The War Amps

The War Amps is a Canadian registered nonprofit organization,^[1] established in 1918 with the purpose of assisting veteran amputees. Initially founded to serve war veterans with financial and advisory supports, the non-profit has since expanded their services to assist to all amputees in Canada.^[2]

The association provides multiple programs that specifically target the needs of child, adult, and veteran amputees. The charity generates funding through the offering of their Key Tag and Address Label services, in which donations are made optional.

History

The organization began as The Amputation Club of British Columbia. However, it later became The War Amputations of Canada, eventually shortening to the War Amps.^[3]

Services

• Key Tags: Beginning in 1946 war amputees were given work by producing key tags. In 1972, this program began to serve year-round employment for disabled staff. If a pair of keys are found with a War Amps tag, giving them to either police or the postal service will allow the keys to come back to their rightful owners. War Amps reports that the key service has returned more than a million lost keys.^[4]
• Operation Legacy: A program designed to preserving and commemorate Canada’s military heritage by teaching youth about Canadian wartime history.^[5]
• Documentaries: War Amps has produced a number of documentaries about Canada’s military heritage.^[6]

Notable contributors

• Adrian Anantawan, active member and spokesperson
• Mary Riter Hamilton painted for 'The Gold Stripe', a collection of work chronicling the Great War with all proceeds going to War Amps.
• Mark Arendz, Canadian Paralympian

References

External links

• Official website