Last week we officially celebrated our new location, here at 3 Lower Malpeque Road, surrounded by invited guests including MPs, MLAs, military members, delegates from Gagetown and Military Family Services, and military families. We were blown away with everyone’s presence! (Click on the image below to see a video of the ribbon cutting.)
We enjoyed a lovely afternoon of kind words and speeches, followed by a social that included a BBQ, mini donuts by our new community partner Doughnuts by Design* and, of course, cake! It truly warmed our hearts to see our families use this wonderful new space.
*Doughnuts by Design is offering 20% off for PEI military families.
Speaking of space! For those of you who haven’t yet seen our new office, we look forward to welcoming you. We have a separate front desk area plus waiting room…we all have our own offices (with doors!) … we have a kitchen … and we have a fabulous space for socials, meetings, and gatherings.
Seven years ago, when PEI MFRC first opened a site in Prince Edward Island, we were so happy to be able to offer on-the-ground services to military families in this province. That’s still true! Over the years, our staff and services have grown, and we are so thrilled that many military, Veteran, and RCMP families have benefitted from resources and services we offer.
Fun fact: Seven years ago, when we officially opened our first office (the DND depot in the West Royalty Industrial Park), military children Cole and Chase Scantlebury cut the ribbon. We thought it fitting to invite them back to do the same task!
In 2016, we moved to HMCS Queen Charlotte, and while we have many fond memories of our time there, it soon became clear that we needed an independent space in order to provide full confidential services to our families. And so began our mission.
Two years ago, our hardworking Board of Directors (led by Chairperson Bill Moore) made securing new infrastructure a strategic priority. The Board never wavered in their determination to make this vision a reality. We wish to acknowledge our amazing Board of Directors that led this charge, along with Lieutenant Colonel (now retired) Dale Childs and Colonel Parsons who were instrumental in securing the necessary financing.
While we may not be entirely finished unpacking, we’re getting there, and we have lots planned for our families. To see what activities we have up our sleeve, please visit our Facebook Page events tab.
Thank you, to all who attended and helped us celebrate last week.
A special thank you to the following attendees:
- Her Honour, Antoinette Perry, Lieutenant Governor of PEI and Commander Rob Alain, Aide de Camp
- Colonel Dwayne Parsons and CWO Hawthorne command team of CFB Gagetown
- MPs Sean Casey and Heath MacDonald
- MLA Jamie Fox
- Mayor Philip Brown
- Steven Harris, ADM Service Delivery, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC)
- Mitch Freeman, DG Service Delivery and Program Management (VAC)
- Tabitha Stubbs, Director of Transition and Support Programs (VAC)
- LCdr John MacDonald and CPO2 Dwayne Milligan
- Maj Allan Manley
- Maj Jennifer Arsenault
- Cole and Chase Scantlebury
- Kara-Lee Casselman, representing Military Family Services
Of course, none of what we do would be possible without our amazing team of staff and volunteers. They work hard every day to ensure our military, Veteran, and RCMP families feel supported and taken care of.
We may be biased, but we very much feel that our MFRC is a special place. We truly have the best military, Veteran, and RCMP families—you come out and support our events and activities and are incredibly engaged in our community. We are the smallest MFRC in the country but we have the highest rate of participation at our AGM. We have the smallest number of postings per community, meaning there is very little turnover in family members, yet we have a full board.
You are engaged, you participate, and we thank you.
So stop by and check out our new space, if you haven’t already. We’d love to see you, and the coffee’s always on!
A few photos of our new space:
