FAQ

The CFB Wainwright Support Fund is a dedicated charitable assistance program created to provide immediate financial support to CAF families affected by the recent incident at CFB Wainwright. The fund focuses on helping families address unexpected expenses and challenges resulting from injury or loss. 

The program is a collaborative effort involving: 

• Support Our Troops (SOT) 

• True Patriot Love (TPL) 

• Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) 

• Edmonton Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) 

• Canadian Armed Forces leadership and support personnel 

Together, these organizations are working to ensure support is provided quickly, compassionately, and responsibly. 

At this stage, assistance is available to CAF families who have experienced a casualty or serious injury directly related to the incident at CFB Wainwright. Eligibility is confirmed through established CAF and CFMWS processes and coordination with designated support personnel.

Eligible families may receive up to a maximum $10,000 per family during the initial phase of the program. In exceptional circumstances, additional support may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The fund may assist with expenses such as:

Travel and Family Reunification

• Travel related to medical care and recovery
• Travel to reunite immediate family members with injured CAF personnel
• Transportation expenses not otherwise covered through existing programs

Emergency and Incidental Expenses

• Accommodation
• Meals and food
• Vehicle rentals
• Parking
• Replacement clothing or personal items
• Other incident-related expenses

Mental Health Support

• Mental health services for family members when those costs are not covered through existing benefits

Funeral and Celebration of Life Expenses

• Funeral expenses not covered by existing CAF or government programs
• Celebration of life expenses
• Related travel and accommodation costs for immediate family members

Exceptional Family Needs

• Other urgent expenses that arise from unique family circumstances and are approved by program administrators

The CAF already provides a range of benefits, programs, and support services to members and families. The CFB Wainwright Support Fund is intended to complement those existing supports by helping address urgent needs, gaps in coverage, or unexpected expenses that may arise during recovery, reunification, bereavement, or transition periods. The goal is to reduce financial stress during an already difficult time.
 

CAF members and next of kin seeking support through the CFB Wainwright Support Fund should contact the Edmonton Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC), which is administering the program on behalf of Support Our Troops (SOT).

Using the contact information below, eligible individuals can connect directly with the Edmonton MFRC team. Once contacted, an MFRC staff member will reach out and arrange a virtual appointment, typically within 24 hours, to discuss needs and determine what assistance may be available.
 

The Edmonton MFRC was selected as the centralized administrator to ensure a consistent, coordinated, and compassionate approach for all affected families, regardless of where they live. This creates a single point of contact and helps simplify access to support.

The program is designed to provide support as quickly as possible. In most cases, approved funding can be disbursed to families within 48 hours of submitting an application, provided all required information has been received and eligibility has been confirmed.

Program partners recognize that families may be facing urgent financial pressures and are committed to making assistance available in a timely and compassionate manner during this difficult period.

To help process your request as quickly as possible, applicants should be prepared to provide:

• The name and Service Number of the CAF member affected by the incident.
• Your relationship to the CAF member (if applying as next of kin or a family member).
• Contact information, including a phone number and email address.
• Name and contact information of the Designated Assistant provided to you by the Canadian Armed Forces.
• A brief description of your circumstances and the assistance being requested.
• Information about any other financial assistance or benefits you may be receiving for the same expense.
• Supporting documentation, if available, such as receipts, estimates, travel itineraries, invoices, or other relevant records.

Applicants should not delay seeking support if they do not yet have all supporting documents. The Edmonton MFRC team will work with families to identify the information needed and help guide them through the application process.

Families may be asked to provide receipts or supporting documentation after assistance has been provided. This information helps ensure charitable funds are being used for their intended purpose and helps the organizations better understand emerging community needs. The focus is on responsible stewardship of donations, not on monitoring family spending decisions.

The program includes several accountability measures:

• Applications and funding are tracked through secure CFMWS systems.
• Eligibility is verified through established CAF and CFMWS processes.
• Funding is administered through controlled disbursement mechanisms.
• Utilization data is reported in aggregate to support transparency and oversight.

These measures help ensure donations reach eligible families while maintaining accountability to donors.
 

Support Our Troops has initially committed $500,000 in charitable funding to support affected families. Additional donations from individuals, corporations, and philanthropic partners may increase the resources available to support families in need.

Canadians who wish to support CAF families affected by the tragedy can make donations through either:

• Support Our Troops
• True Patriot Love

Funds designated for the CFB Wainwright Support Fund will be directed toward supporting eligible families through the coordinated assistance framework established for this program.

The fund exists to ensure that CAF families affected by the tragedy receive timely, compassionate, and practical support when they need it most. By bringing together charitable organizations, family support services, and the military community, the program

Fundraising for the CFB Wainwright Support Fund is on-going, so it is anticipated that there will be additional funds available on a case-by-case basis.