Valentine’s for veterans

CFMWS / VAC
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This Valentine’s Day thank Canadian Veterans by sending them a hand-made valentine.

Each year, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) invites Canadian schools, individuals, and organizations to make Valentines for Vets.

VAC then distributes the valentines to Veterans in long-term care facilities across the country by Feb. 14.

Valentines for Vets began in 1989 when the late newspaper columnist, Ann Landers, encouraged her readers to create special valentines for Veterans in care facilities throughout Canada and the United States.

Every year, Landers’ special Valentines for Vets column asked her readers to remember the sacrifices of their nations’ Veterans by making them personal hand-crafted valentines.

VAC became involved with the program in 1996, and has been receiving and distributing valentines to Veterans in care facilities across the country ever since.

“Last year VAC sent almost 17,000 valentines to more than 4,700 veterans,” says Ben Ouellette, Director Deployment Support, Recreation, and Messes and Acting Director PSP Operations. “In 2020, PSP Recreation participants across the country made cards, but with this year’s restrictions we may not be able to craft together, so we want to spread the word about this initiative as wide as possible.”

If you would like to send a valentine thanking a Veteran, please send it by Feb. 1 to:

Valentines for Vets
Veterans Affairs Canada
Commemoration, Distribution Unit
125 Maple Hills Avenue
Charlottetown, PE  C1C 0B6

*Veterans Affairs Canada will keep valentines that arrive after the deadline to distribute next year.

A few rules about the program

• You can send a store-bought valentine; hand-crafted cards, however, make Veterans feel extra special.
• Valentines of all shapes, sizes, and colours are welcome. However, valentines that are greeting-card size are easier to package and distribute.
• Please do not include candy or chocolate with the valentines.
• Do not use sparkles or materials that easily break off the valentines.
• Do not put individual valentines in sealed envelopes. Send us a single large envelope containing all of the valentines.
• Do not put the date or year on the valentines.
• Avoid using “RIP” and images related to violence or death such as graveyards or guns.

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