Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon, committee members and fellow witnesses.
I'm pleased to be joining you again today to contribute to this committee's ongoing commitment to bettering the lives of veterans across Canada.
I commend MP Blaney for suggesting this study and for focusing us all on this issue. Studies like this bring attention to national associations like ours and force us to stop and think for a moment. We greatly appreciate it.
I'd like to take a moment before I get started to thank all of those who are currently serving in Canada's armed forces and the four women veterans who have joined us today to share their own personal stories. It's greatly appreciated. You have our complete support and thanks. Your commitment to our nation is truly inspiring.
Let me start by asking Patricia Henry, a retired colonel from the Canadian Armed Forces, to speak to you about her own personal experiences as a veteran accessing VAC educational programs and now as the leader of a NACC member institution supporting retired and retiring members.