Ninety-seven-year-old Lieutenant (Ret’d) Wolf William Solkin is a World War Two Veteran, who helped liberate the Netherlands in 1945. Today, he is still fighting, only now it’s for the rights of his fellow Canadian Veterans. As president of the Veterans Committee at Ste. Anne’s hospital, where he is a resident, Wolf is a staunch advocate for the approximately 100 Veterans who call the hospital home.
He is especially attuned to the quality of care he and his fellow Veterans receive at Ste. Anne’s. Unsatisfied with what he saw as a drastic deterioration in services at the hospital since its transfer from the federal to provincial government in 2016, Wolf filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of more than 150 Veterans and their families.
Recently, he launched a letter writing campaign lobbying for stronger safety measures to protect the most vulnerable residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has even planted the idea of currently serving military personnel visiting the residents to raise spirits and lift morale. He has made a multitude of positive changes to Veteran’s care and services at St. Anne’s.
Wolf supports a number of causes important to younger Veterans as well. For example, he raises awareness for the Canadian Walk for Veterans, the Liberation 75 Tulip and the health impacts of mefloquine.
In addition to his advocacy work, Wolf is the editor-in-chief of a bilingual newsletter enjoyed by the hospital’s residents, outpatients, staff, volunteers and family members.