Ombud recognizes members of Canada’s Defence community with the 23rd Liz Hoffman Memorial Commendation
Ombud Message | 17 October 2024
I was honoured to celebrate the accomplishments of members of Canada’s Defence community at the 23rd annual Liz Hoffman Memorial Commendation ceremony.
The Liz Hoffman Memorial Commendation is an annual commendation. It recognizes Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, civilian employees, family members and other members of the Defence community who go the extra mile and exceed expectations in helping their colleagues resolve a difficult problem. It also acknowledges those who bring about positive and lasting change to the Department of National Defence (DND) and the CAF.
Many distinguished guests attended the ceremony to highlight the extraordinary dedication and work put forth by the recipients, including Dr. Andrea Hoffman, daughter of Liz Hoffman. I was also pleased to welcome Parliamentary Secretary Lalonde (on behalf of the Minister of National Defence), General Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff, and the Associate Deputy Minister, Natasha Kim. Many representatives from the CAF and the DND were also in attendance.
It was an honour to recognize this year’s recipients of the Liz Hoffman Memorial Commendation:
Élise Vallée
In recognition of her profound impact on the transformation of 2nd Canadian Division into a fair, equitable and healthy environment, Elise Vallée is awarded the 2024 Liz Hoffman Memorial Commendation.
Over the past 32 years, Elise’s leadership and her recognition of the importance of mental health initiatives have led to the creation of programs that respond to the pressing issues within 2nd Canadian Division.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she created a complete guide to help managers support their teams. She also developed a set of resources to help members of the Canadian Armed Forces working in long-term care homes. In 2023, she worked with the Théâtre des petites lanternes to present a play focusing on operational stress injuries. That production challenged stereotypes and encouraged discussions among community leaders about supporting people affected by operational stress injuries.
Elise’s commitment to inclusivity and equity is just as impressive: she produced two publications to raise personnel members’ awareness of the experiences of visible minorities and persons with disabilities, which considerably strengthened her colleagues’ understanding of and commitment to diversity in their division.
Her initiative and her expertise in Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) led her to coordinate an annual trans-identity awareness day, which played a crucial role in educating the community and the chain of command. That paved the way for a more inclusive environment and ensured that policies support all members of the Canadian Armed Forces community. By integrating GBA+ into the planning of division operations, she improved their effectiveness and efficiency.
These initiatives are just a few of the numerous projects which continue to demonstrate her commitment to serving the Defence community with compassion and professionalism.
I commend Élise Vallée’s exceptional dedication to transforming 2nd Canadian Division into a fair, equitable and healthy environment.
Jenn McStravick
In recognition of her exceptional dedication and compassion while serving at the Canadian Forces Base Borden, Jenn McStravick is awarded the 2024 Liz Hoffman Memorial Commendation.
In response to the financial and personal struggles faced by many during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jenn founded the Borden Home-Based Business Group on Facebook. This initiative helped to promote military spouse businesses and provided crucial support to military families navigating economic hardships.
Jenn was an active member of the Military Family Resource Centre advisory committee. She additionally founded the Borden Community Support Center with the Base Padre, Major Huh. This resource has been instrumental in addressing low morale and loneliness while fostering connections among military families. This initiative led to the creation of a community garden and a food pantry. These resources continue to help military families to build resiliency and community when dealing with food insecurities and addressing financial challenges.
Jenn is a passionate community leader who employs her creative problem-solving skills to support the members of our Defence community. Her collaborative efforts in organizing fundraisers, food drives, and community events have fostered a sense of belonging and support within the Canadian Armed Forces community.
I commend Jenn McStravick’s exceptional dedication and compassion to serving her community.
The Natasha's Wood Foundation
In recognition of their dedication supporting youth mental health and community well-being, Natasha’s Wood Foundation is awarded the 2024 Liz Hoffman Memorial Commendation.
Fay Maddison, a military spouse who is passionate about mental health advocacy for youth, founded the Natasha’s Wood Foundation in 2014. The Foundation’s mission is to fundraise, create awareness of, and champion unconditional support for children and youth of Veteran and Canadian Armed Forces families. Their resiliency programs for kids and teens aim to inspire children and youth to build essential life skills, and to form connections with others who share similar life experiences.
The Foundation’s Literary and Arts programs center around stories written by Fay. She created the fantasy world of Natasha’s Wood, where characters in the picture book series are illustrated by readers, and the stories reflect the challenges and triumphs common to children in defence community. The Foundation has gifted these stories to Military Family Resource Centers across Canada. Over the past 10 years, hundreds of military family children have seen themselves represented in these stories.
Through a collaboration with Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS), the Foundation supports the Defence community with scholarships and educational opportunities such as Coding for Youth, among other initiatives, to encourage and empower youth leaders. Natasha’s Wood Foundation has been instrumental in raising awareness and driving change within the military and Veteran community about the importance of children’s mental health and resilience.
I commend the Natasha's Wood Foundation’s exceptional dedication to contribute positively to the welfare of military families.
Again, I would like to congratulate and extend my gratitude to these outstanding individuals for helping others and making a difference. Like Liz Hoffman, they are a tremendous force for positive change.
Robyn Hynes
she/her
Ombud