This year, the PEI Military Family Resource Centre is very pleased to be partnering with the PEI Public Library Service on the Valentines for Veterans project.
Isn’t Valentine’s Day a wonderful way to make a fuss and let veterans know we will never forget what they have done for us? Show veterans your gratitude for their sacrifices and achievements in serving our country. Create a hand-made valentine and help bring joy to a Canadian Veteran this Valentine’s Day.
Each year, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) invites Canadian schools, individuals, and organizations to make Valentines for Vets. VAC then distributes the valentines to veterans in long-term care facilities across the country in time for February 14.
Valentines for Vets began in 1989 when the late newspaper columnist Ann Landers encouraged her readers to create special valentines for veterans in care facilities throughout Canada and the United States. Every year, Landers’ special “Valentines for Vets” column asked her readers to remember the valiant sacrifices of their nation’s veterans by making them personal hand-crafted valentines.
VAC became involved with the program in 1996, and has been receiving and distributing valentines to veterans in care facilities across the country ever since.
Though Ann Landers passed away in 2002, VAC is committed to continuing her legacy of honouring veterans. We invite Canadians, young and old, to send valentines to their Head Office. Your continued participation is what makes the Valentines for Vets program such a huge success. To participate in this wonderful project, simply go to one of the libraries listed below (dates and times are included):
- Confederation Centre Public Library: Saturday, January 14 @2:00 p.m.
- Stratford Public Library: Thursday, January 12 @10:30 a.m.
- Breadalbane Public Library: Wednesday, January 11 @11:30 a.m.
- Hunter River Memorial Library: Thursday, January 12 @11:00 a.m.
- Cornwall Public Library: Friday, January 6 & Friday, January 13 @11:00 a.m.
- Souris Public Library: Tuesday, January 10 during open hours (2:00pm–7:00 pm)
- Montague Rotary Library: Tuesday, January 10 @ 3:30 p.m.
- Bibliothèque publique Dr.-J.-Edmond-Arsenault (Charlottetown): Saturday, January 14 during open hours (9:00 am–1:00 pm)
- Bibliothèque publique J.-Henri-Blanchard (Summerside): Saturday, January 14 during open hours (9:00 am–1:00 pm)
- Bibliothèque publique d’Abram-Village (Abram’s Village): Saturday, January 14 during open hours (9:00 am–1:00 pm)
- Kensington Heritage Library: Saturday, January 7 @11:00 a.m.
- Morell Public Library: Thursday, January 5 @11:00am
- St. Peter’s Public Library: Tuesday, January 10 @10:30 a.m.
- Murray River Leona Giddings Memorial Library: Thursday, January 5 @10:30 a.m.
If you are not able to attend one of the sessions but would still like to send a valentine containing a personal message of appreciation to a veteran, please send it by February 1 to:
Valentines for Vets
Veterans Affairs Canada Commemoration | Distribution Unit
125 Maple Hills Ave.
Charlottetown, PE C1C 0B6
For tips and message ideas for your valentines please go to http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/get-involved/valentines-for-veterans/tips for more details.