VIA RAIL RECOGNIZED FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO THE CANADIAN FORCES

Montréal, March 18, 2017 – VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) was honoured today as the best employer in Quebec by the Canadian Forces Liaison Council (CFLC) in recognition of the company’s outstanding support for members of Canada’s Reserve Forces. VIA Rail received the “Award of Excellence for Best Practice in Employer Support for Canada’s Reserve Forces” at a ceremony held at the Charles-Michel de Salaberry Armoury in Laval.  The event was attended by nearly a hundred representatives from the military community and hosted by Brigadier General Louis de Sousa.

Over the past few years, VIA Rail has increased its efforts to support Canada’s Reserve Forces and to encourage more veterans to join its staff. The Crown corporation has, among other initiatives, worked with its reservist employees to implement a new leave policy allowing employees who are in the Reserves to continue their military training or participate in temporary missions during military operations in Canada and abroad.

VIA Rail Canada was honoured today as the best employer in Quebec by the Canadian Forces Liaison Council in recognition of the company’s outstanding support for members of Canada’s Reserve Forces. On the picture: Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, President and CEO, VIA Rail, Lieutenant Sebastien Langlais, Combat engineer officer, 34 Combat Engineer Regiment, et Senior project manager, Rolling stock, VIA Rail; Major Daniel Doran, 34 Combat Engineer Regiment; et Adjudant Jean-Philippe Léonard, 34 Combat Engineer Regiment

Maintaining a long and proud tradition of supporting members of the military and veteran communities, VIA Rail has also entered into various partnerships with organizations such as the Canada Company Military Employment Transition Program, and the Commissionaire’s MISSION EMPLOI, both of which help former Canadian military members make the transition to civilian life.

“This honour reflects VIA Rail’s commitment to serve and support the dedicated men and women in uniform who make daily sacrifices for Canada,” said the President and Chief Executive Officer of VIA Rail, Yves Desjardins-Siciliano. “Veterans and reservists are a real asset to our company. VIA Rail can benefit greatly from their technical expertise, experience, discipline, and leadership, and we have a duty to facilitate their transition and integration to the civilian workplace.”

Involvement with the military community
In addition to its partnerships with veteran-hiring groups, VIA Rail also supports the military community through partnerships with the Royal Canadian Legion’s national Poppy Campaign, True Patriot Love, and the Canadian Army Run. VIA Rail has also partnered with the Vimy Foundation for the inauguration of the new Interpretation Centre for Canadian History and the centennial of victorious Battle of Vimy Ridge in France.

Furthermore, VIA Rail offers a 25% reduction on the best available fare to members of the Canadian Forces, as well as veterans and their families. Since 2010, over 160,000 military personnel have taken advantage of this offer and travelled on VIA Rail trains.

For more information on VIA Rail initiatives, visit its military community web site at: http://career.viarail.ca/en/why-choose-us/veterans-program.

About VIA Rail Canada
As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail (viarail.ca) and its 2,600 employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking over 400 communities across Canada, and about 180 more communities through intermodal partnerships, and safely transports nearly four million passengers annually. The Corporation was awarded seven Safety Awards by the Railway Association of Canada over the last eight years. For more information, visit: www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail.