Local ANAVETS continues advocacy for veterans’ needs
Social sports, outreach helps combat isolation for members at Rockwood No. 303
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This article was published 06/11/2017 (3125 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
As the portrait of Canadian veterans change with the years, so is the identity and purpose of one local veterans’ association.
Duncan Anderson, president of ANAVETS Rockwood No. 303, said each year fewer former members of the Forces sign up to become part of the Wilton Street club and every year more comrades are passing away.
“That’s probably one of the key issues we have today: is to perpetuate that memory by recognizing them when we have meetings and a moment of silence, to keep in mind that they’re the one’s who’ve caused us to be here today,” Anderson, a veteran of the Canadian army, said.
According to Veterans Affairs Canada, in 2014 the average age of a Second World War veteran was 91 and the average age of a Korean War vet was 83. The average age of regular Forces and primary reserve veteran was 57 with a population of about 600,300 people.
Of the few dozen members released from service in Manitoba yearly, Anderson said each club in the city is lucky to have just one person join their establishment.
In part, Anderson said people exiting the forces are just not as reliant on veterans’ associations for advocacy and representation to the government as they have been in the past.
“Their only hope in 1946 was to get together with a band of brothers and join the Legion or ANAVETS to work together and get the benefits they wanted,” Anderson explained.
“They’re not relying on the clubs so much anymore to do that.”
While Rockwood still has a service officer, and will have one for years to come, Anderson said, other governmental organizations have stepped into support veterans throughout the years.
For example, the Military Family Resource Centre has taken over a lot of the services of a bricks and mortar club, Anderson said.
“A lot of those things, like transition services, were created by ANAVETS, and by the Legion… that’s what we fought for. We’re literally putting ourselves out of business,” he said half-jokingly.
Edna McPhee, the secretary and manager of Rockwood for 25 years, said the role of the local association has changed to offer what the government can’t provide its members.
“The government has programs, as a matter of fact, to help with the transition to private life,” she said. “We’re providing more of the social end of it now.
“It can be a home away from home.”
With a growing emphasis on community mental health, particularly among veterans, McPhee said Rockwood is a place to socialize, develop friendships, share experiences, and combat isolation.
According to Veterans Affairs, about 20 per cent of Canadian vets experience a mental health disorder at some time with the most common being depression, post traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety.
Anderson said the association is able to build community through recreation — curling, cribbage, live entertainment, nine-ball pool, and social events.
“I didn’t just join it to become a party animal,” he joked. “We do a lot of things socially. For the ANAVETS in Manitoba Northwest Ontario, the key thing that keeps us operating and cohesive is sports.”
The work of the association has also breached the club’s walls with members going out to schools to speak with students in advance of Remembrance Day and the ANAVETS sponsoring the Winnipeg High School Football League’s AAA championship bowl.
With a base of about 400 people, the club has also extended its support network to raise money for the Citadel Canine Society, the Military Family Resource Centre, Kids Help Phone, and homeless veterans support organizations.
“We have a commitment to the community,” Anderson said.
“As people start to look for something outside of the basic government structure, (veterans’ associations) will grow again. There will be need again.”
Rockwood No. 3 (341 Wilton St.) will be open on Nov. 11 at noon following the Remembrance Day service at the RBC Convention Centre and will provide a luncheon and live music.