Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 17 VETERAN LICENSE PLATES PROJECT The concept of a Veteran’s license plate was first introduced during convention in Truro in May of 2001 by then Cape Breton District Commander and Command Public Relations Chairman Comrade JimMullins. The concept was accepted in principal by the convention delegates as a visible means to recognize our Veterans in Nova Scotia. Following the May 2001 convention, the Vice-Chairman of Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command (NS/NUC) and new Public Relations Chairman Comrade Steve Wessel, continued to pursue the idea of introducing a Veterans license plate in Nova Scotia. On 15 November 2001, Comrade Wessel met with the N.S. Provincial government’s Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, chaired by Mr. William Langille, and made presentation for the acceptance of a Veterans license plate. The Standing Committee agreed, by motion, to recommend to the Minister of Service N.S. and Municipal Relations, Mr. Angus MacIsaac, for the acceptance of such a plate. After several meetings between Comrade Wessel, Service N.S., and Minister MacIsaac, a plate design and an application form supplied by NS/NUC were agreed upon. Service N.S. would produce and distribute the plates and NS/NUC of The Royal Canadian Legion would be the authorizing agent for verification of Veteran status. In February 2003, after 15 months of intensive negotiations, then serving President of NS/NUC Comrade Fred Mombourquette, installed the very first Veterans license plate on his personal vehicle. The first such plate in Nova Scotia – and in Canada! The license plate project was subsequently adopted and instituted by every Legion Command in every province across Canada. Following intensive lobbying by Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command and the UN NATO Veterans Association, in November 2016, the N.S. government finally unveiled a motorcycle plate for Veterans which eventually hit the roads in the spring of 2017. The mission statement of The Royal Canadian Legion states: Our mission is to serve Veterans, which includes serving military and RCMP members and their families, to promote remembrance and to serve our communities and our country. By lobbying for, and instituting this recognition for the Veterans of Nova Scotia, and of Canada, we believe that we have assisted in fulfilling this mission statement on behalf of our Veterans and their families. continued ...
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