Jonathon (ex-Navy) and wife Michelle McLernon put on a Christmas party Saturday for local military families. Jonathan is with the Calgary Military Family Resource Centre. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

coming together

Military families unite for Christmas party in Red Deer

Dec 16, 2019 | 11:30 AM

Military families from the Red Deer area received an infusion of holiday joy and cheer on Saturday during a Christmas party hosted by the Calgary Military Family Resource Centre.

The shindig went down at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in Red Deer, bringing together around 40 families. There are approximately 100 serving military families in central Alberta.

Jonathan McLernon, ex-Canadian Navy, and the centre’s family outreach coordinator for Red Deer, says the challenges military families faces are unique.

“There are things like family separation for extended periods of time, and then family reunification, and these families often don’t get to meet with other kids and families who are military families,” says McLernon, who served for six years out of CFB Esquimalt on Vancouver Island.

“They have a shared experience, and they know what it’s like to have a mom or dad in the military.”

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He also noted that unlike other communities, Red Deer does not have a base where families live, so most are spread throughout the region thereby limiting their interaction.

McLernon and wife Michelle were married Dec. 29, 2006 in Australia, where she was born. They moved back to Canada shortly after, and only two days passed before Jonathan received a call telling him he had to leave.

“I was a new bride in a new country. The first time he was gone was just a week, and the next he was gone for three months. Not only was it lonely, but I didn’t have any resources or anyone to reach out to. Military spouses often have a lot of benefits, but again, I was new to the country so I didn’t have that either,” says Michelle.

“He could call me for 20 minutes in a week, and it could be broken up or 20 minutes at once, and it could come at any time, plus it was a satellite phone so the connection was terrible. And I wasn’t allowed to know where he was for security reasons.”

His average time away was 285 days a year, according to Michelle. Making life more cumbersome was the excitement she’d feel when Jonathan was scheduled to return home, only to find out as the days dwindled down that his trip had been extended.

When time at home finally arrived, it meant transitioning for Jonathan out of the structured Navy routine and into the chaos of civilian life. But as the couple got into a groove, he’d be called away again.

“This party is fantastic,” Michelle added. “It’s an opportunity for them to be recognized — because a lot of the community doesn’t recognize them — and have time to let loose and enjoy with like-minded people who understand where you’re coming from. People don’t realize just how hard it can be especially on a marriage or on kids.”

The day included a magic show, company from local cadets, time to tour the Hall of Fame, and a visit from Santa who came bearing gifts.

More information on the Calgary Military Family Resource Centre is at CalgaryMFRC.ca.