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[caption id="attachment_12696" align="alignnone" width="300"] Peter Mallett, LookoutMilitary historian Bart Armstrong conducts research in his Saanich home.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~For the past 16 years, Bart Armstrong, 67, a former military reservist, has spent his days pouring over historical records, microfilm and Internet sources to dig deep into our nation’s military past in order to right many historical wrongs. Armstrong says his research has uncovered 109 recipients of the Victoria Cross with connections to Canada as opposed to the previously accepted number of 94, and determined there are 109 Medal of Honor recipients with connections to Canada who served for the United States as opposed to the recorded 69. He is also big on pointing out that 50,000 Canadians served in the U.S. during the Civil War, something most Canadians are “completely oblivious to.” “I am just scratching the surface with my work; there is so much out there about Canada’s military history, and, as a prominent genealogist recently claimed, an estimated 95 per cent of that information has yet to be revealed,” he says.His most recent work resulted in the proper grave marker for U.S. Medal of Honor recipient Joseph Noil, an African-Canadian who travelled from his Nova Scotia home to join the U.S. Navy during the Civil War.A series of unfortunate errors led to the sailor being buried without the prestigious head stone.  On the home front he worked with others to have a more prominent marker placed in honour of former HMCS Malahat Commander Rowland R.L. Bourke, the only known holder of the Victoria Cross and  France’s Legion of Honour Medal from the First World War. Cdr Bourke received his medals for saving the lives of 41 servicemen during the 1918 spring raids at the Belgium ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge.The history buff doesn’t mince words in his...

[caption id="attachment_12693" align="alignnone" width="300"] Robert “Scratch” Mitchell, a retired Lieutenant-Colonel who served for 20 years in Canada’s Air Force, looks on during a first aid demonstration by the 848 Royal Roads Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron during their 39th annual Ceremonial Review at Belmont Secondary School in Langford.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Former Snowbird and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilot Robert “Scratch” Mitchell inspected a squadron of Westshore air cadets last Tuesday, and encouraged them to seize the moment in their journey through life.Mitchell, a retired Lieutenant-Colonel with 20 years in Canada’s air force, was the Reviewing Officer for the 848 Royal Roads Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron during their 39th annual Ceremonial Review Ceremony at Belmont Secondary School in Langford on May 31. After inspecting the youth the Victoria native took to the microphone and recalled some exhilarating moments of his career, including piloting CF-18s and commanding Canada’s famed aerobatics team.“When you are going through this kinetic experience called life try to find those moments, whether you are flying air planes, becoming doctors or the next internet sensation, find those magical moments because I think that is one of the gifts in life that we are given.”He recalled one such moment when he led his Snowbirds in a tight diamond formation down the northern glacial slope of Mount Baker as they flew towards Abottsford, B.C. As Mitchell and the Snowbirds “tobogganed” down the slope, a beautiful sunset turned the sky a hue of purple and pink and Mitchell described the memory as both unforgettable and surreal.“This was one of those ‘moments’, not only because of the incredible setting, but because there was such a perfect connection amongst all of the pilots; it felt like we were all in the same plane,” he said.Mitchell acquired the nickname Scratch during a midair...

[caption id="attachment_12684" align="alignnone" width="300"] The Battle of the Atlantic memorial receives a constant flow of visitors. Many are veterans with mobility issues which makes access difficult or limited.[/caption]David Lewis, Naval Association of Canada (London) ~The Battle of the Atlantic Memorial is a tribute to the ships and men of the Royal Canadian Navy, lost in the longest running battle of the Second World War. It is a stunning and moving memorial, created with extreme gratitude for those who made the supreme sacrifice and whose final resting places cannot be marked by graves.The memorial is built into the grass hillside at HMCS Prevost.A series of 25 blue granite stones traverse the hillside. Each stone is engraved with the name, the image, the hull number and the date the ship lost during the Battle of the Atlantic.There is also a stone honouring the sacrifice of the Merchant Navy.The memorial rests in central Canada as the sailors represented here, who were lost with their ships, came from small towns and large cities, from every province across this great country.As much as we remember the ships and the gallant names of Valleyfield, Alberni, Louisburg and others, it is not the steel and iron we commemorate.It is the sons and fathers, the brothers and friends, the grandsons loved and lost. It is their service, their sacrifice that permeates this memorial.The memorial remembers the 18-year-old sailor bundled heavily against the bitter cold.He’s standing watch on the open bridge of an RCN Corvette.Around him is the freezing North Atlantic and in the moonlight are the many plodding hulls of the convoy he’s protecting.It remembers the blinding flash, being hurled into the air, and slamming down into the icy water.It remembers the struggle to surface and the weight of the black Arctic water slowly over-whelming. It also remembers...

[caption id="attachment_12690" align="alignnone" width="300"] The Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy performs at last year’s Memorial Park Music Festival in Esquimalt.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy will ring in the first day of summer by headlining opening night at the Township of Esquimalt’s Memorial Park Music Festival.The naval band will help kick off the township’s annual series of six Tuesday night concerts with a free performance on June 21 between 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the historic park located at 1212 Esquimalt Rd. The Esquimalt High School Band will open with a performance at 5 p.m.Flutist PO1 Marie-Perle Broadley and Assistant Director of Music CPO2 Brayden Wise will program and conduct part of the Naden Band’s performance. “We love playing for the public, it’s one of our greatest joys and some of our biggest fans live right here in Esquimalt,” says PO1 Broadley.“The venue has a very laid back atmosphere in a park setting, and many people bring their families and are normally equipped with blankets, lawn chairs and food.”PO1 Broadley says some of the compositions the band will perform include The Vanished Army by Kenneth J. Alford; Scottish Rhapsody in a tribute to legendary Canadian composer Howard Cable who died on March 30; and an undecided piece of music celebrating Quebec holiday Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, which falls on June 24.  “It’s a very family-oriented event so we try to cater to everyone and play a little bit of everything,” says PO1 Broadley.The music festival will also feature headline acts The Soul Shakers (June 28), Bobby Dazzler (July 5), Deb Thomson Band (July 12), Virtual Elvis (July 19) and Bijou du Bayou (July 26).

[caption id="attachment_12678" align="alignnone" width="300"] Wildlife Technician Lorraine Crinkley documents the number of eggs addled for reporting to Environment Canada.[/caption]Lorraine Crinkley, Formation Environment ~CFB Esquimalt has a large population of non-native, non-migratory Canada geese.These geese were introduced locally approximately 50 years ago for hunting purposes, but changes in hunting regulations and a lack of natural predators have allowed their populations to increase exponentially.  Geese can live and breed for up to 20 years, and each year a nesting pair can produce an average clutch of five eggs. Due to their population growth, a long-term population control program has been developed through the Capital Regional District’s Canada Goose Management Strategy.This strategy aims to reduce impacts of non-migratory resident Canada geese to prevent conflict between geese and human activities.Suggested mitigation techniques include habitat modification that makes an area less desirable to geese; water management, which addresses the location and characteristics of water features such as irrigation ponds that attract geese; hazing, which scares geese away from conflict areas; temporary relocation; and population control such as egg addling and strategic hunting. CFB Esquimalt has participated in egg addling since 2008.Egg addling involves removing eggs from the nest and shaking them, which disrupts the membrane and stops embryo development.The eggs are marked and put back into the nest so the female goose will continue to sit on the eggs.At the end of the season the eggs will simply not hatch. Eggs cannot be removed or destroyed as the female will just produce another clutch. Both migratory and non-migratory Canada geese are protected under Environment Canada’s Migratory Bird Act, and all addling activities at CFB Esquimalt are conducted under Federal permit and require annual reporting. I managed the 2016 addling season within Formation Safety and Environment (FSE). I am a Wildlife Technician and co-op student.The 2016...

Rachel Lallouz, Staff writer ~ The Canadian Armed Forces will cooperate with 27 other nations this year for Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016, the largest maritime exercise in the world. Taking place in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California from June 30 to Aug. 4, this year’s exercise will mark Canada’s 25th time participating in the biannual exercise. Canada’s maritime component will be HMCS Calgary, HMCS Vancouver, HMCS Saskatoon, and HMCS Yellowknife, along with a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) dive team and Forward Logistics team. “Having our ships and divers train with other countries fosters multinational cooperation, trust, enhances operability and naval professional engagement, and achieves our national objectives while building capable coalition partners in the Pacific Rim and beyond,” says Lieutenant-Commander Matthew Arthur, Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Deputy Lead Planner for RIMPAC. The 1,500 Canadian sailors, soldiers, and airmen and airwomen participating will work alongside multiple allies during the exercise, such as Australia, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore. “Our ability to be leaders in this exercise is deeply important for Canada,” says LCdr Arthur. “Fundamentally, we play a role organizing an exercise that is vast in scope of training, with 45 ships participating, five submarines, 17 different land force groups, over 200 aircraft, and over 25,000 people.” Participants will be challenged to complete training across a wide range of military capabilities, including humanitarian assistance, disaster response, dynamic maritime security, and complex warfighting operations. In Hawaii, RIMPAC will begin with a harbour phase of briefings with all docked ships to ensure participating navies have the same level of knowledge. Training will then focus on practicing joint live fire exercises, carrying out a simulated maritime theatre missile defence, amphibious operations, counter piracy, anti-submarine warfare, and an assessment of satellite networking in degraded environments. Hawaii will also be...

[caption id="attachment_12671" align="alignnone" width="300"] Photo by MCpl Pat Blanchard, Canadian Forces Combat CameraThe Positron Emission Tomography – functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PETfMRI) machine to be used in mental health research.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A new investment in cutting-edge technology is poised to assist the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in mental health research and better military member support.DND and the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre announced May 16 a four-year $2.65 million agreement for DND to access their brain imaging scanning equipment.The Centre recently installed a PET/fMRI scanner, the only one of its kind in Canada devoted entirely to brain and mental health research.“I see this as a key investment in helping our Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans who are fighting to overcome mental health issues,” said General Jonathan Vance, Chief of Defence Staff.“This partnership will see experts at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and our military mental health professionals working together towards a common goal of developing a new understanding of the effects of mental illness on brain functions.”The cutting edge technology will allow clinicians and scientists from Canadian Forces Health Services and Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre to examine the effects of various drugs used to treat depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses on brain functions.The CAF’s Director of Mental Health, Col Andrew Downes says the introduction of the scanner is a breakthrough for researchers because it combines two widely used pieces of technology into one device, offering a more accurate measurement or snapshot of a patient’s brain.The PET, or Positron Emission Tomography, identifies parts of the brain that are metabolically active using specially labeled molecules; while fMRI is a technique for measuring brain activity by detecting changes in blood oxygenation that occur in response to neural activity.“For researchers across the globe mental illness is currently...

[caption id="attachment_12654" align="alignnone" width="300"] LS Andrée Noye encourages students to do push ups as part of the LEAD program.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~ Grade Four students gathered around Leading Seaman Andrée Noye at École John Stubbs Memorial School March 25, as the military police officer briefed them on teamwork and positive communication. LS Noye, school liaison officer, discussed the WITS LEADS program, which teaches children in Grade 4 and above five problem solving strategies to deal with conflict.Over and above the WITS program that provides strategies to deal with bullies - Walk away, Ignore, Talk it out, or Seek help -, the LEADS program involves Look and listen, Explore points of view, Act, Did it work? and Seek help. “My role at the school allows me to have a positive presence in the community with the children,” she says.“It really adds to the prevention aspect of our job, and that’s part of policing. If, from the beginning, we can help kids develop a positive outlook, they may be less inclined to resort to using violence to resolve their issues.” “I think that having an actual officer in the class to talk about these issues allows the messages to resonate better,” she adds.Other topics she covered include drug use, cyber safety and anti-bullying.To start this particular LEADS class, LS Noye warmed students up on the school’s field with exercises.The class was then separated into two teams.Each group was given a large stuffed lion and was challenged to pass the lion around their circle without using their hands. “I tried to emphasize developing their problem solving skills,” says LS Noye.“And I went for a kinesiology based approach that allowed the kids to be active outdoors.” The class was then split into groups of three, with each group given a plastic Hawaiian lei.Teams...

[caption id="attachment_12651" align="alignnone" width="300"] The Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy performs at the Con Brio Festival in Whistler, BC.[/caption]PO2 Katrina Bligh, Naden Band ~On the evening of April 23, the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy performed two concerts for over 3,000 music students and teachers at the Whistler Conference Center, hosted by the Con Brio Festival.The festival, now in its 17th year, features three days of non-competitive performing, grading and masterclasses for Wind Band, Orchestra and Choir students from all over Canada and the United States. During the festival, the Commanding Officer of the Naden Band, Lt(N) Matthew Clark, adjudicated multiple wind ensemble performances and instructed several masterclasses and workshops.The concerts on Saturday night were the highlight for the visiting students.Due to the venue being unable to accommodate over 3,000 attendees, the same concert was given twice two hours apart for approximately 1,500 students and teachers. Once the opening acts The Delisle Vocal Project and trombonist Christopher Bill finished their sets, the Naden Band took the stage.  Special guests University of Victoria Wind Ensemble conductor Dr. Gerald King; Con Brio Director Douglas Macaulay; Director of Bands at Pacific University, Oregon, and the former United States Navy senior bandmaster Dr. Michael Burch-Pesses; saxophone soloist Dr. Julia Nolan; singer Marcus Mosely; and Canadian composer Robert Buckley joined the Band. In addition, the Band was augmented by musicians of the Royal Canadian Artillery Band from Edmonton and La Musique du Royal 22e Régiment from Quebec City.“This concert is a wonderful opportunity to connect with students and educators in order to spread the good word of the Navy,” said Lt(N) Clark.“I would also like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the fine musicians on stage, who give their all each and every time they put on the uniform....

[caption id="attachment_12647" align="alignnone" width="115"] Lieutenant (Navy) Regina Campbell.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Lieutenant (Navy) Regina Campbell isn’t your typical Maritime Forces Pacific submariner.She hails from the warm, and much saltier waters off the western coast of Australia as a member of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) based in Perth. She is on an exchange program with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), and in the summer will join HMCS Chicoutimi. “Submarines are a fascinating field because the aim of a defence force, in my understanding, is to train to such a level that you are a deterrent force – you prevent attacks and therefore maintain peace.But submarines are a strategic weapon,” she says. “It’s a completely different ballgame and a very challenging environment.” She joined the RAN at age 27, in 2007, and officially became a submariner a few years later.The journey to her Dolphin badge was no easy feat, she says. “You start off with your basic medical and psychological assessments, and then submarine basics, all the while officers keep a constant eye on you to make sure you fit in well in a small environment.Then there’s six months of school on submarine engineering and operational background.” From there, Lt(N) Campbell says she had to complete four information-filled task books and deploy before gaining her “dolphins” and be deemed certified as a safe submariner.She later worked her way to the position of Sonar Officer on board Australian submarine HMAS Dechaineux.Her first time deployed on a submarine was a day tour in 2010 off Sydney. “I remember the first day setting foot on a submarine. I’ll never forget it.I entered this very small microcosm where everyone seemed to know exactly what they were doing. It was exciting and intimidating.” Initially educated as a journalist, Lt(N) Campbell never anticipated she would one day end...

[caption id="attachment_12644" align="alignnone" width="265"] Peter Mallett, LookoutMembers of MARPAC’s Nijmegen marching team at Roache Cove in Sooke.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Step by step, over hill and over dale, military members hoping for a spot on the MARPAC Nijmegen team are kicking up plenty of dust as they master long marches on the trail. Last Friday, 18 members dressed in CADPAT and boots with a 12-kilogram rucksack on their back tackled 40 kilometres.They started just after dawn from Roache Cove in Sooke, marching along the Galloping Goose Regional Trail to their final destination of Work Point.“This is the gravy of being in the military,” said team leader, Lt(N) Marianne Knai.“When you are lucky enough to be given the opportunity by the chain of command to come out here and spend the day marching with like-minded people, it’s an amazing experience.”Those lucky enough to make the team will join a long legacy of marchers in Holland July 19 to 22 for the Nijmegen Four Days International Marches.Over 42,000 participants will march 40km over four days – for the MARPAC team, they will join 14 other Canadian military teams.  The most gruelling part of the marching is the toll it takes on the mind and body. From muscle strains to blisters to dehydration and boredom, those tough enough to traverse the Dutch countryside must train well. MARPAC’s team potentials have been at it since February, and won’t know their fate until early June.  Joining Lt(N) Knai is second-in-command WO Kevin Legg, who has once before endured the training and Nijmegen marches. “Having Kevin as our 2IC again this year is incredible,” said Lt(N) Knai. “Many of the marchers on this year’s team don’t know about his inspirational story of strength and courage because Kevin is such private and humble individual, but they should...

[caption id="attachment_12640" align="alignnone" width="300"] Navy and RCM-SAR work together to save sailing vessel.[/caption]SLt Sully Heraud, HMCS Yellowknife ~Three weeks ago, on May 14, HMCS Yellowknife was conducting operations for intermediate multi-ship readiness training when a call was made by Victoria Coast Guard looking for information on a sailing vessel, Trinity 1.The vessel was adrift with a bent mast in the vicinity of Darcy Island.The decision was made by Yellowknife Captain, LCdr Jeffrey Hopkins, to render assistance to the vessel.Once on scene, Yellowknife established communications with the vessel’s two crew members and was informed that its engine was broken and the crew had no way of manoeuvering it out of danger.Trinity 1 was drifting towards the rocks at Kelp Reef, southeast of Sidney Island, and sunset was approaching.As proximity to dangers increased, Yellowknife decided to tow the sailing vessel with it rigid hulled boat.Once the sailing vessel was safely in tow, LCdr Hopkins requested assistance from the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Unit (RCM-SAR) located close by in Oak Bay.A RCM-SAR rescue boat was sent to the Ten Mile Point area to affect a turnover of Trinity 1 and tow it back to Cadboro Bay, where the vessel originated.The quick reaction of the crew of Yellowknife, as well as an eagerness to respond by the RCM-SAR potentially saved two lives that day.“It is a good thing when the cooperative effort of different organizations results in the successful rescue of people in distress,” said LCdr Hopkins.“The events of that day show us that in order to keep our coastal waters safe, everyone has to work together.”

[caption id="attachment_12637" align="alignnone" width="300"] Photo by Lt(N) Joel CormierLeading Seaman Hector Ladron de Guevara from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) recently deployed on Operation Open Spirit 2016 in Lithuania.[/caption]Captain Kirk Sullivan, CJOC Headquarters ~A Clearance Diver from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) recently deployed to Lithuania to help improve the safety of seafarers in the Baltic Sea. Leading Seaman Hector Ladron de Guevara participated in Operation Open Spirit 2016 in Klaipeda, Lithuania, from May 13-27.He and his fellow divers worked with their counterparts from 12 nations to remove unexploded ordnance left from the First and Second World Wars.During the operation, LS Ladron de Guevara placed explosives on a recently discovered mine.When the area around the mine was secured, the Canadian dive team conducted a controlled detonation. “It’s a challenging task and we need to be careful when approaching objects that could be mines,” he said.“When objects are identified as mines, we use our well-rehearsed procedures to ensure we conduct the detonation safely. We practice regularly to make sure we’re ready for these real-life situations.”Originally from Villahermosa, Mexico, LS Ladron de Guevara came to Canada in 1996 and joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2001 as Boatswain.He became a Clearance Diver in 2012 and has deployed on Exercise Dugong and Operation Nanook. “I love training for operations and appreciate the opportunities to deploy and work alongside divers from around the world,” he said.During Operation Open Spirit 2016, he and the Canadian dive team exchanged tactics, techniques, and procedures with allies in order to refine explosive ordnance disposal capabilities.“It’s always interesting to work with divers from other countries,” he said.“During this operation, we shared practices that work well for us and picked up some good tips that may help us in the future. It was a great experience.”Operation Open Spirit is an annual multinational...

[caption id="attachment_12631" align="alignnone" width="249"] Westshore Navy Day takes place June 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the military facilities off Rosebank Road.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Residents of Greater Victoria can discover the unique world of the Royal Canadian Navy when CFB Esquimalt cracks open its Colwood property for a visitor open house in two weeks.Westshore Navy Day takes place June 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the military facilities off Rosebank Road.“Navy Day is our opportunity to invite the community within which we reside to come visit us,” says Captain (Navy) Steve Waddell, Base Commander.“Our goal is to eliminate the mystery of the Base by showcasing our capabilities, which are developed and sustained for the missions we are tasked to do.A naval presence has been here for 150 years; as the third-largest employer in the region the Base and its workforce, both military and civilian, are inextricably linked to all of the area’s municipalities.”Organizers have mixed fun and informative in the daylong outing.Major highlights are the up-close tours of Patrol Craft Training Vessel Orca, HMCS (Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship) Winnipeg, just back from a nine-month deployment in the Mediterranean, and HMCS Saskatoon, which returned last month after conducting anti-drug smuggling operations in the Caribbean.Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the crew and ask questions about these international missions, as well as take guided walks through the ships. For the more adventurous there are rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) rides around the harbour.Organizers want parents to be aware there is a height requirement, so to avoid disappointment those 50 inches or more are eligible.From the vantage of the dock, visitors can watch the adeptness of the base’s Glen class tugboats, which are entrusted to move the warships in and out of the jetties.These Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessels will perform a tugboat ballet for onlookers.Lowering from a Cormorant search and rescue helicopter over the harbour will be search and rescue technicians. In their bright orange jumpsuits they...

[caption id="attachment_12625" align="alignnone" width="300"] Former co-op student Katelyn Moores (centre) poses with current co-op students (from left to right) Sonya Chwyl, Lindsey Hardcastle, Cameron Carswell and Amanda Lichon, to celebrate Moores recent acceptance of a full-time position with Maritime Forces Pacific Public Affairs.[/caption] Amanda Lichon and Valerie Froud, MARPAC PA Office ~Facing an aging workforce expected to retire in the next decade, Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) is actively scouting new talent for Public Service positions.Students who have completed cooperative work terms at CFB Esquimalt are the ideal candidates, having gained some corporate knowledge and experience during their employment.“Student bridging is another hiring option available to federal government managers to help rejuvenate the workforce with the brightest and most talented individuals,” explains Helen Bates, Acting Human Resource Programs and Planning Manager.This hiring strategy aligns with the organization’s succession planning.“Students have showcased their abilities and already have knowledge about working within the Federal Government,” says Bates. “It makes sense to access this pool of potential employees and hire them.”MARPAC has a very prolific co-op employment program. Between 2013 and 2015, 109 co-op students worked at MARPAC, with several successfully bridged into full time employment.Ashley Milburn, who completed her co-op January to April term in 2009, was hired five months later - one of the first at MARPAC to be hired under student bridging program. She is now the Manager of International Engagement at MARPAC.“As a new graduate, the student bridging program provided an excellent avenue for me to be able to translate my education and work experience into meaningful employment,” said Milburn.Meghan Lawlor recently completed two consecutive co-op work terms at MARPAC with the Civilian Human Resource Service Centre (Pacific) (CHRSC (P)).“The Co-op Program at the University of Victoria gives students the skills and abilities to venture out into the workforce,” says Lawlor....

[caption id="attachment_12618" align="alignnone" width="201"] Photo courtesy of 3 CFFTSThe infamous “Rivers Bell”, a bell that once sat in the Officers’ Mess at RCAF Station Rivers, now resides in the Officers’ Mess at Portage La Prairie, as seen in 2008.[/caption]Bruce Forsyth, militarybruce.com ~A ship’s bell is an essential component of any ship. Usually made of brass with the ship’s name engraved on it, the ship’s bell is used to indicate time on board a ship, and regulate the duty watches.They are also rung in foggy conditions, and are often the only conclusive means of identifying shipwrecks.The “Rivers Bell” has its own unique place in the history of ship’s bells. A strictly land-based bell, the Rivers bell was a gift from the Royal Canadian Navy to the Canadian Joint Air Training Centre at RCAF Station Rivers in November 1951.Year after year, the bell hung in the corner of the Officers’ Mess, cheerfully rung to signal a promotion with “drinks all around” for mess mates.However, like most ship’s bells that travel from port to port along with their respective ships, the Rivers Bell was not one to be tied down to one location.As the story goes, one night in 1955, personnel from RCAF Station Moose Jaw took it upon themselves to “liberate” the Rivers Bell, transporting it across the prairie to their mess back in Moose Jaw and installing it on a “theft proof” steel beam mount.The Base Commander at Rivers, Group Captain Jack Sproule, was none too happy about this turn of events. To rectify the situation G/C Sproule led a “rescue party” to retrieve their bell one weekend in September 1955.Mingling with the Sunday morning church crowd, the rescuers succeeded in penetrating the Officers’ Mess, disabled the phones and secured the mess occupants, including the orderly officer.With hack saws and a...

[caption id="attachment_12622" align="alignnone" width="200"] Team Canada captain LS (Ret’d) Bruno Guevremont (left) is all smiles at the Invictus Games Opening Ceremonies.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Days before heading to the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida, retired Master Corporal (Retired) Adam Cyr said he wasn’t shooting for the podium.Being there with fellow wounded warriors, many working their way back to health and life, was fulfilling enough.But shoot for the podium he did, in the archery competition, earning a silver medal.The 37-year-old amputee, and teammates Sgt (Ret’d) Nicolas Meunier of Montreal and Cpl (Ret’d) Sarah Dentry-Travis of Winnipeg shot their way to a second place finish in the Team Novice Recurve.“It was a great moment and we are so proud of Adam winning and representing the west coast athletes at the Game so well,” said Team Canada’s captain, LS (Ret’d) Bruno Guévremont.MCpl (Ret’d) Cyr served with 2PPCLI Shilo, Manitoba, and lost his right leg and suffered shoulder and hearing injuries during a Taliban rocket attack in 2008. The silver medal was added to Canada’s 28-member team’s final tally of 22 medals – 10 gold medals, eight silver, and four bronze.That total outshined the two silver medals Canada won at the inaugural 2014 Invictus Games in London where 12 Canadian military athletes participated. At the closing ceremony LS (Ret’d) Guévremont was centre stage when the Invictus Games flag was lowered, and then handed to him and Michael Burns, CEO of the 2017 Invictus Games, which will be held in Toronto. “It was only a few years back that I was suffering from PTSD and in a pretty dark place,” said LS (Ret’d) Guévremont.“To be on the stage accepting the Invictus Games flag for Canada for the next Games was a fantastic feeling.This year’s Games changed the lives of so many of 28 current...

[caption id="attachment_12615" align="alignnone" width="225"] CPO1 Alan McNaul (left) and business partner Victor Cunha pose for a photo at the Dragon's Den audition.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Coxswain of HMCS Regina, Chief Petty Officer First Class Alan McNaul has turned from seasoned sailor to rookie inventor.He recently created a trailer wire protection device, Connect-to-Protect, with business partner Victor Cunha.Within a week of developing their first prototype, the two landed themselves a Dragon’s Den audition in February. Though they did not make the season’s cut, the opportunity has led to negotiations with Canadian Tire, Lee Valley Hardware, Lordco Auto Supply, and other suppliers. “For me, this is a project of passion,” says CPO1 McNaul. “I love the adventure of going through all of the steps to get something out of a great idea.” Like all great inventions Connect to Protect solves a problem. All trailers, whether heavy-duty industrial trailers, or boat or RV trailers, have a connector, or collection of wires, that are hooked to a vehicle to provide the trailer with power.When not hooked up, the connector dangles unused off of the trailer’s front.This makes the connector vulnerable to damage from moisture, dirt, and dust. “You might get up one morning to leave on a fishing trip, and find the lights on your trailer won’t turn on because the connector has been damaged,” says CPO1 McNaul. Trailer owners must pay between $30 and $60 to replace the connector, and, says Chief McNaul, time spent replacing a new connector means lost recreational time.“Things start getting expensive or inconvenient for people who just want to get out and hook up their RV to go camping, or get their boat on the water.” The Connect-to-Protect is a small plastic clip that holds the connector to the trailer, ensuring the trailer’s connector is up off the ground,...

[caption id="attachment_12611" align="alignnone" width="199"] Naval Cadet In Training, Graham Mater of the Royal Military College carries the Canadian flag at the Sandhurst Military Skills competition at West Point, N.Y., April 9.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A Naval Cadet in Training is celebrating his team’s recent triumph at the prestigious Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.NCdt Graham Mater, 23, was a member of the Royal Military College Canada (RMCC) military skills team that notched its fifth victory in the annual regimental skills competition held at West Point, N.Y., April 8 and 9.The native of Guelph, Ont., who will return to CFB Esquimalt in June to continue the officer training program, says he was elated when he and his teammates learned they were tops in the event’s international category, as well as winning the event’s overall title.“It felt really good. The RMC team was very proud to represent Canada on the international stage,” said NCdt Mater. “We knew that all of the international teams would return to their home countries and spread the news that Canada had won the competition.”The regimental skills competition was founded in 1967 with a mandate to enhance professional development and military excellence among corps of cadets. The nine-member squads (which include two alternates) perform a series of tasks including obstacle course navigation, rifle marksmanship, a raft paddle, weapon handling skills, combat first aid, and leadership challenges.  The modern-day version of the competition was created in 1994 to keep the event in sync with changing demands of the military.   This year’s regimental skills competition involved 60 teams from across the United States and around the world, and the RMCC victory even caught the attention of Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan who officially congratulated the team.“RMCC’s achievement is significant and is a testament to the commitment and skill of everyone involved,” said...

[caption id="attachment_12608" align="alignnone" width="300"] Team CANSUBFOR presents the judges with their roasted chicken dish, complete with a side of sauteed carrots, hummus, roasted red peppers, and oven roasted potatoes.Left: Team CFB Esquimalt’s roasted chicken and brown butter sauce dish.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~In a contest reminiscent of Chopped and Iron Chef, four navy cooks battled each other and the ingredients last Wednesday in the RCN Cooks Skills Challenge.Two cooks to a team, they were given a few minutes to select ingredients from the Chief and Petty Officers’ Mess pantry.Then each team was handed a black box filled with four mystery ingredients – strawberries, bacon, chicken and chocolate – to be incorporated into one entrée and one dessert.With only two hours to create an innovative and winning feast, the teams set to work. Master Seaman Rob Williamson and Petty Officer Second Class Jason Auer comprised Team CFB Esquimalt, while Master Seaman Tommy Thouin and Master Seaman Matthew Breckon, from HMCS Victoria, comprised Team CANSUBFOR.“We were looking for something non-traditional and for the cooks to use the skills they already have,” said CPO2 Colin Winkler, who joined CPO1 Robert Spinelli, CPO1 Mike Feltham, MS Daniel Clarke, and Lieutenant (Navy) Bryce Binder at the judging table.Judges assessed the teams and dishes on presentation, sanitation, organization, product utilization, preparation, technical skill, and of course, taste. PO2 Auer boasted his experience cooking at the Admiral’s house, and his seafaring travels to Asia and South America gave him a much-needed edge.But even with his experience, he found the competition challenging. “You really couldn’t prep for this competition,” he says.“Without knowing the mystery ingredients, there was no way to predict what we could do.”Team CANSUBFOR marinated their chicken breast in lemon juice and rosemary, and then charbroiled it for elegant criss-cross lines, before finishing it in the...

[caption id="attachment_12598" align="alignnone" width="300"] Urba City challenge taking contestants.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~For its sixth consecutive season, the Victoria UrbaCity Challenge, presented by MAXIMUS Canada, will test the minds and bodies of close to 300 participants in a strategy race course running throughout Victoria’s urban jungle. On Sunday, June 12, the city streets will swarm with challengers paired up in teams of two or four, pushed to demonstrate their fitness and problem-solving skills – all in support of the Island Prostate Centre. “The challenge is not just about racing and having fun, it’s about the unique social and community giving experience,” says Jonathan Willcocks, founder of Pinnacle Pursuits Inc., the company who designs and manages the event.“You will do more in your own backyard than you might all year, while having a blast and raising money for a good cause. What more could a person want?” Willcocks explains that the event’s objectives are threefold:To create an annual, self-sufficient fundraiser to support the Island Prostate Centre to build community in the city by bringing together people of all abilities in a celebration of downtown Victoria to highlight key Victoria businesses which support the vibrant downtown community. Participants, he says, support these objectives by racing through between 15 and 20 challenge stations around the city, answering skill-testing questions and completing various team-building exercises and mini-scavenger hunt style quests. “People are tired of the norm that involves racing for the sake of racing or of contributing a corporate cheque to a cause without a clear strategic purpose,” says Willcocks, who emphasizes the challenge’s people-centred focus.“They are searching to be a part of that team-mate and community-based interaction.” Four different levels, ranging from the skill-testing Brain Category to the physically exerting Braun category, ensure a level of inclusivity for all in the challenge.Participants looking...

[caption id="attachment_12595" align="alignnone" width="300"] From left to right: Cdr Clive Butler, Vancouver City Counsellor Melissa De Genova, Constable Blair Da Costa, HLCol Allen De Genova, and Fire Chief Tim Armstrong pose for a photo before departing the ship.[/caption]SLt Sean Catterall, HMCS Vancouver ~Two weeks ago, HMCS Vancouver’s Commanding Officer, Commander Clive Butler and  the ship’s crew hosted the President of the Honour House Society, Honorary LCol Allen De Genova on board the ship. Joining him was Melissa De Genova, her husband Constable Blair Da Costa, Fire Chief Tim Armstrong, and former Royal Canadian Navy Commander, Fraser Work.The group were journeying around the province to bring awareness to the men and women in uniform of their organization, and to promote an upcoming PTSD care program the society is helping to put into place this year. Honour House is known as “a home away from home” for all members of the emergency services, military personnel (serving and retired), and their families when they are injured or ill, and need a place to stay and recover in Vancouver.More information on the Honour House can be found at www.honourhouse.ca. Follow them online on their Facebook site www.facebook.com/honourhouse, as they visit 38 different communities across B.C. as part of the Honour Tour.

[caption id="attachment_12591" align="alignnone" width="225"] Peter Mallett, LookoutPO1 Timothy King of Fleet School welcomes Colour Sergeant Richard Hall, of the Royal Marines Commando Training Unit, Exeter, England, to Naden Athletic Centre on May 9. Squash players from the base battled their rivals from abroad in a one-day, eight match tournament.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A touring squash team made up of players from the British Royal Marines cruised to a 7-1 victory over players from the base.The 10-member team dominated eight challengers from the base in over eight matches on May 9 at the Naden Athletic Centre.Esquimalt was the Royal Marines final destination in a two-week tour of British Columbia, including stops in Vancouver and CFB Comox, where they compiled an overall record of three wins, one draw and one loss in their other four stops, which were 10-match fixtures against civilian and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) opposition.“The tour isn’t really about wins and losses but more to do with getting military people together in an effort to develop and encourage camaraderie between like-minded individuals in the military,” said Royal Marines Captain, Colour Sereant Richard Hall who works at the Marines’ Commando Training unit near Exeter, England.Hall noted that part of his team’s competitive edge has much to do with the omnipresence of “squash culture” in the British military community, and the abundance of courts at most military installations in Britain.PO1 Timothy King, a supervisor with Fleet School, helped coordinate the visit with assistance from Personnel Support Program staff, and pulled together a team of challengers made up of players from the Formation.He congratulated the opposition for their sportsmanship and performing like “a well-oiled machine”, and also for the opportunity to help them promote the game of squash to CAF personnel.“They [Royal Marines] were both humble and elegant competitors to face and...

[caption id="attachment_12588" align="alignnone" width="300"] Operation Unifier sends military members to Ukraine.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Canada currently has over 200 Canadian Armed Forces soldiers stationed in Ukraine, most of them at the International Peacekeeping Security Centre (IPSC) in Starychi, near the city of Lviv, as part of the ongoing Operation Unifier. Operation Unifier is Canada’s contribution to support Ukrainian forces through capacity building, in coordination with other countries. Operation Unifier falls under the framework of the Multinational Joint Commission, which now includes the allies of Canada, Lithuania, the U.K., Ukraine, and the U.S. “This is Canada’s response to requests from the government of Ukraine to provide military training and capacity building to Ukraine forces personnel,” explains Lieutenant-Colonel Tim Arsenault, Commander of the Joint Task Force Ukraine. “By participating in this mission, the CAF is helping to develop and modernize Ukraine’s military.” Canadian troops were initially deployed to Ukraine for the first time late in the summer of 2015, where they started preparing and planning the training on their first two lines of effort, tactical soldier training or small team training and explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) training.Since then, the operation’s first line of effort has successfully trained 246 Ukrainian service people to date. On the second line of effort EOD training, approximately 20 Canadian military personnel, including a few navy divers, have trained 63 Ukrainian military members in counter-improvised explosive device (IED) skills. LCol Arsenault says the Canadian military has also trained 120 Ukrainian troops in the realm of military police training – the operation’s third line of effort – which is comprised of use-of-force training and military police investigators training.Flight safety training, the fourth line of effort, has only recently been activated and is intended to be running shortly. Medical training, the fifth line of effort, has resulted in 300 Ukrainian...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Athletes from the base captured three of the five top honours in the Royal Canadian Navy’s annual sports awards.Men’s basketball standout SLt Connor Duke, HCM West, was announced as the Royal Canadian Navy Male Athlete of the Year Award winner; AB Marjoline Plante, a swimmer from HMCS Ottawa, earned the prize for Female Athlete of the Year, while our women’s soccer team was named as the Royal Canadian Navy’s team of the year.The awards were presented by RAdm Gilles Couturier during a ceremony held at the Maritime Forces Pacific/Joint Task Forces Pacific headquarters on the morning of Friday April 29.Award recipients also become Command Nominees for the Canadian Armed Forces annual Sports Awards Ceremony to be held in the nation’s capital at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre on Oct. 21.SLt Duke of HCM West is a talented 6’3” shooting guard who grew up in Cole Harbour, N.S., and recently represented the base at the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Men’s Basketball Championships at the 6th CISM Military World Games Games held Oct. 2 to 11, 2015, in Mungyeong, South Korea.AB Plante, 36, normally competes in Masters age categories at swimming competitions, but last November competed in the open-age category for Canada at the CISM Games in South Korea in the 50m butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and 100m freestyle relay.The base women’s soccer team were also recognized for their surprise win at the CAF Women’s National Soccer Championships held at Camp Borden.The team’s coach Sgt Caleb Klimas and his team were already named the base’s Breakthrough Team of the Year at a ceremony late last year after their upset 2-1 penalty kicks victory over Quebec on Sept. 15, 2015.   Meanwhile from the East Coast, MCpl R.J. Jackson, HMCS Charlottetown captured coach of the year honours, while Sgt. J.P.J.Y...

[caption id="attachment_12579" align="alignnone" width="200"] Peter Mallett, LookoutBooms deployed in Plumber Bay by DND staff on May 8 helped contain a fuel spill that occurred in the overnight hours when a privately owned barge ran aground.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~DND personnel are being heralded for their quick action and cooperation in helping reduce the impact of last week’s fuel spill in Esquimalt Harbour.On the morning of May 8, Staff from Port Operations and Emergency Services Branch (POESB) responded to the incident, and promptly deployed a boom before approximately 30,000 litres of diesel that spilled into Plumper Bay could disperse more widely into Esquimalt  harbour.“I truly believe that if it weren’t for the fast action of DND personnel this incident could have been exponentially worse,” said Duane Freeman, head of the base’s Formation Environment Section.“This was a successful response effort by everyone involved that helped to reduce the impact of a significant environmental incident.”The spill occurred after a large construction barge owned by Vancouver Pile Driving broke from its moorings during a fierce overnight wind storm.The barge was pushed a short distance by the winds and current and eventually ran aground on a rock strewn beach located near the Esquimalt First Nation.At approximately 9 a.m. the Regional Joint Operations Centre (RJOC) received a call from a concerned citizen via marine radio. Within minutes of receiving the call RJOC dispatched three personnel from POESB in a 24-foot Fast Response Vessel.Chris Florkow, Alex Mihov and Andrew Dierks, three civilian employees who normally work aboard the Firebrand, deployed a large floating boom to contain the spill.“They were fast and didn’t think twice about it when they heard what was going on, and arrived on the scene in 15 minutes,” said Lyle Fairley, from POESB.“They grabbed a length of the boom that was being towed by...

[caption id="attachment_12575" align="alignnone" width="400"] (background) A Keyhole Limpet (Hemocyanin), is attached to a large rock that was pulled from a tidal pool. (top right) Photo by Metchosin Biodiversity Project Biodiveristy project botanists took a photograph of this patch of rush discovered at the training centre which they believe to be a rare species known as Juncus Kelloggii. A sample of the plant is undergoing further analysis by the group before its authenticity can be confirmed. (bottom left) Photos by Peter Mallett, Lookout A Giant California Sea Cucumber (Parastichopus Californicus) is another animal found in shoreline waters.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A team of roving scientists and researchers invaded the Department of National Defence Albert Head property last Monday.It wasn’t a hostile takeover, but part of a “Bioblitz” event organized by the Metchosin Biodiversity Project.The invasion was an effort to document the wide-ranging native and rare species of plant and animal life at the 220-acre Westshore facility.Over a three-hour period on May 9, 15 members of the Metchosin Biodiversity Project fanned out across the sprawling DND property to catalogue all the species they came across.Participants were divided into three teams: spider and insects, fungi and botany, and marine life. Moralea Milne, co-founder of the group, said the site is of particular interest because it has an undisturbed swath of the Gerry oak ecosystem, which is one of the three rarest ecosystems in Canada.It is also home to a number of rare species designated as endangered or threatened under the federal government’s Species At Risk Act (SARA).“Some of the best places to look for rare and endangered species is on DND properties,” added Andy MacKinnon, another founding member of the project.“That’s because military properties in Canada and the United States have a huge range of diversity of species as they have remained military...

[caption id="attachment_12556" align="alignnone" width="250"] Buccaneer Days May 12 - 15[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~In true nautical flare, with a sly nod to the navy, Esquimalt is holding its annual Buccaneers Day, May 12 to 15. Community members of all ages are invited to fish out their pirate-themed clothing and join in on the festivities at Bullen Park.“A buccaneer is a pirate, so the event really has everything to do with Esquimalt being by the water and its maritime history,” says Kim Vis, festival parade coordinator. People can pull up chairs along Dunsmuir Road where the parade starts Saturdsay May 14, heading all the way along Esquimalt Road ending at Admirals Road.Leading the parade will be the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy with Base Commander, Captain (Navy) Steve Waddell in attendance. Later on that night, a 19-and-over Buccaneer Days Dance will be held at the Archie Browning Sports Centre. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Rainbow Kitchen and children’s sports programs in the community. Pirates who come alongside the park during the festivities can groove to live music in the field while enjoying the tasty offerings from 10 home-made food stalls ranging in ethnicity from Greek to German. Artistically-inclined pirates can enjoy the arts and crafts show, while those looking for a slower pace can stop by the seniors barbecue. For families with little pirates, there is a blow-up obstacle course, or they can purchase a midway wristband for $40 if they want to test out any of the 20 rides. For more information, visit: www.esquimaltbuccaneerdays.ca/events/

[caption id="attachment_12551" align="alignnone" width="264"] Capt Mark Hynes is introduced to the crowd before the start of the Canadian Airgun Grand Prix at the Pan Am Shooting Centre in Cookstown, Ont., May 1.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Capt Mark Hynes shot his way to redemption and a gold medal at the Canadian Airgun Grand Prix at the Pan Am Shooting Centre.The competitive marksman who works for Joint Task Force Pacific, J3 Land Operations, finished in first place in the Men’s Air Pistol category at the shooting competition, April 28 to May 1 in Cookstown, Ont. He edged out opponent Colin Smith of the United States by less than half a point to take the title, scoring 192.2 combined points to Smith’s 191.8.The triumph at North America’s largest international air gun competition was especially sweet for Capt Hynes who faced disappointment at the same venue, located 90 km north of Toronto, last July while competing in the 2015 Pan Am Games. “The victory gives me a huge psychological lift, but I need to remember to keep working at this and practicing because there are many others capable of winning at this competition; there will always be someone looking at knocking you off the podium next time out,” he says. He wasn’t at his best at the Pan Am Games and settled for a disappointing 12th- place finish in qualifying for the 50m pistol qualifying, and was 25th in the 10m Air Pistol qualifying competitions, missing out on a chance to qualify for this summer’s 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.“It would have been nice to do the same thing a year ago, but it was nice to go back to the same venue and put together a score that was good enough to win.”For the win, he topped an international field that included shooters from...

 [caption id="attachment_12548" align="alignnone" width="240"] Members of the base’s Joint Patrol 2 show off their gold medals after a first place finish in the military category and 11th overall in the Snow to Surf Adventure Relay Race in the Comox Valley, April 23 and 24. MARPAC’s team posted a total time of 4:14:30 with each of its 11-member team participating in a different event: LCdr Rick Kappel (uphill sprint and downhill skiing), Lt(N) Landon Zeeman (snowshoeing), Capt Benoit Godin (nordic skiing), MS Matt Walsh (running), Cpl Dan Jacklin (running), LCdr David Dallin (mountain biking), Capt Scott Macdonald (kayak), Lt(N) Will Corbett (road cycling), LCdr Kat Logan and Cpl Joe Michel (canoeing).[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~They came, they skied, snowshoed, ran, cycled and paddled and eventually conquered at the annual Snow to Surf Adventure Relay Race in the Comox Valley.The Joint Patrol 2 team, a team representative of athletes from all CFB Esquimalt’s units brought home gold in the Snow to Surf military team competition and also celebrated an 11th overall finish in a field of 127 teams.Also celebrating a strong showing was a team from HMCS Ottawa who showed their resolve by finishing third in the military competition and 20th overall.“I’m certainly quite proud of everyone on the team and the way they stepped up in the competition,” said Joint Patrol 2 team manager LCdr David Dallin, who participated in the mountain biking portion of the competition.“All team members were strong in the individual areas they competed in, and even though we didn’t win the overall title we can’t be disappointed by the results.”LCdr Dallin noted that despite two last-minute roster adjustments on his 10-member team, the group performed “admirably.” Joint Patrol 2 finished the race with a combined time of four hours, 14 minutes and 31 seconds.It was not good enough...