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The latest step in getting Jess Larochelle a Victoria Cross for his bravery in Afghanistan takes place in the House of Commons next week
Published Apr 08, 2026 • 2 minute read
Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Pauline Rochefort, Bruce Mocur and Mike Harrison in Restoule for ceremony for Jess Larochelle in Restoule in July. Next week Rochefort brings a petition supporting awarding a Victoria Cross to Jess Larochelle Photo by FILE PHOTOArticle content
Nipissing-Timiskaming Liberal MP Pauline Rochefort will before the House of Commons to present a petition on behalf of the late Jess Larochelle. Larochelle was a Canadian war hero in Afghanistan in 2006. This message came from the MP’s office on Wednesday.
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https://www.nugget.ca/news/local-news/jess-larochelles-victoria-cross-drive-gets-some-national-juice
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“I am looking forward to meeting with all of the folks who were instrumental in getting the petition to this stage. I am proud to bring awareness to Canada’s brave Veterans, especially in this case, Afghanistan Veterans, and the military families who are the unsung support systems of our Armed Forces,” says Rochefort.
https://www.nugget.ca/news/jess-larochelles-attempt-for-victoria-cross-heads-to-ottawa
Mike Harrison is another Afghanistan veteran who has led the charge for years to get Larochelle the Victoria Cross. The Canadian version of the award was created in 1993, none have been award to Canadian veterans for valour in the field. Harrison is looking forward to being in Ottawa in person next week. He was philosophical about the petition reading next week.
https://www.nugget.ca/news/local-afghanistan-war-veteran-closer-to-victoria-cross
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“Democracies are living, breathing projects. They grow and learn from mistakes. Our country has made mistakes in the past. We’ve adapted. We’ve apologized. We’ve made steps to make things right.
Veterans of every war since World War II are asking the government to recognize that there have been mistakes and to take steps to make things right. We are asking our country to look inwards, to grow and to award medals for bravery where the acts merit it.
The beauty of Canada isn’t the steadfast adherence to past decisions made bureaucrats- but our ability to stick up for one another and to do the right thing. On 15 April, we are asking the government to do the right thing,” says Harrison.
https://www.nugget.ca/news/local-afghanistan-war-veteran-closer-to-victoria-cross
John Hetherington is a local historian who has led battlefield tours (Liberation Tours is the company name) to Europe for over a decade. Hetherington didn’t mince words when asked, at a recent event in Powassan, why no one has been awarded Canada’s Victoria Cross and the fact that Jess Larochelle supporters are still waiting.
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“Finally (there is movement), it has a taken a lot of pushing and it is still not there. You take a look at a lot of other Commonwealth countries that had troops in Afghanistan, and they have received Victoria Crosses. Australia has (6) awarded them but not Canada,” says Hetherington.
John Cannon is Hetherington’s boss with Liberation Tours. Cannon has made more than 20 trips to battlefield sites across Europe. Cannon echoes Hetherington’s feelings about the Victoria Cross not being awarded.
“I find it odd, it has not been awarded since the Second World War. There are so many acts of bravery that occur. While it’s not for me to say, it is (for) the people in the field and who see these things happen. When they put a name forward and say they believe our comrade here deserves a Victoria Cross, I think the government should be listening. It is a precious award, but it doesn’t have much value if it is never given,” says Cannon.
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