Honouring Remembrance Day with Warriors at Amazon

This November, Amazon proudly commemorates Remembrance Day, a time dedicated to honouring the sacrifices of those who have served their country. Amazon employees across Canada are participating in activities like letter writing, poppy wearing, photo and uniform displays, and a special wreath-laying ceremony at Toronto’s Old City Hall. These initiatives reflect Amazon’s commitment to honouring Canadian Armed Forces members, past and present, and fostering a supportive community for veterans.

Warriors at Amazon is one of Amazon’s 13 affinity groups and one of the few in Canada specifically for veterans, military spouses, and military-connected communities. This group provides veterans with a community that values their experiences and creates pathways for career development and connection. The mission of Warriors at Amazon is to:

1. Bridge gaps for transitioning service members and their families as they enter the civilian workforce.
2. Build a professional network for service members during their time at Amazon.
3. Foster an inclusive and equitable environment for military-connected employees.

Amazon recognizes the unique challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian roles, offering programs and policies designed to ease this journey. One of these is the paid military leave policy, introduced in May 2023, which provides up to 14 days of paid military leave per calendar year.

Amazon also offers two key career development programs tailored for military personnel:

• Military Ambassador Program (MAP): Available to certain military employees, MAP supports new hires through a structured, year-long career development journey. Combining training modules and mentoring, MAP ensures veterans smoothly transition into Amazon’s culture while advancing their skills and careers. Through carefully timed training sessions and guidance, MAP provides a strong foundation for growth.
  
• Military Mentoring Program (MMP): MMP pairs new veteran employees with experienced Amazon mentors who can help translate military experience into Amazon’s unique culture. The program matches mentors and mentees based on both military and Amazon-specific criteria, with each pair committing to regular meetings during the mentee’s first year. This connection offers invaluable support, resources, and guidance, ensuring new veterans feel welcomed and understood.

Veterans at Amazon bring unparalleled leadership, resilience, and mission-driven focus to their jobs every day. 

“At Amazon, I've found that the leadership skills, adaptability, and mission-focused mindset I developed during my military service translate seamlessly to my current role. The company's emphasis on customer obsession aligns well with the service-oriented ethos instilled during my time in uniform. I chose Amazon because of its reputation for innovation, growth opportunities, and commitment to hiring veterans. Amazon fosters a supportive culture for the military community through initiatives like the Warriors affinity group, which provides networking and professional development resources specifically for veterans and military spouses. The company's Military Ambassador Program also helps ease the transition for new veteran hires, demonstrating Amazon's dedication to empowering those who have served.”

“I found the transition to Amazon from a military background to be fairly seamless. Our Leadership Principles align with what we're taught in the military, and I've been surprised with the number of military veterans from around the world that I work with in AWS Security.”

“Employer support is critical for Canadian Forces Army Reservists, and Amazon stands out as a remarkable example of this. As an Operations Manager and Reservist, I’ve experienced firsthand how Amazon goes above and beyond in supporting my military commitments. From flexible scheduling to generous military leave policies, they ensure I can balance both my civilian and military roles seamlessly. During my time at Amazon, I’ve deployed overseas and completed military career courses, and throughout it all, the company has been incredibly supportive. Amazon’s commitment to veterans and reservists is not just in words but in meaningful actions, creating a work environment where service is honored and respected. This unwavering support allows me to serve my country while continuing to excel in my civilian career.” 

“Amazon is one of the few employers that understands the value of military service, both as a fact of life for veterans (and their families), and what that experience adds to the workplace. Their Global Military Affairs team actively recruiting people like myself to work in Worldwide Operations based upon our unique backgrounds, and admittedly atypical CVs, is indicative of this. After serving 13 years full-time, I found in Amazon a welcoming transition to a second career, while still being able to fulfill my part-time commitments to the Canadian Army Reserve. Their Military Leave of Absence policies allowing members the flexibility to participate in training, on domestic operations, or even on overseas deployments is a huge selling point in a competitive labour market. Moreover, Affinity Groups like the Warriors allows me to connect with a diverse range of individuals to collaborate, innovate, and share the occasional hardship in order to build a better work environment.”

“Amazon has allowed me to directly apply the experience and skills I gained in the military in a thrilling work environment centred around productivity and innovation. I am proud to be a leader in an organization that not only values Canadian veterans, but creates new and exciting opportunities for members of the military community.”

“After my Navy service, I joined Amazon, impressed by its diversity and veteran inclusion. Amazon welcomes veterans globally, valuing our discipline, commitment, and ability to work under pressure. They actively recruit veterans, helping us leverage our skills. Transitioning to Amazon felt natural; like the Navy, it's a big, supportive family. I'm grateful to be part of a community that appreciates my military background. Thank you, Amazon, for your commitment to diversity and for providing veterans like me opportunities to grow and contribute meaningfully.”

“Being an active Canadian Army Reservist, Amazon has been a great supporter in enabling me to continue with my training. Their Military leave of absence program gives active Military members the peace of mind when they're out their doing the business. I've never experienced another employer that doesn't just support the Military but also the Military community via their vast amounts of community engagements. Thank you, Amazon, for your support and dedication to Military members across the globe!”

“I was very pleased when I heard that Amazon was hiring Military Veterans, and did not hesitate to apply. The culture is in many ways similar to my army experience; fast paced, relying on your colleagues, and dealing equitably with the associates. All this to get the job done safely, and with the highest of standards. I am also very proud to work for a company that recognizes the many talents military personnel bring, and Amazon recently announced it had hired over 100,000 of us. Well-done indeed! Work hard, have fun, make history!”

“The Royal Canadian Navy provided the greatest career jumpstart, working under strenuous conditions I was able to develop critical thinking and leadership skills that stick with you for life. On a daily basis at Amazon, I draw upon my experience from Naval Warfare Operations, Search and Rescue, and Navigations to tackle the many ambiguous challenges we encounter. Since joining Amazon and leaving the reserve service I have had the opportunity to support a number of American Service members transition from military to Amazon and support the local veteran community based out of Detroit. The veteran community at Amazon has provided fantastic networking and given so many of us a common back ground to build relationships on.

“The leadership skills and teamwork I developed during my military service translate well to my role at Amazon. Here, I help create exciting new opportunities for others, and I’m proud to be part of a company that values our skills.”

This Remembrance Day, Amazon has partnered with The Royal Canadian Legion to make commemorative Poppies and other Remembrance items accessible to Canadians nationwide. Through Amazon.ca, customers can donate $2, $5, $10, or $20 to receive a lapel Poppy, with 100% of donations supporting the Legion’s Poppy Trust Fund. Canadians can also purchase items like red neon window Poppies and “We Remember” lawn signs, providing a visible way to honour veterans.

“We are so excited to present this new initiative,” says Berkley Lawrence, Dominion President. “This collaboration with Amazon Canada will help distribute more Poppies across Canada, making it easier for Canadians to honour our veterans.”

For the first time, Canadians can visit amazon.ca/legion to make a donation and receive a lapel Poppy or other official Remembrance items. With every donation, 100% of funds go directly to the Legion’s Poppy Trust Fund, supporting Veterans and their families. This initiative, alongside traditional Poppy donation boxes, ensures that everyone has a way to contribute to the National Poppy Campaign, wherever they live. 

Through Warriors at Amazon and key programs like MAP and MMP, Amazon is dedicated to building a workplace where military veterans feel valued and empowered. Our collaboration with The Royal Canadian Legion this Remembrance Day further reflects Amazon’s commitment to honouring those who have served. 

To explore more about Warriors at Amazon and other affinity groups that foster community, connection, and support for diverse backgrounds and interests, visit Amazon’s affinity groups page here.