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Archana Cini, Lookout Newspaper Reading can become an act of remembrance when sacrifice is honoured through story and reflection. Discover powerful books to read that preserve the voices of Canada's veterans, from memoris to historical accounts. - The service and sacrifice that shapes Canada lives not only through monuments and medals, but also within books. Reading, like remembrance, invites reflection. Whether told through the lens of history, fiction, lived experience, or artwork, the books below preserve the voices of our veterans. Together, they ensure that their sacrifices continue to shape our understanding of duty, peace, and what it means to serve. They are told by our veterans, historians, and storytellers alike. Importantly, the suggested material below reminds us that war and service extend far beyond the battlefield. They travel into our homes, hearts, communities, and collective history. They will never leave. This Remembrance month, Canadians are encouraged to read and revisit the layered reading list below as a powerful act of remembrance. And No Birds Sang by Farley Mowat: A powerful Second World War memoir by a Canadian infantry officer grappling with loss and the human cost of war. A History of Women in the Canadian Military by Barbara Dundas: A sweeping exploration into over a century of women’s service in the Canadian military from the 1885 Northwest Rebellion to today. A Sailor’s Life by Peter Godwin Chance: A naval memoir chronicling over three decades of service in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) recounted by one of the country’s most distinguished sailors. Warriors & Nations: Voices from the Original Peoples by Jean Miso: A collection of Indigenous veteran narratives from across Canada on the intersections of service, identity, and community from the Boer War to the present day. The Naval Service of Canada 1910‑2010 (ed. Alec Douglas): A comprehensive centennial...

Archana Cini, Lookout Newspaper After battling years of life-threatening infections, Royal Canadian Dragoons member Blair Edwards received a life-saving stem cell transplant from an anonymous donor. The Edwards’ story highlights the vital role of Canadian Blood Services and encourages all Canadians to donate blood, plasma, or stem cells. - When Leah Edwards’ youngest son Blair was admitted to hospital with a life-threatening infection, her family’s understanding of service and sacrifice took on a new meaning. Blair Edwards, a member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD) based in Petawawa, has served in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) since 2018. His older brother, Kyle, joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 2017 and is currently standing sentry for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier following a deployment aboard His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ottawa. Their grandfather, a retired Chief Warrant Officer, also served in the Air Force. For the Edwards family, service has always run deep — but nothing could prepare them for Blair’s medical battle. In 2018, just three days into his military journey, Blair was hospitalized with the first of many Staphylococci infections. These infections would rear up during both his Soldier Qualifications (SQ) and Developmental Period (DP) Level One training. Eventually, he was able to successfully complete his soldier qualifications (SQ) while battling both pneumonia and an active infection. After a challenging four years, Blair then lived through an incredibly difficult 2023 surgery to remove two spleens (only one of which was natural) and narrowly survived post-surgery septic shock. Now, the only potential path to cure Blair was a complete stem cell replacement. On April 30, 2024, Blair received a life-saving stem cell transplant thanks to an anonymous donor. "The initial stage of the process seemed almost anti-climactic as Blair recieved high doses of chemotheraphy in the weeks preceding...

A/SLt Kim Wachockier, MARPAC Public Affairs Twelve students from Camosun College’s Enhanced Bridge Watch Rating Program toured HMCS Vancouver on Sept 17 to explore life aboard a Halifax-class ship. The visit gave students firsthand insight into naval operations, seamanship, and technical systems aboard a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) frigate. The partnership fostered learning, inclusion, and awareness of marine and defence career opportunities for women and Indigenous Peoples. - Twelve students from Camosun College’s Enhanced Bridge Watch Rating Program stepped aboard His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Vancouver on Sept 17 for a guided tour of life on a Halifax-class vessel. Intended to prepare participants for a career in the marine sector, the Camosun Enhanced Bridge Watch Rating Program is a fully funded training opportunity for women and Indigenous Peoples that teaches seamanship and navigation skills. It also allows them to earn Transport Canada recognized certifications throughout the program. By opening Vancouver’s doors and hatches to students, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) fostered awareness, interest, and respect for naval service while simultaneously building relationships with the next generation of marine professionals. Once onboard for the guided tour, students were eager to experience the naval environment studied in the classroom, explore living quarters, and learn how an RCN frigate operates. The visit began inside the ship’s hangar, where Lieutenant(Navy) Joey Dooley welcomed the group of students, explaining the use of embarked helicopters during deployments. Lt(Navy) Dooley then brought students onto the deck to showcase equipment specific to Halifax-class frigates. These included Vancouver’s missile systems, Bofors 57mm rapid-fire gun, and its ammunition. Here, students also received the opportunity to handle a non-live round. Once within the vessel, Lt(Navy) Dooley gave students a look into Vancouver’s living quarters, showcasing bunks and other spaces where RCN sailors spend months at sea. The tour then shifted to...

Rick Hansen visited CFB Esquimalt a “Difference Maker” medal to PO1 Cliff Rose who is taking action to change the world.

Twenty-five years after starting his Man in Motion World Tour, Rick Hansen is once again on the road. This time on a tour aptly called Many in Motion.

Base Construction Engineering (BCE) employees had a “whale” of a day April 26 when they celebrated a milestone reached by the Canadian Military Engineer Branch – their 109th anniversary.

Good news is on the horizon for commuters who use the soon-to-end Blue Boat internal shuttle.

Shelley Lipke, Lookout Newspaper Yummy goodness arrived on base last Friday in the form of a chocolate bar wrapped with a naval image. The sweet surprise was officially launched on board HMCS Vancouver’s flight deck. Larry Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer of Rogers’ Chocolates, joined MARPAC Commander, RAdm Nigel Greenwood in unveiling the Navy’s own milk and dark chocolate bars in front of invited guests and cadets from Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Rainbow. This initiative follows on the success of the commemorative HMCS Rainbow tin produced by Rogers’ Chocolates in honour of the Canadian Naval Centennial during 2010. “It’s significant that Rogers’ has chosen to perpetuate their efforts from the naval centennial and create the navy chocolate bar,” said RAdm Nigel Greenwood. The navy chocolate bar wrapper features a photo of HMCS Winnipeg exiting a small channel. This image was photographed from the ship’s Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat during a Maritime Security Patrol by CFB Esquimalt Image Technician Cpl Alex Croskery. The wrapper was graphically designed by Lookout Newspaper and Graphic Designer Shelley Fox. “We are looking forward to selling these products in our stores and giving them a high profile,” said Sullivan. “We anticipate an overwhelming level of support from the local community, but as well from the many visitors to Victoria who will be well aware of the many accomplishments of the Royal Canadian Navy.” The chocolate bars retail for $3.99 and 50 cents from each chocolate bar will be donated directly to the base morale and welfare fund. Locally, the chocolate bars will sell at Rogers’ Chocolates stores in Sidney, Saanich, Oak Bay and Government Street. Additionally, online orders can be placed at www.rogerschocolates.com

  SLt Emily Todd, HMCS Charlottetown A light morning breeze laps at the hull of HMCS Charlottetown. Thousands of miles from home, the dedicated crew, like many before them, rise and prepare for their daily watches. Thoughts of home inevitably come to mind, but they can’t dwell on them for long; their job needs to be done. This is the inevitable challenge of serving in an operational warship: balancing the imperatives of the mission with the needs of the crew. Missing home, and how people deal with missing their loved ones during a lengthy deployment, are big pieces of the puzzle. “I miss kissing my son goodnight,” says SLt Danielle Turner, who plays the dual role of mother and bridge watchkeeper. “I miss being his mom, being his hero, and giving him everything I’ve got, because I know in a short while I will be at sea again.” Regardless of occupation, we all share this burden - sailors, soldiers, airwomen and airmen. Everyone in the Canadian Forces eventually sacrifices precious time with family and friends to accomplish the mission. It’s the nature of what we do. It is important, however, to recognize that we aren’t the only ones affected by separation: our families and friends are in it with us. Our spouses miss us as much as we miss them, while also shouldering the responsibilities of the household on top of working at their own career. Service in the CF is more than a job, it’s a commitment. We make our sacrifices together, for shared purposes, and the experience binds us not just as individuals and families; but also as a crew. It is how we make up for lost time with those who matter most in our lives, and the fact that we do so collectively, that make it...

[caption id="attachment_286407" align="alignright" width="183"] You can follow Vanessa Roman on Twitter at VanessaRomanTV[/caption] Vanessa Roman is used to seeing her husband Major Jason Roman fly off in his Sea King helicopter with the Canadian Armed Forces. But now she’s doing her own bit of moving - to the small screen. The mom of three and Halifax real estate agent hosts "Reno vs Relocate" which will begin airing on HGTV network in May. In the show, Vanessa helps families decide whether they should renovate their existing home, or find a new one. But for military families, the decision is often far more straight forward: which house will be home in a new community. The complications come from the short window in which to find property and the unique requirements for service families. Vanessa says being a Forces wife gives her first-hand experience making these moves go smoothly, and she puts in the effort to make sure that’s the case. "I come from a military family, I’m married to a military guy - so if you’re coming to Halifax, I’m the agent you need to have for your house hunting trip," says Vanessa. "I understand the challenges of moving to a new city and integrating the family within an existing community. There are a lot of hoops to jump through and you generally get just seven days to find a house." Military transfers are a unique way to move, she says, and the process can be time consuming and complicated. Vanessa is a registered real estate agent with Brookfield Global Relocation and has been through the relocation process herself. She is also an active member of the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors® and a member of the Canadian Real Estate Association. She holds degrees in Economics from Dalhousie University and Journalism from the University of...