Gander Air Force Base Ends Relationships with Faith-Based Charities, Including Salvation Army (Gander, Canada)

The Royal Canadian Air Force’s 9 Wing Gander has decided to stop supporting faith-based charities, including the Salvation Army, as part of a broader policy review. This decision, announced by base commander Lt.-Col. Lydia Evequoz, aims to align the RCAF’s actions with its core values of inclusivity and welcoming all members. The review was prompted by concerns from RCAF personnel, including families, volunteers, and civilian staff, regarding associations with charities that do not support LGBTQ and marginalized communities.

Evequoz emphasized that the decision is not about singling out specific charities or faiths but about ensuring the RCAF reflects the values of its members. She stated, “We need to be an organization that is inclusive, that is welcoming to all and that we take action internally.” The review includes examining how the RCAF’s involvement with charities aligns with its commitment to inclusivity and respect for all individuals.

The Salvation Army has faced criticism in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as across Canada and the United States, for its stance on the LGBTQ community. In May, Grand Falls-Windsor Pride reported that the Salvation Army requested to be excluded from an event held on church property. These concerns have contributed to the broader discussion about the role of faith-based organizations in charitable work and their alignment with contemporary values.

Evequoz clarified that the concerns are not necessarily about the local charity work of the Salvation Army or other faith-based groups. Instead, they reflect a larger issue regarding how LGBTQ members and their families perceive faith-based organizations. She noted, “It’s more the bigger picture of how, for example, our LGBTQ members and their family, how they’re feeling toward faith-based organizations in general.”

The base commander explained that the decision to exclude faith-based charities allows RCAF members to make their own choices about which charities to support. “The view that we’ve taken is the fact that faith is an individual choice,” Evequoz said. “What I want to make sure is that me as a representative of my organization of 9 Wing, I’m not imposing those choices on everybody because not everybody’s going to be impacted by it the same way.”

Evequoz assured that RCAF members in Gander who choose to continue supporting charities like the Happy Tree, organized by the Salvation Army, will be fully supported. “One hundred per cent in uniform, outside of uniform, as an individual,” she said. This approach reflects a balance between respecting personal faith and ensuring the RCAF remains inclusive and supportive of all its members.

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