Honouring Our Veterans

CanVet Vocational Rehabilitation Services helps Canadian veterans with disabilities find  meaningful employment in the civilian workforce

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2012 /CNW/ - In recognition of Veterans Week, CanVet Vocational Rehabilitation Services, a joint venture partnership of three organizations, WCG Services (WCG), March of Dimes Canada, and Innovative Rehabilitation Consultants (IRC), pays tribute to the sacrifices of Canada's military personnel who have bravely served our country. Operating throughout Canada, CanVet VR Services helps veterans with disabilities retrain and obtain civilian employment. CanVet has been contracted by the Government of Canada to provide the vocational component of Veterans Affairs Canada's broader rehabilitation program. Since launching the program almost four years ago, CanVet staff members have served over 2,000 military personnel.

CanVet operates within a holistic framework, assisting eligible modern-day veterans and their families to adjust to civilian life by offering services which limit the impact of, or remove barriers and restore the person's ability to function in their home, community and workplace. CanVet Services helps clients obtain the skills, abilities and work habits necessary to secure a job in their chosen field. CanVet staff also help their clients find employment once the job preparation training has been completed, and work with both the client and the employer to ensure a successful relationship. Services are offered in English and French.

Through CanVet Services, a client in Atlantic Canada studied Marine Geomatics and Geographic Information Systems and is now working with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. A veteran in Quebec is now trained and employed as a Refrigeration Expert. A client in British Columbia, whose expertise was as an aircraft mechanic with the Canadian Forces, is now successfully employed as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. These veterans were able to find meaningful work in a field of their choice, while overcoming potential barriers to employment.

"Veterans' week is about recognizing the achievements of our veterans. Our work at CanVet is focused on supporting veterans to recognize those achievements on a daily basis and translate their skills into meaningful employment within civilian life. Over the past four years, we have been able to provide client-focused vocational rehabilitation services to modern-day veterans. Supporting our clients to meet their vocational goals, and obtain a meaningful job, has tremendous impact for individuals, their families and their communities. We couldn't be prouder of the work that we do with Canada's veterans," says Darlene Bailey, President & CEO of WCG.

"Canada has veterans with disabilities, many with young families, who need education, support and rehabilitation to help them find work they love as much as serving their country as a member of Canada's military," says Andria Spindel, President and CEO of March of Dimes Canada.

"We are so pleased to be able to support our clients through CanVet as they transition to the next stage of their career. As we approach Veterans Week, and particularly Remembrance Day, we both honour and appreciate the sacrifices they have made to keep Canadians safe, both here and abroad," she continues.    

For more information on CanVet Vocational Rehabilitation Services, please visit www.canvetservices.com

CanVet VR Services provides vocational rehabilitation and vocational assistance services to modern-day veterans with disabilities who need support to re-enter civilian life. CanVet VR Services is a joint venture between three well-respected service providers: WCG Services, March of Dimes Canada and IRC. With more than 40 years of combined experience providing comprehensive, client-focused and outcome-based vocational rehabilitation services, CanVet VR Services brings together a national network of service providers and vocational rehabilitation experts to ensure the best support for veterans and their families. 

Video with caption: "Bret 'Hitman' Hart Addresses Canada's Veterans". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20121101_C3648_VIDEO_EN_19924.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20121101_C3648_PHOTO_EN_19924.jpg&clientName=MARCH%20OF%20DIMES%20CANADA&caption=Bret%20%27Hitman%27%20Hart%20Addresses%20Canada%27s%20Veterans&title=MARCH%20OF%20DIMES%20CANADA%20%2D%20Honouring%20Our%20Veterans&headline=Honouring%20Our%20Veterans

SOURCE: MARCH OF DIMES CANADA

Ruth Kapelus, Media and Public Relations
March of Dimes Canada
10 Overlea Blvd.
Toronto, ON M4H 1A4
Phone: [phone] ext. 7258
Toll Free: 1-800-263-3463 ext. 7258
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]