Holiday message from Base Commander Capt(N) Jason Boyd

Capt(N) Jason Boyd, Base Commander, and Family

Celebrate the Joy

As the crunch of the holiday season begins in earnest and the demands of shopping, decorating, and entertaining can bog us down in the heavy business of good cheer, it’s easy to lose sight of one word that makes this time of year so magical: Joy.

It’s the refrain of a classic Christmas song: “Joy to the World.”

It’s on the faces and in the smiles of our sailors seeing the shores of home for the first time after long journeys keeping this country safe and making it proud. 

And it’s in the eyes and heart of a child racing to open presents on Christmas day – though perhaps not so much for parents confronted by a much too early morning after a few too many egg nogs.

We in the military have a fondness for Latin, and joy comes from gaudere – to rejoice, to celebrate, to feel jubilation and delight. And while it is a gaudy, tinselly word, I don’t think it strains credulity to say I have had plenty to rejoice about during this past year as Base Commander of CFB Esquimalt.

I am constantly delighted and filled with pride by the professionalism, dedication to duty and continued excellence of the civilian and military members of the Defence Team at CFB Esquimalt and Maritime Forces Pacific.

We are all blessed by the strong, flourishing relationships the Base enjoys with its friends, partners and neighbours, be they First Nations, the Township of Esquimalt, and the other municipalities of Vancouver Island, the province, or organizations such as HealthPartners and the Goldstream Food Bank.

And I can say without reservation I still take immense satisfaction and pleasure serving you all and this great country as an officer of the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Armed Forces.

Part of the joy of this time of year is in abundance – the heaps of love, excitement, food, gifts, and holiday spirits, both Dickensian and distilled.

But we can’t forget those in want and need this holiday season, those who feel even more acutely a lack of comfort, companionship, security, warmth, and joy.  What gives me hope, what makes me rejoice, is that for all the excesses of Christmas, it also calls forth an abundance of charity and care for people, for strangers whom we nevertheless take into our hearts and treat like family.

I am always grateful to see that outpouring of generosity, both in money and time, from my colleagues and shipmates at CFB Esquimalt and Maritime Forces Pacific, who never tire of giving of themselves and giving back to our communities.

We have much to be thankful for and many reasons to celebrate this holiday season. So in the words of another classic carol, with tidings of comfort and joy, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year. 

Capt(N) Jason Boyd,
Base Commander,
and Family