Ottawa -- Today, the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), announced plans for the Government of Canada to appropriately honour and recognize all Canadians and Newfoundlanders who served during the First World War. The announcement follows the death of John "Jack" Babcock, Canada's last known First World War Veteran, who passed away on February 18, 2010.

"While we have lost our last direct link to the First World War, we will continue to encourage young Canadians to remember and understand our proud military history and heritage," said Minister Blackburn. "The First World War is a defining part of the Canada we know today and it is a legacy that must be preserved for generations to come."

The Government of Canada will hold a national commemorative ceremony honouring all of Canada's First World War service men and women to pay tribute to their achievements and contributions. The ceremony will be held on "Vimy Ridge Day," Friday, April 9, 2010 in Ottawa at the National War Memorial-a symbol of the sacrifices of all Canadians who have served Canada in times of war in the cause of peace and freedom.

A number of other significant ceremonies of remembrance will be held on Friday, April 9 in locations across Canada and in our Allied nations of France and England. These will include international commemorative ceremonies that will take place at both the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, in France and at the Canada Memorial at Green Park, in London, England. In addition to this, some provinces and territories plan to conduct a commemorative ceremony in their respective capitals.

The Government of Canada is also providing the opportunity for the public to pay their respects by signing special Books of Reflection which will be on display at locations across Canada, including Parliament Hill, Rideau Hall, the Canadian War Museum as well as at each Provincial/Territorial Legislature. Books will also be available overseas at the Vimy Ridge National Historic Site, the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial National Historic Site, Canada House in London, England, and at the Canadian Forces Base in Kandahar. An online version of the Books of Reflection will also be available on the Veterans Affairs Canada Web site.

"Those who served our country during the First World War have often been called our Greatest Generation," said Minister Blackburn. "They earned that title. They deserve it. And the National Commemorative Ceremony will pay tribute to their great sacrifices, to their great achievements and to the many contributions they have made for all Canadians."

"We often take for granted our values and freedoms that this generation defended," said Minister Blackburn. "As we witness the end of an era, I encourage every Canadian to pause and reflect on the history that has made us who we are today."

For more information on plans to mark the end of an era, visit the Veterans Affairs Canada Web site.

Ottawa — The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), will join the friends and family of Canada's last known First World War Veteran, John "Jack" Babcock at a private memorial service tomorrow in Spokane, Washington, U.S.A.

"As the Prime Minister noted, the passing of Mr. Babcock marks the end of an era," says Minister Blackburn. "We as a country feel a tremendous sense of loss with the passing of our last known First World War Veteran, but we are committed to remembering the sacrifices of all those who served in the Great War."

As part of tomorrow's service, which was organized by the family, Minister Blackburn will present Mrs. Babcock with the Canadian flag that flew from the Peace Tower on the day of Mr. Babcock's passing. General Walter Natynczyk, Chief of the Defence Staff, will extend condolences on behalf of the Canadian Forces. Members of The Royal Canadian Regiment, with which Mr. Babcock served in the Canadian Army, will also participate in the service.

The Government of Canada will announce official plans in the coming days to recognize all those who served Canada during the First World War. In the meantime, Canadians are invited to pay their respects to Mr. Babcock and family in a virtual book of condolences available on the Veterans Affairs Canada Web site at www.vac-acc.gc.ca. Together, we will remember the sacrifices of Canada's Veterans and their fallen comrades.

Note — In order to respect the family's wishes, the memorial service is closed to media.

Québec - The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture) today launched a new Veterans Affairs Web feature called La force francophone, which aims to keep alive the memories of the men and women who sacrificed so much for our country. Participating with Minister Blackburn were five Veterans from the 82 who shared their recollections as part of this unique Web project, including the Honourable Gilles Lamontagne, former Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec and a former aviator with the Second World War bomber squadron, Les Alouettes.

"This Web site is truly unique in that it provides access to so many human-interest stories and to the never-before-revealed personal archives of Francophones from Quebec and across Canada," said Minister Blackburn. "Francophones from all parts of the country like the Honourable Gilles Lamontagne and Madame Cécile Grimard-Masson rolled up their sleeves and stepped in to help with the war effort. La force francophone will ensure that their stories are never forgotten."

La force francophone features more than 360 never-before-seen video vignettes, seven short documentaries, photo albums gleaned from the personal archives of the participants, and four interactive stories.

The project was made possible thanks to funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage's Canadian Culture Online - Canadian Memory Fund program. Other partners, such as Library and Archives Canada, the Directorate of History and Heritage at National Defence, and the National Film Board, provided content for La force francophone.

To visit La force francophone, go to www.vac-acc.gc.ca.

Backgrounder

Ottawa - Canada's last known First World War Veteran has passed away. John "Jack" Babcock, the man believed to be the last surviving Canadian to have served in the First World War, has died at age 109 in Spokane, Washington on February 18, 2010.

The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), today expressed his condolences to the family of Mr. Babcock, on behalf of all Canadians.

"Today marks the sad turning of a page," said Minister Blackburn. "With Mr. Babcock's passing away, there is no one left to tell us first-hand about this defining time in our history."

"More than 650,000 brave Canadians and Newfoundlanders served our country in the First World War," said Minister Blackburn. "Now that their voices have fallen silent, it becomes our duty-more than ever-to remember and honour their great sacrifices and their great achievements. We will never forget them."

Mr. Babcock was born July 23, 1900, and grew up on a farm in Kingston, Ontario. He was only 15 years old when he enlisted. After the war ended, Mr. Babcock moved to the United States where he remained until he passed away.

The passing of Canada's last known First World War Veteran marks the end of an era. The Government of Canada has plans to properly and respectfully mark this moment in our history. Canadians will have the opportunity to pay their respect and honour all those who served our country in the First World War. Details will be announced in the coming days. For more information please visit our Web site at www.vac-acc.gc.ca.

Biography: John "Jack" Babcock

Ottawa -- The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), Rear Admiral Nigel Greenwood, Assistant Chief of the Maritime Staff and Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the National Capital Commission (NCC), honoured the Centennial of Canada's Navy by illuminating an ice replica of HMCS Sackville as part of Winterlude 2010.

HMCS Sackville is the last remaining Flower-class corvette of the more than 120 built in Canada during the Second World War. One of the original members of the famous Barber Pole Group, the Sackville was commissioned in 1941. This group of ships, with its red and white barber pole stripes painted on the funnel, is still represented in our current navy.

"The victories we have achieved over the years would not have been possible without the tens of thousands of sailors who left the comforts of home and put out to sea," said Minister Blackburn. "Their contributions, their courage were every bit as remarkable. Every bit as crucial to the history of our country."

The Canadian Naval Centennial aims to build and strengthen Canadians' appreciation for our Navy from sea to sea to sea, and to promote the Navy's role within the Canadian Forces. The "Bring the Navy to Canadians" theme will see events across the country intended to honour the past and to remember those who gave their lives at sea, to showcase the current Navy and to reinforce the requirement for the Navy in the future.

"During this edition of Winterlude, we are pleased to have the opportunity to celebrate the Canadian Navy's Centennial," said Marie Lemay. "This ice sculpture, a replica of the HMCS Sackville, highlights the accomplishments of those who have served, and continue to serve Canada."

The ice sculpture is located at "Rogers Crystal Garden" in Confederation Park, downtown Ottawa. For more information on Winterlude 2010, visit www.winterlude.gc.ca. For more information on the Naval Centennial, visit www.navy.forces.gc.ca/centennial.