The Ottawa Unit meets regularly for remembrance, fellowship, and support. As the largest unit and located in the National Capital Region, Ottawa Unit has historically carried many national-level responsibilities representing MNAC.
I was at No. 22 Canadian General Hospital near Bramshott when a VIP visited and asked to see any patients who had participated in Dieppe. We circulated and asked each of our men in Blues. “I did!” volunteered an enthusiastic young fellow with a decidedly German accent. He seemed rather dismayed when told he didn’t qualify. He had been on the wrong side!
Date: To be confirmed – November 2026Location: To be confirmed Members of the Ottawa Unit and Guests are invited to join us for the annual Remembrance Day Luncheon to commemorate all who have died in the cause of Service, all who have served, and to share stories and camaraderie of the day. Registration details to […]
Date: OngoingLocation: Online “The Fruit Machine” is free to view online. Through the voices of survivors, this powerful documentary tells the story of the LGBT Purge and how fear and hate destroyed thousand of young lives of members of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Public Service.
Date: 12 September 2026, 1900Location: Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa See the faces of the unremembered in this sunset ceremony at the National Military Cemetery of Canada. Join the families and friends of the soldiers who gave their lives in service. Unite with us as we lift the stigma on suicide in the military, RCMP and OPP […]
Date: 9 August 2026Location: Ottawa Veterans and Canadian Armed Forces personnel who have served in various peace support efforts will gather at events across the country to honour their comrades. A national ceremony is held each year in Ottawa at the Peacekeeping Monument on the Sunday closest to August 9.
“A gifted leader, educator, and administrator, Edith Catherine Rayside helped shape Canadian military nursing during the First World War and the nursing profession that emerged in its aftermath.” When Edith Catherine Rayside enlisted in the Canadian Army Medical Corps in February 1916, she brought with her nearly fifteen years of nursing experience, a university education, […]
Our heartfelt congratulations to Captains (Ret’d) Mary Ann Barber, Anne Richards, France Bergeron, and Colonel Carolyn Blanchard whose service and sacrifices were honoured with beautiful Quilts of Valour™ in January, April, May, and June 2026, respectively. From the Quilt of Valour™ website: A Quilt of Valour™ is a hug from a grateful nation and a […]
On June 26th, we had the immense pleasure of hosting a birthday celebration for the remarkable Nursing Sister Ida Crocker at Perley Health, just ahead of her 105th birthday on June 29th. It was truly a wonderful day—Ida was joyful, animated, and full of light-hearted conversation. The room was filled with laughter and admiration as she […]
Royal Canadian Navy Monument, Richmond Island, Ottawa Colonel (Ret’d) Gisèle Fontaine, President MNAC-OU joined other dignitaries including Rear-Admiral (Ret’d), The Honourable Rebecca Patterson, OMM, MSM, CD, Senator; Marie-France Lalonde, MP; Major-General Scott Malcolm, CMM, MSC, CD, Canadian Armed Forces Surgeon-General; Colonel Carolyn Blanchard, CD, Canadian Armed Forces Chief Nursing Officer; and more in a solemn […]
The MNAC-OU 2026 AGM and May Luncheon held on 29 May 2026 was a wonderful celebration of connection, shared stories and cheerful company! Here are some of the highlights: Significant Milestones Achieved: Chief Nursing Officer Update. Canadian Armed Forces CNO, Colonel Carolyn Blanchard, gave an informative presentation on changes to the Nursing Officer Occupation. It […]
Lieutenant (Ret’d) Jill Ellwood and Major (Ret’d) Linda Jackson, CD, attended the First Poppy Ceremony at Rideau Hall on 16 October 2025. They had the honour of speaking with the Governor General and Commander-In-Chief for Canada, Her Excellency, The Right Honourable Mary Simon, CC, CMM, COM, OQ, CD.
On Monday, 10 July 2025, a small ceremony was held at Perley Health in Otttawa to commemorate the naming of a street in honour of 101-year-old Lieutenant-Colonel (Ret’d) Jessie Chenevert. First serving as a Nursing Sister during the Korean War, Jessie remained in the Canadian Armed Forces after the war and retired at the rank […]
We have been back here quietly swabbing away for a few months and taking care of the people so they are fit and ready to go out and do their part.