Outreach Support in Cambridge!

There is now an Outreach Support Coordinator for London Military Resource Centre at the Cambridge site! This is BIG! Here you can bring your care packages, purchase support merchandise or a place to come for support. A BIG welcome to Donna Pickering (Outreach Community Support Coordinator)

Families of soldiers in the Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph areas are invited to a

"Meet and Greet"

sponsored by LMFRC

at:

RHFC

Col. J.A. McIntosh Armoury,

1 Valour Place, Cambridge

(beside the Ainslie St. Bus depot)

Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at 7 p.m

View Larger Map
Please RSVP to either your support group secretaries or drop me a line and I can forward it on for you. They would just like to know numbers to expect for that evening.

Thank You and Catch Up

I'm hoping you're enjoying your summer. Soon Roto 5 will be coming home and preparations for Roto 6's deployment are underway. I have so much to catch you up on.

First off, I'd like to give a shout out and a BIG HUA to the soldiers serving overseas that are reading my blog right now in KAF! You are a true inspirational group of people.. brave, unselfish - so giving of yourselves. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and Godspeed.

I'd also like to say a BIG "THANK YOU" to all the daughters-in-law and sons-in-law (spouses and common laws and friends of soldiers currently serving overseas and those awaiting to deploy) for keeping in touch with the soldiers' parents after receiving phone calls and relaying information to them ..and keeping them "in the loop" with dates of return, deployment, training, etc... you just don't know how much this means to them....It means soo sooo much to them, more than you'd ever know. It truly brings and keeps the family circle together, as at times they may feel a disconnect.. you are the bridge of communication to their own child. (a vital and important part of their lives!) Am I right moms and dads?

VIA Rail to Honour Canaidan Forces and National Defence Employees with Free Travel This Summer

I wanted to share today's announcement from VIA Rail with you!

A big HUA to VIA RAIL Canada!

March 26, 2008 – VIA Rail Canada is proud to honour Canada’s current and former Canadian Forces personnel, National Defence employees, and their families, with a special appreciation fare during the month of July. During this time, members of the Canadian Forces and National Defence employees will benefit from free unlimited travel in Comfort class anywhere on VIA’s network. With more than half a million current or retired service personnel eligible, the special fare is the first of its kind.“Like all Canadians we at VIA are proud of the Canadian Forces and pleased when we can help to remind our fellow citizens of their contribution,” said VIA Rail’s Chairman of the Board Donald A. Wright. “In the past, VIA has put the spotlight on our troops and their families through commemorative Remembrance Day trains for the Year of the Veteran and the Year of the War Bride. We hope that this special offer will allow members of the Canadian Forces and their families to experience the country in a way that only the train can offer,” added Mr. Wright. “As Minister responsible for VIA Rail, I am pleased VIA will honour Canadian Forces members and their families with these special fares, and I hope they and their fellow Canadians will take advantage of all VIA has to offer this summer,” said Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “July is also the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City and I hope Canadians take advantage of this offer to join the festivities.”“The support shown by VIA Rail to Canada’s men and women in uniform, as well as civilian defence employees, is appreciated by the entire defence community,” said Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. “This initiative will allow members of the Canadian Forces to visit more of the country that they have committed to defend.”"VIA Rail's offer is one more way we can repay the great debt that all Canadians owe to the brave men and women who have always been willing to defend our nation," said Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs. "This July, our truest heroes will find it easier than ever to see more of the remarkable country they've helped build."In addition to being able to travel for free with the special fare, members of the Canadian Forces can also bring up to five family members travelling with them at 50 per cent off the regular applicable fare. The offer applies to all current and retired members of the Canadian Forces, Reserve personnel, Department of National Defence employees, and Public Fund employees.For more information, or to reserve a ticket, go to viarail.ca/forces or call toll-free 1 888 VIA-Rail (1888 842-7245) or 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired).As Canada’s national passenger rail service, VIA Rail Canada's mandate is to provide efficient, environmentally responsible and cost effective passenger transportation services, both in Canada's business corridor and in remote and rural regions of the country. Serving more than 450 communities with a network of inter-city, transcontinental and regional trains, demand for rail services continues to grow as more Canadians turn to train travel as a safe and convenient travel choice.





Valid for travel between July 1, 2008 and July 31, 2008 (inclusive). Qualifying adult passenger is entitled to complimentary travel in Comfort class within Canada throughout the VIA Rail network on any VIA train. Up to five additional immediate family members may travel in Comfort class with the qualifying adult passenger at 50% off the adult regular Comfort class fare provided all passengers travel together on the same trains and dates. Qualifying adult passenger is defined as any adult 18 years of age or older who is in possession of either a valid DND photo identification card, Dependent ID card, or Canex "Club XTra" card. Immediate family members are defined to include the qualifying member's mother, father, spouse or common-law partner or child or a child for which the qualifying adult passenger is a legal guardian. Additionally, this special promotional fare may be combined with VIA's existing "Kids Travel Free" promotion, allowing each adult 18 years of age or older to bring one child 2-11 (family member or non-family member) free of charge on the same trains and dates. With the exception of the "Kids Travel Free" promotion, this discount cannot be combined with any other discount, fare plan, companion fare program, travel product or employee rail pass. Your ticket must be picked up at a VIA Rail ticket counter with a valid DND photo identification card, Dependent ID card or Canex "Club XTra" card. Once issued, tickets may be refunded or exchanged without service charge. In the case of ticket exchanges, new tickets must meet the conditions of this fare plan, and all passengers must continue to travel together on the same trains and dates. Unlimited stopovers are allowed without additional charge. A separate ticket must be obtained for each passenger travelling. Offer excludes members of the RCMP. Not applicable to bookings made online at viarail.ca or with a travel agent or tour operator. Reservations for this special promotion must be made directly with VIA Rail, either by telephone at 1-888-VIARAIL (1-888-842-7245) or 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired), or at a VIA station. When booking, please refer to the Canadian Forces Family Appreciation Fare or request Discount 11279. There is no limit to the number of complimentary trips that may be taken during the validity period, provided all conditions and restrictions are met for each trip.

Military Families Fund

Illustration credit: David Craig

On t.v. lately there have been announcements from the military in regards to the Military Families Fund. Personally I have served on the "deployment as a Military Mom" continuing constant support of our troops - yet wondering and worrying, yes many tears, feeling afraid, however keeping my chin up and always looking to my son with pride and always being here for him... and for other families. I know soon, I will be on this " deployment mission" again. (I know many local and national military families are and have always been here supporting our troops through rallies, letters, banners, yellow ribbon campaigns, endless care packages, .. and LOTS of love. Now the soldiers have turned to help us.) Today, I thought I'd provide details for you about the Military Families Fund. Thank you to our Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier for initiating this fund and our wonderful soldiers and CFPSA for supporting us - your military families.

The Chief of the Defence Staff, General Rick Hillier, in recognition of the outpouring of support from Canadians, announced the creation of the Military Families Fund. This fund will grow through the generous contributions of Canadians, corporations and other organizations, adding a new vehicle to support Canadian Forces members and their families.

"When our families call out for help, we must be able to answer that call immediately and substantially. Our families have been here for us through our enrolment, our training, our deployments, and our homecomings. The military life places significant demands on our loved ones. They did not volunteer for service – but serve they do, and with great distinction. It is our turn to be there for our families.” General Rick Hillier Chief of the Defence Staff.

The Military Families Fund (MFF) is an agile and responsive means for Base and Wing Commanders, in concert with Military Family Resource Centers (MFRC) across the country, to help military families within hours of being advised of need. It will help with short-term emergencies and also provide long-term support. The MFF allows CF leadership to meet the special-case needs of CF members and their families with speed and flexibility not always available through the traditional programs.

The MFF enhances and complements, it does not replace, existing public and non-public programs. The Fund fills the gaps by providing for the unforeseen and often immediate needs that families may have due to conditions of service .

The MFF allows for several areas of support by way of interest-free loan or grants, including rehabilitation, education, financial assistance in the case of injury or death of a CF member due to service, and urgent and extraordinary financial demands where the ability to provide family necessities is at risk.

Contributions can be made either:

On-line: https://www.cfpsa.com/en/corporate/mfamily/contributions/default.aspx

By Mail - make cheque or money order payable to:

CFCF - Military Families Fund

c/o Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency

4210 Labelle Street

Ottawa, ON K1A 0K2

By calling: 1-877-445-6444

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT: http://www.militaryfamiliesfund.ca/

The Yellow Ribbon

A symbol of my love
A symbol of my pride
I'll wear the yellow ribbon
Until you're back by my side

Wear your yellow ribbon to show support for all members of our
Armed Forces away from family & friends

March 31st Meet 'n Greet

The next meeting of:

“FAMILIES OF CANADIAN SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN"

will be held on

SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2007

at 7:30 P.M.

AT THE 404 WING R.C.A.F., MEMBERS’ LOUNGE
510 DUTTON DR., WATERLOO

7:30 p.m. Come out and meet and greet in the members’ lounge

New members are always welcome!

Featuring guest speaker - Sheila Lupson is the Executive Director of the London Military Family Resource Centre. She will be giving a presentation on post deployment and provide literature and pamphlets on “Battlemind”. After her presentation, she will be available to answer your questions.

Map to: 510 Dutton Drive, Waterloo

Directions:

From Kitchener or out-of-town: Take 86 North (Conestoga Parkway) and take the Northfield exit (one exit past King St.). Exit at Northfield, keep right and proceed over expressway. Turn left onto Parkside Drive (at lights), and then left onto Weber. Go over the hill and turn immediately left onto Dutton Dr. The facility is located at the end of the road.

From Waterloo or downtown: Follow Weber St. N. and go past Albert St. (traffic lights) and turn right onto Dutton Dr. before going over the hill.

To R.S.V.P. or for further information, email: focsia@hotmail or phone Kerry at 519-888-9398

RSVP before March 30-07

Tributes and Support

"We support our troops!"