Shilo Stag
CFB Shilo celebrated Teal Up For Military Kids with an April 27 parade along Royal Avenue.
Shilo’s MFRC youth programs staff researched new and innovative ways to celebrate Month of the Military Child, with youth programs co-ordinator Shannon Chapman and youth programs facilitator Stephanie Laviolette brainstorming to introduce Teal Up For Military Kids.
In the process, they came across Purple Up, which is a popular celebration for recognizing how resilient military children are in the United States. Using this as inspiration, the local MFRC developed Teal Up.
The Month of the Military Child was first established in 1986 by US Secretary of Defence Caspar Weinberger. Although more significantly celebrated in the United States, this special month has been increasingly gaining traction in Canada.
Unlike most children, military families are on the move with children having to leave schools, activities and friends behind during their annual posting season. This is what piqued Laviolette’s idea for Teal Up For Military Kids in order to celebrate these military children.
Moreover, family members of these children can also be absent for long periods of time on domestic deployments to help communities during forest fires or flooding or a training exercises such as Ex MAPLE RESOLVE at CFB Wainwright. Or soldiers from 1RCHA’s B Bty sent overseas to Latvia on Op REASSURANCE, of 2PPCLI soldiers currently in Britain training Ukrainians before they return home to battle the invading Russian Army.
Despite all these challenges, military children continue to flourish and succeed. This resilience deserves a moment of reflection to honour all children of the military community.
Shilo’s MFRC has teamed up with the two schools on the Base, O’Kelly and La Source, with kids wearing Teal Up For Military Kids t-shirts designed to be worn April 27. The day started at 10:30 a.m. with a parade starting from the Officers’ Mess, moving along Royal Avenue, and ending out front of O’Kelly. This will be followed by a free barbecue at the MPTF at 5 p.m. All are welcome on the Base.
Just like Pink Day for anti-bullying, these teal-coloured t-shirts are a visual support to recognize the resilience of our Canadian military children.
The colour teal was chosen because the colour includes all branches of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) — blue for RCAF, green for Army and blue/white for RCN.
With many military children in different schools surrounding CFB Shilo, Chapman said an additional 13 other schools are taking part in their own Teal Up For Military Kids events.
“In our outreach expansion this year, we reached out to schools in the Brandon School Division as well as Carberry, Douglas and Wawanesa,” she explained. “Each school is participating in a capacity that works for them. This includes wearing teal April 27, posting Teal Up banners and tying ribbon and lastly [using] our Teal Up resource kit.”
Shilo MFRC youth programs are not only hosting Teal Up Day celebrations April 27, but also working with schools and other youth organizations in the Shilo/Brandon area to bring awareness to this initiative.
“Included with this, we will be providing a resource kit to utilize with pre-made programming that not only military children, but all youth can benefit from. This kit will include activities focusing on importance of Teal Up, resilience, healthy friendships, emotional regulation and adapting to change — all subjects military children experience on a regular basis,” noted Chapman.
A large gathering of vehicles and individuals took part in the 2023 Teal Up For Military Kids parade which started at the Officers’ Mess and ended out front of O’Kelly School. MPs led the parade in their new vehicle, following by two LAVs from 2PPCLI. Participants also took their dogs for a walk, like 3 Cdn Div TC C Coy Det Shilo OC Maj Melissa Marshall and her canine companion Gunner. Military parents also carried their younger kids along the parade route, giving them a high view of the festivities which ended with a group photo. Along the route, students cheered on the parade goers from inside their fenced school yards. Even a character from Star Wars took part. COS Maj Scott Youngson and BRSM CWO Jeremy Abrahamse led out front behind the military vehicles. Earlier RPOU-W Det Shilo crews swept the dirt accumulated from winter along Royal Avenue prior to the start of the parade. Photos Jules Xavier/Shilo Stag
