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[caption id="attachment_13703" align="alignnone" width="300"] Kyle Webster with Big Brother Joshua Buck at his high school graduation.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Ten years ago Joshua Buck watched a movie that stirred his desire to mentor a young person in need of guidance.The movie was “Good Will Hunting.” The scene that set him in motion was a hug between Robin Williams’ character and the troubled young man played by Matt Damon. The connection between the characters spoke to him.That day, he resolved to become a Big Brother for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria.“I believe that all children need a fatherly or motherly figure in their lives,” says Buck, who works for Lookout newspaper. “Being a Big Brother is an important role; many times the Big Brother may be the only male influence in a young man’s life that he can rely upon and trust.”The non-profit organization has been working in Victoria for 39 years to support vulnerable children in the community through their In-school Mentoring Program, Community Mentoring, Teen Mentoring and Go Girls program.“Many of the families that receive our support are single parent families, some have experienced the death of a partner and others separation or divorce,” says Executive Director Rhonda Brown. “Other families are challenged by issues related to poverty, mental health, addiction, chronic health, or isolation. These families seek the support of a mentor, a role model to spend quality time with their child.”Before Buck was paired up with his Little Brother to provide that quality time, he went through an online application and screening process designed to train and educate him as a volunteer.Once he was approved and prepared, he, like all volunteers, was asked to make a one year commitment to mentoring.“We hope and often find that this commitment extends well beyond a single year,” says...

[caption id="attachment_13700" align="alignnone" width="400"] CPO1 Tom Riefesel, left, outgoing Command Chief Petty Officer; Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, centre, Commander RCN; and CPO1 Michel Vigneault, newly appointed Command Chief Petty Officer; sit together after signing the Change of Appointment certificate. Photo by Corporal (Cpl) Michael MacIsaac[/caption]Darlene Blakeley, Navy Public Affairs Ottawa ~The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has a new Command Chief Petty Officer.Chief Petty Officer First Class Michel Vigneault took over the position from CPO1 Tom Riefesel during a Change of Appointment ceremony in Ottawa on Aug. 17.The Command Chief Petty Officer is the RCN’s senior non-commissioned sailor. His primary role is to provide the Commander of the RCN with the non-commissioned member’s (NCM) perspective on behalf of all NCMs.In addition, the Command Chief is the senior NCM advisor on dress, discipline, professional development, administration, morale, training, welfare, conditions of service and quality of life.Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, Commander RCN, was quick to praise the outgoing Command Chief. “CPO1 Riefesel has managed to provide yeoman’s service to not one, not two, but now three RCN Commanders – all of whom have benefited from his insight and his leadership abilities,” he said.Following the ceremony CPO1 Riefesel was promoted to lieutenant-commander and will continue working with the RCN at the Personnel Coordination Centre.As he handed over his position, CPO1 Riefesel was eloquent in his comments on leadership: “The most powerful way to cultivate and nurture a positive culture is by what our leaders do – our actions create and define it. That strong and healthy end-state is founded in trust, respect and dignity for one another, without exception.”VAdm Lloyd also praised CPO1 Vigneault, noting that “he is an exceptional leader whose experiences across the RCN over his career have made him an ideal Command Chief Petty Officer. I am very much looking forward to energizing...

[caption id="attachment_13697" align="alignnone" width="400"] Tritons men’s player LS Alex Blackburn winds up a throw during the Canadian Armed Forces Mens Slow Pitch Nationals round robin at CFB Borden. Photo by OS Callum Rutherford, Base Borden Imagery[/caption]Peter Mallett, Lookout ~They didn’t add any hardware to the trophy case at Naden, but coaches for the Tritons men’s and women’s Slo-Pitch teams say the players returned from national play in good spirits none-the-less.Both teams were at CFB Borden from Aug. 21 to 28 for the national Canadian Armed Forces Slo-Pitch Championships.The women’s team started strong in their first of four games (Aug. 21-23) with a 6-2 win over CFB Valcartier, who ­represented the Quebec Region. However, they were unsuccessful in the next three games losing to the Prairies (CFB Edmonton) 23-7, and Ontario (CFB Kingston) 10-7, before a closer loss of 6-4 in their final game to eventual champions from CFB Gagetown who represented the Atlantic Region.Despite failing to qualify for the semi-final round, women’s coach PO2 Corey O’Neil said he was impressed with his team’s performance. Unlike their opponents from Canada’s other four regions, Esquimalt didn’t have the benefit of playing in a regional qualifying tournament since CFB Comox was unable to field a team this year.“When we hit the nationals we were playing against top teams from each region that had defeated their opposition over multiple games,” he said. “We didn’t have those games to improve and get to know each other, but I was proud of our ladies. They did a good job and held the other teams to low scores because our defence was right on. Unfortunately our bats weren’t working very well at the tournament.”In a show of support, Tritons Men’s slo-pitch assistant player-coach PO1 Scott Crouse texted messages of support to PO2 O’Neil and the rest of...

[caption id="attachment_13694" align="alignnone" width="400"] A mountain of toys were delivered to the Victoria General Hospital from money raised at 18th annual Dave Barber Golf event. Pictured from left to right: Tarraneh Bouchard, Megan Schulz, Amanda Blanchard, Kaydra Blanchard, PO2 Dave Blanchard, Theresa Low and Diane Edwards.[/caption]HMCS Regina’s 18th annual Dave Barber golf tournament held June 8 at Metchosen Golf Course pulled in more than 125 players in a show of support for sick children. More than $5,000 was raised to purchase items for the Victoria General Hospital Pediatrics ward.Dave Barber, a Master Seaman Electronics Technician who sailed in Regina, lost his battle with Leukemia in 1997. He was very passionate about golf and also cared deeply about the well-being of children. Every year since, Regina organizes an annual golf tournament to raise funds in his name for charity.This year, Regina crew managed to purchase toys and a rocking chair for the ward. The hospital appreciated the support from the ship, with staff saying they rely on this assistance to get them through the lean months of summer where donations are not as forthcoming as the holidays.“I gave one of the Play-Doh Can Heads Superhero (Spiderman and Goblin) to one of our oncology kids. He was having so much fun with parents and staff playing and role playing,” said Theresa Low, a child life specialist at Victoria General Hospital. “This was our three-and-a-half-year-old’s last cancer treatment. So thank you for helping to put a smile on his face. Having your generous donation of toys made matching the right toy for a child or teen in the moment so rewarding. The large variety of toys and gifts for all ages has been so incredible and we are so awed by the supporters of the Friends of Dave Barber.”The event was organized and run...

[caption id="attachment_13691" align="alignnone" width="400"] LS Mitchel Holden (left) and PO2 Nathan Kuffner riding Creampuff (right).[/caption]Lt(N) Bill King, HMCS Charlottetown ~It was still pleasantly cool when HMCS Charlottetown picked up the pilot at 0630 in the harbour approaches of Alexandria, the second largest city in Egypt.At last count, we had already passed 34 ships at anchor, waiting to enter the harbour.Alexandria stretches 32 kilometres along the Mediterranean coast at the western edge of the 240 km-wide Nile delta. The word delta originates from the Greek letter delta, which looks like the triangular area at the mouth of the Nile.During the five kilometre transit from the harbour entrance to the cruise ship terminal, the ship passed neighbourhoods of high density apartments separated by commercial port facilities in an interesting mix of old and new.Oil refineries were flaring off waste gas in producing fuels for export, while sea container and bulk cargo handlers conducted a brisk business at the 55 slips.Once alongside sailors were able to enjoy a port visit.Day-long bus tours arranged by the ship provided the means for crewmembers to visit the Giza Pyramid complex and the Egyptian Museum over two hours away in Cairo. Highlights of the day were viewing King Tutankhamun’s 3,300-year-old funeral mask, and a horse or camel ride around the pyramids. Virtually everyone took advantage of this opportunity with the exception of those few on board who had visited Egypt before.The most recent visit by an HMC Ship was Fredericton in 2010. Many of the tour operators and guides fondly remember that visit, as there have been few cruise ships since the revolution in 2011. A passenger ship last docked at the cruise ship terminal some two years ago.Our Egyptian hosts could not have done more for us during this port visit - repeatedly asking our assurance...

[caption id="attachment_13653" align="alignnone" width="300"] The 40mm Bofors gun, used in a wide range of roles on Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels, are being replaced during upgrades. Photo by Sandy McClearn, smcclearn.smugmug.com[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~After its most recent upgrade is completed, HMCS Nanaimo will donate its decommissioned 40 mm Bofors gun to the Vancouver Island Military Museum in Nanaimo.Director General Maritime Equipment Program Management (DGMEPM) and Director of Surplus Acquisitions and Loans (DDSAL) in Ottawa have been working since 2007 to donate surplus or unneeded equipment and weapons to museums across Canada as naval memorabilia.“This is in keeping with our theme at MEPM to preserve as much naval history as possible, and continue the close relationship and ties between the home cities and their warships,” says Wayne Yetman, Naval Ordnance.Life Cycle Material Manager with Director Naval Combat Systems. “It allows the RCN to preserve a valuable piece of naval history in each namesake home city with their ship’s 40mm gun for display,” he adds.Navy staff contacted city councillors in Nanaimo several months ago to see if the city would be interested in keeping the gun for historical purposes. Shortly after, the city contacted the museum. All parties unanimously agreed the gun would make an excellent addition to the artefacts, weaponry, and memorabilia already housed at the museum, and serve to honour veterans of the first HMCS Nanaimo and serving members of the current HMCS Nanaimo.“These guns have been in operation for a very long time and have certainly proved their worth,” says Petty Officer (Retired) Brian McFadden, who served in the Royal Canadian Navy for nine years, and is Vice President of the museum. “I am especially happy because a number of ships I worked on had this particular type of gun.”McFadden says once the gun has been stripped, sandblasted, and...

[caption id="attachment_13649" align="alignnone" width="270"] Bill Stewart and Saanich Fusion team captain Jeevan Manhas celebrate their victory, earning the 2016 Tony Grover Masters’ Cup for the Over 35 A Division of the Vancouver Island Soccer League and the Alec Hylan Player of The Game Trophy. Photo submitted by Saanich Fusion[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The way former Royal Canadian Navy sailor Bill Stewart sees it, the oranges he cuts up and serves at halftime to the players on the Saanich Fusion men’s soccer team are a metaphor for life.“Some days are sweet while some are sour,” says Pte (Ret’d) Stewart as he prepares refreshing citrus bites for the Vancouver Island Soccer League’s Over-35 team.His sweetest day was back in 1975 when he led CFB Esquimalt to a Canadian Armed Forces National Soccer Championship by scoring a hat trick in the deciding game against CFB Cold Lake.The former navy cook recalls the storybook ending of scoring the winning goal on the final play of the game.“The ball came across the midfield and I back-heeled it and then did my patented toe-poke shot,” he says of the moment. “I saw an opening in the goal; I hit it with the front of my foot to score on the final play of the game and we won the nationals.”The entire team and coaching staff piled on top of him. That moment is rooted in his memory like a still photo.During his two-year military career between 1974 and 1976, Stewart worked the mess in HMCS Terra Nova, HMCS Qu’Appelle and HMCS Kootenay. While he was quite proficient at his trade in the kitchen, the navy thought so highly of his soccer skills they sent a helicopter out to the Qu’Appelle, which was a couple of days into its voyage to Hawaii, to fly him back to...

[caption id="attachment_13683" align="alignnone" width="400"] The crew of HMCS Ottawa watch from the deck as two men aboard a burning fishing boat Sherry C are rescued by personnel in a rigged-hulled inflatible boat.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Lookout Writer ~Two men stranded on a burning fishing vessel are now on dry land thanks to the crew of HMCS Ottawa.The 12-metre fishing ­vessel Sherry C was towing the disabled fishing ­vessel Tryon to Tofino on Aug. 25 when a fire broke out in the engine room. It was 9:25 p.m. and the vessel was 13 nautical miles west of Ucluelet Sound when they sent out a distress call. Ottawa responded to the May Day call and proceeded at best speed to both disabled vessels.In less than half an hour Ottawa was on scene. The fire and smoke had engulfed the interior of Sherry C, and the panicked crew were about to abandon the vessel. Smoke could be seen billowing from the vessel, and though Ottawa’s infrared cameras, a significant heat source was radiating from its engine room.Ottawa immediately deployed its rigid inflated boat and extracted the fishermen from their ­vessel. They were assessed as uninjured, transferred to a Canadian Coast Guard rescue boat, and later transported to Tofino.“We approached the fishing boat carefully from the stern,” said LS Christopher Henrion, Ottawa’s boat coxswain. “Both fishermen were extremely happy to see us. Both had been hanging on for as long as they could off the back of their boat before needing to abandon it. We transferred them to our RHIB, confirmed they had no injuries, and provided them with blankets to keep warm until the Coast Guard arrived.”With both individuals safe, Ottawa turned its attention to the disabled fishing vessel Tryon. An assessment team was quickly dispatched, and based on their evaluation, Tryon’s transmission and alternator were beyond repair and the vessel would require a tow back to port.“LS Otte and I assessed the Tryon, whose transmission had suffered salt water contamination due to salt water...

Lorraine Crinkley, FSE ~A creek that runs through DND property is receiving much-needed restoration.Tod Creek is a salmon-bearing stream located in Saanich, B.C., that flows north from Prospect Lake to Tod Inlet where it enters the ocean.The District of Saanich has undertaken various restoration projects on Tod Creek and recently approached DND about restoring the portion of the creek that run through Heals Range.The District of Saanich completed an assessment of Tod Creek, both upstream and downstream from Heals Range, and confirmed that old beaver bafflers were impeding water flow and fish passage.Beaver bafflers are corrugated pipes installed through the base of a beaver dam that allows water to pass through the dam silently. Because the beavers can’t hear the running water they are unable to stop the flow and become discouraged and move on to another area. Although the beaver bafflers were successful in deterring beavers from Tod Creek, they were never maintained and have since clogged up with debris.Reduced water flow through the creek due to unmaintained beaver bafflers and sedimentation causes an increase in water temperature and produces anoxic, turbid conditions that can be detrimental to salmonid species.DND and the District of Saanich partnered to complete multiple improvements to the creek including the creation of terraced banks, the planting of riparian vegetation, the grading of the stream bottom, the installation of sediment controls, and removal of old beaver bafflers.Once the beaver bafflers were removed, the banks were terraced. Riparian vegetation is scheduled to be planted in the fall to improve slope stability around the stream.Originally the stream banks were steep and bank material was sloughing into the stream, which also impeded water flow and fish passage. Grading the stream bottom also helped provide consistent flow year round and reduced the opportunity for pooling water.DND and the District of Saanich are hopeful the stream improvements made to Tod Creek will enhance salmon habitat and are assessing the feasibility of making further improvements to the section of the creek...

[caption id="attachment_13639" align="alignnone" width="300"] SLt Connor Duke gets in shooting practice at the Naden Athletic Centre. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A good year just got better for SLt Connor Duke, a talented guard with the Tritons basketball team.The 24-year-old, 6’3 shooting guard is set to take his A-game to Warendorf, Germany Sept. 2 to 4, for the CISM (Counseil International du Sport Militaire) Basketball Championship.This will be his second CISM tournament; last year he represented the Canadian military in South Korea.“Being able to represent Canada feels pretty great, especially since I never expected to be good enough to play any sport at the international level, let alone basketball,” says SLt Duke who played two seasons for the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont., before graduating in 2014.SLt Duke received another morale boost when it was announced he is the RCN’s command nominee for the annual Canadian Armed Forces sports awards to be held in Ottawa in October.“For me it definitely feels good to be recognized for what I’ve accomplished and the work I’ve put in on the court playing basketball, but I’m not speaking about this with the intention of looking like a star or something” he says. “Receiving the award and being honoured came as a complete surprise to me. I just want CAF members to know that sports opportunities are out there and all you have to do is ask around.”His coach Joshua Buck think he’s worthy of the award. He says SLt Duke has a basketball IQ and energy “unparalleled” to other players as soon as he sets foot on the court.“Connor has the ability to turn his natural competitive spirit into overdrive once the shot clock starts to wind down,” says Buck. “He’s not only an intense competitor but he’s also...

[caption id="attachment_13636" align="alignnone" width="540"] The Working Group of the North American Maritime Security Initiative (NAMSI) gathered at CFB Esquimalt for their biannual meeting Aug. 16 to 19. Photo by MCpl Brent Kenny[/caption]SLt MJ Cserhazi, MARPAC PAO ~The Working Group of the North American Maritime Security Initiative (NAMSI) gathered at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt for their biannual meeting from Aug. 16 to 19.NAMSI is the only tri-lateral maritime security forum between Canada, Mexico and the United States. It was established to improve maritime security along the coast from Alaska to the southern tip of Mexico. In Esquimalt, the main focus of the Working Group was to refine communications and legal considerations.Delegations from the Royal Canadian Navy, the Mexican Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC), and Joint Interagency Task Force South share a common goal: to strengthen their relationships and increase interoperability by sharing information, best practices and developing tri-lateral exercises.“NAMSI exists to formalize our efforts and to share our best maritime practices and protocols,” says Major Donald Senft who represented MARPAC at the discussions.While the nations have a strong nautical alliance and regularly collaborate with each other, NAMSI seeks to streamline their practices. This effort represents a large amount of ongoing work.“NAMSI is a marathon not a sprint,” says Commander Alex Kooiman of CJOC. “It will take time to come up with answers to larger issues such as communications and legal considerations so we can better prosecute offenders across international borders. By understanding the legal parameters and how to employ that knowledge throughout our respective forces, we will be able to work more closely to support each other.”Canada, Mexico and the U.S. regularly conduct operations and exercises together in the areas of maritime interdiction, humanitarian assistance, search and rescue, and counter narcotics. Enforcing maritime...

[caption id="attachment_13633" align="alignnone" width="233"] HeroWork founder Paul Latour (left), HeroWork Project Manager Peter Smither and CPO2 (Ret’d) Roxanne ‘Rocket’ Ogden get their shovels and wheelbarrel ready ahead of a massive renovation project of the Esquimalt United Church Rainbow Kitchen. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Military members past and present are being sought to join other volunteers in renovating Esquimalt United Church’s Rainbow Kitchen.The $500,000 renovation project on Admirals Road, managed by Victoria-based non-profit organization HeroWork, starts the weekend of Sept. 16 and continues for the following two weekends.The 4,600 square foot community wing of the Esquimalt United Church is home for several community groups and the non-denominational Rainbow Kitchen, which serves approximately 36,000 hot meals a year to people in need in Esquimalt.HeroWork Founder and executive director Paul Latour says his group has carried out over $1.3 million in “radical renovations” since he founded the non-profit organization in 2010. He has relied on military personnel to volunteer in past projects and is counting on them to deliver again.“Participating in something positive for the community and in a team atmosphere will give our volunteers from CFB Esquimalt an amazing experience, but also help them showcase to the public the difference the military makes in their communities, both at home and abroad,” says Latour.HeroWork recently received a $20,000 donation from Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services Boomer’s Legacy Foundation.As part of the reno kickoff volunteers will meet at the Canteen Road parking lot at 4 p.m. Friday Sept. 16 and march to the church with some musical accompaniment provided by the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy.After the opening ceremonies, volunteers will start demolition work, including landscaping, excavating and removing decaying cedar shingles from the roof, replacing windows and doors, and painting.Renovations on the inside of the building include a complete kitchen refit, the creation of an additional bathroom, fixture and appliance upgrades, flooring, wall and ceiling replacement, electrical work, furniture repair, painting, the construction of a new...

[caption id="attachment_13623" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lewis Bartholomew, Founder and Director of HMCS Alberni Museum and Alberni Project, stands proudly next to a model of HMCS Alberni.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Founder and Director of the HMCS Alberni Museum and Alberni Project Lewis Bartholomew is searching for a new location for his beloved museum, which was served with a notice to vacate its three-year-old home at the Comox Centre Mall in June, due to the mall’s overhaul planned by its most recent owners.The museum has been given until the end of September to secure a new location that their tight rental budget of $800 per month can afford.The mall’s previous owners, explains Bartholomew, were supportive of the museum’s project to share pivotal moments in Canadian history with visitors, and charged a reduced fee of $500 per month rent.“We now are in the position where we need to find a space large enough to house our current exhibits on First World War, Second World War, HMCS Alberni’s crew and history, and any potential visiting exhibits that we may take on in the future,” says Bartholomew, who adds he hopes that the new location can remain in Comox to maintain its deep ties to HMCS Quadra and CFB Comox.Bartholomew, who is originally from Seattle, quit his job in grocery management a few years ago to start the museum after hearing about the 1944 sinking of HMCS Alberni during the Second World War. He was deeply touched by the loss of 59 lives.“I grew up with the heartbeat of the Second World War as my father served in the U.S. military during that time. It was his stories I heard continually as a child. But a lot of young people nowadays don’t have grandparents or living history to explain what transpired back then,” says Bartholomew. “For...

 Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A well-intentioned Mer­ritt, B.C. resident thought he was doing the right thing when he walked into his local RCMP detachment on July 21 to return an artillery shell he had found.The man told front desk staff at the police station that he had discovered a 106 mm round of artillery while cleaning his parent’s house and was surrendering the item. The front desk staff were alarmed at the appearance of a very unfamiliar military weapon, said Merritt’s RCMP Detachment Staff Sergeant Sheila White.“Let’s just say we don’t deal with situations like this very often and we didn’t know whether the shell was live or not,” said Sgt White. “From our identification of the ordnance and the fact that the primer of the shell was still intact, we were operating on the premise that it was live.”The item was placed in a secure area and Sgt White called the RCMP’s Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU) in Vancouver.Vancouver EDU examined the photographs that were sent to them, and observed the shell’s condition and appearance, which led them to contact the Regional Joint Operations Centre (RJOC) at CFB Esquimalt. RJOC staff relayed the information to Fleet Diving Unit (FDU) Pacific who dispatched two personnel from FDU’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (EOD).CPO2 Rene St-Pierre and PO1 Andre Gauthier were immediately deployed to identify and safely recover the Unexploded Ordnance.After more than seven hours driving the two sailors arrived in Merritt early on the morning of July 22, and Sgt White noted despite their lengthy journey the sailors wasted no time getting to work.“They talked us through what they were doing and you could tell immediately they were the utmost professionals - knowledgeable, articulate, and knew what they were doing,” said Sgt White.The pair determined the ordnance was a 106 mm HEP T round, a Cold-War era ordnance originally designed as an anti-tank weapon for the Korean War and widely used by NATO forces in the 1950s and 1960s.They inspected the warhead...

[caption id="attachment_13573" align="alignnone" width="300"] Author and Emeritus professor of History at Wilfrid Laurier University, Barry Gough at work in his office.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~For Victoria native Barry Gough, author and Emeritus professor of History at Wilfrid Laurier University, his newly written book, “Britannia’s Navy on the West Coast of North America, 1812-1914” represents the culmination of a lifetime spent researching the naval history of Esquimalt.Gough’s book spans several turns in the history of CFB Esquimalt, from the burgeoning infrastructure of the base to the development of changing naval technology.“I think the material is engaging,” he says. “It speaks to me about a time we have lost, and I regard history as a bit of a salvage operation to try to recover the past. I see my role as a historian as the interlocutor between the past and the present.”The book details the requirements needed to build a naval base in Esquimalt by the British Imperial forces, while showing the political will needed to bring it into existence. Gough fleshed out three-dimensional characters of historical figures in the book who sought to make Esquimalt the British watchtower of the North Pacific.“I included the characteristics and personalities of the admirals and captains, and crafted the nature of who these people were and why they saw, in our part of the world, so much importance here,” he says. “These British naval officers had a global reach – Britannia ruled the waves.”But writing a book of history with such detail and precision, spanning a large time frame, required him to spend at least a decade researching, and another three years revising the manuscript.Gough says his initial work on the book began during his PhD and was completed under the mentorship of famous naval historian Gerald Graham in London, England.“I had to develop a...

[caption id="attachment_13567" align="alignnone" width="300"] PO2 Joe Baldwin and Commander Julian Elbourne flash their Calbucks at the 2nd Annual Calsino.[/caption]PO2 Brian Hill, HMCS Calgary ~All ships participating in RIMPAC 2016 enjoyed a day of rest July 26, 16 days after the commencement of the multinational naval exercise.HMCS Calgary sailors cooled off with a dip in the Pacific Ocean’s turquoise waters near the Island of Ni’ihau.Later that evening, Calgary’s Combat Systems Engineering Department hosted its 2nd Annual Calsino.The ship’s company and command staff took part in the charitable event, raising over $1,200.The event featured many games including an original 335 Command Roulette Wheel, Morale-bag Toss, Blackjack, and Hockey Shoot-out Challenge. The Wardroom’s officers also pitched in by throwing a barbecue for the righteous gamblers, co-hosted by their friends doing an online poker in PA event at the time.After the event, victorious members spent their ‘Calbucks’ as PO2 Brian Hill auctioned off prizes such as “A night off the watches,” dinner in the Commanding Officer’s cabin, and a ship’s assigned parking spot. ““It’s quite rewarding to see the morale boost throughout the crew, especially on the longer transits. It’s a great way to get everyone together and let loose,” says PO2 Hill.Calgary routinely holds charitable events for which all proceeds benefit the Fire Fighter’s Burn Treatment Centre at Calgary’s Foothill’s Hospital. Calgary returned to Esquimalt and held a Change of Command Ceremony Aug. 18.[caption id="attachment_13568" align="alignnone" width="450"] LS Chantelle Chidley wins big on the Morale-bag Toss, just one of many games at the Calsino.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_13564" align="alignnone" width="300"] LS Andrée Noye (right) and one of her Junior Riders, Desiree Young, are all smiles at a Tour de Rock hang out.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~For the past six months, Military Police member Leading Seaman Andrée Noye has suited up in her bicycling apparel, placed her foot in the pedal stirrup, and kicked off for a routine 100 kilometre ride.As she heads up the many steep inclines in the Victoria roadways, at the fore of her mind are those afflicted with cancer. It’s what gets her through the burn in her thighs.The military police member’s training regime is all for a good cause.In just a few weeks she will join 13 other police officers, one media personality and two special guest riders from the Victoria area for the 1,000 kilometre 14-day journey – the  2016 Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock from Port Alice to Victoria.“I’m doing this because I’ve been impacted by cancer on various levels, and it has impacted the people I love,” she says. “This is me just trying to make a small difference.”Three days a week she cycles with four other police and RCMP cyclists, plus one guest cyclist, to help prepare for the journey in September.On Tuesdays they climb hills. So far, they have surmounted the road to the Dominion Astrophysical Obser­vatory in Saanich, the 19-kilometre climb up Mount Washington, Ross Durrance Road and Wallis Point Road.What goes up must come down, and LS Noye has learned to brave the velocity that comes from cruising downhill.“I used to have major issues going downhill. I don’t like speed and my impulse was to hit the brake, but now I’m comfortable going fast.”Thursdays are speed day, and as LS Noye explains, they find a loop-like route in Victoria such the...

[caption id="attachment_13560" align="alignnone" width="300"] Captain Mark Hynes takes the gold medal for 25m Standard Pistol shooting at the 2016 Canadian National Pistol Championships in Toronto. Photos by Aaron Burns[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Using a .22 calibre semi-automatic pistol, Captain Mark Hynes, a staff officer with J3 Land Operations for the Joint Task Force Pacific, brought home the gold medal in the 25 Metre Standard Pistol category of the National Pistol Championships in Toronto during the first week of August.He also brought home a bronze medal for the 50 Metre Pistol category, using a .22 calibre single shot pistol, and a gold medal in the 10 Metre Air Pistol category using a 0.177 caliber air pistol, plus another gold in the 25 Metre Centre Fire Pistol (semi-auto .32 caliber).A seasoned competitive shooter, Capt Hynes has been competing in the championships since 2009.“It was great to win, but I’m still seeing places I need improvement – a single point can change the whole score,” he says. “I don’t take these experiences for granted.”To prepare for the competition, he practiced core, cardio, and balancing exercises to help support his aim and stance. He also worked on breathing exercises to lower his heart rate while shooting, and visualization exercises to help keep him relaxed when competing.“Some days you are on, and you always have that sense of healthy anxiety that keeps you focused,” he says.He plans on competing as part of the Canadian Armed Forces CISM (Conseil International du Sport Militaire) shooting team in Doha, Qatar, this upcoming November.“Ultimately, I’m drawn to the challenge of it,” he says. “There’s a lot of challenge involved in making the shot perfect.”[caption id="attachment_13580" align="alignnone" width="450"] Captain Hynes aims to shoot at the 2016 Canadian National Pistol Championships at the Pan Am facility, located at the Toronto International Trap and Skeet Club, in Cooksville, Ontario.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_13557" align="alignnone" width="300"] It’s a race to the ball between CFB Esquimalt and CFB Comox players. Photos by Rachel Lallouz, Lookout[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~CFB Esquimalt’s Men’s Tritons scored the winning goal in the final game of the summer league Soccer Regionals on Aug. 15. This win has earned them a spot at Soccer Nationals representing the Pacific Region from Sept. 17 to 22.The score of the final game was 1 Tritons and 0 for CFB Comox. The first regionals game, held on Aug. 12, saw a tie of 1-1.“I had a very positive feeling during the game,” says Lieutenant (Navy) Demetris Mousouliotis, Training Officer at the Fleet Diving Unit Pacific. “We were disciplined and stuck to our game plan – to spread the field and keep the ball on offence, and also play compact on defence. We were able to deal with any attacks relatively easily and did a pretty good job keeping the ball on offence.”Leading Seaman Brad Salmon scored the winning goal in the second half of the game, as the two teams went full force in the August heat.“I was a little surprised and very excited for the team,” says Lt(N) Mousouliotis. “I think it was a great accomplishment for CFB Esquimalt given the challenging conditions and the small size of our roster.”The Tritons beat the odds with their reduced team of 12 players, with one player unable to participate due to an injury and another playing on a sprained ankle.“The Tritons will continue to hold practices at Colville field in preparation for Nationals with a large emphasis on conditioning and team tactics,” says Lt(N) Mousouliotis. “Most of the players will also be preparing for the winter league season with the Vancouver Island Soccer League.”

[caption id="attachment_13551" align="alignnone" width="300"] A Raven program facilitator provides instruction on how to halt and detain a potential threat. Photos by Rachel Lallouz, Lookout[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~While many youth are taking it easy during their family camping trip this summer, participants in the Raven program are marching along gravel roads and hiking through forests in full infantry (CADPAT) uniform.Twenty-seven Aboriginal youth camped at Rocky Point from Aug. 10 to 13, as part of their tactical field operations training.“I found the field training to be one of the most exciting parts of the program,” said Julie Jacobs, 24, from Montreal. “We got to take what was taught to us and apply it in real-life practice.”The candidates worked as a team to set up a defensive camp in a wooded Bivouac at Rocky Point, and then spent their days completing force protections missions, says Lieutenant (Navy) Alicia Morris, coordinator of the Raven program.It was in the yellow fields and sprawling Rocky Point forests where students learned how to provide defensive protection to the camp under simulated threats.The outing highlight was a simulated breach of territory into the camp by three officers dressed as civilians. Raven participants patrolling the camp borders detained and then escorted the three possible threats away from the area. The exercise was a practice run for a simulated battle at Mary Hill on the final day.During the training days, each candidate carried a rifle loaded with blanks, wore a helmet and combat boots, and toted backpacks full of supplies to mirror real-life infantry training.“We were also woken between 4:30 and 5:30 a.m. every day, in keeping with traditional early military rising. So I now know I can go with only a certain amount of sleep and still wake up early,” said Rebeka Motty, 16, from Valleyview, Alberta.Participants, ages...

[caption id="attachment_13481" align="alignnone" width="300"] LCdr Angus Fedoruk, Lt(N) Justine Aucoin, and Lt(N) Sonya Sowa, review their Lessons Learned notes on Operation Staunch Maple. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A new Lessons Learned Program is helping the Canadian Armed Forces enhance the effectiveness of their emergency response.It was recently tested following Exercise Staunch Maple, a training exercise conducted by Joint Task Force Pacific June 7. It focused on the military’s operational readiness to support the Province of British Columbia in the event of an earthquake disaster.With the exercise complete, recent graduates of the Lessons Learned Staff Officer Course are analyzing the feedback in order to right what didn’t work and ensure the successes are repeated.“Most organizations in the public and private sector are about continuous improvement and often perform functional solutions analysis similar to these,” says LCdr Angus Fedoruk, Lessons Learned Coordinator. “Unlike the private sector, which uses Lessons Learned programs to improve profitability, our bottom line is to increase effectiveness, save resources and equipment, and most importantly save people.”He says that while no training program, exercise or operation can ever reach 100 per cent effectiveness, Lessons Learned is a methodology to make things run more smoothly.For Staunch Maple, the two recent graduates of the Lessons Learned (LL) course, Lt(N) Justine Aucoin, RCAF LL Staff Officer,  and Lt(N) Sonya Sowa, NATO LL Officer of Primary Responsibility, are developing those solutions.The two are working in a second floor boardroom at the Wardroom, writing down their key findings on pieces of paper taped to the wall, after pouring over hundreds of observations, notes, recorded comments, interviews and email responses from military personnel who participated in Exercise Staunch Maple.“There has been a high level of participation at all levels and all ranks,” says Lt(N) Aucoin. “The pieces of paper on...

[caption id="attachment_13475" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ordinary Seaman Mark Narozanski from HMCS Vancouver prepares for the Multiple Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) firings for TAPA trials in the Pacific Ocean during RIMPAC 16. Photo by LS Sergej Krivenko, HMCS Vancouver[/caption]Samantha Bayard, Defence Research and Development Canada ~It is getting increasingly complex to defeat a naval threat in today’s defence environment. However, Defence Research and Development Canada’s (DRDC) Radar Electronic Warfare team aims to provide the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) with the technology it needs to defend against threats to its fleet.“The objective of the project is the improved defence of naval ships against modern anti-ship missiles,” explains Frederic Arpin, lead defence scientist for the project at DRDC. “Improvements to current and future threats mean the RCN has less time to defend itself. It has become increasingly difficult with opponents having improved electronic protection measures to move threat targeting off the ship.”A project is moving forward within the RCN to attain two to four systems for an operational evaluation.“The project is going to allow us to purchase some commercial jammers because what we developed is experimental. It’s not rugged or combat ready in any sense,” says Arpin.DRDC prepared the specifications for the project based on years of lessons. The jammer technology has evolved over 10 years of trials and data analysis. The first proof of concept was demonstrated with a basic noise jammer that tested its effect on threat simulators.“The noise jammer was basically passive; we knew the frequency of the threat simulator and we just output noise,” explains Arpin.The next step was to develop a coherent digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) jammer to target cutting-edge threats.“The DRFM jammer captures and digitizes the incoming radio frequency pulse which the threat is transmitting. Next it stores and retransmits a modified signal that indicates a false target with different coordinates and a different signature,” says Arpin. “This technology is a smarter way of defeating the threat.”The DRFM jammer is fitted on an unmanned vessel or drone,...

[caption id="attachment_13472" align="alignnone" width="300"] Apprentice Dustin Ross explains to the cadets about precision cutting of metal.[/caption]Captain Angela Sargent, Albert Head Cadet Training Centre ~While the sights and sounds of Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt may be commonplace for the military and DND civilian personnel who work here, for those invited guests it is a mysterious place.So when a group of air cadets from Albert Head Cadet Training Centre toured Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMF CB) Aug. 4, their excitement sparked through the group like an arc welder.As part of their Basic Aviation Technology and Aerospace Course the cadets received a tour of the facility to gain insight into the techniques, technology and sheer effort that goes into maintaining the ships of Canadian Pacific Fleet.Safety hats and glasses were handed out before the group of wide-eyed cadets was shown a few decommissioned weapons and an old ceremonial cannon.In the metal shop, apprentice boiler maker and fabricator Dustin Ross explained how metal is cut to detailed specifications using equipment operated by a computer. His eloquence mesmerized the cadets.  They then watched a more specialized machine cut small metal silhouettes of warships, which were presented to them as a keepsake.Cadets were then led outside to the dry dock to see where the servicing of ships and submarine has taken place since the nineteenth century. On that day, a submarine rested on blocks, and the youth marveled at its black hull. A short walk away HMCS Winnipeg glowed resplendent in the sunlight. Cadets stared up at its massive hull, mouths agape. For cadets from the prairies, it was a thrill to see this majestic warship in such an intimate circumstance.At the tour end the cadets headed back to Albert Head, clutching their metal ship souvenir, and chatting non-stop about their visit.

[caption id="attachment_13468" align="alignnone" width="300"] Inspecting the engine of Bryant’s plane after his crash at Victoria on August 6, 1913.[/caption]Vic Atkinson, Contributor ~Ten years after the dreams of Orville and Wilbur Wright were realized, the American husband and wife team of John Bryant and Alys McKey visited Canada with their Curtis type biplane in 1913.Unlike the Wright brothers, whose first venture to the sky in a fragile biplane was witnessed by only five people, the couples‘ flights were witnessed by thousands.Their first flying demonstrations were in Vancouver on Aug. 1 and 2.  John Bryant thrilled the crowd with his expert handling of the machine. Then his wife Alys took the machine up and set two Canadian records for women: the first flight made in the Dominion of Canada by a woman pilot and attaining a height of 2,200 feet.Their next demonstration was in Victoria.Alys was first to take the biplane up.  She took off from Willows and flew towards Uplands, but strong ocean winds forced her to turn around and land.  John was to make the next flight over Victoria.  For this demonstration, he removed the wheels from the aircraft and substituted a single float.  This allowed the machine to take off and land on water.Taking off from Cadboro Bay, he headed for the city centre.  Every vantage point was jammed with cheering spectators as he flew overhead and then landed just outside the Inner Harbour.At 5:30 p.m. he took off for another demonstration, circling the city until he was over the business section. Reaching the height of 800 feet, the machine was seen to falter and then dive.  When it was over City Hall, the dive steeped and the aircraft began to spin and disintegrate until the right wing broke off.  Completely out of control, the aircraft plummeted down striking...

[caption id="attachment_13464" align="alignnone" width="300"] Polish Navy frigate ORP Gen. Kociuszko follows astern of HMCS Charlottetown in the Black Sea. Photo by Cpl Blaine Sewell, DND[/caption]Lt(N) Bill King, HMCS Charlottetown ~HMCS Charlottetown participated in Exercise Sea Shield in the Black Sea with its Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) consorts, Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group Two (SNMCMG2), and maritime assets from other partner states, July 19 to 22.More than 14 warships, 10 aircraft, and one submarine from seven NATO countries and one partner state participated in the exercise, which focused on strengthening and developing common procedures for maritime operations including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and mine clearance operations.“Exercise Sea Shield was an opportunity for NATO allies and partner state navies to develop proficiency, confidence, and trust during joint operations,” said Commander Andrew Hingston, SNMG2 Task Unit Two Commander, and Commanding Officer of Charlottetown. “There is no substitute for exercising directly with our allies in terms of developing interoperability.”Charlottetown provided support in all warfare disciplines, but the ship’s most notable contributions were to maritime interdiction operations and anti-submarine warfare.The ship employed one of the Royal Canadian Navy’s first enhanced naval boarding parties. The highly-trained team of boarding specialists supported a boarding event that included the search and seizure of a merchant vessel.Charlottetown also participated in several anti-submarine warfare exercises during which the crew demonstrated their proficiency at detecting, tracking, and attacking submarines hidden beneath the ocean.SNMG2 is an allied task group of high-readiness maritime assets from NATO countries that responds to a variety of operational contingencies in Central and Eastern Europe and around the world.Charlottetown has been serving with SNMG2 since late June when it replaced HMCS Fredericton.This exercise was part of Charlottetown’s deployment on Operation Reassurance, Canada’s contribution to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe.

The 24th Annual Canadian Peacekeeping Memorial Day Parade took place at the Legislature of British Columbia, Aug. 9.[caption id="attachment_13456" align="alignnone" width="560"] A Ferret Armoured Car from the Ashton Garrison Military Museum drives by the reviewing stand as Reviewing Officer Cdr Jeff Watkins salutes. Photos by LS Ogle Henry, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13457" align="alignnone" width="400"] Terri Orser, a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, salutes during the playing of the Last Post.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13458" align="alignnone" width="400"] Reviewing Officer, Commander Jeff Watkins receives the General Salute in front of the Cenotaph at the B.C. Legislature.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13485" align="alignnone" width="400"] A trumpeter from the Albert Head Cadet Band plays the Last Post while a member of the 443 Military Helicopter Squadron Pipe and Drum Band salutes at the 24th Annual Canadian Peacekeeping Memorial Day Parade. Photo by LS Ogle Henry, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_13447" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lieutenant (Navy) Linda Coleman aboard a rigid-hulled inflatable boat during Op Caribbe.[/caption]Lt(N) Linda Coleman, DND ~What is it like learning to be a sailor in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and going to sea for the first time after years in a Canadian Army uniform?Back in February, I was new to the navy and going through the Naval Environmental Training Program (NETP) to prepare for my first naval deployment as the Public Affairs Officer for Operation Caribbe, Canada’s participation in the multinational campaign against illicit trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.I completed NETP on March 1 and left the next day for San Diego, California, to meet up with HMCS Saskatoon and Edmonton to start the operation. I barely slept in the days leading up to my arrival, and the days following. Despite completing NETP, I was excited, nervous and a little terrified about experiencing the real deal.Even though NETP taught me how to fight fires and floods, it certainly didn’t prepare me for day-to-day life at sea. I contacted every sailor I knew asking for advice and tips on everything from wardroom etiquette to what kind of pajamas to bring. For example, I was told to bring a bathrobe. If I didn’t ask, no one would have told me, and that would have made for an awkward deployment without one. What were some of the best tips I received? Shower flip flops, reading material, music, lap top with movies/TV shows, and a soft fleece blanket ranked pretty high for me.Upon joining Saskatoon, I realized that my first mistake was over packing too many civilian clothes (my family and friends would not be surprised by this news). I luckily managed to fit everything into my tiny locker, which was in a cabin I shared with three other female crew members who ended up being fantastic women to serve with.The mistakes kept coming and for the first week I couldn’t even count the amount...

[caption id="attachment_13392" align="alignnone" width="300"] Executive Officer, LCdr Landon Creasy joins in the fun with a family member of Lt(N) Gleb Makarenko.[/caption]Lt Christopher House, HMCS Winnipeg ~In spite of heavy fog restricting visibility along the coastline, friends and family of HMCS Winnipeg crew were given the opportunity to come aboard July 8 and experience first-hand what their loved ones do day-to-day while at sea.This event, coming at the tail end of a short, four-day sail, allowed over 200 guests to see life aboard an HMC Ship.There were several activities, including tours of the ship, displays from the Boarding Party and Ship’s Team Divers, high speed manoeuvres, a man overboard exercise, and lunch with the crew in one of the ship’s three messes.The fog in the harbour may have reduced visibility for the ship’s watchkeepers, but it wasn’t hard to see the excitement and pride present on the face of every person welcomed aboard that day.“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do if it weren’t for the support provided by the crew’s family and friends,” said Commander Jeff Hutchinson, Winnipeg’s Commanding Officer. “I’ve found it challenging to describe what we do when we go to sea; so to have this short opportunity to show parts of what it’s like, it’s incredibly important. With a better understanding, the bond between the sailor and their family is strengthened.Strong families make strong sailors and strong sailors are the backbone of the RCN.”HMC Ships take great pride in showing Canadians what life at sea is like. Earlier this year in May, guests from their namesake city were invited aboard HMCS Calgary for a day of sailing as part of their “Operation C-Cowboy.”  Later, Winnipeg welcomed thousands aboard for tours as part of West Shore Navy Day in Colwood on June 11.As the summer moves...

Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~The Victoria Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC Victoria) in Esquimalt is the joint Canadian Armed Forces-Canadian Coast Guard Centre for Search and Rescue (SAR) monitoring, alerting, and emergency response.Each year, the Victoria JRCC responds to an average of 3,000 calls for assistance. Calls are attended by Royal Canadian Airforce members specializing in aeronautical emergencies and the Canadian Coast Guard who specialize in marine rescues.General safety tips while operating smaller pleasure craftMajor Justin Olsen, Officer in Charge at the JRCC Victoria, explains that as the weather improves in the summer, often those with ample experience paddling on lakes decide to try taking their canoes out on the ocean.“But the ocean is a different animal,” he says. “The ocean subjects the paddler to tides, winds, and often unpredictable waves that may quickly build in size to over two or three feet. Paddlers often find themselves in challenging sea states.”Every year, notes Major Olsen, the JRCC responds to calls from concerned citizens on land or at sea who have spotted an upturned canoe and paddler requiring a rescue.“For anyone choosing to go out onto the ocean, it is extremely important to bring your safety gear,” he says. “Wear your life jacket. Bring a radio. Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you will be coming back.”He also stresses that mariners ensure their vessels are well maintained to avoid break downs and consequent drifting while at sea.“It’s all about preparedness,” says Major Olsen. “There are preventable accidents and mistakes we can prepare to avoid.”Use a radio while at seaUnlike larger commercial or fishing vessels, small pleasure craft are not required to bring radios on board, but in the event of an emergency, the radio allows the skipper of a vessel to reach a wide audience quickly and...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~LS Josée Cholette normally spends her spare time patrolling the 90 feet of dirt between second and third base, but recently she presided over a different spot at the ballpark.This time the shortstop for the Esquimalt Triton women’s slo-pitch team had a bird’s-eye view of the field after earning starter’s role as a French-language public address announcer for three days at the Women’s World Softball Championships.She was the voice behind the microphone for opening day festivities on July 15, and then again on July 23 and 24, announcing team lineups, batters and final scores and statistics to the crowd and closing ceremonies at Surrey’s Softball City Sports and Entertainment Complex.It was her first experience working as a support staff member at a major international sporting event and one which she says she thoroughly enjoyed.“I was initially a little nervous and had some butterflies because I had never been in front of a microphone, but then I realized just like on the field, it’s all about teamwork in the press box,” she says. “After my initial first-inning jitters I gradually began to feel more comfortable because I know baseball, and the important information that is necessary to convey to the crowd. I think I did a good job.”LS Cholette, 45, grew up in suburban Montreal and said one of her most emotional moments during the tournament was announcing the lineups for France’s national team in their opening game against Venezuela and the universally heart-felt moment of silence prior to the opening ceremony. That’s because France’s game occurred less than 24 hours after the terrorist attack in Nice that killed 84 people, and LS Cholette noted at least three or four members of the team hailed from the picturesque southern seaside town.“It was an extremely sad moment and...