In a move to bolster support for military families, Parliamentary Secretary Marie-France Lalonde led the groundbreaking ceremony for a state-of-the-art Military Family Resource Centre at 4th Canadian Division Support Base (CDSB) Petawawa on July 22, 2024. Representing the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, Lalonde marked the commencement of this $42 million project aimed at streamlining and enhancing family support services on the base.
“Providing our military personnel and their families with the support they need is a priority for our government. Through our renewed defence policy, Our North Strong and Free, we are providing the infrastructure necessary to cultivate community-focused, accessible, and holistic support services and programming on base. We will continue to invest in Defence infrastructure that enables the health and readiness of our military personnel,” conveyed the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence.
This upcoming facility is set to unify the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services Personnel Support Programs and the Military Family Resource Centre, which are currently dispersed across seven locations, into a single, comprehensive hub. Scheduled for completion by Fall 2026, the construction phase will generate approximately 130 jobs, underscoring its economic impact.
Designed with families at its core, the new centre will offer a modern and integrated environment for delivering top-notch counselling, family services, and various programs. It will include recreation spaces and daycare facilities capable of accommodating around 160 children. The consolidation of these services will address the current capacity constraints and provide military families at Petawawa with more accessible and well-coordinated support.
“This new Military Family Resource Center will be an excellent addition to Canadian Forces Base Petawawa and the broader community of Canadian Armed Forces members living and working there. Not only will this project feature green components to help reduce the government’s carbon footprint, this $42 million investment will provide economic opportunities and sustain 130 jobs for Petawawa,” said Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence.
Additionally, the facility will create contemporary workspaces for about 90 personnel, ensuring efficient service delivery. Notably, the centre is planned to be net-zero ready and will adhere to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standards. This aligns with the federal government’s ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The Department of National Defence has already made significant progress, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its buildings and non-military vehicles by 35.9% since 2005.
As the shovel hits the ground, this new development promises a brighter future for military families at Petawawa, enhancing their well-being through improved and centralized services.
