WATCH: The Canadian government has unveiled a memorial program to honour veterans of the war in Afghanistan, installing light armoured vehicles, or LAVs, at monuments across the country. As Jacques Bourbeau reported Monday, it’s a tribute long overdue.
TORONTO – A Canadian charitable organization unveiled a program Wednesday that will see up to 250 replica LAVs – the Light Armoured Vehicles used to support Canadian troops – put in communities across Canada.
But those monuments will come at a cost of between $5,000 to $20,000 to each of the selected communities for things like manufacture, transportation and maintenance–a cost the company says will not be a burden to taxpayers.
Supported by the federal government and called the LAV III Monument program, it aims to recognize the service of the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan; it will be the first update to Canadian military monuments in more than 50 years.
They’ll be displayed in communities across Canada over the next three years – similar to the Second World War tanks and cannons that now appear near Royal Canadian Legion branches, cenotaphs, military bases and public parks.
The program was unveiled Wednesday at Ottawa’s War Museum, spearheaded by the Canada Company, a charitable group that supports the Canadian Forces.
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The Conservative government, which has been accused of ignoring the often traumatized Afghan veterans as they return home, supports the initiative morally, but not financially. Instead of cash, it is sharing designs for the replica LAVs and helping to arrange locations for the monuments.
“Our government is committed to honouring the sacrifice and heroism of Canadian veterans,” Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino wrote in an email to Global News.
“The government of Canada supports and is working to facilitate this initiative that honours the sacrifice and service of Canadians who served in Afghanistan.”
Canada Company suggests the cost of each monument will range from $5,000 to $20,000 to the community “depending on the location.”
“The Canadian Government is providing the LAV III Monuments and Canada Company and corporate sponsors are preparing the final units (complete with mounting frame) at no additional cost to the Canadian taxpayer,” says the program website.
A spokesperson said the company expects private civilian donations and sponsorships will fund each LAV III Monument manufacture, transport from London, Ont. and miscellaneous costs (such as the concrete pad to place it on), in an email to Global News. The community will also be responsible for maintenance and “use of the memorial in education programs.”
“A community LAV III Monument might be sponsored by an Armoury, a reserve infantry regiment, etc.,” wrote Donna Mills.
A community can apply to receive a monument through an online application form.
The locations will be chosen by a committee mostly made up of Afghanistan veterans, and chaired by Maj. Gen. David Fraser, a former Canadian Commander of an Afghanistan mission.
Afghanistan veteran Jody Mitic, a former sniper who lost both his legs below the knee and was recently elected an Ottawa city councillor, says the plan will help young Canadians remember the decade-long mission.
“We just really don’t have anything from Afghanistan that’s been decommissioned. If the funds are available and the will is there to build some replica LAVs, I think that’s an awesome idea. Because it keeps the conflict in people’s minds for the future.”
NDP defence critic Jack Harris said he agrees with the program if legions or military bases want the monuments, but cautioned that some Afghan veterans may think it’s too soon.
-With files from Laura Stone and Jacques Bourbeau
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