The Legion is putting substantial financial support into an innovative initiative led by the University of Alberta to encourage veterans, serving military members and their families to pursue post-secondary education.
The Royal Canadian Legion - Alberta/Northwest Territories Command gave $1 million — its largest single donation ever — to the Military, Veteran and Family Connected Campus Consortium (MVF3C), a growing network of institutions and services that support such students in Alberta and across the country.
“This isn’t just about supporting these students, it’s also about being enriched by them,” says Suzette Brémault-Phillips, director and principal investigator for the U of A Military and Veteran Friendly Campus, as well as the provincial and Canada-wide initiatives.
“We are creating a network of post-secondary institutions where those who serve and have served can be received well and thrive, so they can leverage their expertise and leadership in support of Canada, their communities and the greater good,” says Brémault-Phillips, who is a professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and director of the Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium (HiMARC).
The CMVF3C across Canada draws inspiration from the “Khaki University” established by the U of A’s first president, Henry Marshall Tory, during the First World War, which aimed to open post-secondary education to returning soldiers.
“What we hear from veterans who have gone on to pursue post-secondary education is that it allows them to find a new identity and develop a sense of purpose post-service,” says Alex Petruk, who graduated from the U of A last summer after serving 18 years in the military and now works in a leadership role with the provincial and national MVF3C initiatives.
The U of A team has developed a toolkit of best practices for post-secondaries that includes orientation programs, peer support, mentorship, system navigators and cultural competency training for faculty.
Representatives from other local Legions were also in attendance at an announcement event on Nov. 26 to make further donations for HiMARC and 3MDR, a virtual reality psychotherapy treatment for PTSD that was developed with funding from the Legion, the Government of Alberta and other partners — bringing the total to nearly $1.3 million.
“These funds are significant — borne from the commitment of veterans, cadets and community members across Alberta and the Northwest Territories, standing outside with poppy boxes collecting donations. Now they’re choosing to invest in the mental health and continuing education of our military members and veterans,” says Petruk.