TORONTO – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today delivered an address at the True Patriot Love Inaugural Tribute event in support of the Canadian Forces and their families.

”We know in our hearts that we owe our freedom, democracy and prosperity to the millions of Canadians who have kept our True North strong and free for over two centuries,” said the Prime Minister.  “I commend this noble initiative which will augment the support provided to our military men and women and their families.”

The True Patriot Love Foundation was founded in June 2009 by business and community leaders dedicated to raising funds for programs to improve the well-being and morale of Canadian military personnel and their families, and honouring their selfless service. 

“It is inspired by the recognition that the Canadian Forces are a family that includes their immediate and extended families as well as a vast network of Canadians,” added Prime Minister Harper.  “Strong morale is sustained by strong support back home.  The generosity of the True Patriot Love Foundation and its supporters follows a long tradition of public support for the men and women of the Canadian Forces.”

The proceeds of this year’s Tribute Dinner will be dedicated to the Military Families Fund.  The fund is intended to assist military families faced with unforeseen and urgent needs that have resulted from military service.

In March, the Government of Canada announced it was creating the Canadian Forces' Joint Personnel Support Unit, a network of 19 individual service points across Canada, to provide a range of services for ill and injured Canadian Forces personnel, Regular or Reserve Force, former personnel, their families and the families of the deceased.



Backgrounder

TRUE PATRIOT LOVE FOUNDATION

True Patriot Love Foundation

The True Patriot Love Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in June 2009 by corporate and community leaders dedicated to raising funds for programs to improve the well-being and morale of Canadian military personnel and their families, and celebrating their selfless service.  Each year, this new Foundation will make a major gift on behalf of the Canadian military.
The mission of True Patriot Love is to give all Canadians an opportunity to pay tribute to the quiet dedication of military families.
To honour Remembrance Day, the True Patriot Love Foundation is hosting their inaugural Tribute Gala.  Proceeds from this event will be donated to the Canadian Military Families Fund.  This is a unique opportunity to acknowledge the sacrifices members of the military and their families make on Canada’s behalf.
For more information on True Patriot Love visit http://www.truepatriotlovefoundation.com

Canadian Military Families Fund

The Military Families Fund (MFF) was created in April 2007 by then Chief of Defence Staff General Rick Hillier to assist military families faced with unforeseen, and often immediate, needs that have resulted from conditions of service.  The fund continues to grow through the generous contributions of Canadians, corporations and other organizations, adding new support for Canadian Forces members and their families.

The MFF is an agile and responsive means for Base and Wing Commanders, in concert with Military Family Resource Centres across the country, to help military families within hours of being advised of need.  It helps with short-term emergencies and also provides long-term support.  The MFF allows Canadian Forces leadership to meet the special-case needs of CF members and their families with speed and flexibility.

By way of grants, the MFF allows for several areas of support beyond existing programs, including rehabilitation, education, financial assistance in the case of injury to or death of a CF member due to service and urgent and extraordinary financial demands where the ability to provide family necessities is at risk.

For more information on the Military Families Fund visit http://www.cfpsa.com/en/index.asp


Main Support Programs for Canadian Forces Members

Canadian Forces’ Joint Personnel Support Unit
The Canadian Forces’ Joint Personnel Support Unit is a network of 19 Integrated Personnel Support Centres across Canada providing a range of services for ill and injured Canadian Forces personnel, Regular or Reserve Force, former personnel, their families and the families of the deceased.

Integrated Personnel Support Centres
Integrated Personnel Support Centres provide a range of specific services, including outreach; casualty tracking and casualty administrative support; Return to Work Program coordination; Service Income Security Insurance Plan financial services; adapted fitness services; liaison with Military Family Resource Centres, local base support representatives and local unit Commanding Officers; and Veterans Affairs Canada client and transition services.

Operational Stress Injury Social Support Program
The Operational Stress Injury Social Support program is a peer support program serving military personnel, veterans and family members living with an operational stress injury.

Personnel Support Programs
The Division of Personnel Support Programs is responsible for a variety of public and non-public programs designed to support the military community, including family services, deployed operations, support to deployed forces, sports and fitness, health promotion, human performance research and development, Show Tours, base funds, messes and recreation activities, CF Soldier On, and the Mission information Line.
http://cfpsa.com/en/PSP/index.asp

Canadian Forces Exchange (CANEX) provides retail, grocery, petroleum, food services and special services outlets operating at CF Bases/Wings and Units across Canada.  In Europe, similar facilities are operated in Germany for NATO.  Every year, CANEX contributes approximately $4 million to national and base/wing morale and welfare programs.
http://cfpsa.com/en/canex/index.asp

Service Income Security Insurance Plan Financial Services (SISIP FS) offers life and disability insurance, financial services, financial education, financial counselling and manages the Canadian Forces Personnel Assistance Fund program.  Every year, SISIP FS contributes approximately $4 million to national and base/wing morale and welfare programs; http://www.sisip.com

Casualty Support Management
Director Casualty Support Management (DCSM) is a national organization that provides oversight and coordination of activities in support of serving and retired military members who were injured, medically released or became ill while serving.  A national co-ordination office referred to as “The Centre” offers services such as a help line, referral programs, an advocacy team, disability benefits, financial assistance and briefing presentations.  The Joint Personnel Support Unit, with its Regional Elements and Integrated Personnel Support Centres at locations across Canada, is tasked to deliver standardized, high-quality, consistent care and administrative support during all phases of recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration or return to service, or transition following release.     
http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/cen/index-eng.asp