Broadmead Care is proud to be the primary long term care provider for veterans on Vancouver Island, and we are one of the larger care homes serving veterans in Canada. It is a privilege to be able to give back to those who served Canada and her people with courage and self-sacrifice.
With Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week 2020 just around the corner, plans are well underway to recognize these important events, which mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Veterans’ Week is a time for us to reflect, pay tribute to, and honour the sacrifices, achievements, and tremendous contributions of Canada’s veterans in the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, and Canadian Forces veterans in peace missions and operations. Veterans’ Week provides a time for all Canadians to learn about and to remember the sacrifices and achievements of all of Canada’s veterans.
This pandemic has required us to be creative about many of our activities this year, and Veterans’ Week and Remembrance Day are no exception. Using responses from the family survey about these important events, staff at Veterans Memorial Lodge have arranged special plans to mark these occasions.
Portraits of Veterans
We wanted to involve families in Veterans’ Week and Remembrance Day, as such we have taken high quality portraits of each veteran, which will be posted in each veteran’s room, and a gallery will be hung at Veterans Memorial Lodge. A copy of each picture will be sent to the veteran’s family during the week of November 5 – 11.
Sharing Veterans Stories
We would like to share veterans’ stories on our website, and with fellow residents and staff. If you would like to share your family member’s story, please visit the Veterans Remember page on our website, where you can complete a form and upload up to three photographs if you like. You may also share your story by contacting Martha by phone at 250.658.3252, or send an email to Martha.mcdougall@broadmeadcare.com.
On-Lodge Activities
Each lodge at Veterans Memorial Lodge will mark the start of Veterans’ Week (Nov 5 – 11) in a way that the residents will enjoy, such as a Tea, watching movies, or unique crafting activities. There will also be opportunities to share stories and reminisce during the week.
Remembrance Wreath
During Veterans’ Week, there will be a large ‘Lest We Forget’ wreath in front of Veterans Memorial Lodge near the granite memorial and totem pole. You are invited to pin a poppy to the wreath in remembrance. There will also be a wreath on each lodge for residents and staff do to the same.
Remembrance Day
Each lodge within Veterans Memorial Lodge will hold a service on the morning of November 11. In the afternoon, the Canadian Scottish Regimental Association Pipes and Drums will come to Veterans Memorial Lodge, and play outside the main entrance.
