EDMONTON — A military posting doesn’t just move a serving member. It can mean a new home, a new school, a new job, and an entirely new support system for the whole family.

That was part of the message as military members, veterans and their families gathered at Lancaster Park for the Edmonton Military Family Resource Centre’s 2026 Fall Fest.

Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr attended in his role as Alberta’s Military Liaison, welcoming families recently posted to Edmonton and highlighting the services available to help them settle into their new community.

“The strength of our military extends beyond those who wear the uniform,” Cyr said. “It includes the spouses, children, friends, veterans, volunteers and organizations that stand behind our serving members every day.”

Fall Fest gives military and veteran families a chance to meet one another while connecting with organizations and services available in the Edmonton area.

For families arriving through a new posting, Cyr said those early connections can make the transition easier.

Province provides $10,000 for Fall Fest

The Government of Alberta provided $10,000 to support the 2026 Fall Fest, with provincial staff also on site to provide information about Alberta programs and services.

The afternoon included food trucks, face painting, an inflatable slide and bounce houses alongside the community and resource information available to families.

Cyr said organizations such as Military Family Resource Centres play an important role because military life can bring challenges that extend well beyond the workplace.

Postings can mean relocating a spouse’s career, moving children between schools and rebuilding childcare, healthcare and community connections. Training exercises and deployments can also leave families managing long periods with a serving member away from home.

“A strong military needs strong military families, and strong military families need strong communities behind them,” Cyr said.

The event also included Her Honour, the Honourable Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta; Lieutenant-Colonel John P. Southen, Base Commander; and Colonel Robert Tesselaar, Commander of 3rd Canadian Division Support Group.

Cyr thanked Roza Parlin along with the Edmonton MFRC board, staff and volunteers for their work with military and veteran families.

Connecting with military families across Alberta

The Edmonton visit is part of Cyr’s broader work since being appointed Alberta’s Military Liaison in June.

Cyr said one of his goals is to connect directly with the Military Family Resource Centres serving Alberta’s major military bases and installations.

The focus is on hearing directly from organizations working with military families and identifying challenges that overlap with provincial responsibilities.

While national defence is a federal responsibility, services military families depend on every day — including healthcare, education, childcare and other community supports — can fall within provincial jurisdiction.

For Cyr, who represents a constituency that includes 4 Wing Cold Lake and its large military community, those issues are already familiar. His provincial liaison role now has him looking at them across Alberta.

“The commitment military families make alongside those who serve is an important part of the strength and readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces,” Cyr said.