A 100-year-old B.C. charity and its legacy respiratory healthcare

Respiratory care is an essential part of total healthcare, and one Vancouver non-profit has been providing cutting-edge care for decades.

Starting out as a place of salvation for Canadian veterans returning from the First World War, TB Vets has a long and proud history right here in B.C. 

And even with 100 years under their belt, they’re just getting started. Here’s a look at their proud history and a glimpse into the future. 

The very beginning 

TB Vets’ acclaimed legacy dates all the way back to 1925, a time when Canadian World War I veterans with tuberculosis (TB) were shunned and neglected by government and society. 

In case you’re not familiar, TB is an infectious disease that mainly impacts the lungs and is caused by a type of bacteria. It was common during the early twentieth century, occurring frequently through exposure to wartime conditions like dampness and crowding. 

With no other options, these brave men banded together to advocate for their rights that were taken away — meaningful healthcare, employment, and benefits.

As a result, the Tuberculosis Veterans Section (TVS) of the Royal Canadian Legion was born, including the integral Legion TVS Branch #44 in Vancouver. 

The birth of the Key Tag program

TB Vets

Just as it had happened years before, veterans with tuberculosis once again faced hardship following the end of World War II in 1945. Without effective treatment for TB, vets were still met with unemployment and a lack of social acceptance.

To help, the TB Vets Key Tag program was created. Veterans made key tags by hand, giving them a way to earn income. Each tag had a unique number. If someone lost their keys, they could put them in a mailbox, and the post office would use the number to return the keys to the owner.

This program not only provided jobs for veterans but also offered a simple, reliable service to the public.

You can still request a TB Vets Key Tag today to add to your key ring, and your donation will go towards funding respiratory equipment for people in B.C.

Groundbreaking work

The 1950s were marked by the development of proven TB treatment, greatly improving the lives of veterans.

Then, in 1977, the important Tuberculois & Chest Disabled Veterans Association founded the TB Vets Charitable Foundation, which committed to supporting respiratory health throughout the entire community. 

Lifesaving care and essential programs 

TB Vets continues to support and provide essential respiratory care throughout the province, honouring the veterans who started the program back in the 1940s.

Their hard work can still be seen today across the charity’s many important fundraisers and programs, like the key tags.

Now, every year, TB Vets’ help reaches even further, funding approximately 20 ventilators, providing bursaries to respiratory therapy students, and contributing to important lung health research.

In fact, since its inception, TB Vets has given out more than $16 million in respiratory grants.

Honouring legacy and building the future 

TB Vets

TB Vets runs three main fundraisers to support essential programs through public donations.

One initiative, Carter’s Project, was created to honour nine-year-old Carter Vigh from 100 Mile House, who sadly passed away following a severe asthma attack caused by heavy wildfire smoke in the summer of 2023.

With the need for clean air solutions at an all-time high, TB Vets has teamed up with B.C. Lung Foundation to bring air quality tools and education to Dawson Creek and Gold River. 

Panda Warmers, another important project from TB Vets, helps newborns in the hospital stay safe and warm. This is done using advanced devices that are equipped with built-in resuscitation and suctioning capabilities, and each costs approximately $40,000. 

Donate today

With 100 years under its belt, TB Vets is excited to continue its outreach to the community and beyond.

Always honouring and remembering its past, and working towards a better future, TB Vets is providing essential care that you can help fund.

Learn more about TB Vets and its amazing legacy, and donate to Panda Warmers, Carter’s Project, or the Key Tag program today to help fund important healthcare.