From September 2023 to August 2024, the Royal Canadian Legion’s UBC Branch and UBC’s Institute for Veterans Education and Transition (IVET) joined forces to explore the unique challenges faced by veterans and military-connected individuals at UBC. The initiative brings community members together to create dialogue and foster a sense of belonging on the Vancouver campus.
“Many veterans feel isolated and struggle to adjust to academic life. We created events to help them feel like they belong in the UBC community. The partnership with the Legion gives veterans support beyond the classroom. This helps them grow both personally and professionally.”
– Paul Kwon, UBC Partner
The project focused on creating a space where veterans could connect, share their experiences, and learn about academic and career opportunities. Events brought together military-connected students, UBC faculty, researchers, and senior military leadership, creating a bridge between the academic and military communities. These gatherings also provided access to resources, research, and peer support, all aimed at easing the transition to academic life and enhancing veterans’ personal and professional growth.
See below for project details and a Q&A with project co-leads Eric Liow and Paul Kwon.
Project Details
Project title: UBC Legion Creating Veteran Friendly Campus Community
Project co-leads:
- Community Partner: Eric Liow, President, The Royal Canadian Legion
- UBC Partner: Paul Kwon, Manager of Finance and Operations, UBC Hiring Solutions
Project duration: September 2023- August 2024
Learn more:
This project was supported by the Partnership Recognition and Exploration (PRE) Fund.
Q&A with Eric Liow and Paul Kwon
Why is this project important and how is it supporting veterans at UBC?
Eric Liow (Legion Co-Applicant): This project allows the Legion branch on campus to connect with veterans at UBC. We offer events that build community, make connections, and provide invaluable support. It also promotes UBC as a veteran-friendly campus, showing that UBC is committed to the needs of veterans.
Paul Kwon (UBC Co-Applicant): Many veterans feel isolated and struggle to adjust to academic life. We created events to help them feel like they belong in the UBC community. The partnership with the Legion gives veterans support beyond the classroom. This helps them grow both personally and professionally.
What strengths did each party bring to the project?
Eric Liow: UBC’s involvement brought academic credibility to the project and allowed us to reach a wider audience across campus.
Paul Kwon: The Legion brought strong ties to the military community. They provided valuable insights into veterans’ needs and helped engage military-connected students. They also played a crucial role in securing participation from military contacts.
What opportunities did participants have to teach, learn, or do research?
Eric Liow: Veterans shared their personal experiences with UBC staff and students. This helped the UBC community better understand the unique challenges that veterans face when transitioning to academic life.
Paul Kwon: Veterans participated in workshops focused on practical skills like resume writing and job market navigation. These sessions helped them feel more confident about their future career paths.
What was your favourite outcome or experience from the project?
Eric Liow: My favorite experience was the meeting with Minister of Veteran Affairs, Ginette Petitpas Taylor. We discussed creating a more veteran-friendly campus at UBC. It was exciting to see that our project could have an impact not only at UBC but possibly influence broader policy for veterans on other campuses.
Paul Kwon: One of my favorite outcomes was the Meet and Greet at Seaforth Armoury. Veterans, UBC students, Legion members, and senior military officials came together in one space. It was great to see the connections that formed and how this event helped bridge the gap between the UBC and veteran communities.
Can you share a few lessons you learned during your project?
Eric Liow and Paul Kwon:
- Veterans need ongoing support. One-time events are helpful, but regular and ongoing engagement is critical to build a strong community.
- Collaboration is key. Working closely with both UBC and the Legion was essential to the project’s success. Each party brought unique strengths that allowed us to address multiple needs at once.
- Personalized programs work best. Veterans benefit most when programs are tailored to their specific challenges. We found that hands-on support, like peer mentoring, made a real difference in their experience.
What is next for this project?
Eric Liow and Paul Kwon:
Next, we plan to:
- Collaborate with UBC Press to highlight the history of the Canadian Armed Forces and veterans’ contributions at UBC.
- Set up a booth at UBC’s staff and faculty welcome BBQ, reaching out to more UBC staff.
- Participate in UBC’s Remembrance Day events with support from the Ceremonies and Events team.
- Continue hosting social events similar to those held this year to strengthen the veteran community.