Canadian Heritage committee  I wouldn't say that it should be this is how we do it. This is how we suggest that perhaps you proceed, realizing that there are variances. I did say with regard to the way we do the commemorations that it differs from the military. The military, on September 12, 2011, did put o

Canadian Heritage committee  The Legion recognizes that the importance of educating youth on remembrance is paramount. We do a couple of things—and then I'll get back to your specific question. The first one is a remembrance contest that we have every year. Every year we encourage Canadian students to show

Canadian Heritage committee  May I answer that?

Canadian Heritage committee  No. We would appreciate the guidance that a reference would provide. However, we would still have to fall back on our own internal practices and policies if we had a specific question. It would be advantageous to have information available. But that information should still ackno

Canadian Heritage committee  Excellent. Thank you. If I may add, though, it is currently on our website at legion.ca under “Publications”. You can find a full copy of that manual in English and French.

Canadian Heritage committee  At our dominion convention, which happens every two years, the policies and procedures that the Legion will follow for the next two years are set. We have a report that goes to every branch. So it identifies all the resolutions and all the changes in policies and procedures that

Canadian Heritage committee  If I can speak about information for the Royal Canadian Legion, yes, it would be. We would still have to respect the protocols we have in place, but by all means—and in fact currently, in my role as director, I often visit the Canadian Heritage site to find out what the position

Canadian Heritage committee  We'll certainly take that suggestion back. It will be updated following our convention this June, so anything that we would send would be delayed until the fall, but we can certainly look at that.

Canadian Heritage committee  This is our own. We've had some interesting discussions with our military partners in the past, if I can put it that way, because the traditions that we follow are the traditions that our members have dictated that we will. For example, up until a few years ago, we used to dip

Canadian Heritage committee  No, we have not.

Canadian Heritage committee  It's quite easy for those areas that have Legion branches to follow that format, but that's not always the case. As you brought up, there are situations when there are no Legion branches in a particular area. It's difficult to respond to how you would in fact conduct a proper com

Canadian Heritage committee  It does not get in the way of that. What it does is provide the guidance for those organizing the commemoration, what they need to follow. There may be instances, however, where things may be addressed or referenced in the manual that may not be applicable to a local ceremony. Fo

Canadian Heritage committee  For example, the central element of Remembrance Day ceremonies is the two minutes of silence. Also important are the traditions of wearing the poppy, the recitation of the act of remembrance, and the sounding of the Last Post, Lament, and Rouse. We unite to show our comrades they

Canadian Heritage committee  Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, thank you for the invitation to the Royal Canadian Legion to appear before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage to speak on national protocol procedures. On behalf of our dominion president of the Royal Canadian Legion, Patricia Varg