We know that being involved in defence and public safety requires your family to carry extra demands—navigating logistics, complicated identities, mobility, and risks at once. Our resources, rooted in research and our own connections to the community, are built to meet the unique experiences of your family.
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Here for
Garnet Families
Evidence-based resources and a community that gets it—serving military, veteran, first responder, and public safety families.
Serving Those Who Serve
Who Is a Garnet Family?
A family is a system of people who support one another. Some are chosen, some are blended, and some are biological. There is no one kind of family. If you have a family member, of any kind, who currently serves or who has served in the military, first response, or public safety sectors, you are a Garnet Family. We are glad you are here.
Work and family are connected more than you might think. What happens in one sphere impacts the other, and vice versa. Families are more than random collections of individuals—they are systems. In a system, what happens for part of the system affects the whole, and vice versa.
A Network of
Families and
Beyond
“Garnet Families—Serving alongside, for our safety and security”
Dr. Heidi Cramm
Professor, School of Rehabilitation Therapy
Sponsored by the City of Kingston
We rely on families, particularly those that serve alongside health and public safety personnel. In her talk, Dr. Heidi Cramm delves into the four occupational lifestyle dimensions that create unique challenges for these families, and how Garnet Families is helping connect and support them.
Donate to Garnet Families
We rely on the generosity of donors to continue our work and support of these hardworking families through research, resources, and community development. Thank you for your support.
A Family of Families
At the Garnet Families Network, we recognize there is no one typical defence and public safety experience, just as there is no one typical family.
We know you want to be a family that thrives, even in the face of the ever-changing and increased challenges that come with having a family member who serves.
We believe that families matter, unequivocally, in their own right, with experiences, needs, and issues directly and indirectly related to the occupation(s) of the family member(s).
That’s why we created the Garnet Families Network, so defence and public safety families can access free, relevant resources and a community that have a positive impact on their wellbeing before and if issues arise. You aren’t alone. You are a part of Garnet Families.
Our team is enriched by our own experiences as Garnet Families. We wanted to create something evidence-based, from families like ours, for families like yours.