Connection, purpose and belonging are taking shape through the Veteran’s Lodge. In the military or policing, a shared understanding often doesn’t need to be explained: It lives in the routine, the humour, the shared experiences and in the people beside you; your brothers and sisters in uniform.
For Anne Soanes-Bernard, her transition out of the Royal Canadian Navy was not as straightforward as she’d anticipated. One of the most significant changes she experienced was no longer having the same sense of connection and shared understanding military life naturally created for her. The idea for the Veteran’s Lodge came from recognizing the importance of community during – and after –service.
The Nova Scotia Veterans Lodge Society, operating as The Veteran’s Lodge in the Kingston/ Greenwood area, is an incorporated Nova Scotia not-for-profit society. The Veteran’s Lodge is guided by a board of directors made up of veterans, and continues to grow through serving members and veterans who want to contribute their skills, experiences and ideas toward building something meaningful. It is a veteran-led, non-clinical community, currently operating virtually through both a public and a private Facebook presence to support serving and released members of the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP.
While those involved are working toward establishing a physical space, the foundation of the lodge is already taking shape through conversations online, and informal meet-ups, including participation in initiatives such as Op VETBUILD and a Sunday music jam at the Kingston Legion, yoga and more. Ideas are welcome.
If you are a serving member, veteran or member of the RCMP community looking for connection, purpose or simply a place where you do not have to explain yourself, you are welcome at The Veterans Lodge. To learn more, visit veteranslodge.ca, follow the public Facebook page, or join a private Facebook veteran community group from the public page.
