Veteran Volunteerism Initiative
About
For many Veterans, leaving the Canadian Armed Forces also means leaving behind a strong sense of purpose, identity, belonging and service to others.
Volunteerism can provide a meaningful way to carry those qualities forward. It can create new connections, strengthen communities and help Veterans see that the skills, experience and commitment developed through military service remain deeply valuable.
At the same time, communities across Canada depend on volunteers. Many nonprofit organizations are facing growing demand, fewer volunteers and increasing pressure on their staff and programs.
True Patriot Love launched the Veteran Volunteerism Initiative in 2023 to explore the relationship between volunteerism and well-being in the Veteran community, to begin to develop a knowledge base for future policy decisions, and to develop a framework for the National Veteran Volunteerism Action Plan.
To build the evidence base and understand the experiences of Veterans and the organizations that engage them, the initiative included three streams of work:
- Research:
The Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research conducted a review of existing research on Veteran volunteerism and well-being. - Program evaluation:
True Patriot Love commissioned MGT to conduct a study with nonprofit organizations that deliberately recruited and engaged Veteran volunteers. Participating Veterans completed surveys assessing the impact of their volunteer experiences on their well-being. - National engagement:
Through an expert advisory council, surveys and regional consultations, True Patriot Love gathered perspectives from Veterans, serving Canadian Armed Forces members, military and Veteran families, governments and the nonprofit sector.
Together, this research, evaluation and community input informed the development of the National Veteran Volunteerism Action Plan: a practical roadmap for strengthening Veteran volunteerism and creating more opportunities for Veterans to find purpose, build connection and continue contributing to their communities.
National Veteran Volunteerism Action Plan
Launched in April 2026, this five-year plan has practical steps for non-profits and Veteran-supporting organizations to strengthen Veteran volunteer talent pools while advancing Veteran purpose, connection and well-being.
Through coordinated partnerships, research-informed strategy, and sector collaboration, we are building a national framework that focuses on reducing barriers to volunteering, strengthening networks, and increasing the visibility of Veterans’ contributions to Canadian communities.
Whether you are a Veteran seeking community connection, or a nonprofit organization looking to engage Veteran talent, this is designed for you.
“I was rather lost and felt I wasn’t contributing to society when I first retired. By volunteering I have found my purpose again, and I feel fulfilled while making numerous friends along the way.”
- Veteran Volunteer
Resources
- Read the National Veteran Volunteerism Action Plan (download PDF)
- Read the first-ever Canadian research on the impact of volunteering: “Well-being and Well-doing: An Assessment of How Volunteering Impacts Canadian Veteran Well-being” (download PDF)
- Read the full Literature Review: Military and Veteran Volunteerism (download PDF)
- Download the two-page summary of the Literature Review. (download PDF)
- Visit the Veteran Hub, our online portal with resources including volunteer opportunities, peer support, training and employment information, and listings for local and virtual events across Canada.
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150 York Street, Suite 1700 Toronto, ON M5H 3S5
Email: info@truepatriotlove.com
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