As Remembrance Day approaches on November 11, CASN honours all those who have served Canada in times of war, military conflict, and peace. These veterans include the courageous nurses whose knowledge, compassion and dedication have been vital on the front lines—providing care, comfort, and strength in the most challenging circumstances. Their service is an enduring part of our national legacy. This week is an occasion to reckon with the horrors of war and commit to eliminating the systemic, structural, and social conditions that lead to war.
“During Veterans’ Week, CASN honours the legacy of all who have served Canada, especially the nurses, whose courage, knowledge, and care have shaped our profession,” said CASN Executive Director, Jean Daniel Jacob. “We also recognize that, historically, nursing was one of the few pathways for women to serve in the military. Many faced discrimination, as did other marginalized groups—yet they served with resilience and distinction. Their stories must be acknowledged, remembered, and respected as part of our collective history.”
National Indigenous Veterans Day – November 8
On November 8, we recognize National Indigenous Veterans Day, honouring the unique contributions and sacrifices of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people in Canada’s military. Historically underrecognized, more than 12,000 Indigenous people1 served in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. We acknowledge that some Indigenous people enlisted as a way to escape residential school or access basic necessities such as food and health care.2 Meanwhile, children in those schools were forced into agricultural labour that supported the war effort, yet were denied the food they helped produce.3 CASN acknowledges their bravery and the ongoing need to amplify Indigenous voices in our national remembrance.
Remembrance Day – November 11
On November 11, CASN commemorates the courage and sacrifice of our veterans, including the Canadian nurses who served in military hospitals as early as 1885.4 During World War I, over 2,800 women served as nurses,5 a number that grew significantly in World War II. Their legacy continues to shape nursing education and practice today.
“The crisis of the nursing shortage during the Second World War provided the impetus that finally brought university nursing educators together.” (R. Kirkwood & J. Bouchard, “Take Counsel With One Another”: A Beginning History of the Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing 1942–1992, p. 1)
On November 11, at 11:00 a.m., we invite everyone to observe 2 minutes of silence to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice and those who continue to serve.
Related Resources (CASN Links)
To deepen understanding and support meaningful engagement during Veterans’ Week, CASN recommends the following resources:
- Framework of Strategies for Nursing Education to Respond to the Calls to Action of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2020) (document)
- Cultural Humility and Cultural Safety Standards for Nursing Education in Canada (2025) (document)
- Indigenous Nursing Student and Faculty Survey Report, 2022–2023 (document)
- The Nurse’s Role in Supporting Reproductive Justice with Indigenous Peoples (2025) (webinar)
- Addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action in Nursing Education: Workshop Series (2024) (webinar workshop series)
Related Resources (External Links)
- Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. – 14 Facts You May Not Know About Contributions of Indigenous Veterans (webpage)
- Government of Canada – Remembrance (webpage)
- Government of Canada – Indigenous Veterans (webpage)
- Government of Canada – The Nursing Sisters of Canada (webpage)
- Government of Canada – Women in service (webpage)
- Canadian War Museum – Remembrance Day Resources (webpages)
- November 11, at 10:30 a.m. ET – Veterans’ March (in-person event)
- November 11, at 10:45 a.m. ET – Canadian War Museum Memorial Hall Visitation and Livestream (livestream event)
References
1 Lewis, H. (2023, November 8). Indigenous veterans ‘served with distinction,’ and came home to no support. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/10078857/indigenous-veterans-day-nov-8-aboriginal-veterans/ [globalnews.ca]
2 Beaulne-Stuebing, L. (2022, November 8). What were Indigenous soldiers fighting for? CBC Radio. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/indigenous-soldiers-crown-1.6643402 [www.cbc.ca]
3 Deer, K. (2019, June 6). Residential school survivor’s son wants recognition for kids whose labour helped feed home front during WWII. CBS News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/residential-school-farming-second-world-war-1.5163266 [www.cbc.ca]
4 Ontario Nurses’ Association. (2024, November 4). Remembrance Day: Lest we forget. https://www.ona.org/news/remembrance-day/ [www.ona.org]
5 Canadian War Museum. (n.d.). Women in the Canadian military. https://www.warmuseum.ca/remembrance-day-resources/women-in-the-canadian-military [www.warmuseum.ca]
