COMING IN 2024
All Veterans.
The Burns Way is a new and innovative initiative that will bring together Indigenous, non-Indigenous and Minority partners to improve access to mental health support for veterans right across Canada. The Burns Way seeks to build trust in the availability of services and puts the veteran in control of their journey to wellness.
What’s unique about The Burns Way is our commitment to creating new jobs for veterans, while providing a brand new layer of service and support that doesn’t exist today. Our mission is to mobilize an underutilized “militia” of Peer Support resources, bringing together a unique community of people with shared experiences as veterans or family members. Peer Advocates will provide judgment-free, confidential support whenever the need arises. The Burns Way will introduce a fresh set of support resources, designed to remove barriers to care.
Veterans and family members will soon be able to connect with Peer Advocates through a safe and confidential chat app. Simply download the free app or start a chat on our website. The anonymous nature of this service means that it is a safe, judgment-free space. Veterans and family members will never need to create an account or use a password to log in. Best of all, when the chat ends, all messages are automatically deleted, never saved. Peer Advocates are trained to listen, provide comfort, and offer advice. They prioritize making veterans and family members feel genuinely heard, safe, and valued.
For veterans who may need a higher level of professional care than the Peer Advocates can provide, an invitation to connect with a Burns Way Support Leader may be recommended. The Support Leader can then facilitate access and request permission from the veteran, to shift from anonymous to non-anonymous, offering a more tailored and personalized connection. The goal of the Support Leader is to assist veterans and family members in navigating the care system, working together to access treatment while remaining ‘tethered’ to compassionate support during this process.
The Burns Way will be accessible to everyone in Canada. The support and services provided will be provided in English, French, Spanish, and all Indigenous languages.
The Burns Way program wholeheartedly acknowledges and values the lived experiences of veterans who have served Canada with honour. By engaging veterans and family members as trained Peer Advocates, we will not only provide a supportive community, we will also cultivate a sense of purpose and contribution to a “veterans’ economy.”
Once funded, The Burns Way will hire up to 250 Peer Advocates.
Through empowering veterans as Peer Advocates, The Burns Way program embraces their unique perspectives and compassion, fostering a self-sustaining ecosystem that uplifts individuals and society as a whole. With a steadfast commitment to personal growth, professional development, and economic empowerment, The Burns Way honours veterans as catalysts for positive change.
Shame Reduction
Cultural Safety
Peer Support
Technology as a Facilitator
The Royal Canadian Legion and the Saskatchewan First Nations Veterans Association have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, pledging their support and cooperation for The Burns Way. Their shared goal is to create accessible services that cater to the needs of Indigenous and Minority veterans who have historically faced barriers to care.
The Burns Way has received formal endorsement from the First Nations Veterans Council of the Assembly of First Nations, the Dominion Executive Council of the Royal Canadian Legion, and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations through an All-Chiefs Resolution.
The program will also benefit from the guidance of a Mentor’s Group comprising veterans from the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP, and Indigenous communities.
Work is underway to provide more support to Indigenous veterans. A range of groups including the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), the Royal Canadian...
SASKATOON — The Burns Way Project, a newly formed non-profit organization with four organizations acting as administrators, is dedicated to advancing the causes of...
An army of volunteers helped serve veterans, their families and communities across Canada in 2022. Volunteer dedication enabled the Royal Canadian Legion to pull...
A literal army of volunteers helped serve Veterans, their families, and communities across Canada in 2022. Volunteer dedication enabled the Legion to pull through...
Comrade Bruce thanked the committee for delaying the previous VSS meeting, as Veteran Services was busy over the last several months with an increase of calls. VSS...
SASKATOON — Saskatchewan First Nations Veterans Association Grand Chief David Raymond Gamble is pleased that Indigenous Peoples who served in the Canadian Armed Forces...
Earl Burns — a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces — was among the 10 killed when a pair of attackers began entering homes on the James Smith Cree Nation As the James...
In Memory of
Earl Burns:
The Burns Way is named in remembrance and in honour of Earl Burns, a proud Veteran (Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry), a residential school survivor, and a member of the James Smith Cree Nation who died protecting his family and his community on September 4, 2022. Earl ultimately gave his life to save others. He was honoured posthumously with the Silver Cross, in recognition of his sacrifice and bravery.
The Burns Way is a not-for-profit corporation. It is governed by The Royal Canadian Legion, The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, Aboriginal Veterans Autochtones, and the Assembly of First Nations. We are committed to providing accessible, culturally safe, and reliable access to peer support for all veterans.
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As we work toward the 2024 launch of The Burns Way, we welcome input from stakeholders dedicated to improving services for veterans. We invite you to join our mailing list to stay informed and receive updates over the coming months.
1525 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1Z 8R9
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