls tense moments in Cyprus as a young man trying to help keep the peace

Ken Himes holds a photo of himself in his early 20s when he was doing military training in California. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members and the general public stand for O Canada during the 2021 Remembrance Day ceremony in Langford Thursday. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Langford Remembrance Day ceremony welcomes back in-person service

Wet weather doesn’t stop attendees from filling Veterans Memorial Park Thursday

Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members and the general public stand for O Canada during the 2021 Remembrance Day ceremony in Langford Thursday. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Gordon Quan, who turns 96 in January, is among 26,300 or so surviving veterans of the Second World War (as of March 2020). (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Chinese-Canadian veteran from Victoria relishes opportunity to connect past with present

Gordon Quan trained to operate as a demolition expert behind Japanese lines

Gordon Quan, who turns 96 in January, is among 26,300 or so surviving veterans of the Second World War (as of March 2020). (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Minister Lawrence MacAulay responds to a question during a news conference in Ottawa on November 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Government will hire more staff to address veterans’ backlog, caseloads: minister

Announcement made in the wake of 5-part Canadian Press series on veteran’s issues

Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Minister Lawrence MacAulay responds to a question during a news conference in Ottawa on November 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld