Archana Cini Lookout Newspaper Mental health matters, especially in a life of service. For the week starting May 5 2025, Defence Community members across Canada came together to challenge stigma, encourage connection, and explore strategies for mental well-being. 2025’s Mental Health Week carried the theme of ‘Unmasking Mental Health’, a concept that recognizes the toll hiding mental struggles can take, especially on military members, veterans, Defence employees, families, and communities. In a culture of service and resilience, honest conversations about psychological and emotional wellbeing can sometimes feel like risk to those known for strength. But as reinforced during the Self Care Strategies: Helpful Now and Always webinar held on May 8, vulnerability is not weakness—it’s a strength that builds healthy people and communities. Led by Human Relations Specialist and Criminologist Alexandra Hidalgo, the session offered Defence community participants with evidence-based tips to care for their mental and emotional well-being. “Stress and mental heaviness, when left unchecked, impacts our immune system, memory, mood, daily functioning, and more,” she explained. “The goal of self-care is to build consistent habits that work to boost our mental health before long-term, negative effects build.” With life in the Defence community often defined by deployments, irregular schedules, separation, or stress, Hidalgo’s tools were both informative and actionable. Whether you’re in uniform, supporting a loved one, or behind the scenes, here are some tips for mental wellbeing: Commit to caring for yourself. Prioritize self care like any other obligation. Plan ahead, forgive yourself, and understand you can’t pour from an empty cup. Practice healthy thinking. Stay curious about your thoughts, create space from negative self talk when needed, and recognize unhealthy thoughts as they arise. Focus on what you can control. Redirect energy away from worry and try shifting towards positive actions you can engage in instead....

Archana Cini Lookout Newspaper The sea remembers, and so do we. On May 4, Victorians gathered at the lawns of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Battle of the Atlantic Sunday, an annual day of remembrance of the Second World War’s longest campaign. The 1100hrs service drew representatives of the Naval Association of Canada, members and veterans of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), the media, and local community members in observance of those who served in the battle. Of the nearly 100,000 Canadians who served, over 4,600 hundred lost their lives. The 2025 event marked eight decades since the tide turned in the Atlantic and coincided with the RCN’s 115th anniversary, weaving remembrance, historical pride, and present-day service into a commemoration of unity. The sacrifices of Canada’s Navy, Air Force, and Merchant Mariners were formally honoured at the cenotaph, where silence was observed, wreaths laid, and moving tributes shared. The Battle of the Atlantic began for Canada even before war was officially declared, when HMCS Fraser and St. Laurent departed the Pacific Coast in August 1939 to escort the first Allied convoys across the Atlantic. By the war’s end in 1945, the RCN had escorted nearly half of all Allied convoys across the Atlantic, destroyed 33 German U-boats, and scuttled 42 enemy surface ships. The RCN also suffered heavy losses with over 2,000 naval fatalities and 30 vessels lost. To Captain(N) Kevin Whiteside, Commander of CFB Esquimalt, the event was equally an occasion to commemorate the past as an opportunity to reflect on the challenges ahead. “The accomplishments of those who served before inform and inspire those of us in uniform today. It is right that we remember their service, but equally important that the lessons of the past are never forgotten. As we...

Archana Cini Lookout Newspaper Not every hero sails a ship, some design the ship instead. The Royal Victoria Yacht Club was the scene of both official recognition and naval tradition on April 24, when Mr. Robert Allan, President of Robert Allan Ltd., was presented with the 2024 Admirals’ Medal for exceptional contributions to Canada’s maritime legacy. The ceremony, hosted by Vice Admiral (Retired) Nigel Brodeur and Commodore David Mazur, Commander of Canadian Fleet Pacific, brought together Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) representatives, veterans, and local Defence community leaders to honour a man whose work will power our national fleet for decades to come. Through the exclusive design of four new Naval Large Tugs (NLTs) developed for the RCN, medal recipient Robert Allan played a direct role in strengthening Canadian maritime operations and morale. Built under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, these vessels are designed to handle everything from critical emergency response and coastal towing to firefighting. The NLTs represent a leap forward in power, maneuverability, and mission support. The tugs will replace aging equipment and expand operational readiness for the Navy’s growing fleet, boasting the ability to maneuver challenging weather conditions alongside a staggering 60-tonne bollard pull. Allan’s commitment to innovation and technical excellence exemplifies the spirit of the Admirals’ Medal itself, which recognizes key innovative contributions made to Canadian maritime affairs. First created in 1985 by Vice-Admirals Bob Stephens, Dan Mainguy, and Nigel Brodeur, the medal was named in tribute to their fathers, men whose naval service helped shape the RCN’s identity, alongside its values of courage and technical excellence. As a civilian Admirals’ Medal recipient, Allan joins a very small group of contributors, including Arctic researcher Moira Dunbar and last year’s honouree, Captain David (Duke) Snider. To Allan, the medal ceremony was a humbling experience—an acknowledgement of years of work...

Archana Cini Lookout Newspaper Service deep beneath the waves is anything but quiet. To Chief Petty Officer Second Class (CPO2) Patricia Inglis, supporting emergency responses; maintaining morale in a confined environment; serving as a communication hub; upholding discipline; participating in briefings; and managing administrative tasks are just some of what keeps a submarine deployment fast paced. CPO2 Inglis is currently posted to HMCS Windsor as the Canadian Submarine Force’s (CSF) first female coxswain. The coxswain is especially vital on submarines where communication with the outside world fades underwater, space grows tight, and tensions run high. Though her appointment as the first female coxswain of a submarine carries historical significance, CPO2 Inglis remains focused on the responsibilities of her job. “I am incredibly proud to be the first woman to hold this position within the Canadian submarine community, and I sincerely hope to honour the legacy,” she said. “But importantly, I hope this reinforces that leadership within the CSF is about real competence, and the ability to connect with crew regardless of background.” To CPO2 Inglis, milestones like this also encourage long-term growth by demonstrating how diverse perspectives and approaches enhance team effectiveness. When it comes to the life of a submariner, what surprises people the most is lack of internet access beneath the surface. “While those serving on ships typically have access to both internal networks and the internet, the experience on a submarine is very different,” said CPO2 Inglis. “We have no access until we return to port, making even checking in with loved ones or reading the news impossible.” Raised in Nova Scotia, CPO2 Inglis didn’t always envision herself in a naval uniform. She first explored a career in tourism and hospitality; however, the sea called. After deploying aboard HMCS Winnipeg for anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of...