Controversy erupts over Veteran Affairs’ social media post about ‘March holidays’

Veterans Affairs Canada faced backlash over a social media post that failed to mention Easter, sparking outrage and confusion among followers. The post, which wished people a “happy March holiday season” on Good Friday, led to hundreds of comments questioning the omission of Easter.

After the flood of angry comments, a second post specifically wishing followers a happy Easter was shared on Easter Sunday. However, the damage had already been done, with the initial post receiving 2.9 million views and over 4,800 comments by Thursday.

Pollster Angus Reid criticized the post, calling it “outrageous” and “shameful,” while others labeled it as insulting. Internal documents revealed that both posts were scheduled in advance, but the exclusion of Easter sparked a heated debate online.

An early draft of the post included mentions of multiple holidays such as Easter, Ramadan, Purim, St. Patrick’s Day, and the Spring equinox. However, the final version only included a photo of Armed Forces members preparing Easter dinner, omitting the other holidays.

When questioned by reporters about the omission of Easter, the communications team decided not to address the issue directly, opting for a more concise response. Despite the controversy, Veterans Affairs Canada staff worked over the Easter weekend to address the backlash and clarify their intentions behind the social media posts.