# Canada's Surviving World War II and Korean War Veterans Decline The number of living veterans from these two conflicts has dropped to 4,306. - **Source:** [La Presse](https://www.lapresse.ca) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/3d8ad58e-7a82-4fda-8692-915b894ce87f ## Rapid Decline in Numbers Veterans Affairs Canada reports that the number of living Canadian veterans who served in World War II and the Korean War has fallen to approximately 4,306. This is a significant decrease from the 5,649 individuals estimated to be alive at the same time last year, reflecting the advanced age of the survivors. ## Aging Veteran Population Most surviving World War II veterans are now nearing 100 years of age. Meanwhile, those who served during the Korean War are generally between 90 and 95 years old. These figures highlight the rapid transition toward a period where direct personal links to these major twentieth-century global conflicts will soon vanish entirely. ## Loss of Historical Connection Michael Petrou, a historian at the Canadian War Museum, notes that Canada is losing its last living connection to World War II. He emphasizes that the nation was deeply shaped by these events, making the loss of personal testimonies a profound moment for citizens and historians who value these direct human experiences. ## Documenting Personal Histories To preserve these memories, Petrou recently edited the book Ripples of War: The Canadian Veteran Experience. Published on November 2, the work compiles academic essays and personal reflections. It specifically highlights diverse groups, including Indigenous peoples and merchant mariners, who were historically excluded from formal veteran status for many decades. ## Oral History Project The book originated from a museum oral history project titled Their Story, which involved extensive interviews with World War II veterans. Petrou considers himself fortunate to have conducted these interviews, acknowledging that future generations will no longer have the opportunity to engage with these individuals directly to learn about their wartime service. ## Broader Military Context While the focus remains on the oldest veterans, the 2021 census provided a broader snapshot of the Canadian military community. It identified 461,240 veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces living across the country, with a much younger average age of 61 years, illustrating the vast demographic difference between modern and historical cohorts. ## Historical Scale of Service Over 1.1 million Canadians and Newfoundlanders served during World War II, with more than 45,000 losing their lives. In the Korean War, nearly 26,000 Canadians served, resulting in 516 casualties. These numbers underscore the immense scale of mobilization that defined Canada's military contribution to international security during the mid-twentieth century. ## National Remembrance Ceremonies Three centenarian World War II veterans are scheduled to attend the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa this Wednesday. Their presence serves as a symbolic bridge between the past and present, honoring the sacrifices made during these conflicts as the nation prepares for a future without any living veterans from these wars. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/national/2026-11-10/seconde-guerre-mondiale-et-guerre-de-coree/le-canada-compte-4306-veterans.php?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=fil&utm_campaign=actualites — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._