News Article
The New Veteran: Re-Inventing the Legacy
The Maple Leaf, Vol. 11, No. 40
November 26, 2008
Little red poppies, pinned on the lapels of overcoats at the cost of pocket change, have come to symbolize Remembrance Day.
For many of us, owing perhaps to the inward-looking “me generation” and to the relatively peaceful period in the world prior to 9/11, Remembrance Day was one of the few times in the year when we gave more than a passing thought to our veterans and to the sacrifices they have made—and are making—every day.
However, a new poll carried out by Nanos Research for Commissionaires suggests Canadians have a newfound respect for those who put their lives on the line every day for their country. Nearly 90 percent of Canadians believe we have an obligation to ensure that veterans attain meaningful employment upon their retirement from the CF, and 88 percent believe reservists should have their civilian jobs protected while they serve their country. Perhaps it is a signal, a long overdue correction of how we think about what really matters – not just on November 11, but every day of the year.
However, despite this surge of nationwide appreciation, our perception of just who is a veteran is still stuck in the Cold War era. More than two thirds of Canadians imagine someone older than 40 when they hear “war veteran”. Given the fact that the young men and women returning from missions as far afield as Afghanistan now number in the thousands, this is an ideal time to take a closer look at the “new veterans” – who they are in our communities.
“We really hope that the results of this survey allow us to address some misconceptions about who veterans are,” says Commissionaires Ottawa CEO Paul Guindon, “so we can draw attention to the great work so many of them do every day with Commissionaires divisions across the country.”
Commissionaires, established in 1925 to provide meaningful employment for Canadian veterans returning from conflicts, has remained more than true to its mandate. It has expanded its service lines from private security solutions to include bylaw enforcement, digital fingerprinting services and security consulting and training. While its evolution reflects the greater role commissionaires are called upon to perform in communities throughout the country, it is a direct result of the new skill sets many of its recruits bring to the job from their time with the Forces.
Beyond the incentives of new challenges in security solutions, many returning veterans are pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to find the right fit in the organization, given the current economic picture, Mr. Guindon says. “We are probably one of the few businesses in Canada that can currently say we are not thinking of downsizing, but we are actually looking to hire many new recruits across the country in the coming year. As local policing budgets are stretched to their limits, Commis - sionaires is thriving.”
With the private security industry one of the most competitive in Canada, one factor alone gives Commissionaires its leading role in the market. “It’s the people,” Mr. Guindon says. “The veterans and reservists we have on the job are absolutely vital to our organization and the work we do.”
And absolutely vital to Canada and our place in the world as well, a perception that has found currency 365 days a year.
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