New Military Spousal Employment Network and Military Spouse Initiative now available
News release
November 30, 2018 – Toronto, ON – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
Today, the Canadian Forces Morale & Welfare Services launched the new Military Spousal Employment Network. The event was hosted by BMO, one of the founding employment partners of the Network with a long history of supporting national defence efforts.
The Military Spousal Employment Network is made up of over a dozen national employers who have a footprint across multiple communities in Canada and/or virtual employment opportunities that may appeal to military spouses of currently serving members. The Network makes use of a self-directed online resource where military spouses can directly access employers and their employment opportunities. Some of the tools available include an online job board and virtual career fairs with participating employers located in multiple locations across Canada.
This complements the Military Spouse Employment Initiative which was recently launched by the Department of National Defence (DND). The first phase of this initiative offers a casual inventory that is open exclusively to civilian spouses and common-law partners of serving Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members who have relocated within Canada. With over 600 applicants to date, this initiative gives military spouses and partners an opportunity to attain meaningful casual employment at DND and hiring managers a valuable pool of candidates to hire depending on the needs of their organization. Spouses or common-law partners of a CAF member who is either on the Regular Force or the Reserve Force on Class B or Class C service (for more than 180 consecutive days), are eligible to apply to the casual inventory online.
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.
Military Family Services, a division of Canadian Forces Morale & Welfare Services, manages a variety of employment and entrepreneur programs that supports the wellbeing of Canadian military families. These programs are also available at Military Family Resource Centres across bases and wings.
"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."
Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Defence
"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."
Commodore Sean Cantelon, Director General, Canadian Forces Morale & Welfare Services
"At BMO, diversity is one of our core values and building a diverse and inclusive workplace that is reflective of the communities we serve is a top priority. We are proud to be the official bank of the Canadian Defence Community, and this commitment extends to the support of military spouses and partners. BMO is committed to hiring the best talent from all backgrounds. We value our strong partnership with the Military Spousal Employment Network as a source of high calibre candidates whose unique backgrounds and experiences enrich our workplace."
Cathy Scarlett, Vice President of Talent Acquisition, BMO
Quick facts
Employers dedicated to offering employment opportunities to military spouses include: 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.
Military Family Services, a division of Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services, provides military personnel and their families with a range of services to promote health and well-being. Military Family Services works to ensure that military spouses have the awareness, education, and opportunities required to seek and maintain meaningful employment through its community development efforts.
The Military Spousal Employment Network and the Military Spouse Employment Initiative support several objectives outlined in Canada's Defence Policy, Strong, Secured, Engaged (SSE) that seek to support military families by addressing and alleviating employment challenges that they face when relocating across Canada.
