Brian N. Forbes, B.Comm., LL.B. (1948-2024) was the Association Solicitor of The War Amps since 1975. He was also the Chairman of the National Council of Veterans Associations in Canada. Brian was a respected authority on Veterans Legislation, contributing extensively to parliamentary committees and legal appeals. His successful advocacy led to improved pension entitlements and a broader definition of the Exceptional Incapacity Allowance for seriously disabled Veterans.
Brian was a member of the Gerontological Advisory Council, Canadian Forces Advisory Council, New Veterans Charter Advisory Group, and various Veteran consultation groups established by Veterans Affairs Canada. He was always willing to help address the concerns of Veterans and their families.
Sadly, Brian passed away in December 2024.
Transcript
Brian Forbes has been the Association Solicitor of the War Amputations of Canada since 1975 to his passing in 2024. He was involved with a number of hearings on behalf of our veterans for pension improvements, and also an expansion of the Exceptional Incapacity Act. He also took cases to the Human Rights Commission in Geneva on behalf of the Hong Kong Veterans and the Indigenous Veterans and was quite successful in those endeavors.
He was a pretty good mentor to a number of people within the War Amputations of Canada. Brian never wanted the platitudes. He never wanted people to think that he was doing this work because he was looking for awards. You know, I miss him every day. We worked together for so many years. The conversations that we've had over those years are... I go back to quite regularly and use those to influence decisions I have to make now that he's no longer with us.
Brian is exceptionally deserving of this award. I think it's important for him to get this award because he's done so much for Veterans over 49 years, and I would never want his memory to disappear. That people wouldn't realize what he did.