Mr. Chair and ladies and gentlemen, within CPVA we work very diligently at trying to recognize nationally and locally the good job that the vast majority at Veterans Affairs and the VRAB actually do. You always hear about the 10,000 widows, if you will, who get service, but it's the one who doesn't get the service who is in the media.
To that end, two years ago CPVA initiated a national awards system for members of Veterans Affairs. Last year the award went to Bridget Preston, the director of Vancouver Island's Veterans Affairs office, and her staff. She, with a small staff, provides service to 14,000 clients and does a Herculean job. Unanimously, we had an awards ceremony. The Lieutenant Governor of the province presented her the award, and Ray and I were there.
This year we have a similar award that's about to take place next month, in Moncton, but it's not to be announced just yet. We also do it locally by having our chapters across the country identify good people who are helping veterans in a variety of ways.