Archana Cini, Lookout Newspaper The 25th Annual Concert of Remembrance took place Nov. 8 at the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre, bringing together hundreds in honour of Canadian veterans. The event featured performances by the Band of the 5th (B.C.) Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, and students from the Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA). Proceeds benefited the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (EMFRC) and Canadian Heritage Arts Society (CHAS). - Hundreds of Vancouver Island residents recently gathered at the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre to remember Canadian veterans through music and movement. A night of respect and reflection, the annual Concert of Remembrance returned on Nov 8 to honour our Canadian veterans and service members. The concert was co-presented by the Canadian Heritage Arts Society (CHAS) and the District of Oak Bay, bringing together the Band of the 5th (British Columbia) Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, and the Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA). An annual tradition since the CCPA’s founding in 1998, the Concert of Remembrance celebrated its 25th show this year. The event opened with remarks from Kevin Murdoch, mayor of Oak Bay, and Lieutenant-Colonel (retired) Philip Sherwin. The night then took audience members through the realities and vulnerabilities of service with the Band of the 5th performing over ten compositions introduced by Master of Ceremonies Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) (retired) Gerald Pash. To Captain (Capt) Daniel Moses, Director of Music Band for the 5th (British Columbia) Field Regiment, music has often played the role of an ultimate morale booster. “Music and song are crucial to being human, and that is even more apparent during times of duress. Think about the military action in Ukraine and how music, dance and song bound the Ukrainian people together against their oppressors,” said Capt Moses. “It was the same during the Second World War,...

A/SLt Emily Shea, MARPAC Public Affairs The Royal Canadian Navy hosted a Stewards Commemorative Event at CFB Esquimalt on Nov 6 to honour the retirement of the Steward occupation. The Steward trade was retired following a review of naval occupations as the RCN modernizes its fleet and adapts to new operational needs. Each Steward received an “End of an Era” commemorative coin from Rear-Admiral David Patchell, recognizing their service and contribution. - Members of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), veterans, Defence families, and supporters recently gathered at the Chief and Petty Officers’ Mess for the Stewards Commemorative Event. Held on Nov 6 at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt, the event honoured the legacy of the Steward occupation, which is now retired. The event marked a turning point in the history of the RCN at CFB Esquimalt, with each Steward being recognized, appreciated for their service, and presented with an ‘End of an Era’ commemorative coin. Rear-Admiral (RAdm) David Patchell spoke to the significance of the role during the event, describing Stewards as “a quiet strength behind absolutely everything we have done and continue to do.” RAdm Patchell also highlighted their steady presence in every galley, wardroom, and mess to date. RAdm Patchell also acknowledged the weight of this transition, stating, “The retiring of the Steward occupation is not a retirement or dismissal of you, our Stewards.” He emphasized that the values Stewards brought to the Navy remain vital. “Even as we change and evolve, your legacy will be felt for generations.” In June 2022, Vice-Admiral (VAdm) Angus Topshee first announced the decision to retire the Steward occupation following a multi-year review of naval trades and changing expectations. As the RCN modernizes its fleet and adapts to new operational demands, recruitment for the trade has ended and current Stewards are being...

Archana Cini, Lookout Newspaper Reading can become an act of remembrance when sacrifice is honoured through story and reflection. Discover powerful books to read that preserve the voices of Canada's veterans, from memoris to historical accounts. - The service and sacrifice that shapes Canada lives not only through monuments and medals, but also within books. Reading, like remembrance, invites reflection. Whether told through the lens of history, fiction, lived experience, or artwork, the books below preserve the voices of our veterans. Together, they ensure that their sacrifices continue to shape our understanding of duty, peace, and what it means to serve. They are told by our veterans, historians, and storytellers alike. Importantly, the suggested material below reminds us that war and service extend far beyond the battlefield. They travel into our homes, hearts, communities, and collective history. They will never leave. This Remembrance month, Canadians are encouraged to read and revisit the layered reading list below as a powerful act of remembrance. And No Birds Sang by Farley Mowat: A powerful Second World War memoir by a Canadian infantry officer grappling with loss and the human cost of war. A History of Women in the Canadian Military by Barbara Dundas: A sweeping exploration into over a century of women’s service in the Canadian military from the 1885 Northwest Rebellion to today. A Sailor’s Life by Peter Godwin Chance: A naval memoir chronicling over three decades of service in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) recounted by one of the country’s most distinguished sailors. Warriors & Nations: Voices from the Original Peoples by Jean Miso: A collection of Indigenous veteran narratives from across Canada on the intersections of service, identity, and community from the Boer War to the present day. The Naval Service of Canada 1910‑2010 (ed. Alec Douglas): A comprehensive centennial...

Archana Cini, Lookout Newspaper After battling years of life-threatening infections, Royal Canadian Dragoons member Blair Edwards received a life-saving stem cell transplant from an anonymous donor. The Edwards’ story highlights the vital role of Canadian Blood Services and encourages all Canadians to donate blood, plasma, or stem cells. - When Leah Edwards’ youngest son Blair was admitted to hospital with a life-threatening infection, her family’s understanding of service and sacrifice took on a new meaning. Blair Edwards, a member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD) based in Petawawa, has served in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) since 2018. His older brother, Kyle, joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 2017 and is currently standing sentry for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier following a deployment aboard His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ottawa. Their grandfather, a retired Chief Warrant Officer, also served in the Air Force. For the Edwards family, service has always run deep — but nothing could prepare them for Blair’s medical battle. In 2018, just three days into his military journey, Blair was hospitalized with the first of many Staphylococci infections. These infections would rear up during both his Soldier Qualifications (SQ) and Developmental Period (DP) Level One training. Eventually, he was able to successfully complete his soldier qualifications (SQ) while battling both pneumonia and an active infection. After a challenging four years, Blair then lived through an incredibly difficult 2023 surgery to remove two spleens (only one of which was natural) and narrowly survived post-surgery septic shock. Now, the only potential path to cure Blair was a complete stem cell replacement. On April 30, 2024, Blair received a life-saving stem cell transplant thanks to an anonymous donor. "The initial stage of the process seemed almost anti-climactic as Blair recieved high doses of chemotheraphy in the weeks preceding...