A group of U of GH students, staff delivered postcards to veterans at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 101, with some mailed to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
On Remembrance Day and throughout November, Canadians and the University of Guelph-Humber (U of GH) community are reflecting on and honouring those who have served and sacrificed in the fight for freedom.
As we reflect on the significance of Remembrance Day on Nov.11, we honour the courage, service, and sacrifice of all who have defended freedom and peace. We also recognize Indigenous Veterans Day on Nov. 8, acknowledging the vital contributions and sacrifices made by First Nation, Inuit, and Métis service members who have long played a crucial role in Canada’s military history. These days of remembrance allow us to collectively honour and express our gratitude for the many sacrifices made, while also acknowledging the diverse groups who have served throughout our history.
To honour our veterans, students and staff at U of GH participated in Postcards for Peace. Through this initiative, members of our community took a moment of pause to think about these sacrifices and write postcards of gratitude for veterans, which were delivered on Remembrance Day. Veterans Affairs Canada inspired this activity.
For the first time at U of GH, a small group of students and staff personally delivered these meaningful messages of remembrance to veterans at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 101. Postcards were also mailed to veterans at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where U of GH has previously sent postcards.
“Remembrance Day is a day where we're encouraging everyone to remember the sacrifice and how much safety and security we enjoy within Canada, largely due to the veterans who supported that,” Student Services Department Head Susan Thomas said, whose Student Life team drove Postcards for Peace at U of GH.
Writing a postcard was deeply personal for third-year Business student Aaron Dawang, whose great-grandfather served in the Philippines army during World War II and was killed during the Bataan Death March.
He urged students to remember that those who fought in wars are more than just a number; they must be humanized as people who’ve lived fulsome lives before war, including his great-grandfather who was a farmer before serving in the military.
“You realize that it's not just numbers but lives [of people] who come from so many different backgrounds and so many different upbringings, for one purpose. It's good to honour that,” Dawang said of soldiers’ united purpose to serve their country.
“I feel like in the midst of all the violence, we have a role to play, and that's to create peace and harmony with everybody else,” he added.
Moreover, third-year Early Childhood Studies student Taylor Mathura was one of the volunteers who delivered the postcards – an experience she said “means a lot” to her.
“It provided an opportunity to show support and say thank you to veterans, while remembering those who have given their lives for our freedom and safety – and continue to do so. It’s a way to express appreciation for the sacrifices that allow us to live without constantly fearing for the things we hold dear,” Mathura said.
She said one of the reasons she wanted to deliver the postcards was because she feels she contributed to “something that really represents the heart of the U of GH community.”
“[It’s] a reminder that everyone is valued and has a community of support behind them, even when they can’t see it,” Mathura said.
To read more about how our students are engaging with history and honouring veterans in meaningful ways, click here.
