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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...