Karen Breeck receives Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation

Anita Vandenbeld, Major (Retired) Dr. Karen Breeck and Minister of Veterans Affairs Jill McKnight at the presentation of Karen’s Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation.

Federal Retirees is delighted to congratulate Major (Retired) Dr. Karen J. Breeck on receiving the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation, recognizing her outstanding volunteer contributions to the health and well-being of veterans.

Karen joined Federal Retirees in 2009, the year she was medically released after two decades as an aerospace medicine specialist and flight surgeon in the Canadian Armed Forces. She has recalled leaving military service with “a sense of unfinished business.” That pull to do more has stayed with her, finding expression in advocacy, research, mentorship and support for other veterans.

Over more than 15 years, Karen’s relationship with Federal Retirees has grown into a close and productive partnership. She has brought her perspective as a veteran, physician, researcher and advocate to the association, along with an unwavering commitment to supporting serving and retired military and RCMP members. Her volunteerism has helped bring greater attention to the experiences of veterans, especially women veterans, in policy, research and public discussion.

“Karen has been a true partner to Federal Retirees for more than 15 years,” says Anthony Pizzino, CEO of Federal Retirees. “Her insight has helped to shape our advocacy. She encouraged us to confront gender blindness in military and veteran systems, listen more closely to women veterans and champion equitable outcomes for all veterans. The work we have done together has made a real difference for our members and for veterans across Canada.”

Our collaboration has taken many forms over the years, such as efforts that helped ensure single members transitioning from the military received the same access to Public Service Health Care Plan benefits as their married counterparts. In 2019, Karen and the association teamed up to launch the Women Veteran Research and Engagement Network (WREN), which has since contributed to parliamentary testimony, policy briefings and work on the Alternative Federal Budget.

More recently, Karen was a driving force behind the Women Veterans Engage: Ottawa Workshop, co-hosted by Federal Retirees in October 2025 as part of the Invisible No More Project. The event brought together women veterans, researchers, advocates and parliamentarians to discuss the Invisible No More report, barriers to participation in parliamentary studies and what meaningful implementation of its recommendations should look like.

Karen has given generously of her time and expertise in so many other ways as well, contributing to articles and briefings, recruiting new members, mentoring others and helping preserve the legacy of Brigadier-General Sheila Hellstrom, Canada’s first woman general and an association member.

“Karen’s commitment speaks to something at the heart of Federal Retirees, the willingness of people who served Canada to continue supporting one another,” says Gisèle Tassé-Goodman, Federal Retirees’ board chair. “On behalf of the board, I congratulate her on this well-deserved honour and thank her for everything she has given to our members and to all who have served.”

This commendation is a fitting recognition of what Karen has helped make possible, for our members and for everyone who has served. On behalf of our membership, board and staff: congratulations, Karen, and thank you.

Read the Government of Canada’s commendation citation for Karen Breeck.