HALIFAX, N.S. – The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, today officially opened a newly constructed CAN $4.2 million facility, which is now home to the combined Regional Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU) and the Integrated Personnel Support Centre (IPSC) at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax. The facility will provide direct support and care to ill and injured Canadian Forces (CF) personnel and their families through the stages of recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration into military or civilian life, all under one roof.
“The opening of this new Integrated Personnel Support Centre at CFB Halifax shows the importance placed by our government, the Department of National Defence, and Canadian Forces leadership on continuously improving the services offered to enhance the quality of life of our ill and injured members and their families,” said Minister MacKay.
Located at Windsor Park, this new building addresses accessibility issues encountered at the previous IPSC location and meets the Universal Design and Barrier Free Access Guidelines, making it more conducive to providing the services required for ill or injured personnel.
“While an effective team could work well in any building, the layout efficiencies will create a greatly enhanced work environment”, said Colonel G.J. Blais, Director of Casualty Support Management and JPSU Commanding Officer. “The building will allow IPSC staff to provide the best support possible to ill and injured members and their families by allowing optimum collaboration with our integrated partners, such as Veterans Affairs Canada.
Under this new roof, the IPSC Halifax will be better positioned to continue their work and provide a CF and Veterans Affairs Canada integrated “one-stop service facility” for ill and injured CF personnel, veterans, and their families. Like all 24 IPSC’s located across Canada, the IPSC Halifax currently supports serving personnel, CF personnel preparing to release from the CF, both Regular Force and Reserve Force, as well as their families. It offers a range of programs and services, such as casualty support, the Return to Work program, liaison with the Military Family Resource Centre, Veterans Affairs Canada client and transitional services, Canadian Forces Health Services Case Management, Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS), as well as pastoral support.
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