Military Family Services Military Partner Showcase Kerry Wheelehan

Military Family Services Military Partner Showcase Kerry Wheelehan, J. D, LL. M, Esq. Director, METSpouse Program - Canada Company kerry. wheelehan@canadacompany. ca 647 -217 -3896 Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections

Our Mission The Military Employment Transition Spouse (METSpouse ) Program is an employer network , administered by Canada Company and Military Family Services, where partnering employers are aware of the inherent employability of military spouses and explore accommodation for this mobile workforce. In turn, employers strengthen their workforce and enhance their organizational culture and reputation. Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 2

What do we Know about the Military Spouse Population? Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 3

Military Spouses in Canada: 61, 500+ military spouses are located across Canada in every province and territory, from metropolitan areas to remote towns. • Map represents approximate military spouse populations. Please note 9, 200 spouses are not included in the provincial numbers. Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 4

Military Spouses in Canada are: Diverse Ages of CAF Military Spouses 45+ yrs 27% > 25 yrs 6% 67% are between the ages of 25 -44 25 -34 yrs 26% 35 -44 yrs 41% 13% are male 77% report English as their first language 23% report French as their first language 82% live off base in civilian homes 64% are the spouse of a Regular Force member 36% are the spouse of a Reservist Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 5

Military Spouses in Canada are: Educated and Skilled Reported CAF Spouse Education Graduate. High School school or less 9. 79% 15. 78% 31, 1% 24, 1% r he Ot l es of Pr in /C l er sio na ica l l ai Ad m ag e an M 21, 1% 9, 4% Re t m oy pl m lf. E Se 62. 14% have a postsecondary diploma or degree. 8, 2% 6, 1% en t Some postsecondary 22. 08% 35, 0% 30, 0% 25, 0% 20, 0% 15, 0% 10, 0% 5, 0% 0, 0% ed Postsecondary degree/diploma 52. 35% Type of CAF Spouse Employment Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 6

Military Spouses in Canada are: Motivated Recent research found that there is an “infusion of a ‘can do’ spirit in overcoming obstacles and impediments among many non-serving partners…” - 2013 CF Ombudsman Report Military Spouse Top Motivations for Employment • Achieve personal fulfilment • Maintain skills and career status • Gain independence • Pay bills and cover expenses “It can be done. You can find the job you want. You can be your own person” – Military Spouse Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 7

Military Spouses in Canada are: Adaptable and Mobile Top feelings reported by spouses when their partner is deployed: Capable Confident In Control Military spouses are experts at adapting to change. The usual duration of a military posting is 3 -5 years; however, postings vary based on circumstance. When surveyed, 20% of military spouses had been in their current location for 3 -5 years and 30% for more than 5 years. Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 8

What is the Military Employment Transition Spouse (METSpouse) Program? Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 9

Our Purpose Why have a METSpouse Program? • Spousal employment is the leading challenge for military families across the country • Corporate Canada’s strong interest to support military families METSpouse Program Objectives • Establish an employer network where partnering employers are aware of the inherent employability of military spouses, • Explore accommodation for the mobile military spouse workforce • Empower military spouses to achieve sustainable and meaningful careers. Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 10

METSpouse Program Design • METSpouse will mirror the existing MET program, with a few differences: o Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) participation o Focus on employment mobility, portability, telecommutability o Employment tailored to location, Employer Partner needs, and military spouse qualifications • Initial recruitment focusing in 8 areas Brandon Winnipeg Quebec Petawawa Halifax Montreal Ottawa Toronto Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 11

METSpouse Program Registration 8 servicing Military Family Resource Centres (MFRC): Halifax - Holly Rye Toronto - Shawn Thompson Shawn. Thompson 3@forces. gc. ca Valcartier - Geneviève Godin Winnipeg - John Bailey John. Bailey@forces. gc. ca Holly. Rye@forces. gc. ca Genevieve. Godin@forces. gc. ca Montréal - Estelle Auger ESTELLE. AUGER@forces. gc. ca National Capital Region, Ottawa – Caroline Jatmiko ysea@mfrc-ncr. org Shilo - Christine Helgason Christine. Helgason@forces. gc. ca Petawawa - Louise Anderson ec 1. pmfrc@bellnet. ca Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 12

METSpouse Program Events • Official Launch 1 April 2016 NCR MFRC Ottawa o VIPs, to include the CDS, Gen Jonathan Vance, and Deputy Minister VAC, Gen (Ret’d) Walt Natynczyk o 80 attendees o Job Fair o Media Coverage • GMMTSpouse Webinars ; MFRC Teleconferences; Monthly EP Webinars • Hiring Campaigns • National and Regional Conferences • Halifax Atlantic Conference, May 2016 • National Transition Exchange 2016, Ottawa o Pre-conference Workshops o HR and Talent Acquisition Panels o Job Fair o Networking Opportunities Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 13

METSpouse Program Is Growing! >340 METSpouse Members >100 METSpouse Employer. Education-Talent Acquisition Partners Daily “Hot Jobs” Postings 51 Successful Hires since Apr 1 st Program Launch Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 14

METSpouse Website-It’s Not Just a Job Board • Shared Toolboxes • Employer Partner Connections • Hot Jobs • Entrepreneurs • Service Providers • Education Opportunities • Videos • E-Mentors • And More! Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 15

What is Required of METSpouse Employer Partners? Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 16

METSpouse Employer Partners Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 17

METSpouse Employer Partners 18

METSpouse Employer Partner Criteria In addition to MET Employer Partner Requirements, we ask METSpouse Employer Partners to: • Provide military spouses with pay equal to their civilian counterparts with the same level of qualifications; • Explore and support labour mobility opportunities, when possible, if and when a military spouse relocates; • Charge no fees or costs for military spouse employment opportunities; • Identify an individual within the organization to act as the primary point of contact for the METSpouse program and who will participate in new employer training; Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 19

METSpouse Employer Partner Criteria • Provide METSpouse with quarterly hiring data including total hires and hires retained corporately when relocating; • Ensure partnership information is communicated internally to all hiring managers and leadership (handouts); • Sign a Terms of Reference document (or amendment) to demonstrate an organizational commitment to the METSpouse employer criteria. Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 20

Why Should Your Organization Join the METSpouse Program Coalition? Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 21

Gain access to quality candidates Attract candidates who are: • Skilled • Military spouses represent a variety of industry and professions; they are experienced and educated. • Adaptable • Military spouses are experts at adapting to change • Motivated • Research found that military spouses have a “can do” spirit Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 22

Support Those Who Defend Canada Enhance reputation & impact • Be known as a Military Spouse Friendly Employer • Develop rapport with the military family community • Demonstrate corporate responsibility and patriotism Military Spouses are the strength behind the uniform. METSpouse Employer Partners can help be the strength behind the Military Spouse. Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 23

Increase Promotion to Military Families One Community, One Million Strong • METSpouse will increase access to the 1 million strong military community by increasing brand awareness as an Employer Partner and the service/goods Employer Partners provide to a community of: 144, 000 595, 000 350, 000 150, 000 Serving Members (Reg & Res) Families of Serving Members Former Members Dependents of Former Members Other Eligible Members (DND civilian employees) One Million Strong • Connect with like minded organizations Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 24

GOING NATIONAL Taking the METSpouse Program Across Canada Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 25

Navigating the METSpouse Program Partnership - Ownership - Membership - Fellowship • Joint Program between METSpouse and MFRCs • Be on board to make it work in your community • Tool in your toolbox • Participation (e. g. , teleconferences, webinars) • Strength in Numbers • Marketing in Military Spouse community • Outreach to the business community • Collaborative effort amongst all MFRCs • We are all in this together • Learn from each other Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 26

METSpouse Program Bottom Line Finding Meaningful, Career-Enhancing Employment for ALL Military Spouses https: //www. metforce. ca/met/en/ https: //www. metforce. ca/met/fr/index. jsp Empowering Military Spouses - Creating Employer Connections 27