Latest News

[caption id="attachment_8919" align="alignnone" width="300"] MS Kurt Sheppart on board HMCS Toronto experienced becoming a father anew from the Mediterranean.[/caption]Christmas at sea away from family will always be challenging for a long list of reasons; not the least of which is the addition of a new family member from afar.On board HMCS Toronto one particular sailor experienced becoming a father anew from the Mediterranean.MS Kurt Sheppard, a boatswain and member of the deck department, knew he might miss the birth of his second child when the ship deployed in July 2014, but could not have guessed he would have a Christmas Eve baby.“When I heard that she had arrived, my first thought was:  ‘I have to call!’. I can hardly wait to meet Sadie, my daughter. I can’t wait to go home to spend time with my family,” said MS Sheppard.“The most important thing in my life is my family. I love being a dad. It is my first and only priority.”He joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 2000 as a boatswain. Boatswain is referred to as a “hard sea trade,” which means they spend the majority of their time at sea instead of ashore.They are the maintainers of the upper decks, ensuring the upkeep of the ship’s husbandry and seamanship equipment in support of operations.Boatswains are, also, the boat drivers, small caliber weapons custodians, and seamanship experts.There is no civilian equivalent for their job, making it perhaps the saltiest of sea trades.There are 18 boatswains on board Toronto deployed on Operation Reassurance in the Mediterranean Sea.“When I joined, I went boatswain because it was the most interesting to me and I like working with my hands” explains MS Sheppard.“We are the jacks of all trades on board. We get to spend more time outside, physically working than any other trade...

[caption id="attachment_8915" align="alignnone" width="300"] Collecting Organic Waste[/caption]Did you know that CFB Esquimalt produces over 1,400,000 kg of waste each year?At one time half was  sent to the Hartland Landfill as garbage and the other half  recycled or repurposed.Thirty percent of all solid waste generated in the Capital Regional District (CRD) is organic waste.As such, the CRD will be enforcing this new bylaw, banning organic waste from the regular garbage stream.In this way, the CRD hopes to reach their goal of diverting 70% of waste materials from the landfill.In advance of this new bylaw, CFB Esquimalt’s Base Foods locations, such as Nelles Block, Chiefs and Petty Officers’ Mess, Work Point Galley and the Wardroom, diverted  220,000 kg of organic waste in 2014. This year, the program will expand to target the largest producers of food waste on base, including ships alongside, Base Foods locations, and contract kitchens (New Wave Café, FMF Cafeteria, etcetera), which should triple the amount of organic waste recovered.Your organics green bin will look similar to the one pictured, and will be located with the other waste disposal totes at select locations.The next phase of the organics program will study the viability of capturing smaller sources of organic waste, such as used bathroom paper towels, and office kitchen material around the base.In the meantime random organics bins from smaller sources will be located throughout Dockyard for voluntary disposal.For questions regarding green bin locations, please contact Bruce Chambers at 250-363-5454.Examples of acceptable organic waste include:meat & bonesgrainsdairy productseggs & eggshellsvegetables & fruits soiled paper productsFor a more detailed list of what food waste is accepted and what is not, please visit the following link:www.crd.bc.ca/......../acceptable-organicsFor further questions, comments, or concerns please contact Kara Foreman at 250-363-7457. 

[caption id="attachment_8907" align="alignnone" width="300"] Former HMCS Annapolis, stripped of all environmental contaminants, awaits its final fate alongside Long Bay on Gambier Island.[/caption]On Saturday, the last of the Annapolis Class Helicopter Destroyer Escorts (DDH) will be at the bottom of Halkett Bay Marine Provincial Park on Gambier Island, British Columbia, to start its new life as an artificial reef.Former HMCS Annapolis, decommissioned in 1996, will be sunk by the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia (ARSBC) on Jan. 17.ARSBC purchased the ship in 2008 from the Federal Government.However, changing provincial and federal regulations, environmental concerns, and legal challenges drastically slowed the project.“The project is now rapidly moving into its final phase of readiness,” says Howie Robins, President of the ARSBC.“We successfully navigated through all the obstacles and now have all the required federal and provincial permits in place, and the legal challenges dismissed in federal court.”Annapolis spent nearly three decades in service to the Royal Canadian Navy.It was used as a training vessel, and noted for being the first navy vessel to have a towed array sonar system, as well as the first to have a gender-integrated crew.The vessel has been prepared for sinking by ARSBC, which stripped it of all hazardous materials, making it the most comprehensively prepared man-made reef in the world in terms of environmental cleanliness.Following its sinking, Annapolis becomes one of seven marine habitats created by the Reef Society; the seven are five former RCN vessels, a coastal freighter present during D-Day, and the world’s first intact Boeing 737 passenger jet, all sunk in different marine areas of B.C.“The ARSBC’s mandate is to create long-term sustainable marine habitats using ethical means of vessel preparation that help promote eco-dive adventure tourism. It’s good for the small businesses, the economy, the environment, and the province as a whole,” says...

[caption id="attachment_8846" align="alignnone" width="300"] SISIP and CANEX representatives present Capt(N) Steve Waddell, Base Commander of CFB Esquimalt, with a cheque for $177,819.[/caption]Military family members are being supported through the College Transferability Network to make their educational goals a reality.Many military spouses hold off on educational or professional pursuits while in charge of the day-to-day care of the family, and organizing the household while the military member is away on training or operations.The limitations imposed by frequent relocations with the military also take priority. However, pursuing higher learning or professional training has gotten easier, and there are initiatives in place to help make education aspirations more attainable.College Transferability NetworkHistorically, it has been problematic for military family members to transfer educational credits from one institution to the next. Understanding the challenges of regular military postings, the Royal Canadian Air Force and North Island College in British Columbia hosted a summit in 2013 with the aim of expanding educational opportunities for military families.What ensued was the development of the College Transferability Network, a community of public colleges, nine to-date, that have signed a memorandum of understanding to foster a barrier-free learning environment for military families.Military family members are being supported through this network to make their educational goals a reality.Supporting the educational goals of military members and their families is not new. More than 40 years ago, the University of Manitoba began assisting military members and their spouses through their Military Support Office.The University continues this support today by granting university credit for military courses and training, as well as providing military members and their civilian spouses services that include credit assessment and transfer, program advising and planning and other administrative support.Education OptionsThe Military Support Office at the University of Manitoba, and now the College Transferability Network provide options that significantly reduce completion...

[caption id="attachment_8841" align="alignnone" width="199"] MS Amy Bakstad and Lt(N) Andrew Brumwell of Seamanship Division accepted the prize for Seamanship Division’s “Best Griswald Tree”.[/caption]A flurry of decorating and creativity took place in the Wardroom, The Chiefs’ and Petty Officers’ Mess, and the Pacific Fleet Club during the first two weeks of December as members from 25 MARPAC units decorated pre-lit Christmas trees in a show of holiday spirit and healthy competition.Units that participated competed for prizes in three coveted categories: (1) Most Festive Design; (2) Best Griswold Design (for the most outlandish tree); and (3) Best Charlie Brown (for most commercialized or valiant effort).The contest was judged Dec. 16, and the panel included the Base Commander, Capt (N) Waddell; the Base Administration Officer, Cdr Golden; the PMC of the C& POs’ Mess, CPO1 Bodie; the Formation Chief, CPO1 Feltham; the Base Chief, CPO1 Taylor; the Formation Master Seaman, MS Ensom; and the Holiday Event Coordinator, Christine Farrington.It was a difficult decision to choose a winner in each of the three categories. All the trees were decorated with creativity and imagination that it was clear the holiday spirit was alive and well in the Formation.In the end, however, there could only be one winner in each category.The judges awarded the title of Most Festive Tree to HMCS Regina.The title of Best Griswold tree went to Seamanship Division at CFFSE, and the Best Charlie Brown tree went to the staff at CANEX.Honourable mention was given to 1 Dental Unit Detachment for their heartwarming reminder that the holidays do not have to be painful.MasterCard gift certificates were presented to the winning units by the Base Commander on Dec. 18.Judges and organizers for this year’s holiday lighting program would like to convey a sincere thank you to all of the participants in this year’s Formation...

[caption id="attachment_8836" align="alignnone" width="300"] The new bullet catchers are easy to modify and adapt to various weather conditions.[/caption]2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier has officially become the first Canadian Forces Base to use a green small arms firing range, called the Nicosie firing range.The new bullet catchers at 2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier caught the attention of a number of project stakeholders during a recognition ceremony on Sept. 9.The new catchers minimize the environmental impact of military training while ensuring the firing range complies with the Defence Environmental Strategy.The bullet catchers retain metal residue from small arms projectiles to prevent seepage water from reaching the firing range’s groundwater flow.In 2007, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) and the Director of Land Environment began considering ways to create an improved and more cost-effective bullet catcher.After developing and testing various prototypes, the final design was revealed in 2011.To reduce the speed of projectiles, steel boxes filled with sand were built and installed on the existing range butts, and covered in self-healing membranes.When bullets puncture the membrane, the holes close over on their own.Receptacles developed by Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS) collect the effluent made up of seepage water, directing its flow toward a treatment system.Valcartier military members have been training with these catchers for two years to measure the effectiveness of the self healing membrane and the cells’ impermeability.The catchers bore these trials well, and an independent study found they were 54 per cent more economical than the conventional sand butts after 20 years of use.This level of performance offers a long-term solution for managing metal residues from projectiles and should also reduce the environmental impact to almost zero.Military members who have tried the catchers had only good things to say about them.They pointed out that the catchers decrease noise...

[caption id="attachment_8824" align="alignnone" width="300"] RAdm Bill Truelove and Mrs. Brenda Truelove wish the entire MARPAC team a Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.[/caption]As the year draws to a close and we enter the Christmas/New Year season, I hope that you’ll take the opportunity for some well-deserved leave. It is an important time to spend with family and friends, reflect on the past year, and prepare for the year ahead.In looking back over the last year, I am incredibly proud of what our Formation has achieved. Operational excellence, our core mission, was evident in our ships, with embarked UAV and Air dets, and submarines deployed on operations and exercises around the globe. I am particularly proud of the tremendous accomplishments of HMCS Regina during her extended deployment on Op Artemis and Op Reassurance and all the units that deployed on Op Caribbe.  I would also highlight the excellent work done by all the participants in Ex RIMPAC.  At the same time, I note with pride the return of Calgary, Winnipeg & Vancouver to the fleet having completed their modernization while also highlighting the return of Chicoutimi to sea; our second operational submarine on the West Coast.Once again our Joint Rescue Coordination Center provided assistance in almost 3000 requests for assistance; saving lives every day.  Our Joint Task Force Pacific have also been busy conducting a range of operations and exercises across the province. I also applaud the outstanding work done by the Cadet organization; 7000 cadets in 140 Corps/Squadrons – future leaders of Canada all.At the same time, we have seen the Formation grow considerably as we have taken on responsibilities for the Reserve component, Naval Training System, Advanced Naval Boarding Party and Commander, Canadian Submarine Force.  These steps in our ‘One Navy’ evolution are important and we could not...

[caption id="attachment_8821" align="alignnone" width="300"] Robyn Los cuddles an orphan at the Kondanani Orphanage in Malawi, Africa.[/caption]In the city of Blantyre, Malawi, in Africa, Victoria resident Robyn Los found a way to help children in need, and in doing so, created a new life for herself.Los, an Early Childhood Educator at the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre, took a mission trip in 2009 to rural Malawi. While visiting the country’s universities with 20 other students from across Canada, Los visited Kondanani Orphanage in Blantyre.“Seeing the work they were doing at the orphanage, I just saw how many of these children needed love and attention. I felt like there was something I could do to help improve their lives,” she says. “The work they do at Kondanani is incredibly inspiring, and I just couldn’t get it out of my mind. I knew that I had to go back.”She returned in 2010, spending a year volunteering at Kondanani and teaching in the orphanage’s school. It was during this year that Los met her to-be husband David, turning what was initially going to be a three month trip into three years.Moving from Kondanani to a private school in Blantyre, Los got a close look at the education system in a culture that hasn’t traditionally had much use for Western education.“School isn’t a big deal over there. They didn’t have an education system of their own, so schools would use American curriculums,” she says. “So at some schools, Malawian children would be learning about American history and taking tests on it. It was kind of strange, but it gave me an opportunity to improvise and teach them things that would be more useful to them.”After that, Los moved on to teaching at an international school, alongside teachers from all over the world. Teaching with a British...

[caption id="attachment_8817" align="alignnone" width="300"] Silvia Penkova was named Co-op Student of the Year for her efforts during a work term at FMF Industrial Engineering from January to April of 2014.[/caption]Fourth year Mechanical Engineering student Sylvia Penkova is a hard worker and now she has an award to prove it.Penkova was recently named Co-op Student of the Year by the University of Victoria for her work with Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Breton Industrial Engineering from January to April of 2014.“I was very happy to hear I’d been chosen,” says Penkova. “I knew that I worked hard, but it’s always nice to be recognized for the time and effort you put into your tasks.”During her three month co-op, Penkova worked on a number of primary and secondary projects with FMF, including designing a new Submarine Hydraulic Oil Polishing Unit, and collaborating with the team on the Waste Water Treatment Plant and Electroplating Facility.  Penkova says the experience she got working alongside FMF engineers and shop workers was more challenging than the work done in school.“In school when you’re working on projects there is always someone you can talk to, or a manual you can read to fill in a blank,” says Penkova. “When you’re designing something from scratch and you run into a problem there isn’t a manual you can look at. It was up to me to come up with a lot of the fixes for these problems, which was invaluable information and experience.”Tom Percy, Industrial Engineering Manager at FMF, says having Penkova on board not only gave her the experience she needed, but greatly benefitted FMF as well.“With the amount of projects we have on the books, it can be difficult to make time with the resources we have available,” he says. “Having someone like Sylvia around, with her...

[caption id="attachment_8765" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of the Canadian Armed Forces marched on the field for the opening ceremonies of the 102nd Grey Cup held at BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, on Nov. 8.[/caption]The legendary Grey Cup got one heck of a ride as it zipped across the waters beneath the Lions Gate Bridge Nov. 26, in the firm grip of Mark Cohon, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League, while being escorted to Vancouver by the crew of HMCS Vancouver.Vancouver took a trip to the vessel’s namesake city for the 102nd Grey Cup, taking part in a weekend full of fun, festivities, and the most important football game of the year.“The crew says it was the best shore visit they’ve had to Vancouver so far,” says Cdr Jeffrey Climenhaga, Commanding Officer of Vancouver. “I would have to agree. It was a really great time.”On top of delivering the iconic Cup itself, Vancouver took part in a number of other activities, including demonstrations and tours for families, a Grey Cup breakfast, and a reception hosted by Gen Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff.“That was a great opportunity,” says Cdr Climenhaga. “It was the first time personally I’ve had the Chief of the Defence Staff on board, so it was an exciting event for me, as well as the crew.”Cdr Climenhaga says the most important part of events like this is strengthening the relationship between the general public and the Royal Canadian Navy, an opportunity both he and the crew relish.“It’s very important to us to be visible, and let the community get to know us. We’re here for them,” he says.On game day, the crew of Vancouver joined the people of Vancouver and beyond for the game between the Calgary Stampeders and the Hamilton Tiger Cats.“It was a close game, and...

[caption id="attachment_8762" align="alignnone" width="300"] HMCS Vancouver crew members show off their moustaches in the hangar of the ship on Nov. 25 while on their way to Vancouver. Crew members went without shaving for the month to raise awareness and more than $800 for Prostate Cancer.[/caption]For the month of November, sailors of HMCS Vancouver looked a little more bristly than usual when they let their upper lip locks get luxuriously long.About 35 moustachioed Vancouver crew members, led by PO1 Yannick Gagne, managed to generate over $800 for prostate cancer research during this year’s Movember GCWCC fundraiser.“I’ve been taking part in Movember for about three years now, but before I never committed to raising a lot of money,” says PO1 Gagne, a Senior Hull Technician. “I would donate $20 every year, but this year I thought that I could do better, so I gathered a bunch of people that also wanted to do better to.”For the first two weeks of November, Vancouver was at sea with 40 Movember participants, but once they returned home the number shrunk to 35.“People wanted to shave, or their significant others had something to say about it.”PO1 Gagne let what he called his “Tom Selleck” moustache flourish for the entire 30 days of Movember, where it grew into a thick, solid moustache. However, the moment the month was over, so was the ‘stache.“My wife hated it,” he says. “She was happy to see it go.”With over $800 raised and more coming in every day, PO1 Gagne is happy to contribute to a cause he says all men should be aware of.“This [prostrate cancer]affects a lot of people. Not even just the men diagnosed with it, but their friends and families,” he says. “I cross my fingers that it won’t happen to me, but you never know, right?...

[caption id="attachment_8759" align="alignnone" width="300"] HMCS Calgary sails through B.C. coastal waters. The ship had one of the busiest years in recent history.[/caption]It has been an eventful and active year for HMCS Calgary, with the modernized warship spending more than 250 days away from its home port, all in support of Halifax Class Modernization (HCM) trials, and the core roles and missions of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). “For us, it has felt like nine months of deploying, without deploying,” says Cdr John Wilson, Calgary’s Commanding Officer.  “We did have the short Caribbe deployment but, given the year we just had, it just felt like another task for the ship’s company.”Commencing with operations team training in Halifax in the beginning of the year, the ship’s company spent the following nine months on variety of taskings that have provided well-rounded training opportunities for the sailors, while giving them the opportunity to explore a number of foreign ports. Immediately following a full set of workups in the spring, Calgary provided support to the fleet navigating officer’s course by conducting navigation training in the Gulf Islands.  At the same time, the ship hosted the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia, The Honourable Judith Guichon, during her visit to coastal communities.Next, the combat team made their way to Halifax in preparation for their missile readiness inspection trials, the first for HCM ships.  Following a short work period alongside Esquimalt, Calgary sailed on an action-packed two-month deployment that included exercising in a multi-ship and multinational environment during a task group transit, and Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014.  Port visits to San Diego and Pearl Harbor, where the ship hosted a noteworthy Canada Day reception, were included in the activities. It also allowed an opportunity for Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, Commander of the RCN, to visit Calgary’s sailors and field pertinent...

[caption id="attachment_8689" align="alignnone" width="300"] Click on the image above for larger images[/caption]It’s almost that time of year when we put down our tools, come out of our cubicles, and share in a little festive holiday cheer.The 2014 MARPAC Holiday Program is taking shape.This year’s nautically-themed program, “Sailing Through the Holidays” will run from Dec. 7-20 and feature a host of holiday activities for all members of the Defence Team and their families.  The program will begin in earnest on Dec. 7 with the Township of Esquimalt’s Parade of Lights.The parade will muster at the Canteen Road parking lot, and make its way to the Archie Browning Sports Centre for the community celebration.On opening night, CANEX will be transformed into a holiday wonderland with decorations, hot chocolate and snacks, and perhaps even a visit from Santa himself. Families are welcome to watch as the lights are turned on at 5:15 p.m.Naden’s Holiday Route will remain lit from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly until Dec. 20. Visitors can drive the route by entering through either the Sturdee Street entrance or the Naden Main Gate (at Admirals and Woodway Roads). For your shopping convenience, CANEX will be open until 9 p.m. on Dec. 7, 13, 14 and 20. There will be in-store specials and items from their Military Elite Collection, which make great Christmas gifts.On the last night, Dec. 20, drop by CANEX between 5 and 9 p.m. to have your photo taken with Santa by MARPAC Imaging staff.In addition to the Holiday Route, all units are encouraged to take part in the Formation Tree Decorating Contest, which will take place from Dec. 1-16.A great opportunity for morale building and fun, the pre-lit trees will be available for your decorating ideas at the Wardroom, Chiefs’ and Petty Officers’ Mess, and the Pacific Fleet Club. Prizes will be awarded in three categories: Most Festive Design, Best Griswald Design (for the most outlandish tree), and Best Charlie Brown (for most valiant effort).Teams can register...

[caption id="attachment_8686" align="alignnone" width="300"] Left to right: Regina Pats (#4) Kyle Burroughs; Cameron Hope, General Manager of the Victoria Royals; Capt(N) James Clarke, Commander Canadian Submarine Force; Cdr (Ret’d) Lloyd Barnes; and Victoria Royals (#2) Joe Hicketts at centre ice during the puck drop for the 4th Annual CAF/Defence Team Appreciation Night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena on Nov. 22.[/caption]With more than 6,000 fans watching, the Victoria Royals hockey team saluted 100 years of submarine service in Canada during their fourth annual Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation Night on Saturday Nov. 22 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.  Possibly inspired by their specially designed jerseys that bore the submarine crest, the Royals cruised to a 5-0 shutout victory over the Regina Pats, backstopped by call-up goaltender Jayden Sittler’s 33 save performance.The pre-game celebrations were highlighted by a dynamic opening that featured a Tri-Service Colour Party, Naden Band vocalist PO2 Katrina Bligh performing O Canada, and members of the Maritime Tactical Operations Group rappelling down to ice-level to deliver the ceremonial puck from 80 feet up in the rafters.Capt (N) James Clarke, Commander Canadian Submarine Force, and Cdr (Retired) Lloyd Barnes, former Commanding Officer of HMC Submarines Rainbow, Ojibwa and Onondaga, dropped the puck in a stirring centre-ice ceremony.This latest version of Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation Night was a fitting tribute to the Canadian Submarine Force, their families, and their efforts over the last century. The passion, dedication and resilience of past and present submariners were well represented in both the superbly-designed commemorative game jerseys, and in the enthusiasm shown by the throngs of fans in attendance.While the Royals dominated the Pats for 60 minutes on the ice, the multitude of interior and exterior displays along the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre concourse showcased the diversity of talents and opportunities working together as part of the...

[caption id="attachment_8683" align="alignnone" width="300"] HMCS Vancouver slipped all lines and proceeded to sea.[/caption]On Nov. 10, for the first time in two years, HMCS Vancouver slipped all lines and proceeded to sea.With help and guidance from Sea Training Pacific, sailors progressed through a five day intense programme of training serials designed to test Vancouver’s response to a wide variety of emergency situations including damage control, man overboard, and the planning and response to a search and rescue mission. As a result, Vancouver has returned to operational status and Restricted Readiness.The successful completion of Restricted Readiness Inspections represents the culmination of months of hard work and preparation at all levels of the ship’s company, but it is only the first step on the long road to full operational status.Over the coming weeks and months, the officers and crew of HMCS Vancouver will continue to take every opportunity to refresh old skills, master new ones, and come together as a team. Lt(N) Eric Ward,  HMCS Vancouver

[caption id="attachment_8614" align="alignnone" width="300"] "The Homecoming” memorial statue in Victoria’s Inner Harbour[/caption]A generous donation by a local business man has honoured two fallen soldiers and supported military families at the same time.Casey Edge, Executive Director of the Victoria Residential Builders Association, purchased a brick at “The Homecoming” memorial statue in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, dedicating it to the memory Cpl Nathan Cirillo and WO Patrice Vincent.He wanted to pay his respects to the two CAF  members who were tragically killed last month in two separate attacks.“I think the families of these men would be happy to know they are being honoured and remembered all across the country,” says Edge.The brick reads, “Cpl Nathan Cirillo. WO Patrice Vincent. Honour and Remember”, and was placed at the memorial Nov. 6.Edge says he was compelled to make the donation following the tragic events in Quebec on Oct. 20 and in Ottawa on Oct. 22.“It happened over 4,000 kilometres away, but it had a profound effect on everyone,” says Edge.“We had Remembrance Day and then in the same week we have our [municipal] elections. The elections generally have a pretty low turnout, and it seems like a lot of people don’t care to participate in a free election, which is a privilege many other countries don’t have access to. This can stand as a reminder of the freedoms people put their lives on the line for.”The money from the brick dedications goes directly to the Military Family Resource Centre, providing additional funding for programs and aid for military families.Edge says this was another one of the reasons he chose to memorialize Cpl Cirillo and WO Vincent the way he did.“The military aspect is a very important aspect of our community, and maybe we don’t think about that as much as we should,” he says.Shawn O’HaraStaff Writer

Base implements new smoking policyAs part of continual review of Base Standing Orders and in line with the MARPAC Health and Wellness Strategy, the new smoking policy (BSO 2-128) brings MARPAC into compliance with the Non-smokers Health Act. As of Dec. 1, smoking is prohibited on DND property with the exception of designated smoking areas.Why the change?CFB Esquimalt is federal property.As such, it must conform to the federal and provincial laws that govern its use.The Tobacco Act and the Non-Smokers’ Health Act regulate and restrict smoking beyond designated smoking areas.As a result, base policies will be in accordance with federal and provincial law.Do all Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) bases have the same rules and regulations?Canadian tobacco laws empower each province’s ministry of health to regulate legislation concerning smoking, including the boundaries and areas in which it is legal to smoke.Depending on a CAF base’s location, it is possible that the rules and regulations surrounding smoking can be different.If I smoke e-cigarettes do the regulations apply to me?Yes.According to Health Canada, all tobacco accessories are subject to the same laws as tobacco itself.That means that e-cigarettes may only be used within a designated smoking area.Where will I be allowed to smoke?All personnel who are on DND property must smoke only within a designated smoking area.This policy is inclusive to guests and invitees.In accordance with DAOD 5020-1, designated smoking areas will have neither sides, nor seating.Butt receptacles will be provided at each of the designated smoking areas. It is the users’ responsibility to keep the smoking areas clean.What happens on board ship?Smoking on board HMC Ships is regulated by Ships Standing Orders.If I live in barracks, where can I smoke?All members on TD or who live in fully furnished military accommodations or those members who rent mess accommodations for social events, such as gatherings and weddings, must smoke only within designated smoking areas.They are not permitted to smoke within their quarters.Residential Housing Units on DND property are exempt from the policy.   What will happen...

[caption id="attachment_8603" align="alignnone" width="300"] Join the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN)        Dec. 15-17 at the Royal Theatre[/caption]Join the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Dec. 15-17 at the Royal Theatre for some good old-fashioned holiday cheer during their Christmas Concert Series.The concert is an annual tradition for the Naden Band and one the musicians look forward to.This year they have prepared all new music, with several pieces arranged by band members.“We’re going to be debuting a piece called ‘The 12 Navy Days of Christmas’, as well as a few arrangements done by members of the band, so we’re very excited about that,” says Lt(N) Matthew Clark, Commanding Officer of the Naden Band.“We’ve put a lot of work into this year’s concert and we’re excited to share it with the community as members of the Royal Canadian Navy.”Joining the Naden Band once again are vocalists Ken Levigne and Stephanie Greaves, who will be performing both solo and duet pieces alongside the band.This year’s concerts also mark the premiere of a special piece composed for the Naden Band by Canadian composer Robert Buckley.Buckley, a Juno Award winning composer who has created scores for Disney, Cirque du Soleil and countless other productions, saw the Naden Band perform in Vancouver and met with Lt(N) Clark to discuss a possible collaboration.“Over the course of a few meetings we decided that we’d like to work together. We’re extremely excited to debut the piece. It’s just beautiful,” says Lt(N) Clark. “Any opportunity we have to get more quality Canadian music written by talented Canadian musicians out into the world is great.”Tickets to the concert are $10 plus a new, unwrapped toy.The toys go the Salvation Army for distribution this season.“It’s about family, it’s about the holiday season, it’s about giving back; basically all the things that make Christmas something we look forward to,” says Lt(N) Clark.Shawn O’HaraStaff Writer

[caption id="attachment_8536" align="alignnone" width="300"] Capt(N) Steve Waddell addresses the assembly of Chinese Canadian veterans at the William Head staff veterans’ cemetery.[/caption]Last week, Capt(N) Steve Waddell, CFB Esquimalt’s Base Commander, joined members of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society and William Head personnel for a dedication ceremony and  plaque unveiling at the William Head Institution.The plaque was dedicated to First World War Chinese Labour Corps personnel who died and were buried at William Head, which at that time was an immigration entry point.During the First World War, with thousands of casualties suffered by the Allies, 140,000 Chinese were brought to Canada and organized into Chinese Labour Corps to support the war effort.Over 80,000 Chinese Labour Corps members were transported from China to William Head, then dispersed across Canada for training, and then shipped from Halifax to La Harve, France, to join the war effort.“Neatly laid out here before us are 49 gravesites that have a hidden past,” said Capt(N) Waddell to those in attendance.“These all-but-forgotten graves tell a history unknown to many of us, despite being only a half hour from Victoria.”Thirty-five graves belong to Chinese labourers who succumbed to illness or mistreatment before being able to make the arduous journey across Canada by train, then embarking on ships to Europe.The Chinese Labour Corps dug trenches, provided ambulatory services, and fixed equipment.It’s estimated 20,000 Chinese did not survive the war. On the war’s completion, those that lived were returned to China.“They endured terrible conditions - building trenches, repairing roads and railways, working in factories, building warehouses, and performing other manual tasks, all for pennies a day. After the war, they stayed in Europe clearing the battlefields of corpses, removing ammunition, unexploded bombs and grenades,” said Capt(N) Waddell.The William Head Institution, CFB Esquimalt, and the Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society jointly supported this...

[caption id="attachment_8528" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ready, set, go! The Victoria Grizzlies line up to take the plunge into the waters at Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific).[/caption]They might be in shape for the ice, but on Nov. 4 the hockey players from the Victoria Grizzlies discovered a different kind of fitness – fit to fight.   Victoria’s Junior “A” British Columbia Hockey League team spent a day in a navy diver’s wet suit to see, hear, and feel what it’s like to work beneath the cold Pacific waters.       “We didn’t know what to expect,” says #17 Shawn McBride, Captain of the Grizzlies.“We didn’t really know what the Clearance Divers were all about, but we were excited to check it out, and we were all pretty surprised.”With the sun barely awake, the hockey players took part in the Clearance Diver morning swim, along with students in the current year-long Clearance Diver course.The one-and-a-half kilometre circuit tested their water skills and endurance.Seasoned divers showed the novices the sideways swimming technique that takes full advantage of the fins and leg extension.“Some on the team are good swimmers, but overall it was pretty tough,” McBride acknowledged.“I don’t think we realized how long it was going to be until we got out there.It was a new type of swimming too. It gives you a sense of respect for what they do.”After a half hour of water work out, everyone clambered to dry land for a little rope work – a 30 foot climb up a rope line on the training float’s confidence tower, and in water obstacle course.The Clearance Divers easily zipped up and down the course, while only defenseman #3 Zach Dixon and power forward #16 Dane Gibson of the young hockey players were able to make the feat, all to the rousing applause of their teammates.   With...

[caption id="attachment_8479" align="alignnone" width="200"] Being released on Remembrance Day. Written by Local Author Barry Gough[/caption]Local author Barry Gough’s new book on Victoria High School students and staff that fought in the First World War will be released just in time for Remembrance Day.The book launch for From Classroom to Battlefield: Victoria High School and the First World War takes place in the high school’s library Monday, Nov. 10 at 11:15 a.m. following a brief Remembrance Day ceremony in the school’s auditorium.Gough will also be holding signings on Tuesday, Nov.11, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in downtown Victoria’s Munro’s Books, and on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at Bolen Books in the Hillside Shopping Centre.  The book highlights the military experiences of 20 young men and women associated with the school. Several of them served at the front line in some of the war’s bloodiest battles, including the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, and Amiens.Drawing on the school’s extensive archives from the period, along with stories and photos provided by local families, the book offers a poignant examination of the First World War and its legacy for a school, a city, and an entire generation.“It is very important to write this account, as it is a part one of the greatest untold stories in Canadian history,” says Gough.“I am speaking of course about the generation of young Canadians who, in my opinion, were the greatest generation of patriots this country has ever known. They went selflessly to war without question, and the losses suffered by the youth during this period were extreme. By this measure they were also the ‘lost generation’. They left the shores of this nation for one of the most devastating conflicts in world history. In their wake was a national out pouring of grief when they did...

[caption id="attachment_8492" align="alignnone" width="216"] Pattie Ashbaugh,  Veteran of the Women’s Auxiliary Force (WAF),[/caption]For Pattie Ashbaugh, an 88-year-old London-born Victoria resident and veteran of the Women’s Auxiliary Force (WAF), life during the Second World War was spent mostly in secret office 60-feet below the surface.As a “plotter” for the WAF, Ashbaugh tracked aerial bombardments and engagements across the theatre of war from Fighter Command, located underneath Bentley Priory in London, England.“Every morning when we came into work we had to swear on the Bible that we would never reveal information about our work,” recalls Ashbaugh.“There were other offices that plotted much smaller parts of the theatre, but ours was the only one that covered it all. It was a very exciting job for a 17-year-old girl.”Ashbaugh’s job consisted of listening to radio transmissions from spotters across the country, and keeping track of V-1 flying bombs, called “buzz bombs”, and flights of both Allied and Axis aerial units.“We’d get information from anyone, from boy scouts on the roof with binoculars, to old men in their yards with a telescope,” says Ashbaugh.“Then we’d use different coloured figures to mark where they were on the map, which would be entered into the records and used by command, and when the clock turned over we’d wipe it off and start all over again. It was very hectic. Eventually it became automatic, but if you weren’t paying attention everything would happen so quickly you’d miss it.”The Flight Command was the central command for all Allied aerial units during the war, and as such was home to some influential figures.Among commanders from all Allied countries, then Prime Minister Winston Churchill kept an office at Flight Command, though a teenaged Ashbaugh wasn’t impressed.“He wasn’t very interesting to a teenage girl,” she says.“We would always be wearing his Siren Suit (a type of jumpsuit created by Churchill in the 30s, which became standard issue throughout the war), and he’d be up in the balcony where all the offices were....

[caption id="attachment_8469" align="alignnone" width="300"] Dr. Pedro Marquez of Royal Roads University presents RAdm Bill Truelove with historic photograph during a commemorative ceremony .[/caption]In a foyer lined with historic artifacts of Royal Roads University’s days as a military college, a small crowd gathered to mark the death of four young Canadian sailors who died 100 years ago.During the Battle of Coronel on Nov.1, 1914, four Canadian midshipmen Malcolm Cann, John Hatheway, William Palmer and Arthur Silver - all just 19 or 20 years old - were lost on boardHMS Good Hope, becoming Canada’s first casualties of First World War and the Royal Canadian Navy’s first ever losses.The four midshipmen were graduates of the first class of the Royal Naval College of Canada, selected to do their “big ship time” aboard the Royal Navy armoured cruiser Good Hope.Along with HMS Monmouth, Good Hope was lost with all hands during an engagement with German Kaiserliche Marine forces on the evening of Nov. 1. Almost 1,600 sailors and officers, including the four Canadian midshipmen, perished when the two ships slipped under the water that night.Dr. Geoffrey Bird of Royal Roads University acknowledged that “the navy faces a particular challenge when it comes to memorializing its battles:  the challenge of visiting the spot where the battle occurred, or physically marking the site for eternity.”Though the battle took place thousands of miles away off the coast of Coronel, Chile, Dr. Bird reflected that Royal Roads was a fitting place to commemorate the loss “here with these artifacts, on this site that celebrates [Royal Roads’] heritage as a naval and military college, and with the Royal Canadian Navy.”RAdm Bill Truelove, Commander MARPAC, was the guest speaker of the event. An alumnus of Royal Roads Military College himself, he spoke of the significance of the battle and the...

[caption id="attachment_8408" align="alignnone" width="300"] Pat Dunkley and Steve Cullimore take part in an exercise with the Firebrand firefighting vessel during the Great BC Shakeout.[/caption]Two week ago, base firefighters exercised with Firebrand, the Pacific Coast navy’s fireboat, to test its ability to become a portable water-side “hydrant.”When fighting a fire from the water, Firebrand can employ its three water cannons and  fire suppressant foam from its two 250 gallon tanks.But it can also be used to fight land fires by becoming a portable water main.“If we have to fight a fire in an engine room of a warship, then Firebrand can use its master streams to cool the hull from the outside. Lowering the temperature of the steel hull hinders heat transfer from the fire-involved space to adjacent compartments,” explains Steve Mullen, Fire Chief at CFB Esquimalt Fire Department. “If we have to fight a jetty fire, using Firebrand is more effective than hanging firefighters off the side of a ship or jetties. It just makes our job a lot safer in a lot of situations.”The exercise took place Oct. 16 on B jetty with Firebrand berthed alongside. The scenario tested was an emergency where land-based fire mains were damaged or destroyed and Firebrand was brought in to help firefighters combat a blaze.Should an earthquake occur, one of the first pieces of critical infrastructure to be destroyed could be the water distribution system. Firebrand’s 5,000 gallon-per-minute-pump can supply a high volume of pressurized sea water into a system of hoses, gated wyes, and portable hydrants. This provides the fire department with enough water to fight structural fires ashore.“It can mean the difference between having what you need to suppress or extinguish a blaze, and stretching your water supply to dangerous limits,” says Mullen. “There have been some historic fires around the...

[caption id="attachment_8401" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ships from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal Canadian Navy and U.S. Navy sail in formation during a Task Group Exercise off the coast of Southern California.[/caption]Last Friday, warships from Canada, the United States and Japan wrapped up the last day of 12 days training in the final task group exercise (TGEX) of the year.Representing Canada were HMC Ships Calgary, Winnipeg, Brandon, and Yellowknife, supported by two CH-124 Sea King helicopters from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron.The aim of task group exercises is to enhance combat readiness while improving interoperability and tactical excellence. This specific TGEX focused on interoperability between the Royal Canadian Navy, United States Navy, and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, and was hosted by the United States Navy’s 3rd Fleet. LCdr Jacob French, Calgary’s Executive Officer, said multi-navy work is the real strength of the exercise, as it gives sailors a look at how multinational situations might play out.“It always adds a dash of realism to any exercise, knowing that should there be an actual crisis requiring the cooperation of multiple navies, we would be able to operate in a coalition and joint environment,” he says. “The important thing is to adapt to the circumstances and work on ways of becoming more interoperable – something that navies have been doing for some time now.”This multinational interoperability, and the seamanship and communications skills that go along with it, are a vital part of naval experience, says LCdr French, adding the experiences gained during TGEX are skills that will stay with sailors the rest of their careers.“The collective training in the task group setting, and the individual training of each sailor are all important building blocks in maintaining the readiness of our fleet, and of our sailors,” he says. “There really is no substitute for quality sea...

[caption id="attachment_8404" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of HMCS Unicorn take a moment in the K158 Annex boatshed after a busy training exercise.[/caption]If you believe in sun gods, then they certainly smiled down on HMCS Unicorn Oct. 18 as members of the stone frigate took to the South Saskatchewan River for the final official boat exercise.The summer-like weather bolstered the spirits of Port and Starboard watch commanders, who responded to scenarios based on supporting other government departments at the direction of Domestic Operations. This training exercise had watch officers reacting to a HAZMAT spill, patrolling the river, assisting in search and rescue, and providing first aid as required. Watch officers had to make decisions while running the Operations Centre, which included managing the unfolding situation and giving orders to their sailors accordingly.The first task was to move to the boat launch by the Broadway Bridge to stand ready to assist after a briefing at Unicorn. The Operations Centre was stood up with boats and personnel launched, and at the ready to receive further instruction. In the first scenario, sailors located and assisted a casualty; this was accomplished by a small search party on the shoreline, and a water search that involved Unicorn’s hurricane and zodiac.“It is interesting to see how each person approaches problems,” said Lt(N) Nick Tien, Unicorn’s Training Officer. “They have to figure it out.”A Unicorn first happened; when the starboard watch relieved the port watch in the afternoon a second Operations Centre location was used in the exercise to test Unicorn’s readiness and reaction capabilities. The Operations Centre was quickly torn down and boats recovered to move to the new site – a boat launch north of the first site. This scenario had the search parties looking for a missing man.The exercise was well received as a valuable training day.“It...

[caption id="attachment_8366" align="alignnone" width="300"] A pilot climbs aboard his CF-188 Hornet aircraft to take off from CFB Bagotville to take part in Operation Impact on Oct. 23.[/caption]On Oct. 23 at 3 Wing Bagotville and  8 Wing Trenton, approximately 140 personnel from Canadian Forces Bases and Wings across Canada deployed on their mission to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Impact.In light of recent events, I am proud and thankful that our Canadian Armed Forces’ men and women stand courageously for peace and stability. Their resilience demonstrates our values internationally.Canadian Armed Forces contribution to coalition operations against  the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) includes approximately 600 personnel, including members already working with Americans in an advisory and assistance role by providing strategic and tactical advice to Iraqi security forces and aircrew support elements, such as command and control and logistics.Our contribution also includes, six CF-188 Hornet fighter aircraft, one CC-150T Polaris aerial refueller to support coalition air operations and two CP-140M Aurora surveillance aircraft to provide reconnaissance capabilities.We will not be intimidated.More than ever, we remain committed and determined to work with our allies and partners around the world to fight against the terrorist organizations to prevent the spread of terror and tyranny.Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of National Defence

[caption id="attachment_8363" align="alignnone" width="300"] Team Scrambled Eggs and Ham - LCdr Leung, Matt Campolongo and Colin Geddes - at the race finish with race directors Tex Geddes and Michael Templement.[/caption]Considered one of the most difficult ultramarathon on the planet, the Grand to Grand Ultramarathon (G2G) is gruelling says LCdr Francis Leung. It takes determined participants 273 kilometres, from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona to the Grand Staircase in Utah.The naval officer knows this firsthand, having recently completed the race over seven days across a distance similar to that of Victoria to Campbell River, through storms, sand dunes, caves, canyons, and rocky, mountainous terrain.A veteran runner who put the sport aside for work and family, LCdr Leung considered training for the G2G as a way of regaining his edge,“I was a competitive athlete most of my life, but after a series of injuries compounded by demanding work schedules, I got into a fairly sedentary lifestyle,” he says. “I needed something like this to get back into shape.”LCdr Leung, and fellow runners Michael Templeman and Matthew Campolongo formed team Scrambled Legs and Ham. They set out Sept. 23 from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, a legendary natural wonder.With a storm front on their heels, LCdr Leung and his team made good time for the first day, but with just 50 km under their belts, they knew there was still over 220 km of more punishing terrain ahead of them.“At one point on the first day, we could feel this cold front licking at our necks,” he says. “We later found out that the competitors behind us had to run through a flash flood with water up to their shins and chunky hailstones coming down on them. We were very lucky to miss that because it eventually...

[caption id="attachment_8356" align="alignnone" width="300"] Director of the Naval Museum of Halifax, Richard Sanderson, and RAdm John F. Newton, Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic and Maritime Force Atlantic, make a media announcement about the discovery of a historic anchor.[/caption]An anchor of a historic naval ship has been discovered.This anchor, believed to have belonged to HMCS Niobe, has been unearthed at HMC Dockyard in HalifaxNiobe was the first Canadian warship to enter Canada’s territorial waters, on Oct. 21, 1910, a landmark event in the beginnings of the Naval Service of Canada.As fate would have it, the discovery of the roughly 900-kilo (2000-pound) anchor was made just days before the commemoration of Niobe Day, which will from now on, be celebrated annually by the Royal Canadian Navy on the 21st day of October.An excavation crew working at HMC Dockyard recovered an anchor and chain buried beneath a demolition site on the morning of Oct. 14.The anchor was unearthed at former Jetty 4, where Building D-19, a Second World War dockside warehouse and one of the first structures at HMC Dockyard, once stood and is now being demolished. This work is part of the ongoing refurbishment of HMC Dockyard in preparation for the arrival of a new fleet of ships that will be delivered through the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy over the next decade and beyond.The dimensions of the roughly 900-kilo (2000-pound) anchor are, 4 metres (13 feet) from crown to head, 4.1 metres (13.5 feet) across the stock, and 3.35 metres (11 feet) from bill to bill of the flukes. Additionally, each link of the anchor’s chain is 51 centimetres (20 inches) by 28 centimetres (11 inches) and weighs approximately 34 kilos (75 pounds).While still in the process of officially confirming this historic find, Richard Sanderson, Director at the Naval Museum of Halifax,...