Military Family Life
Military Family Life does not come with an instruction manual!Each episode we bring you the stories of people who have ‘been there’ – and they are here to share the lessons they have learned along the way … to help you live your BEST military family life
Episodes
This month we are talking with two members of Team Canada at the Invictus Games in Whistler BC in February 2025.
In our discussion we talk about :
· what lead them to apply for Team Canada,
· the journey to the games once they were selected –
· and what it was like to complete at the Invictus Games.
We also talk about the lessons they learned – and how the experience changed their perspectives and their relationships.
If yo...
In this episode we are speaking with Carley Robb-Jackson and Amy Carpenter from Military Family Services about some of the research that is being done by MFS as part of the Gender-based Violence and Family Violence portfolio.
We also talk about:
- the challenges of Military family life that may put an additional strain on relationships
- resources that are available for those in unhealthy relationships, and
- the Healthy Relationships c...
April is Month of the Military Child. For this episode we are speaking with Chris Quigley and her friend Bella about the work they do with Military Children. They tell us about some of the challenges they hear about and what we all do to support Military Children this month - and year round.
About our Guests:
An East coast chance meeting and marriage to a CAF Member - now veteran - was the catalyst for Chris’s now 26 year care...
It has been three years since the first episode of Military Family Life!
This month, Claudia and Julie are looking back at our first 20 episodes. Here are some of our favourite stories, best pieces of advice and lessons learned along the way.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to join us on the podcast. We have enjoyed getting to know each one of you, and we look forward to hearing more stories from ...
In this episode of Military Family Life we are speaking with Sgt Valery Switzer.
Valery is a CAF Member, a military spouse, a mother of two, a part-time student and a word champion powerlifter. She was also recently named Canadian Armed Forces Female Athlete of the Year!
In our conversation we talk with Valery about power lifting training and competitions, the importance of balance and self-care when juggling so many roles, and ...
If you are a military family member, you have likely heard someone talk about an OUTCAN posting to a fabulous distant country.
Our guest for this episode recently returned from a four year posting to Greece. She tells us about the good, the bad and the surprises that she and her family experienced during that adventure.
She also talks about how the lessons she has learned helps her to support others with the transitions they are f...
This month we are bringing the second half of our conversation with Shannon and Cory Nowell.
In this episode we talk about the Invictus Games, and Cory's experience on Team Canada in 2018. Shannon also tells us about her experience, and what the games are like for families members who are there to support loved ones.
About our Guests:
Shannon Nowell has been connected to the military for her entire life- first as a Mil...
This month, we are talking to Shannon and Cory Nowell about their lives as a Military - and Veteran – family.
This episode is part one of two. In it we talk about the challenges that come with relocations, IR, and Out Can postings. We also talk the medical release process, PTSD, the transition from being a Military to a Veteran family – and the impact it has on the entire family.
About our Guests:
Shannon Nowell has been...
In this April edition of our Military Family Life podcast - in honour of the Month of the Military Child - we are focusing on Military children.
Kayla Lamrock has experience as a military child, a military spouse and working at an MFRC with children and youth.
In this episode Kayla talks about her experiences of deployments and postings from the perspective of a military family member. She also talks about what it is like to suppor...
In this month's episode we are speaking with Lt(N) Wendy Duguid, a Regular Force Military Chaplain.
Wendy has been serving at Garrison Petawawa since 2019. She was previously the Chaplain for the medical units, and is currently supporting the Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD) and 2 Signal Squadron.
In this conversation we chat with Wendy about:
- the day-to-day life of a Military Chaplain and the supports they...
This month we are talking with three former MFRC Executive Directors who have recently retired from their positions in Goose Bay, Greenwood and Shilo.
Our co-host Claudia Beswick also added some insight, as she too recently left her position as the ED in Petawawa to take on a different role supporting military families.
With all of this experience and collective knowledge, we talk about:
- how life has changed f...
This month we are talking two members of the Canadian Military Wives Choir in Petawawa. They tell us about how the choir helped them to connect with new friends in the community, their best memories performing with the choir, and their advice for people who are thinking about joining their local choir.
About our guests:
Melissa Perry-Biezing has been a military spouse for 18 years. Originally from Newfoundland, Melissa mov...
Our Guest this Month
Ainsley Christensen is the curator at the Garrison Petawawa Military Museum and has worked at the museum in some capacity or another for the last 20 years. Ainsley was born in Manitoba -moved to Petawawa in 1995 and haw been here ever since - minus a few years to attend post-secondary school in Kingston, ON).
Ainsley is a military spouse with three very active children ages 12, 10 and 9. As a result she I...
About our guest:
Andrea Nauta is a military spouse - her wonderful husband Dustin has been serving in the military since 2007. They have two beautiful girls who are 11 and 9.
Andrea and her family have moved back and forth between Comox and Petawawa, and they are currently happily settled in Comox where Andrea works as a support worker at a local school.
Andrea is an accomplished baker. She started baking when she was 8 w...
In this episode we talk about all things deployment with our guest Sandra Pinard.
Topics include: what are the things families can do to prepare for a deployment, some suggestions for items to include in a morale mail package and tips for re-integration.
We also have an interesting discussion about the differences between Army and Navy deployments.
About our guest:
Sandra Pinard has been associated with ...
About our Guest:
Denver Hilland grew up in the GTA and was a professional level ballerina until she left for university.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts Kinesiology and Physical Education from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a Master of Arts Health Promotion from Dalhousie University.
Denver served as the Project coordinator for the Early Childhood Collaborative Research Centre at MSVU, a Health Promoter for the Health f...
As many of you know April is month of the Military Child. It is an opportunity for our community to recognize the sacrifices and contributions made by the children Canadian Armed Forces members and Veterans.
So this month we wanted to hear from some military kids about their experiences and lessons learned.
Our Guests
Kim Mills has been a military spouse for more than 20 years.
She is the author of the military roma...
This month we are speaking with Trisha MacLeod, the Commanding Officer at 2 Field Ambulance in Petawawa and Champion for the Petawawa Defence Visible Minority Awareness Group.
Trisha is a lifelong learner whose current pursuits are centred around understanding, acknowledging and deconstructing systemic racism within healthcare settings and CAF overall.
Driven to serve, she has over 20 years of military service. She has experienc...
This month we are talking with Crystal Donak about:
- the importance of being resilient
- taking risks (including her recommendation that everyone should travel alone at least once in their life); and
- how her career and education journey lead her to create Kaper Kids.
About Crystal:
Crystal has been a military partner for 12 years.
In that time, she was the Vice Chair of the PMFRC Board of Directors for several year...
This month we are chatting with Laura Frey.
Over the years Laura has worn a number of hats including: Military Spouse, Mom, CAF Member, Fitness Competitor and Grandma.
Laura is currently posted to Halifax and is serving on the HMCS Charlottetown.
As Army Spouses – living on a Garrison that is mostly Army – our hosts had plenty of questions about life on board a ship.
In this conversation we talk about Laura’s career in t...
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