Living on Base

by Hailey Trealout

The Canadian Forces send troops who have volunteered to serve their country all across the world, leaving behind the civilian world they share with their families.

To keep their loved ones close some military families make the decision to live on military bases which can be different from civilian communities.

Many families face challenges to stay together while their family member is sent overseas. Laboratory technologist Sylvia Drew, 51, was stationed with the HMCS Hunter when she was sent to the East Coast to work. It was there she met her husband, Capt. Kirk Drew. They lived on two bases for over three years during their marriage.

“His long-term leaves were about six to eight months,” said Drew. “Having three little ones and no family around was definitely hard. When he was gone he didn’t know about the little things that were going on at home because his job was to keep himself alive and my job was to care for the kids. It was lonely, Christmas was hard when he was gone, but you get through it”

Many army wives say the military has changed their lives in different aspects but living on base has also given them more opportunities than they would normally have, such as travel.

Maggie MacDow, 38, is an employee at the Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre. She said being an army wife and supporting the men and women in the service is something she feels she was born to do.

“We as spouses of the military meet through different services as well as school activities, and watch out for each other and our kids,” said MacDow. “We help out when our spouses are gone on any exercise, tasking or deployment. We have support services so we can talk to each other get other points of view. It’s all second nature to us. I love who I am and I won`t change it for anything.”

Retired Warrant Officer Ken Knighton lived on base in Petawawa, Ont. for 10 years with his wife and children. He said being away from his family was difficult.

“It was tough. I missed them like anybody else would but I knew how long I was going to be gone and I knew when I would be back, so did they,” said Knighton, 64. “They counted down the months, weeks, days and hours so it was exciting for them in that aspect. It takes a person with a sense of discipline, tolerance and understanding to live on base. It’s tough for the kids but the thing is, everybody is on the same boat.”