Paige LeClairThe Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services launched the new Military Spousal Employment Network today.
The launch was hosted by BMO, one of the founding employment partners of the Network with a long history of supporting national defence efforts.
“BMO is proud to be the official bank of the Canadian Defence community in partnership with Canadian Defence community banking,” says,Matthew Lombardi, Head External Talent Solutions. “Our history in supporting Canada’s military goes all the way back to the First World War, when we established temporary branches to pay our troops at various encampments throughout Canada, and Canadian men and women in uniform overseas were paid through the banks Waterloo Place office in London.”
The Network is made up of over a dozen national employers who have a footprint across multiple communities in Canada including Advanis, Air Canada, Alorica, Bayshore Medical Personnel, Bell, BMO, Calian Group Ltd., Canadian Forces Morale & Welfare Services, The Department of National Defence, GardaWorld, LiveCA, Military Family Resource Centres, and Sykes Assistance Services, with many offering virtual employment opportunities that appeal to military spouses of currently serving members.
The online resource will allow military spouses to directly access employers and their employment opportunities. Tools available for spouses include an online job board and virtual career fairs with participating employers located across Canada.
“The launch of the Military Spousal Employment Network is important because it promotes military spouses as excellent candidates to a host of national and regional employers. Moving forward, our goal is to keep expanding employment options for military spouses to reduce employment-related challenges where possible,” says Commodore Sean Cantelon, Director General, Canadian Forces Morale & Welfare Services.
Finding and retaining employment has been an ongoing challenge for military spouses for a variety of reasons. Frequent relocations and recurring and prolonged absences from home of the serving member makes it challenging for military spouses to secure continuous and meaningful employment as they move and assume more responsibility at home while the member is away.
To help military spouses, the Department of National Defence (DND) recently launched the Military Spouse Employment initiative which complements the Network. The first phase of this initiative offers casual inventory open exclusively to civilian spouses and common-law partners of serving CAF member who have relocated within Canada. Since its launch, they have received over 600 applications.
Spouses or common-law partners of a CAF member who is either on the Regular Force or the Reserve Force on a Class B or Class C, are eligible to apply for casual inventory online.
“Through Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, we are ensuring our women and men in uniform and their families are well supported. Military families are the strength behind the uniform and the new Military Spousal Employment Network and Military Spouse Employment Initiative will help support spouses of Canadian Armed Forces members. By assisting military spouses in securing continuous and meaningful employment, we are helping to make life a little less stressful for military families,” says, Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Defence.
Spouses who are currently looking for employment can join the Network by registering online here . The service is available in both English and French.
For more information about Canadian Morale and Welfare Services visit their website here.
For more information or to apply for casual inventory with DND, visit here.
