Bluenose Bienvenue
A Meet & Greet for Military Families
-
10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Bluenose Bienvenue is an annual, free family-friendly welcome event for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, Veterans, and their families, typically held in early September at the Sea King Club & Shearwater Fitness, Sports and Recreation Centre in Nova Scotia.
Hosted by the H&R MFRC, it connects new and existing military families with local community resources, featuring activities like a BBQ, games, and entertainment.
Key Details about the Event:
- Purpose: To welcome families newly posted to the area and foster connections within the Defence community. This event is open air force, army and navy.
- Organizer: The Halifax & Region Military Family Resource Centre (H&R MFRC).
- Cost & Registration: The event is free, and no pre-registration is required.
- 1 Event – 2 Locations: 12-Wing Shearwater / Sea King Club and Shearwater Fitness & Sports Gymnasium
- Date /Timing: Saturday, September 12, 10 AM to 1:30 PM
Activities & Attractions
The event features a wide range of activities for all ages, including:
- Military Displays: Opportunities to see the inside of a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter or connect with 36 Service Battalion to get a look inside a Medium Support Vehicle System (MSVS) or visit with 36 Combat Engineers where they’ll be showcasing their equipment. Meet with highly trained underwater specialists from the Royal Canadian Navy and learn about a career as a Navy Clearance Diver.
- Military Recruiters: Get an inside look at the incredible work our Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members do within their units. Meet representatives from all three CAF elements — the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Canadian Army.
- Family Fun: Bouncy castle, games, crafts, rides on a trackless train* and a free open swim. *Subject to weather
- Community Expo: More than 75 community groups and vendors are present, including sports teams, local entrepreneurs, and veteran organizations.
- Live Music: Performances by the Stadacona Band of the Royal Canadian Navy.
- MFRC Services & Supports: Our amazing MFRC team is here and ready to help! Whether you’re navigating a relocation, going through a transition, exploring Career & Employment options, or looking for deployment support, we’ve got you covered. We also offer fantastic Youth & Parenting resources, the Veteran Family Program, and so much more. Stop by and chat with our team and discover all the ways the MFRC can support you and your family!
- Defence Advisory Groups: Come meet the passionate members of our Defence Advisory Groups—representing women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, and the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Stop by to discover the amazing work these groups are doing, ask questions, make connections, and find out how you can get involved and help drive positive change!
- Draws and Prizes: We’ve got tons of draw prizes, free samples, and fun giveaways happening throughout the event. Don’t miss your chance to score something awesome!
- Food: Join us for a free BBQ, cake, coffee and tea (while quantities are available). Some of the vendors will be offering free product sampling.
- Market: Each year, we are proud to welcome the Veteran Farm Project Society where they host a farm-fresh market selling their local produce, preserves, breads and more!
- Veteran Connections: Each year, we host Veteran organizations to showcase their services and supports, either post-career or through volunteering. Previous vendors have included Helmets to Hardhats, Team Rubicon, The Royal Canadian Legion, Xlimits Archery and more!
- Looking to Volunteer in your Community? If you’ve been looking for a way to connect to the local community and find somewhere you can volunteer, this is it! We have many groups and community organizations that would love to increase their volunteer base including Veteran organizations.
- Are you a single member? Meet people and join a new hobby! Cycling Nova Scotia, NS Arm Wrestling Association, Urban Trail Racing, the CFB Halifax Historical Recreation Club, and a full contact medieval combat club, the Halifax Citadels – are some of the options that could be for you!
- Personal Support Programs (PSP) – members from the Shearwater Fitness & Sports Centre, Health Promotions, and Community Recreation Clubs like Judo, Triathlon, Martial Arts
- PSP - will be on site to talk about recreational programs for children, youth and adults, Base Teams, and the highly popular CAF Social League. Learn about Fitness and Sports Centre Equipment Rentals and the many club-based activities like Hartland Point Golf Club, CFB Halifax Curling Club,
Testimonials from event participants over the years -
- It was such welcoming atmosphere! I had a chance to meet old friends!
- It’s great to see other families and see new companies! The number of vendors and services was very well represented by community.
- I like the fact that it showed me a lot about the military. I learned about becoming a Clearance Diver as a job opportunity.
- Lots of great health awareness programs, great friendly representatives.
- I just didn’t know about all that was available to military families. Very impressive! Learned about a new family support group!
- The kids really enjoyed the train, the bouncy castle, the Hal-con characters and all the treats from the different tables. We really appreciated the BBQ, the volunteers and free coffee. Was great to learn some history about the McNab island, got some great information and resources from the MFRC and Reachability. Wonderful to meet all the vendors and learn about the programs offered in the community. Thank you so much for the great event!
https://tridentnewspaper.com/dont-miss-bluenose-bienvenue-september-6-2025/
Are you a military entrepreneur with a home-based business?
Each year at Bluenose Bienvenue, we invite up to 10 military entrepreneurs to set up displays to sell and promote their products. Preference is given to entrepreneurs who plan to sell merchandise onsite. To support your success, we ensure no duplicate vendors offering the same products or services are selected. There is no cost to participate.
Want to be part of the excitement at Bluenose Bienvenue?
We’re looking for community groups, non‑profits, and Veteran organizations who want to connect, showcase what they do, and be part of this vibrant welcome event! If you’re interested in hosting an information table or joining us at Bluenose Bienvenue, let’s connect and make it happen!
Let’s Connect:
Call: (902) 427-7788
Email: bluenosebienvenue@hrmfrc.ca
This event is proudly presented by:
Community Event Sponsor
