Royal Canadian Legion

Who we serve

 

The Royal Canadian Legion Veterans Services Network serves Veterans, members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Reserve Force, serving and retired RCMP, and their families, providing support, referrals, representation, advocacy and financial assistance, always free of charge, Legion member or not.

The Legion's definition of a Veteran

“A Veteran is any person who is serving or who has honorably served in the Canadian Armed Forces, the Commonwealth or its wartime allies, or as a Regular Member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or as a Peace Officer in a Special Duty Area or on a Special Duty Operation, or who has served in the Merchant Navy or Ferry Command during wartime.”


Legion services for Veterans and their families

The Legion provides a range of services and supports for Veterans, their families and dependents. In addition to directly assisting Veterans and their families with the disability claims process through Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), the Legion offers a variety of programs, resources and referrals to support Veteran health, transition to civilian life, financial assistance and well-being.

If you are a Veteran or family of a Veteran that needs help,

please contact a Legion Command Service Officer.

 

Learn how Legion Service Officers can help

 

At the local Legion Branches, Branch Services Officers are volunteers that outreach to Veterans in their communities.

 

A Branch volunteer Service Officer will:

  • conduct outreach in the community to identify Veterans and their families in need
  • assist the Veteran in completing the Legion Claims Form and refer them to a Legion Command Service Officer for individual assistance
  • coordinate benevolent financial assistance through the Branch Poppy Fund
  • conduct visits to Veterans in retirement and long term care facilities
  • refer Veterans to support and care programs as offered through the Branch and local community

 

Provincial Command Professional Service Officers are mandated by legislation to provide representation at all levels of the disability claim process. 

 

A Provincial Command Professional Service Officer will:

 

  • provide individual, confidential assistance with the VAC disability claims process 
  • coordinate benevolent financial assistance through the Provincial Command Poppy Fund, beyond what a Branch can provide
  • provide referrals to appropriate Legion and provincial Veteran support programs and resources
  • provide a referral to a Dominion Command Service Officer for additional assistance and free, professional representation with VAC benefits and appeals

 

Dominion Command Professional Service Officers provide additional support and representation for complicated cases and disability claims decision appeals.

A Dominion Command Professional Service Officer will:

  • support all stages of accessing VAC benefits, from first application with the Veterans Affairs disability claims process, up to and including professional representation in a Request for Reconsideration with the Veterans Review and Appeal Board
  • request benevolent financial assistance through the Dominion Command Poppy Fund, beyond what a Provincial Command can provide
  • obtain referrals to appropriate Legion and national Veteran support programs and resources
  • provide assistance for Canadian Veterans abroad, and Allied Veterans living in Canada