Awards & Promotions

[caption id="attachment_37097" align="aligncenter" width="597"] Commodore David Mazur (Left), Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific and Chief Petty Officer 1st Class David Bisal, Fleet Chief, congratulate Sailor 1st Class Chloe Schriemer on becoming the Sailor of the Quarter. Photo provided.[/caption] Simon Gonsalves MARPAC Public Affairs  —  Sailor First Class (S1) Chloe Schriemer is shining bright at the Royal Canadian Navy’s new Advanced Naval Capabilities Unit (ANCU). Due to her outstanding efforts, she has been awarded Sailor of the Quarter (SOQ) for the months of October to December. “I was honoured to receive the Sailor of the Quarter,” says SI Schriemer. “I am very fortunate to work at a unit like ANCU. Since my first day on the Maritime Tactical Coxswain (MTC) Course until now, I’ve had the privilege of strong mentorship and great coworkers. The other MTCs and the [Maritime Technical Operators] are incredible people to work with. It’s easy to show up and put in your best effort when you’re working alongside people who are great at what they do.” Known for her reliability, professionalism, and commitment, S1 Schriemer has proven herself to be an invaluable asset to her unit as the MTC. Her leadership extends beyond training, as she supports ANCU and the fleet with small boat operations and taskings, ensuring seamless execution under tight timelines and adverse conditions. “Its no surprise to the team and myself that S1 Schriemer received SOQ as she always exemplifies the highest standards of leadership and professionalism required of a sailor within the Royal Canadian Navy,” says Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Andrew Astles, her supervisor. “Her outstanding ability to lead the Maritime Tactical Coxswains with confidence and precision is a testament to her exceptional skill set, unwavering commitment, and dedication to duty.”   Reflecting the Royal Canadian Naval ethos both on and off duty, S1...

[caption id="attachment_36993" align="aligncenter" width="597"] Commander Dan Saunders. Photos: Sailor 3rd Class Owen Davis, MARPAC Imaging Services, Esquimalt, BC.[/caption] Jazmin Holdway with contributions by Paul Dagonese Lookout Newspaper  —  The Royal Canadian Logistics Service (RCLS) marked its 57th anniversary with a celebration on Feb. 3, noting decades of dedication, innovation, and unwavering support to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operations. The anniversary event, held at the Chief and Petty Officers’ Rainbow Room at CFB Esquimalt, brought together logisticians from across the Formation to commemorate the Service’s history and honour the individuals who play a critical role in sustaining Canada’s Defence capabilities. As part of the celebration, Formation Logistics Awards were presented by Rear-Admiral Robinson, recognizing the exceptional contributions from junior non-commissioned members (NCMs), senior NCMs, junior officers, and Department of National Defence (DND) civilians. Guests were treated to refreshments, a cake adorned with the RCLS crest, and an opportunity to connect with fellow logisticians from all corners of the Formation. Commander (Cdr) Dan Saunders, Formation Logistics Officer at MARPAC HQ, spoke about the significance of the anniversary. “Logistics has been critical to the success of every CAF operation, and this celebration is about recognizing our shared history and the dedicated work of our teams,” Cdr Saunders said. “We’re spread out across many units, so it’s rare for us to come together and celebrate our achievements.” A Rich History of Service The roots of the Logistics Branch date back to Canada’s British military heritage, with each branch of the Armed Forces managing its logistics independently. However, in 1968, the unification of the Canadian Armed Forces led to the creation of the Logistics Branch, consolidating these various functions. In 2018, marking the 50th anniversary of its formation, the branch received its Royal designation, becoming the Royal Canadian Logistics Service. Today, the RCLS is part of...

Canada.ca  —  About the Medal The King Charles III Coronation Medal (French: médaille du couronnement du roi Charles III) is a commemorative medal created to mark the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, which took place on May 6, 2023. The UK issued more than 400,000 coronation medals, awarded to individuals who contributed to the coronation, recipients of the UK's highest honours, and select British military personnel, frontline emergency workers, and public prison service staff with five years of service. The British coronation medal was also gifted to a select number of Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders. Canada issued 30,000 coronation medals, awarding them to select members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Public Service, as well as individuals who made significant contributions to the country or achieved accomplishments that brought credit to Canada. The British and Canadian medals are both made of nickel silver and have identical ribbons. However, the two medal designs differ. The British medal features effigies of both the King and Queen, while the Canadian medal only features the King. On the reverse, the British medal has laurels, the royal cypher, and the Tudor Crown, whereas the Canadian medal displays the royal cypher with the Canadian Royal Crown over a sunburst design.   Sergeant Cindy Hawchuk Sergeant Hawchuk is awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for being a trailblazer for vocalists in the Music Branch for over two decades. She has been pivotal in developing contemporary music capabilities in the CAF and represents the CAF at major events around the world, increasing the community outreach and engagement.   Petty Officer 2nd Class Bob Fearnley Petty Officer Fearnley is awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for volunteering 16-20 hours per week with Christ Church Cathedral and represented the CAF several times at the Anglican...

Congratulations and Bravo Zulu to HMCS Malahat’s three new graduates of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Sentinel Program, Acting Sub-Lieutenant Bonner, Acting Sub-Lieutenant Chan, and Master Sailor Good. All three members of the Ship’s Company were presented with their qualification certificates by Lieutenant Commander Anne Gardam, Malahat’s Commanding Officer, [...]

[caption id="attachment_36827" align="aligncenter" width="597"] Representatives from HMCS Ottawa, the Town Council of Onagawa, and the Kanda family, surround the memorial to Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray VC, DSC, following the ceremony on Nov. 26 in Onagawa, Japan. Photo: Sailor 3rd Class Jacob Saunders.[/caption] Defence Stories, Canada.ca  —  Members of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ottawa, currently deployed on Operation Horizon, participated in a special ceremony in Onagawa, Japan, on Nov. 26, honouring a Canadian war hero. Lieutenant (Lt) Robert Hampton Gray, a Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Pilot, received the Victoria Cross as a result of his actions and sacrifice in the skies over Onagawa Bay during the Second World War. This particular monument is very special: it is the only monument to a foreign military person ever built in Japan. The main local supporter for the project was Mr. Yoshio Kanda, a former communications officer in the Onagawa Defense Force. Taking into consideration the climate between our nations at the time of Lt Gray’s action, Mr. Kanda chose to raise a memorial in 1989 to honour the sacrifice of all parties and to create a symbol of peace between nations. Mr. Kanda was instrumental in convincing the local population to change their existing narrative on the tragic end to the conflict and make Lt Gray’s sacrifice in Onagawa Bay a symbol of enduring peace. “It is not enemy soldiers we hate, but the war itself,” Mr. Kanda stated. This is not Mr. Kanda’s first involvement with memorials as he was also among those who had helped build a memorial to commemorate the area’s Japanese victims which was completed in 1966. The Lt Gray monument was relocated from its original site following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that wreaked havoc across the bay. Local volunteers from the Onagawa Lions Club found the...

Sub-Lieutenant (SLt) SeeEun “Rachel” Kim is presented with the Merritt Chisholm Sword for Esprit de Corps and Perseverance by Lieutenant-Commander (retired) Gerald Pash on behalf of the Naval Officers Association of Vancouver Island with Reviewing Officer, Commander Vincent Pellerin, Commanding Officer of HMCS Winnipeg. The Sword, with a Naval Association [...]

CFB Esquimalt’s annual Sailor's Appreciation Dinner brought together the wisdom of veterans and the enthusiasm of junior members in a heartwarming ceremony filled with tradition. Witness the symbolic swapping of ranks and the honoring of those who keep our base running strong.

In a five-set nailbiter against Base Administration (BADM), Calgary continues their intramural winning streak, remaining undefeated for the 24/25 season. Congratulations to HMCS Calgary, BADM and all other unit teams who participated in this month’s intramural competition. Intramurals will be returning to CFB Esquimalt with 3-on-3 basketball Jan. 27 –31.

SLt Simon Gonsalves and A/SLt Josh Grinstead, MARPAC Public Affairs — On an annual basis, the Navy League of Canada’s Exceptional Sailors Programme recognizes outstanding sailors across the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) formations, who’ve gone above and beyond professional expectations. During Navy and Coast Guard Appreciation Day, those awarded travel to Ottawa [...]

[caption id="attachment_36561" align="aligncenter" width="597"] Master Sailor (MS) Guay receiving his Canadian Decoration 3 Clasp. From Left to right: Lieutenant-Colonel L.J. Rediger, MS S. Guay, and School Chief Warrant Officer M.R. Lanctot.Photo supplied[/caption] Lt(N) Jonathan Lacasse, Maritime Procurement  —  Celebrating an impressive career 43 years and counting It’s been several years since we last met, and that’s the kind of thing that happens a lot in the lives of sailors. We forge bonds as a crew, growing closer over time. Though we may drift apart, the tides aways bring us back together. It was with surprise that I ran into Stéphane at a ceremony where he received the precious CD3 distinction for 42 years of service. A rare moment, as only a few comrades-in-arms accumulate this many nautical miles and experience within our organization.  I admit, I was impressed. The more my career progresses, the more I realize the effort and sacrifices that this implies. After the ceremony, I had the privilege of chatting with Stéphane at the CFS Leitrim mess; I wanted to learn more about his journey.  Stéphane joined the Naval Reserve on June 29, 1981, at His Majesty’s Canadian Ship HMCS Montcalm in Quebec City, as a Radar Plotter. In 1984, this trade was renamed to Naval Combat Information Operator (NCIOP). Not feeling overly passionate about the job, he changed to that of Boatswain in 1986. At that time, he was part of the Reserves to finance his studies and experience maritime adventures each summer. This allowed him to study history, geography and teaching at the university.  His highlights in the service were teaching recruits and instructing First Aid training. Over the years, he had the opportunity to teach and train members, instructors and even master instructors First Aid. In December 2022, Stéphane had the honour of receiving a...