Evidence of meeting #18 for Veterans Affairs in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.
A video is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Madam Chair, moving beyond access to capital, we see initiatives such as Hero Lodge that reach out to veterans, balance them, prevent suicide and encourage them to then go to the Home for Heroes Foundation, attend financial training and then return to Hero Lodge to celebrate their introduction to business.
Mr. Démétré, aside from funding, what else do you need to ensure that your initiative is sustainable?
President, Hero Lodge, As an Individual
Everything related to administration, paperwork and applications is a language I find difficult to understand. I quickly get bogged down in it.
We have to know when there are programs that exist, and have someone who can help us figure it all out, determine which program is right for us, fill out an application and so on.
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
You never give up, thanks to your personality, but Veterans Affairs Canada has many civil servants. In fact, they outsource services for veterans. Ultimately, these services already come from veterans.
So you need support and financial resources, is that correct?
President, Hero Lodge, As an Individual
Yes. As soon as we have the necessary financial tools, we can manage. The mutual support is incredible. As my colleague said, there is synergy. We veterans always say that we have two families, including the military family, whose members who are an incredible help to one other.
Everyone at Hero Lodge is a volunteer. Thanks to algorithms, we can see the interest on social media. This year, in September, 1.5 million visited Hero Lodge on various networks. I'm not talking about the number of visits, but the number of actual people. There were 1.5 million people, and that's thanks to the military community. We all help each other.
If we had money, the sky would be the limit.
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Anything is possible when there is enough money.
Thank you, Mr. Démétré.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marie-France Lalonde
Thank you, Ms. Gaudreau.
During the final minutes of this meeting, each political party will have five minutes.
Mr. Richards, you have the floor for five minutes.
December 9th, 2025 / 4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Airdrie—Cochrane, AB
Sure. I have a couple of quick questions, and I'm hoping to leave some time for my colleague, Mrs. Wagantall.
Mr. Howard, how is shopveteran.ca funded?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Legacy Project
It's funded by the Canadian Legacy Project, independently.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Airdrie—Cochrane, AB
Is there any involvement from VAC as a partner? Do they refer folks to shopveteran.ca? Is there any partnership from VAC in that at all?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Legacy Project
Yes, recently they are referring people to shopveteran.ca and the business boot camp.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Airdrie—Cochrane, AB
That's good to hear.
Is that something that you had to establish, or did they reach out to you? How did that come to be?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Legacy Project
I've been poking Veterans Affairs for the last 20 years. I'm in front of them all the time. Again, the new arm of the entrepreneurship has really done a good job. They reached out to me on this one and asked to refer us.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Airdrie—Cochrane, AB
Excellent. I'm glad to hear that. I'm sorry it took as long as it did, but I'm glad it's happening.
It's something we need to see a lot more of, so hopefully that's a model we will see more of.
I'll turn the rest of my time to Mrs. Wagantall.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Thank you, Mr. Démétré, for what you are doing.
I just notice that here on the front page it says, “Every year, Hero Lodge helps veterans find alternatives to excessive alcohol and drug consumption—encouraging them instead to reconnect with nature”.
Clearly the passion there is to assist veterans when they're at a very low point in time. How do you find those veterans?
President, Hero Lodge, As an Individual
We became known through word of mouth. It really is through word of mouth. Next year will be our 13th year. We don't need to advertise as much anymore. I think word is getting around, and that's thanks to the wonderful community of military personnel and veterans.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
It's the community. Are they able to receive any funding from VAC as a service to their wellness?
President, Hero Lodge, As an Individual
Yes, I have asked them several times. However, I would like to make a clear distinction between the department itself and the service I receive from Veterans Affairs Canada as a veteran, which is exceptional, incredible service.
President, Hero Lodge, As an Individual
However, in terms of entrepreneurship, there is nothing. I never did receive a response from the department. We have tried repeatedly. I haven't found the solution yet. We are not giving up. We met with the minister today, and I hope that it will eventually—
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
That is very good to hear. We need to be more creative in the way that VAC responds to the needs of our veterans, and this is a wonderful example of that.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marie-France Lalonde
Thank you, Mr. Démétré.
Ms. Auguste will have the last five minutes. She will be speaking in French.
Make sure that you have the right interpretation.
Ms. Auguste, you have the floor for five minutes.
Liberal
Tatiana Auguste Liberal Terrebonne, QC
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Mr. Howard, although the topics are broad and varied, in our previous study we talked a lot about the importance of having peers, a support network and people who help us.
I would like to know how the shopveteran.ca program can become a peer support system. How exactly does this program work to help veterans with entrepreneurship?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Legacy Project
Shopveteran.ca is a program that has all graduates who have started their own business. They've been through the business boot camp. They rely on each other. They reach out through email, and then they try to get on the phone, and they start to help each other, no matter what that case is. That support network is quite amazing.
Also, touching on an important piece—and I don't want to take up all of your time—I'll tell you that it costs $600 for a student to come through our program, so $600 to go from unemployed to starting their own business.