For Immediate Release
SUMMARY: The PEI Military Family Resource Centre is launching their new Veteran Family Program on October 11, with Deputy Minister General (Ret’d) Walter Natynczk as the keynote speaker.
(CHARLOTTETOWN, PE) October 2, 2018— On October 11, the PEI Military Family Resource Centre will officially launch the local branch of the Veteran Family Program during at trade-show event where Deputy Minister General (Ret’d) Walter Natynczk will give the keynote address.
Launched nationally last spring, the Veteran Family Program is designed to help families effectively prepare for and transition into civilian life after military service. The program includes transitional programs, information, intervention, support, and referral services available to Veterans and families to help them adjust to their new normal as civilians/Veterans.
“The PEI VFP launch will bring together a variety of agencies and resources that support the Veteran community,” says Sue Polland, Veteran Family Program Coordinator for PEI. “The goal is to inform all members, Veterans, and their families of the resources and services available during and after their release process from the Canadian Armed Forces.”
The launch will include a keynote address by General (Ret’d) Walter Natynczk. The Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada since 2014, General Natynczk has over four decades of military service that saw him serve all over the world, including NATO, UN peacekeeping duties in Cyprus, UN mission in the Former Yugoslavia, as Chief of Land Operations, UNPROFOR HQ in Zagreb, Croatia, as commander of The Royal Canadian Dragoons in domestic operations during the Winnipeg floods of 1997 as well as in the Ottawa region during the 1998 Ice Storm, as the Canadian Contingent Commander in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as Deputy Commanding General, III (US) Armored Corps and Fort Hood, Texas, where he deployed to Iraq, serving first as the Deputy Director of Strategy, Policy and Plans and subsequently as the Deputy Commanding General of the Multi-National Corps.
General Natynczyk served as Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff from 2008 to 2012. Key events over his tenure were the combat mission in Afghanistan, the 2010 Winter Olympics, humanitarian support to Haiti and the NATO mission over Libya. From 2013–2014, he was President of the Canadian Space Agency.
The Deputy Minister will be presenting his keynote address at 2:00pm, which will be followed by an open discussion and information tables for attendees to visit as they wish.
There is no cost to participate in or attend this event. Organizations who wish to have an information table set up are asked to contact Sue Pollard to register (902-892-8999; sue.pollard@forces.gc.ca). Members of the public are asked to RSVP to the PEI Military Family Resource Centre by October 5.
TO RSVP or for more information, please contact susan.pollard@forces.gc.ca or 902.892.8999
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For more information:
Sue Pollard
Veteran Family Program
PEI Military Family Resource Centre
902-892-8999
sue.pollard@forces.gc.ca