CFB Edmonton: Canada's largest army base gets housing boost

Canada's largest army base by population just got a big boost to military housing.

In one ribbon cutting, the first project in an ambitious national plan took care of 10 per cent of the housing wait list at CFB Edmonton.

Officials toured 36 spanking-new homes complete with high-performance energy efficiencies and electric vehicle charging — all net-zero ready and ticking.

Lt. Col. John Southen, commander of CFB Edmonton, said unlike many Canadians, members don't have the luxury of choosing when or where they move — making for high-pressure house hunting, and making military housing a matter of military preparedness.

"The burden of relocation is among the leading contributors to attrition in our Canadian Armed Forces. When moves are disruptive, stressful, and uncertain, they exact a toll not only on our members and their families, but on the operational readiness and long-term capability of Canada's national defence," Southen said.

Member housing hasn't been forgotten in Prime Minister Mark Carney's pledge to fortify Canada's military with an $82-billion investment.

Paola Zurro, CEO of the Canadian Forces Housing Agency, said the national home construction program announced 18 months ago is the largest military housing campaign since post-Second World War.

In Edmonton alone, the agency will double the portfolio in the coming years. Later this summer, another 36 housing units for the base in Edmonton will be posted.

Zurro said there are more than 2,000 applicants on the wait list for members posted at public expense, and another 2,000 across the country living on the economy who would like to access defence housing.

Phase one construction is underway at nine priority bases, and a contract at CFB Trenton just got awarded.

Phase two will construct more than 7,000 units across the country, she said.

Zurro gave a nod to partners in the CFB Edmonton project, including Republic Architecture and Bird Construction and the Center for Greening, as well as Defence Construction Canada, Natural Resources Canada and Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Canada is investing in housing for the military on a scale not seen in decades in this country, with some 1,100 new homes planned for Alberta bases, said Eleanor Olszewski, the Liberal MP for Edmonton Centre, minister of emergency management and community resilience, and minister responsible for prairies and economic development.

Building military housing eases pressure on Edmonton's existing housing market, freeing up other homes and making them more affordable for Edmontonians while supporting local construction jobs, Olszewski said.

"Supporting military families isn't separate from supporting our women and men in uniform, it's fundamental to it. Military readiness begins with people, and when families are supported, our wonderful service members can focus on the important work they do every day, protecting Canadians, working with our allies, and responding when communities absolutely need them the most," Olszewski said.

"Every time I come here, it's a reminder of the strength and the dedication of our military personnel and the sacrifices they make daily to protect our country," she said, thanking the members at the ribbon-cutting for great work done last summer when Canada faced wildfires from coast to coast to coast.

"I know how relieved communities feel when the women and men in uniform show up when we have a national disaster. I can't thank you enough for the amazing work that you do in that regard," she said.

"And of course, behind every member of the military, there's a loved one, there's a family, there's kids, and they are also making huge sacrifices, and they deserve a wonderful place to live that helps make the unique challenges that military families face easier for them, easier to manage," Olszewski said.

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