Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo donates unclaimed jackpot  to help homeless Veterans

Every year since 1979, the world has enjoyed the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo. It all started to mark the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother for the for the International Gathering of the Clans. 

The show is a week-long event and has everything from bagpipes and highland dancers to acrobats and military competitions.  Canadian and International military personnel are featured, along with civilian performers, making it a fast-paced, and highly entertaining show for the whole family. 

This year, when their July 1st matinee jackpot of $8,875 went unclaimed – twice – they donated the money to Veterans Emergency Transition Services Canada (VETS). Tattoo organizers held the first draw, and after 90 days, they held the second draw, but still, nobody claimed it. As the law requires, the Tattoo must donate the winnings to a charity of their choice. 

“The Tattoo has always championed the Canadian Armed Forces and its brave service members, both active and retired,” said Harvey Morrison, Q.C., Chair of the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Society. “We chose to donate to VETS Canada in light of their tremendous work supporting homeless and at-risk veterans, and we applaud all of their endeavours to help veterans.”

VETS Canada was founded in 2010, by Jim Lowther, a Halifax veteran. It is a national, volunteer-driven nonprofit organization that supports homeless and at-risk veterans, providing them with aid and comfort, and assisting them in reintegrating into civilian life. 

The organization has a network of 135,00 people and volunteers across the country to identify and help homeless and at-risk veterans. They connect veterans to needed health care and help them access benefits and services from other organizations.

VETS Canada is about to open a drop-in centre which will be located in Dartmouth next month. While it is the first one in Nova Scotia, it will be the third of its kind opened in Canada.

 For more information on VETS Canada, visit their website.

For more information on Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo.