Our Conversation with the Cartwrights

Military Family Life

This month we are speaking with another couple – Norma and Tom Cartwright - about their lives as a Canadian Military family. Having weathered eight postings and numerous deployments, our guests have some great stories and important lessons to share.

About our Guests

Norma Cartwright has been a military spouse for almost 35 years. She grew up on a farm in Southern Manitoba, and met Tom while he was posted to Shilo in 1986. They married in 1988 and were posted to CFB Lahr Germany in 1989, then to Chatham in 1992. Norma was a stay at home mom until her daughters started school then started work at a cleaning jobs. In 2005, she went back to college and earned a certificate in Office Administration. Norma and Tom live in Petawawa, where Tom retired from military in 2018. They love camping, and going to the beach and events with their friends. Norma also loves to travel, read and bake!

Tom Cartwright was born in Alert Bay BC, and grew up in Prince George. He graduated in 1985 and joined the CF in October of that year. His first posting was to 3 RCHA in Shilo, Manitoba where he met Norma. He has been posted to 4 AD Regt in Lahr Germany then to Chatham/Gagetown; and to 18 AD Regt in Lethbridge Alberta. He completed a tour to Bosnia in 2000 before remustering to AVN Tech. He was posted to 408 THS in Edmonton AB from 2002 to 2012, and complete two more tours in Bosnia and four in Afghanistan. In 2012 he was posted to 450 THS in Petawawa, until retiring in 2018. He currently works as a contractor in support of the RCAF at 450 THS.

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