On Remembrance Day in 2013, many veterans in Sydney marked the occasion with a tinge of sadness about the pending closure of their Veterans Affairs Office.
But on Wednesday, they were buoyed by hope that the office, and others across the country, will reopen under the new Justin Trudeau government.
"The veterans that fought, some died for our freedom,” said veteran Jamie Kyte. “It makes us feel that we are being appreciated by the government."
Tears were shed the day the Sydney office closed, along with eight other offices across the country in a decision made by the previous Stephen Harper government.
Veterans were left accessing help through a Service Canada office in Halifax.
Reopening the offices was a campaign promise made by new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – a promise Sydney Liberal MP Mark Eyking says government plans to follow through on.
"We're not only committed to opening up these offices, but we're going to have more staff,” said Eyking.
The new Liberal veterans affairs minister, Kent Hehr, agrees they will keep their election promise to reopen the nine offices across the country.
"We're getting down to work on it right now,” Hehr told CTV News from Ottawa. “Come the spring, we'll have some concrete plans, and get some of these things rolling out. I can see a lot of this real change being accomplished in the next calendar year."
If the veterans’ offices reopen, the one in Sydney may not return to the same building. But veterans say they’re not too concerned about the location.
"It's not 'if', it's 'when' it (opens),” said John Morrison, president of Branch 12 of the Royal Canadian Legion. “It is going to happen, and it doesn't matter if it's in the same building."
Eyking says facility space and staffing are among the logistics that need to be worked out.
“By spring time, I think you're going to see action. But first of all, it has to be costed out. We're going to do this right," he said.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ryan MacDonald.
