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The private foundation announced $1-million for mental-health programs and services, $500,000 for physical health and rehabilitation, and another $500,000 for soldiers’ family health and support.

“It shows the men and women of the Canadian Forces that we care about them, that the citizens of Canada care about them, that business leaders care about them and that we’re standing with them.”

Mr. Francis said the foundation money, drawn from fundraising efforts including a gala dinner planned for Nov. 1 in Toronto, is meant to fill gaps in what the military can provide.

“I feel confident that our soldiers are a priority for them,” Mr. Francis said in an interview. “That said, there are certain things the government statutorily doesn’t have the ability or the know-how to deal with. We don’t leave it solely to our government to cure cancer so we take the approach that we’re not going to leave it solely to the government to deal with our soldiers.

“We have a very small per cent of the population protecting the rest. We ask a lot of these people.”

Brigadier-General Craig Hilton said the fighting forces appreciate the civilian help to “complement” the military’s efforts.

“The care and support of our own has always been a priority for the Canadian military,” Brig.-Gen. Hilton said, adding the forces are paying attention to emerging mental-health issues.

“All wounds are not visible,” he said.

The need for mental-health support was identified last year in an independent report to the foundation that analyzed the largest gaps in services for soldiers and their families.