NDWCC Raises Over $111,000 with Defence Team

Archana Cini, Lookout Newspaper

Hundreds of charitable donations from Defence team members across Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt culminated into something powerful on Feb 17 — more than $111,000 in funds presented to community charities on Vancouver Island.

The National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC) is an annual opportunity for Defence team members to support causes close to their hearts. Through the NDWCC, members can donate to more than 86,000 registered charities across Canada, including organizations with strong ties to the military community. At CFB Esquimalt, the NDWCC ran from Sept 11 2025 to Dec 31 2025, with staff and volunteers across the local Defence team contributing countless hours to help plan and run associated activities.

Generosity came in many forms, from individual donations to creative fundraising events organized across the base. For Matt Carlson, CFB Esquimalt’s NDWCC team leader, one word best captures the months-long charitable journey: resilience.

“Our campaign faced challenges early on as well as throughout its duration, yet our Defence team members continued to show up — giving their time, their energy, and their resources to help strengthen the community around them,” said Carlson. This year’s campaign theme, Give a little. Change a lot!, served as a reminder that meaningful change often comes from many small acts of generosity. As such, Carlson noted that coordinating a campaign of this scale often comes with its own challenges.

“The toughest part of managing a campaign this large is balancing competing priorities while everyone is already carrying heavy workloads,” said Carlson. “Sustaining momentum and supporting the team throughout is what ultimately strengthens our collective effort, and the result exceeded our goals this year.”

Despite its logistical hurdles, the NDWCC was marked by several moments that highlighted the strong sense of community within the base. One of the most memorable, Carlson said, was the Chili Cook-Off held at the CFB Esquimalt Wardroom in November.

“Our volunteers put in tremendous effort; the event was a huge success — we even ran out of chili,” he said. “Seeing the Defence team come together with such enthusiasm and support made me proud of our community and campaign.”

The Feb 17 cheque presentation brought together several members of the Defence Team and community partners including: Carlson, Acting SubLieutenant (A/SLt) Michael Samuels NDWCC deputy team leader; Acting Sub-Lieutenant (A/ SLt) Maximilian Graw, NDWCC Treasurer; Captain(Navy) (Capt(Navy)) Kevin Whiteside, CFB Esquimalt Base Commander; and Chief Petty Officer 1st Class (CPO1) Sue Frisby, Base Chief. They presented the cheque to former HealthPartners board director and volunteer speaker Barbara Toller and United Way BC Senior Donor Relations Officer Ivan Freire. As the 2025 campaign closes, the $111,000 worth of funds raised will stay local and support programs that address health, well-being, and community needs across Vancouver Island.

Let this moment stand as proof that when a community rallies together to give, even small acts of generosity can add up to something powerful.