Honoured to Walk Alongside Military and Veteran Families

Honoured to Walk Alongside Military and Veteran Families

There are three hard-working, not-for-profit Military Family Resources Centres (MFRCs) in British Columbia that support military and veteran families. Their collective goal is to enhance the well-being of these families by providing programs that serve, involve, and advocate for the military and veteran community. They serve Army, Navy, and Air Force families and support Reservists throughout B.C.

These MFRCs are honoured to walk alongside military and veteran families every day. Their teams of staff and volunteers are constantly impressed with the way these families navigate transitions, relocations, and work-related absences of their military or veteran members while managing family life on the homefront.

They know that the military family lifestyle and the impact of leaving the military community has its ups and downs. Their goal is to be present with family members as they traverse the realities of being part of a military family or as they transition beyond military family life. The word resilience has been bandied about a great deal in relation to these families. MFRCs believe that resilience does not mean we are always strong and capable. Resilience means that we seek support when we need it, and we seek new coping mechanisms when we recognize that our usual strategies aren’t enough. Resilience is about sharing our collective wisdom and supporting one another. All of the research on well-being speaks to the importance of building healthy networks. Support networks don’t need to be big, but they need to be empathetic and affirming.

MFRC counselling teams offer free counselling for family members; they offer in-person and virtual services. They have great partnerships in the broader community and are able to facilitate meaningful referrals when required. They offer wellness and preventative programs to support well-being and increase healthy networks for families. The volunteers and Work-Related Absence teams strive to connect loved ones with information, a sense of belongingness and peace of mind.

Their children’s programs encourage play, creativity and fun in a caring environment where staff understand that sometimes it is hard to have a significant family member away or settle into a new community. Family is a big concept for the B.C. MFRCs. Family means those who are near and dear to a military member or veteran—immediate family, extended family, or a circle of friends that constitute the support system. It is all-encompassing. Canadian military and veteran families are just as diverse as all Canadians. They are the unsung heroes of the homefront, and the MFRCs honour and recognize their contribution to this country every day.

The call to action is for all to uphold and support the military and veteran families living in your community. They are your neighbours, the local leaders, volunteers, workforce and contributors to the well-being of your community. Please support your B.C. MFRCs by donating or offering to volunteer.

For more information on how to offer your support, visit cfmws.ca and select one of the following communities: Comox, Esquimalt or Mainland B.C. MFRC.