Margot MacFadyen made her mom’s 11 Health Change of Command ceremony a memorable moment at CFB Shilo’s Officers’ Mess.

“I never thought I would have a kid on my lap signing a Change of Command scroll,” said new 11 Health CO Maj Kirsten MacFadyen, when she spoke to the CoC ceremony goers moments after her precocious pre-schooler sat on her lap while signing three scrolls alongside outgoing CO Maj Joel Bernier and reviewing officer Capt (N) Nicholas Gauthier, Comd of 1 Health Services Group at Garrison Edmonton.

Maj MacFadyen called her new posting to CFB Shilo’s 11 Health an “amazing opportunity” where she can use the accumulated skills she’s honed since joining the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in June 2006 as a nursing officer.

Moving to the Base and taking up residence in one of the new homes on Larkhill Avenue later this summer, Maj MacFadyen was the primary care services manager at the CAF Health Services Centre located at Garrison Edmonton.

Capt (N) Gauthier acknowledged having the children of Maj Bernier and Maj MacFadyen at the CoC ceremony was welcomed, saying family is important when it comes to being part of the CAF family.

While Maj Bernier’s two oldest children sat observing the ceremony, his youngest Madyson sat on the floor in front of the CFB Shilo lectern podium colouring a special CoC colouring book. He did not miss a beat during his speech, as his daughter walked around carrying a green pale or dropping pencil crayons from the box onto the floor.

Likewise, Margot found comfort on her mom’s lap while she listened to Maj Bernier’s and Capt (N) Gauther’s speeches, hugging mom tightly or counting her medals. She had a favourite leather chair off in the corner of the Officers’ Mess, which she would go to, then encouraging her mom to “come sit with me here” much to the delight of the audience in attendance.

After completing her Bachelor of Science in nursing degree at the University of Alberta in August 2007, then Lt MacFadyen was posted to Maintenance of Clinical Skills Coy with 1 Field Ambulance at Garrison Edmonton.

While there, she became 1 Field Ambulance’s first repatriation link nurse, providing personal medical administration support to soldiers medically repatriated from the war in Afghanistan.

Lt MacFadyen then deployed to Haiti with 1 Canadian Field Hospital on Op HESTIA to provide support following the devastating January 2010 earthquake.

After returning to Canada, she was promoted to captain and posted to Vancouver Island, where she worked at 21 Canadian Forces Health Services Centre located at CFB Comox as the primary care nurse.

During this BC posting, Capt MacFadyen was attach posted to 5 Field Ambulance in Valcartier, Que., and deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan at the nursing program 2IC on Op ATTENTION from November 2012 to July 2013.

While in Afghanistan, she provided mentorship and training to the nursing program at the Afghan National Army’s Armed Forces Academy of Medical Sciences. She received a Task Force commendation for her contributions to the mission.

In 2015, then Capt MacFadyen was posted to 32 Canadian Forces Health Services Centre in Toronto as a primary care nurse. A year later, she was posted to the Directorate of Medical Policy at Health Services Group HQ in Ottawa as the senior practice leader for primary care nurses.

Two years later, Capt MacFadyen completed her year-long second language training and was posted to Ottawa-based Canadian Forces Health Services Centre as the primary care 2IC. In June 2019, she promoted to major and became the primary care services manager at her Ottawa location.

In 2020, Maj MacFadyen was selected for post-graduate training to do a Masters of Nursing at Athabasca University. Shen she earned her degree in 2022, she was then posted to the CAF Health Services Centre at Garrison Edmonton, where she performed the roles of manager of preventative health services and manager of primary care services.

While she takes on the CO role at 11 Health this summer, Maj MacFadyen is in the final stages of completing a Master of Public Health through the University of Waterloo.

“I will work hard to apply the knowledge I’ve gained to the best of my ability and set up others for similar success,” she said.