The National Veterans Week Speakers Program unveils its 2023 video series

November 6, 2023 - Defence Stories

With Veterans’ Week (November 5-11) just around the corner, the National Veterans’ Week Speakers Program (NVWSP) has been busy working with schools and community organizations across the country to make this year a memorable one.

We are proud to share the 2023 edition of the NVWSP video series which was developed for various audiences and age levels. The new “Why I Remember” video series features Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members sharing their personal stories of why Veterans’ Week and Remembrance Day are important to them. Our videos pay tribute to all veterans, past and present, who have served their country.

The videos series is available from our video gallery and our YouTube channel. We hope these videos will help in your preparations for your Veterans’ Week and Remembrance Day activities. 

We encourage you to visit the Royal Canadian Legion’s Remembrance Day ceremony website to find your local Remembrance Day ceremony or the Veterans’ Affairs Canada website Remembrance Day & Veterans' Week to learn more about remembrance.

If you would like to receive a copy of these videos or have questions, please contact the National Veterans’ Week Speakers Program coordinator at 1-833-223-8322 or DNDRemembrance.SouvenirMDN@forces.gc.ca.

Additional resources

• The Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association (CPVA) offers an opportunity to read the stories of Canadian peacekeepers in the CPVA’s Peacekeeping anthology. Visit www.PK75.ca to explore learning resources and activities to help students learn about the many important roles of Canadian peacekeepers around the world.
• The Canadian War Museum has developed a Remembrance Resource page to provide online tools for educators and others to create lessons and ceremonies in the classroom, at home, or for their wider community. Visit https://www.warmuseum.ca/remembrance-day/. For more virtual and in-person Remembrance programming from the War Museum, visit warmuseum.ca/remember/.
• The Royal Canadian Legion offer opportunities for educators to engage youth in honouring and remembering Canada’s Veterans. Download the educator’s Teaching Guide to enrich your curriculum and promote Remembrance.

2023 marks 75 years of United Nations peacekeeping

This year’s Veterans' Week theme is “75 years of United Nations peacekeeping.” Canada’s peacekeepers have made remarkable contributions during peace operations around the globe and continue to be a great source of pride for Canadians.

It’s an opportunity to recognize and honour over 125,000 Canadian Armed Forces members, as well as over 4,000 Canadian civilian police officers, who have contributed to peace efforts.

VAC also has some great examples of ways you can get involved:

• Join the conversation online and share what remembrance means to you by using the hashtag #CanadaRemembers;
• Read the stories of those who served and continue to serve; 
• Explore their collection of Veterans’ Week learning resources for youth of all ages;
• View their new, interactive, 2023 Veterans’ Week poster;
• Visit their events page to find a local ceremony near you to attend.
• Find out more about all the VAC program and services available to Veterans and their families.