Behind the Lookout

Andrea Modesto, Administrative Assistant  Written by Andrea Modesto, Lookout Newspaper General Rick Hillier, Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff from 2005-2008, once said, “When a soldier steps on foreign soil in a high-risk environment, every single Canadian should be walking with him or her.” These words have always resonated deeply with me. I’m Andrea Modesto, Administrative Assistant and Accounts for the Lookout Newspaper team and part of Personnel Support Programs (PSP), a division of the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS). I grew up in a small outport village in Newfoundland and Labrador watching family members ship off to serve our country. They included: my sister, Master Corporal (Ret’d) Victoria McDonald; my brother, Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Herbert McDonald; my brotherin-law, Sergeant (Ret’d) Christopher deBeaupre; my husband, Master Sailor (MS) Marc Modesto; and most recently, my nephew, Aviator Brock deBeaupre. Over the years, they have each shown me firsthand, the dedication and sacrifices made by members of our Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). I have always wanted to serve Canada and walk alongside my family. As such, I enlisted in the Royal Canadadian Navy (RCN) and met my husband Marc at Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School (CFLRS) Saint Jean. Though I was unable to complete basic training, Marc encouraged me to continue seeking a way to contribute to our nation. That journey brought us to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt, where I found a new way to serve — through CFMWS. In my role, I am so proud to support our writers, editors, and designers as they share the stories of those in uniform; highlight the many PSP programs available to members and their families; and assist with CAF events that strengthen our Defence community. Though my path looks different than I once imagined, I am grateful to contribute...

Teresa Laird, Graphic Designer/Creative Written by Archana Cini, Lookout Newspaper My love of art and design started when I was very young. My brother and I would stay up late, hiding under the covers with a flashlight, sketching faces from old record album covers: Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley — you name it. I’m Teresa Laird, graphic designer and creative with the Lookout Newspaper. I’ve been here for nine wonderful years. My parents encouraged me to pursue a creative path when I was young, and my dad, who had a talent for illustrating engines, motorcycles, and airplanes, hoped I might follow a similar path. That foundation set me on the journey that has carried me through 45 years in the print industry. I got my start as a proofreader in Vancouver, working on projects like the British Columbia (B.C.) Medical Journal. For eight years, I honed my skills in type houses before transitioning to newspapers. Along the way, I’ve learned to appreciate every stage of the creative process, from small details to the bigger picture. The best part of my job now is knowing that the work I do has a direct impact — it supports Defence Team members in their efforts. I love that my work is about people first. Although I’m not a sailor, I feel honoured to be part of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) environment. I love what the CAF stands for, and the pride its members take in serving Canada. Watching sailors and members grow as they move through the ranks inspires me. When I think about service, I remember something my first manager once told me: “We’re here to serve those who serve.” That phrase has stuck with me, and really defines what I do. Outside of work, I’m blessed with a rich family life....

Cameron Carnell, Administrative Assistant Written by Archana Cini, Lookout Newspaper For over half a decade, I’ve been one of the engines keeping the Lookout Newspaper moving — quite literally! My name is Cameron (Cam) Carnell, and I am one of the team’s Administrative Assistants. I’ve been with the Lookout since 2019 when I first started delivering papers. Since 2020, I’ve also been tackling our biweekly mail-out process. My favourite part of the job has always been the Sunday morning drive. The stops have become familiar, and over the years I’ve met a lot of friendly, genuine people on my route. Knowing that someone is receiving yet another copy of the Lookout because I delivered or mailed it brings about a lot of happiness. It means something. I was raised on a hog ranch in the East Kootenays, surrounded by a menagerie of animals. That taught me a lot about life, and what matters most. The motto ‘A job’s not done until it’s done well,’ comes to mind, and often guides me. As is in life, there are challenges. I had an automotive incident a few years ago, and since then, sitting or standing for long stretches of time hasn’t been easy. But I keep going — there’s a sense of purpose here, and the connection we have to the local Defence community helps. "Service has always run deep in my family." One of my grandfathers served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and the other in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). My oldest brother was in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), and now both his oldest children serve in the RCN and CAF. My twin brother also serves in the RCN. With this around me, I’ve always seen the concept of service as straightforward: doing something real for others....

Leslie Eaton, Graphic Designer/Creative Written by Archana Cini, Lookout Newspaper The Lookout is more than its stories. It’s about connecting people, sometimes across the world, sometimes right next door. Being a part of that means a lot. I’m Leslie Eaton, graphic designer and creative at the Lookout Newspaper. Among many other projects, I design our newspaper. Design can tug at your heartstrings just as much as the words do. That’s one of my favourite parts of my job — shaping how stories are felt, not just read. I’d like to believe I bridge a gap between emotions and words. Not everyone communicates the same way, and I love to learn how people express their ideas, then translate that into something visual. Designing the paper isn’t just the layout itself, it’s the teamwork. It’s about working with everyone to create a product that feels polished, engaging, and alive. It’s never just one person’s work. Every edition reflects a collaboration, and I find that deeply rewarding. I’ve been designing the Lookout for over three years, but my story as an artist stretches back much farther — back to the early ’90s, when I first started working in the print industry. Over the years, I’ve seen design styles shift and the production evolve with technology, but, at its core, what I love hasn’t changed: that is, taking an idea and making it come alive. I’ve always been artsy and had that drive to put something onto a page that evokes the emotion attached to the words. For me, creativity doesn’t stop when I leave the office — it follows me home, in the form of silk and wool, paint, and parchment. Right now, I’m making a silk banner with my motto ‘Kindness Above All’ across it. To me, that phrase captures the value...

Lindsay Groves, Corporate Services Manager Lookout Newspaper Here I am again: sitting behind a keyboard with a blank page on my screen. It always feels good to be here — at the beginning of something new. My career has taken me from local reporting to writing for global brands, and now I’m back in community news. Because I believe storytelling matters, it feels like the right time to introduce myself and tell a chapter of my story. “I believe storytelling matters." I’m Lindsay Groves, the Corporate Services Manager for the Lookout Newspaper, part of the Personnel Support Programs (PSP) team. I joined the team in July 2025. My brother, Sub-Lieutenant (SLt) Nicholas (Nick) Groves, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 2012. He was proud and ready. As a family, we celebrated his professional milestones throughout the years of service with memories of his graduation at His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Venture. We also celebrated his life with a ceremony at Venture as Nick proudly served on HMCS Ottawa until his death in 2017 after his battle with cancer. There is a saying on the wall at Work Point’s Nixon Gym that reads, “A new undertaking to dare & not be afraid.’” While I did not witness my brother in his naval environment, I knew him, and I was with him from his diagnosis to his death. To witness his strength, courage, and humour in the face of this impossible challenge remains a guiding light in my life. During his battle, Nick experienced an outpouring of care and support from this base. I can confirm that his experience, along with my family’s experience in caring for him, would have been extremely different with additional layers of difficulty if it were not for the morale, benefits, and support offered by...

Archana Cini, Digital Media and Marketing, Writer/Reporter Lookout Newspaper I’m Archana Cini, and I’ve been the Lookout’s writer, reporter, and digital marketing coordinator for the past six months. People like to ask me why I’m here, and I always start with what I’m not here to do. I don’t want to tell the same story for the hundredth time with a few words changed. I want to show the entirety of the West Coast that the Royal Canadian Navy isn’t just an institution — it is its people, every single one. That’s why I’m here. We’ve all heard Aristotle’s, ‘The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.’ but I think we sometimes forget that the whole itself would cease to exist if not for the existence of, literally, each individual part. In this sense, I don’t want to write about just the whole. I also want to learn about every role, every person, their experiences both in and out of their uniform. The details are where my favorite stories are found. At the seed of my soul, I want to share Defence Community stories as its humans are — brave, funny, and always real. I never want to write from a distance. I want to get close enough to understand why something matters. If I got to sit down with my ten-yearold self and tell her what her proudest moment in life to date would be, it’s this one — being seen as the woman behind the words. As a South Indian immigrant, English didn’t always feel like mine. In my early years, I used it to survive. Now, it is my craft. “I can’t say I’ve been in this industry for four decades, but I can say I write a damn good story.” Writing in a military...