Ombudsman presents 2016 Veterans Ombudsman Commendation Recipients

A Lifetime Contribution of Helping Veterans

Ottawa, ON - October 3, 2017

We have been fortunate to receive exceptional nominations for individuals and organizations who improve the lives of Veterans in their communities for this year’s Veterans Ombudsman Commendation. The four recipients were announced on September 14, 2017.

We want to share the accomplishments of the recipients, but much more than that, we want to share their inspiration with the hope of motivating others to take action supporting Veterans in their communities.

To do so, we asked this year’s four recipients two questions. First, we reached out to our Lifetime Contribution recipient Lieutenant-General Louis Cuppens, C.M.M., C.D. (Ret’d).

Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent: How did you start your work with Veterans, and what inspired you?

Lieutenant-General Louis Cuppens , C.M.M., C.D. (Ret’d): War II and immigrated to Canada. Respect and admiration of Veterans were instilled in me at a young age. It’s likely that this regard and gratitude to Veterans was what caused me to pursue a 38-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Shortly after my retirement from the military, I was contacted by the Royal Canadian Legion to represent them on the Veterans Affairs/Canadian Forces Advisory Council. This six-year process led to the creation of the New Veterans Charter and subsequent legislation, and I was inspired to offer assistance to transitioning members and Veterans.

At the same time that the Legion was doing outreach, several WW2 Veterans in the Saint John, New Brunswick area encouraged me to get involved with the Last Post Fund, as well as the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires. It was clear to me then that my mission was to help veterans, so I became the New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island chair of both organizations, and then did the same at the National level.

Four years ago, I became a member of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association, where I continue to serve as a Veterans’ Service Officer and Special Advisor.

Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent: What would you tell someone who is hoping to make a difference in the lives of Veterans and their families?

Lieutenant-General Louis Cuppens , C.M.M., C.D. (Ret’d): All of us have talents and experience to lend to the most deserving of causes—you can make a difference! While progress may seem slow to some, persistence and dedication to those who have given so much in the military will win the day. The wheels of government move slowly at times, but over time and with individual skills, the cause of Veterans’ well-being cannot be ignored. Veterans deserve the very best of care.

Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent: Congratulations Lieutenant-General Louis Cuppens , C.M.M., C.D. (Ret’d). The Veterans Ombudsman Commendation presentations are taking place on October 23, 2017.

http://www.ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca/eng/blog/post/362

Chelmsford soldier cited for work with vets

By Sudbury Star Staff
Sunday, September 17, 2017

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Daniel Lafontaine

Daniel Lafontaine, who grew up in the peaceful community of Chelmsford, has seen the horrors of war and the worst humanity has to dish out.

It led to his post-traumatic-stress disorder that surfaced long after he left the Canadian military, culminating in a suicide attempt in 2009.

Nevertheless, he remain a proud veteran and has worked help fellow veterans and their families.

In recognition of his efforts, Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent has honoured Lafontaine with an individual 2017 Veterans Ombudsman Commendation.

Lafontaine left the military in 2003 and didn’t seek help for his PTSD until after a suicide attempt in 2009. He has since shared his story with others, including students, painting vivid pictures of war zones and what soldiers experience.

Lafontaine said in 2012 that he found that sharing his experiences has been a crucial part of his recovery from post-traumatic stress.

“You always keep it in silence inside of you," the retired sergeant told Canadian Press. "Now I’m able to liberate all the bad things that I had in the back of my mind. I can’t control it, but I can accept the problems I have now.”

Confronting those emotions was a long and nearly deadly process for Lafontaine, who said he showed no symptoms until years after he left the army.

When he began experiencing irritability, aggression and anger, he never attributed his shifting moods to the traumas he witnessed during his two tours of duty in Bosnia until his suicide attempt.

Lafontaine wrote about his trouble with PTSD for the Memory Project website. “I witnessed and experienced some difficult things during my tours as a peacekeeper, and this led to my PTSD,” he recalled. "It affected my life so negatively that I finally got medical care in 2009."

Lafontaine grew up in Chelmsford. His father’s mother was Algonquin, born in the Baskatong region of Quebec; his mother’s grandmother was Innu (Montagnais) from the area of Les Escoumins, Que.; and he is a francophone first-generation Metis in Québec.

“He is proud to be a Canadian veteran, and even prouder to be an Indigenous veteran,” his citation reads.

In 1983, he enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces and was quickly promoted to the ranks of corporal, master corporal and then sergeant. He was deployed on peacekeeping missions with both the United Nations and NATO in Cyprus, Haiti, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.

“Each year on National Peacekeeper’s Day (Aug. 9), he is proud to bring together more than 1,000 veterans for a sunset ceremony to honour Canadian peacekeepers," the citation notes.

Parent also honoured Lt.-Gen. Louis Cuppens (retired), with a lifetime contribution commendation, Paws Fur Thought with a national organization commendation and New Chelsea Society with a local organization commendation.

“This year we received more nominations than ever before, with so many noteworthy contributions," Parent said in a release. "The four recipients selected are exemplary examples of contribution to the veterans’ community. These individuals and groups work tirelessly on behalf of Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and their families.”

The Veterans Ombudsman awards the commendation in consultation with the Veterans Ombudsman’s Advisory Council. The 2017 Veterans Ombudsman Commendations will be presented on Oct. 23.

http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/09/17/chelmsford-soldier-cited-for-work-with-vets

2017 Veterans Ombudsman Commendations Announced

OTTAWA, Sept. 14, 2017 /CNW/ - Canada's Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent announced today the 2017 Veterans Ombudsman Commendation recipients:

• Lifetime Contribution: Lieutenant-General Louis Cuppens, C.M.M., C.D. (Ret'd)

• Individual: Daniel Lafontaine (Ret'd)

• National Organization: Paws Fur Thought

• Local Organization: New Chelsea Society

"The intent of the Veterans Ombudsman Commendation is to recognize and honour the exceptional dedication, hard-work and selfless motivation of an individual or group's contribution to Canada's Veterans and their families," said Mr. Parent.

"This year we received more nominations than ever before, with so many noteworthy contributions. The four recipients selected are exemplary examples of contribution to the Veterans' community. These individuals and groups work tirelessly on behalf of Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and their families."

"Their actions speak louder than their words in motivating and inspiring others into action," said the Ombudsman. "Each has made a significant difference in the lives of Veterans and their families and they deserve to be recognized."

The Veterans Ombudsman awards the Commendation in consultation with the Veterans Ombudsman's Advisory Council. The 2017 Veterans Ombudsman Commendations will be presented on October 23, 2017.

2017 Veterans Ombudsman Commendations Announced

Lifetime Contribution: Lieutenant-General Louis Cuppens, C.M.M., C.D. (Ret'd)
Lieutenant General Louis Cuppens was born in Nijmegen in the Netherlands during World War II. Canada so influenced his family that they immigrated to Canada in 1950, and he chose to spend his adult life in the service of Canada as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. After 10 years in the Army, he transferred to the Air Force and rose steadily through its ranks until his retirement in 1998, after 38 years of service, as Deputy-Commander-in-Chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. He is past president of the New Brunswick Aerospace and Defence Association, past chair of the Defence Committee of Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian Legion, past National President of the Last Post Fund, and has served in various executive positions in the Corps of Commissionaires, as well as serving as the National President of the United Services Institutes. Mr. Cuppens' lifetime work and dedication to help Veterans has greatly contributed to the betterment of Canada's Veterans.

Individual: Daniel Lafontaine (Ret'd)
Daniel Lafontaine was born in 1964, and grew up in Chelmsford outside Sudbury in Northern Ontario. His father's mother was Algonquin (Anishnabeg), born in the Baskatong region of Québec; his mother's grandmother was Innu (Montagnais) from the area of Les Escoumins, Québec; and he is a francophone first-generation Métis in Québec. He is proud to be a Canadian Veteran, and even prouder to be an Indigenous Veteran. In 1983 he enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces and was quickly promoted to the ranks of Corporal, Master Corporal, and then Sergeant. He was deployed on peacekeeping missions with both the United Nations and NATO in Cyprus, Haiti, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. After he left the Forces in 2003, he found that his biggest challenge in retirement was adapting to civilian life while dealing with PTSD. Each year on National Peacekeeper's Day (August 9th), he is proud to bring together more than 1,000 Veterans for a Sunset Ceremony to honour Canadian Peacekeepers.

National Organization: Paws Fur Thought
Paws Fur Thought is an initiative that fundraises and matches service dogs with Veterans and First Responders in need. Inspired by his service dog, Thai, Medric Cousineau, a decorated RCAF Captain (Ret'd) who was awarded the Star of Courage, co-founded Paws Fur Thought with Jocelyn Cousineau in 2013. The Paws Team has a variety of team members from different backgrounds and specialties. Since its launch, the organization has successfully paired over more than 90 Veterans and First Responders with service dogs.

Local Organization: New Chelsea Society
The New Chelsea Society was founded in 1952 to provide safe, affordable housing for World War II Veterans and their families in the Vancouver area. Today, it is the third largest non-profit housing provider in the BC lower mainland with 1,432 affordable housing units for Veterans, seniors, families and persons with disabilities. For over a decade, the Society has also operated "Winch House" a supportive housing unit for Veterans of the Canadian Military and First Responders, providing them with a safe and comfortable home while undergoing medical treatment or rehabilitation in the Vancouver area. Over the years, Winch House has provided accommodation to dozens of Veterans.

SOURCE Veterans Ombudsman


For further information: Lucille Hodgins, Office of the Veterans Ombudsman, 613-943-7884, lucille.hodgins@ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca

http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/2017-veterans-ombudsman-commendations-announced-644517013.html

Call for Nominations for the Veterans Ombudsman Commendation

OTTAWA, Feb. 6, 2017 /CNW/ - In 2010, the Veterans Ombudsman Commendation was created to recognize the outstanding contributions of countless individuals and groups across Canada who work tirelessly on behalf of Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and their families. Nominations are now open for the 2017 Commendation.

Starting today, the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman is accepting nominations of individuals, organizations or groups that deserve recognition for their selflessness, hard work and dedication to Veterans and their families. Nominations can be made in any of these four categories:

National organization or group – to recognize the exceptional work and significant contribution of an organization or group with a national scope that have resulted in a long-lasting and positive impact on the well-being of Veterans and their families;
Local organization or group – to recognize the exceptional work and significant contribution of an organization or group that have resulted in a long-lasting and positive impact, at the local or regional level, on the well-being of Veterans and their families;
Individual – to recognize the exceptional work and significant contribution of an individual that have resulted in a long-lasting and positive impact on the well-being of Veterans and their families at the national or local level; and
Lifetime Contribution – to recognize the life-long dedication, exceptional work, and significant contribution an individual has made in supporting or advocating for Veterans and their families.

"Recognizing the people who dedicate much of their time to helping Veterans in need is very important to me, so I urge you to take the time to please complete a nomination for those deserving special recognition." said Guy Parent, Veterans Ombudsman.

Nominations must include a completed nomination form and a summary of why the nominee is deserving of the Veterans Ombudsman's Commendation. Consult the nomination guidelines for more details and learn about past recipients on the OVO website. The deadline for submission of nominations is March 31st, 2017.
Completed nominations can be sent by mail, fax or electronically to:

Office of the Veterans Ombudsman
360 Albert Street, Suite 1560
Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7

By Fax: 613-944-2939

By email: communication@ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca

http://www.theprovince.com/business/cnw/release.html?rkey=20170206C5853&filter=4007

Ombudsman presents 2016 Veterans Ombudsman Commendation Recipients.

HALIFAX, June 14, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent will present later today the 2016 Veterans Ombudsman Commendation to three deserving individuals for their exceptional contribution to the well-being of Veterans and their families: Jenifer Migneault, Allan DeGenova, and Lorne McCartney (posthumous).

"I am a firm believer that we must recognize the individuals and groups who dedicate significant time and effort to ensuring that the needs of those who served our country are met." said Mr. Parent. "The involvement of these Commendation recipients is essential to the well-being of the Veterans' community. Recognition of their efforts and initiatives can become a source of motivation for others who work tirelessly on behalf of Veterans and whose work is too often done in the shadows."

A fourth recipient, The Royal Canadian Legion Ontario Command's Leave the Streets Behind program, was presented the award yesterday in front of peers at The Royal Canadian Legion's 46th Dominion Convention in St. John's, Nfld. "It was a pleasure to share with Legion colleagues my sincere appreciation for their dedication and efforts," added Mr. Parent.

"Whether providing care, establishing organizations to support those in need, advocating for improvements or making personal sacrifices, the contributions of all the recipients make a significant difference in the lives of Veterans and their families. This is why we award the Veterans Ombudsman Commendation to deserving individuals and organizations each year."

Backgrounder

2016 Veterans Ombudsman Commendation Recipients

This week, Canada's Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent awarded the 2016 Veterans Ombudsman Commendation to four deserving recipients. The Commendation is awarded annually to individuals and organizations for their efforts that make a profound difference in the lives of Veterans and their families.

The Royal Canadian Legion, Ontario Command – Leave the Streets Behind program
Launched in 2010, The Royal Canadian Legion, Ontario Command's Leave the Streets Behind program provides outreach, emergency shelter, transition housing, financial assistance and access to addiction and counselling services to homeless and at-risk Veterans across Ontario. To date, the program has helped over 500 Veterans get off the street and assisted in providing permanent housing to over 250 homeless Veterans. With the success of this program, The Royal Canadian Legion launched the national Leave the Streets Behind program in 2012 to assist homeless and at-risk Veterans across the country. The importance of this program as a building block to assist homeless Veterans across Ontario and then extended nationally cannot be understated. Through its exceptional leadership, initiative and dedication Ontario Command has been instrumental in establishing a national initiative linking all levels of government and community resources to ensure that homeless Veterans get access to the resources they need.

Allan De Genova
Honour House President, Allan De Genova, was inspired by the story of a Canadian Soldier, Captain Trevor Greene, who was very seriously injured as he served with the Canadian Military in Afghanistan in 2006. Captain Trevor Greene's family struggled to find a way to be by his side as he recovered overseas and also when he arrived back in Canada. Allan recognized a need to provide more support for those who serve and the vision of a "home away from home" for military and emergency services families was born. Allan was handed a challenge coin by the then-Canadian Chief of Defence, General Rick Hillier which inspired him to power forward relentlessly with his vision until Honour House was opened in New Westminster in November 2010. Set on a quiet tree-lined street, Honour House is a beautiful, fully-accessible 10 bedroom and ensuite home with a large shared kitchen that provides a temporary home for Canadian Armed Forces members, Veterans, Emergency Services Personnel and their families while they travel to receive medical care and treatment in the Metro Vancouver area. Just over four years later, Honour House has provided thousands of nights of free accommodation for our men and women in uniform and their families as they've gone through some of the toughest times in their lives.

Lorne McCartney (posthumous)
After 25 years of service with the Canadian Armed Forces, Lorne McCartney continued to serve by taking on the role of Dominion Secretary-Treasurer with the Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS) for nearly ten years. Guided by his motto "What is best for the Veteran and their family?" Lorne dedicated much of his time to advocating for Veterans and their families as a participant of the Veterans Affairs Canada Stakeholder meetings, the New Veterans Charter Advisory Group, the Gerontological Advisory Council and the Special Needs Advisory Group. He was also on the Advisory Councils of the Canadian War Museum, the Perley Rideau Veterans Health Centre, and the Veterans Ombudsman. In 2011, as the NATO Veterans of Canada Association was forming, Lorne acted as mentor and advisor on issues surrounding the New Veterans Charter, Long-Term Care and funeral and burial benefits. Although Lorne passed away in 2016, he is remembered by his colleagues, friends and Veterans for his dedication, in-depth knowledge, and unwavering commitment to helping Veterans and their families get the support they deserve.

Jenifer Migneault
Jenifer Migneault is a dedicated and devoted caregiver of a Veteran suffering from PTSD, as well as an advocate on behalf of all caregivers. Her efforts have led to a national discussion on support to military families, especially those caring for ill and injured Veterans. Her resolve and tenacity led her to knock on every door available resulting in Veterans Affairs Canada launching new programs and benefits to help caregivers of ill and injured Veterans. Jenifer shares her story publicly and openly to help others struggling with the issues she has faced. She organizes meetings to help Veterans and their families, posts videos to YouTube and Facebook and blogs regularly to ensure families know they have someone to lean on. She has become a trusted source of support and encouragement for other caregivers, and continues to contribute to an important national conversation on their treatment. As a result of her tireless efforts, she has recently been appointed to the Minister's Advisory Group on Families.

For more information on the Veterans Ombudsman Commendation and past recipients, visit
http://ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/ombudsman/commendation

SOURCE Veterans Ombudsman


For further information: Lucille Hodgins, Office of the Veterans Ombudsman, 613-943-7884, lucille.hodgins@ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca

http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/ombudsman-presents-2016-veterans-ombudsman-commendation-recipients-582987061.html