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[caption id="attachment_4659" align="alignnone" width="300"] Mothers and children participate in the MFRC’s Roots and Seeds of Empathy. Left to right: Maj Angela James and her son Finnegan, Lt Amanda Kihn and her son Mason, A/SLt Melanie Aqiqi and her daughter Scarlett, and Jennifer Hawke and her son Benjamin pose together outside the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre.[/caption] An internationally-recognized, anti-bullying program developed in Canada is hitting its stride at CFB Esquimalt, and helping young children from military families build important skills.  Roots and Seeds of Empathy sprouted eight years ago at the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC). There are now four groups actively reducing aggression in children while raising social and emotional competence.  The program uses a mother and baby to teach children aged three to five empathy, and to become aware of other people’s emotional needs, as well as their own. The children observe the interaction between mother and baby, and then talk about how the baby might be feeling. Maj Angela James and her baby son Finn participated in the Roots of Empathy program at École John Stubbs School located near the Belmont Park Resident Housing Units.  “It was very meaningful to us,” said Maj James. “It was a real privilege to be a part of these kids’ lives.”She and her son visited the class once a month from October to June with each visit focusing on a new theme. One memorable visit involved a “wish tree” where the children thought into the future and did their own dreaming for her son. The children’s wishes were quite profound: that her son would “grow to be an old man,” “have lots of friends” and “grow big and strong.” When she compared that with her own dreams for her son, she was sincerely touched by what came out of the mouths...

[caption id="attachment_4628" align="alignnone" width="300"] A long line of Air Cadets, 60 in total, made their way into East Sooke Regional Park on Aug. 9 to remove Daphne Laurel and other invasive plants.[/caption] A large group of air cadets - mostly teens between 13 and 15 years of age - were in East Sooke Regional Park on Friday, Aug. 9 to help remove invasive plants. At the same time, another 60 cadets were hard at work in Metchosin doing roadside clean up, as well as dismantling beach campfire sites dangerously close to dry vegetation. The environmental efforts of these 120 cadets - plus another 120 air cadets who were at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse Historic site earlier in July to “wage war on invasive species” – equals 1,260 hours of concentrated effort for the betterment of the communities in Colwood, Metchosin, and Sooke. “It was both fun and important,” said Cadet Cat Wang of 513 Squadron in New Westminster of her efforts in East Sooke Regional Park. “We spent the day protecting the environment with our friends in the beautiful forest.” The 240 cadets were from all throughout B.C. on various courses at Albert Head Air Cadet Summer Training Centre (CSTC) in Metchosin. The cadets’ contribution to the western communities satisfied program requirements for their respective courses’ community service project. “The development of responsible and caring citizens is one of the most important aspects of the cadet program,” said LCol Carrie Johnston, Commanding Officer. “Cadets regularly participate in citizenship activities in Victoria and other cities and towns across Canada throughout the year." -Lt(N) Peggy Kulmala, AHCSTC Public Affairs    

[caption id="attachment_4624" align="alignnone" width="300"] The Maritime Forces Pacific team performs the traditional skit in front of multi-national teams at Camp Heumensoord after their 40 kilometre march on July 17 during the 97th International Four Days Marches Nijmegen, Netherlands.[/caption] Five time veteran of the International Four Day Marches Nijmegen, CPO2 Koblun says this year’s team was one of the best he’s ever seen.The Chief and his 11-person troop recently returned from the 97th Nijmegen March. This four day event saw thousands of people marching through the Dutch countryside.“They meshed together so well, from a personality and a discipline standpoint,” he says. “Even when things got tough and everyone was hurting, they could still march, smile, and sing. They helped each other through all of it.”The CFB Esquimalt team’s dedication and near superhuman effort secured them the top Canadian honour. On top of finishing the race first out of all the Canadian teams, they were also awarded the Woodhouse Trophy. The trophy is awarded to the top Canadian military contingent at the March; an honour the CFB Esquimalt team has won three years out of the last four years they have participated.“It feels really great to have our training program validated,” says CPO2 Koblun. “The blood and sweat we put into this March isn’t going unrecognized. We work hard and being acknowledged for that is a great feeling.”The tough selection and training process is what put them a step ahead of other participants. They were used to marching 40km a day by the time they landed in The Netherlands.“They started calling us ‘cyborgs’ and ‘robots’,” says CPO2 Koblun. “When we’d get to rest points the other teams would have their boots off, feet up, just crashed. We would still have our boots on and be playing frisbee. It was just the way...

[caption id="attachment_4621" align="alignnone" width="300"] Second World War ace “Stocky” Edwards (left) with Comox Valley artist Brian Scott, who is holding his new painting “19 Wing Perspective.”[/caption] Artist Brian Scott was thrilled when veteran Canadian aviator James Francis “Stocky” Edwards agreed to sign his print “19 Wing Perspective”, which depicts 19 Wing Comox, B.C., and the Comox Valley.“There’s a natural connection between Stocky and 19 Wing Comox,” says Scott. “Stocky’s achievements as a [Royal Canadian Air Force] ‘ace’ pilot during the Second World War, and his post-war leadership, are legendary in aviation circles. He retired in the Comox Valley in 1972, is an honorary member of the Comox Air Force Museum and a lifetime member of the 19 Wing Officers’ Mess.”The prints, signed by Edwards, are available to the public and can be purchased from the Comox Military Family Resource Centre and at Scott’s art studio and gallery in Black Creek, B.C.About James Francis “Stocky” EdwardsWing Commander (Ret’d) Edwards was the top Commonwealth “ace”, flying Kittyhawks against Rommel’s Afrika Korps during the North African Campaign of the Second World War. He was often mentioned in Royal Air Force dispatches for his prowess as a crack shot and his flying skills.Victorious throughout the dangerous Desert Campaign, W/C Edwards then flew Spitfire operations in Europe. He was the first flight instructor on the Vampire, Canada’s first post war jet.  He also led the first wing of F-86 Sabres and served for three years in Europe as part of Canada’s premier front line air defence during the early years of the Cold War. Prior to his retirement in 1972 he also flew Lancaster bombers, Canso flying boats, CF-100s and T-33s.Edwards is a highly decorated veteran. He’s been awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross with Bar and the Order of Canada and...

[caption id="attachment_4540" align="alignnone" width="300"] Sgt Frank Dominix (left) and RAdm Bill Truelove (centre), Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, stopped by for a spin and to support to Military Police Officer and Cops for Cancer rider Sgt Mike Oliver (right) during Sgt Oliver’s 12 hour ride at the main dockyard gate to raise money for Cops for Cancer.[/caption] Starting at the entrance to dockyard, Military Police (MP) Officer Sgt Mike Oliver cycled nearly 250 kilometres without ever leaving the gate.He accomplished this feat Aug. 8 on a stationary bike, spinning for 12 hours to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock.As part of this year’s Tour de Rock team, Sgt Oliver was hard-pressed to find ways to raise the $5,000 each rider is expected to raise.“I rode with the Saanich Police for their 24-Hour Bike Relay, so I thought I’d do something similar,” he said. “I’ve got people who will be riding alongside me [sporadically through the day], but I’m doing the whole thing on my own.”From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sgt Oliver’s legs pumped away stopping only for the occasional bathroom break.“There were peaks and valleys,” he said. “At around hour three I started feeling burnt out, but the energy comes and goes.”The physical exhaustion of 12 hours in the saddle is nothing compared to the mental, physical and emotional exhaustion cancer patients and their families go through, he said.“It’s hard to think of what I’m doing as difficult when I know what those families and those patients deal with every day. I was able to bite my tongue, grit my teeth, and push on for them.”Riding that wave of motivation, Sgt Oliver raised more than $3,500 for Cops for Cancer. “We did really well that day,” he says. “People are so hugely generous...

Games, whether classics like Monopoly or cutting edge video games, are always more fun with many players.Lt(N) Michael Greer is hoping to prove that with the upcoming Day of Gaming on Aug. 18.The event will take place at the University of Victoria’s Clearihue Building from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The $5 entry fee gets you unlimited access to a variety of games and eligibility for door prizes. “People can stay for as long as they’d like,” says Lt(N) Greer. “Some of these games can take a few hours, so we want to give people enough time to play as many games as they’d like.”While the event will boast a large supply of role-playing games (RPG), card games, and board games of all kinds, attendees are encouraged to bring along games they would like to share.“The gaming community is about trying new things,” says Lt(N) Greer. “Anything that anyone wants to bring will definitely get people interested.”The idea for the event struck Lt(N) Greer following a four month course in Halifax earlier this year. He was introduced to the Halifax board gaming community and took to the hobby as a fun and social way to pass the time.“It’s a very healthy, connected community,” says Lt(N) Greer. “There are a lot of people, and smaller groups, but they’re all connected. There are some nice big groups that get together weekly.”Lt(N) Greer says the gaming groups in Victoria are disjointed and many groups are unaware of each other.“There’s a group that meets at a local bakery in town and I asked them if they’d ever heard of the UVic group,” he says. “They had no idea! Many gaming groups in Victoria seem unaware of each other.”With an eye toward cross-pollinating as many gaming groups in Victoria as possible, Lt(N) Greer took up...

[caption id="attachment_4534" align="alignnone" width="300"] Camp attendee Lea-Ann Bee explores a tide pool as a camp staff member looks on.[/caption] On an idyllic island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca the staff and volunteers of Camp Hornby are changing lives.“I’ll never forget some of the things I saw and the people I met,” says Military Police Unit Esquimalt Member Cpl Ashley Pye, who recently visited the summer camp for blind, visually impaired, and deaf/blind children, and their families.The camp took place July 25-29 at Hornby Island’s Tribune Bay Outdoor Education Centre.Cpl Pye went as a representative of CFB Esquimalt’s Military Police, who sponsor a large number of the camp’s attendees each year through the MP Blind Fund.“Of the 24 kids there this year we sponsored 13 of them,” says Cpl Pye. “I really wanted to go to the camp and see what we do for these kids. I was thrilled to be sent this year.”While there, Cpl Pye witnessed the strength of the human spirit in the determination the children exhibited.“What some people would see as a serious disability these kids adapt to with strength and perseverance,” she says. One particularly awe-inspiring event involved an activity where the children climbed up a 40-foot pole and jumped off while attached to safety lines. Cpl Pye watched with amazement as a young wheelchair-bound girl, who is visually impaired and suffers from Cerebral Palsy, hauled herself halfway up the metal rungs with one arm.“I couldn’t believe it,” says Cpl Pye. “I could barely bring myself to do it at all, and this girl was doing it with one hand.”It was then that Cpl Pye had a revelation. “These kids don’t see themselves as weak or broken,” she says. “The world has a tendency to classify them as disabled or less fortunate, but these...

[caption id="attachment_4487" align="alignnone" width="300"] Thirteen-year-old Joshua Emery, an Air Cadet with 89 Squadron in Victoria, gives a thumbs up following his familiarization flight in a Cessna 172.[/caption] Joshua Emery, 13, an Air Cadet with 89 Squadron in Victoria, enjoyed a familiarization flight on July 30. Cadet Emery flew in a Cessna 172, piloted by Captain Nathan Pritchard - a Cadet Instructor Cadre officer who celebrates his 20th anniversary since he got his own wings. During the flight, Capt Pritchard personalized the experience for Cadet Emery, pointing out various landmarks and famous buildings including the B.C. Legislature (where the cadets visited the day prior), the Bay Street Armoury (where Emery’s squadron parades during the training year), and even Albert Head Air Cadet Summer Training Centre.All General Training Course (GTC) cadets have an opportunity to go on a 20-minute flight in one of three Cessnas, rented from the Victoria Flying Club and flown out of 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron in Sidney. Last week was Cadet Emery’s second “powered” flight, but his first time sitting in the front seat. When asked how his flight was, Cadet Emery simply said, “Awesome!”Over 140 air cadets from throughout B.C. are presently on the GTC at Albert Head Air Cadet Summer Training Centre. The two-week course is the first introduction many cadets have to life at a Cadet Summer Training Centre, some even the first time away from home.Cadet Emery and his flight mates graduated on Friday, Aug. 2. Capt(N) Bradley Peats, Deputy Commander of Canadian Fleet Pacific, was the Reviewing Officer. Over the summer, Albert Head CSTC will run three GTC courses, with over 400 air cadets.The newest of B.C.’s four Cadet Summer Training Centres, Albert Head Air Cadet Summer Training Centre was established in 1995. Each year, approximately 930 cadets attend the Albert Head Air Cadet...

A digital facelift is on the way for Department of National Defence (DND) computers across Canada. Starting in September, Base Information Services (BIS) will begin to implement the Windows 7 operating system on all DND workstations in the Formation. The upgrade comes as part of a nation-wide mandate from Treasury Board of Canada, which states all government-owned workstations must be upgraded to Windows 7, Internet Explorer 9 and Office 2010 by March 31, 2014.“This isn’t just a CFB Esquimalt specific initiative,” says Rocky Passarell, Windows 7 Project Manager for Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC). “This will be happening to every single government-owned computer across the country.”The mandate comes as a reaction to Microsoft’s withdrawal of support for the Windows XP operation system, which the majority of government workstations run on, including DND.“They won’t be creating anymore patches or tweaking Windows XP to work with more current machines,” says Passarell. “As we move forward with modernizing the hardware we work with, we have to make sure we can run the best software we have available to us.”The rollout itself will be simple. Personnel won’t be required to undergo long hours of finicky technical upgrades. It will be uploaded to the Formation’s 5,000 workstations via BIS networks, one department at a time.“The upgrades will automatically install themselves when each division gets it,” says Passarell. “It will be as simple as coming to work the next day and turning on your computer.”In preparation for the change, DND personnel will have to ensure they’ve recovered and backed up all user files located on their C: drives, as the drives will be wiped. Personal Q: drives, however, will remain untouched.“The files on the C: of all workstations will be cleared. When it’s cleared none of it will be recoverable,” says Passarell. “It’s vital that all personnel...

[caption id="attachment_4481" align="alignnone" width="300"] LS Amy Young is a regular at the Naden Athletic Centre weight room as she prepares her body for competition.[/caption] It’s one thing to face yourself in the mirror and flex your well-developed muscles; it’s a whole other experience to pose on a stage and be judged – in a bikini.Completely exhausting and very intimidating is how LS Amy Young characterized that experience. A few weeks ago, she oiled up her five-foot-two-inch frame, glued on her bikini and flexed every muscle in a series of poses designed to showcase her exceptional physique.    It was her first Women’s Physique competition, held within the B.C. Provincial Championships for the BC Amateur Bodybuilding Association.“You train and train and train, but when you actually get on stage and it’s just you and the judges, everything becomes a lot scarier,” she says of the experience. Fear was not apparent in the judges’ eyes, as LS Young was awarded Women’s Best Poser, and second place in the Women’s Physique A category, netting her a spot in the National Championships Aug. 17.The results were remarkable for only a year’s effort working to sculpt her body. “I was thrilled to place where I did,” she says. “The girls there were in incredible shape. To have hacked it with them, and held my own, was a real honour.”Body building, like many sports, has its dark side. Some competitors go to extremes to enhance muscle definition. “Some of these competitors don’t drink anything for three days before the show to keep their liquid weight down,” says the sailor. “They think it gives them an advantage as far as muscle mass goes, but it can just as easily put them in the hospital. I’m not in it for that.”Bodybuilding caught hold of LS Young last year as...

[caption id="attachment_4440" align="alignnone" width="300"] Maj Aaron Novecosky, Commanding Officer of Acoustic Data Analysis Center (ADAC) (Atlantic), and CPO2 Brad Main retire the ADAC(P) unit kisby ring to the Naval and Military Museum representative Clare Sharpe during the closing parade on June 28.[/caption] After supporting the Pacific fleet and honing the analysis skills of Sonar Operators for 45 years, the Acoustic Data Analysis Centre Pacific (ADAC (P)) closed on June 28. The unit’s responsibilities have been assumed by the consolidated ADAC in Halifax, with local acoustics training transferred to Canadian Forces Fleet School Esquimalt (CFFSE).“The thought process was it didn’t make sense to have two identical branches doing the same work,” says CPO2 Main. “Bringing the two branches together into one allows a greater degree of efficiency in the administration of the organization, as well as a more consolidated degree of leadership.”Formed in 1968 as a detachment of the original ADAC based in Halifax, the unit’s mission was to collect, catalogue, and report on acoustic information from ships, submarines, and aircraft. That information was then used to help Royal Canadian Navy Sonar Operators and Royal Canadian Air Force Acoustic Sensor Operators enhance their knowledge of acoustic signatures through advanced courses and continuation training.“We helped bring the knowledge and skills of a basic Sonar Op to a more advanced level,” says CPO2 Brad Main, Senior Sonar Operator Instructor at Canadian Forces Fleet School Esquimalt (CFFSE), and the final Unit Chief of ADAC (P). “By enhancing what they already knew through an advanced acoustics course, we were able to give them a broader and more detailed knowledge of sonar operation and identification.”ADAC (P) became a formed unit in 1995, with its own heraldic crest and unit motto, Scientia per sonum – “Knowledge through sound.”  A joint RCN/RCAF unit, it had air force officers...

[caption id="attachment_4437" align="alignnone" width="300"] AB Thomas Davis does pushups following a mile long swim in Esquimalt Harbour.[/caption] Standing along the edge of a 10-foot pier, finned feet dangling over the briny water, a group of HMCS Winnipeg sailors prepare to jump.They’re prospective Ship’s Team Divers, and if they’re going to make the cut they’re going to have to get their feet wet.“The Ship’s Team Diver qualification course has something like a 50 per cent fail rate. It’s hugely physically demanding,” says PO2 Clint Mack, Senior Diver in HMCS Winnipeg. “I wanted to give Winnipeg sailors looking to become a diver a chance to prepare for what is a truly gruelling course.”To do this, PO2 Mack takes Winnipeg sailors interested in the Ship’s Team Diver course out to the Fleet Dive Unit up to twice a week for specialized training.Prospective divers, along with current team divers, go through rigorous callisthenics such as running, jumping jacks, or wind sprints. PO2 Mack says intermingling prospective divers with current team members promotes a team cohesiveness not always found.“As Ship’s Team Divers we are trained to save lives and work under water while manipulating extremely heavy gear, so a higher level of physical fitness is required of our divers,” he says. “The training I have instigated promotes team cohesiveness, camaraderie, and fitness between the new divers and the experienced ones.  A physically fit team will do the job faster safely.”Part of the training also involves the traditional one mile swim around the harbour, in which divers swim a predetermined coursed around a series of floating checkpoints, each attempting to get a better time than the last.“This is a swim that Clearance Divers do all the time, and they get very competitive about it,” say PO2 Mack. “I want these guys to have a firm grasp...

[caption id="attachment_4434" align="alignnone" width="300"] Cadet Clayton Leone and Cadet Kyle Baird, both from Ladysmith, work together to remove the daphne laurel at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historical Site. Cadet Leone is on the three-week Basic Drill and Ceremonial Course, graduating July 26, and Cadet Baird is on the six-week Ceremonial Instructor Course, graduating Aug. 16.[/caption] More than 120 air cadets spent the day toiling in the sun, all for the betterment of one of our local treasures – Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Site.As one of the largest groups to volunteer their time and muscles, the cadets helped remove invasive plants that threaten the Garry oak ecosystem, did a bit of gardening and built a sandbag wall on July 19. “It was wonderful to have so many dedicated and well organized cadets help us with the Garry Oak ecosystem work we do here at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site,” said Susan MacIsaac, Species at Risk Communications Officer with Parks Canada. “It would have taken my staff of three a month to do what the cadets accomplished in one day.” After the teens piled off the three buses, they were split into three groups. The first group started removing daphne laurel – a particularly invasive plant that grows as high as a metre, choking and shading out other plants that the Garry oak ecosystem needs to thrive and remain healthy. This activity was certainly more than just weeding – requiring gloves and pruning shears.The second group went to the nursery, and working side by side with their flight-mates, helped thin out camas bulb beds. Cadets carefully sorted through moist earth looking for camas bulbs, an indigenous plant that grows only in Garry oak ecosystems. Once they found the bulbs, they were set...

[caption id="attachment_4377" align="alignnone" width="300"] An RCAF Otter takes off from the flight deck of HMCS Magnificent.[/caption] One of the more delightful things about historical research is the interesting nuggets that I find when combing through old records and files. Often the nuggets that I uncover have nothing to do with the primary focus of my research (much to the chagrin of my boss), but they do often tend to generate a great story.As a case in point, a few years ago I came across an approved unit crest for 115 Air Transport Unit (ATU). Given the Egyptian image within the crest, I was curious to find out more about this particular unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). In truth, I found many stories, but one of the best was that 115 ATU became the first, and to my knowledge, only RCAF unit to operate fixed-winged aircraft off the deck of one of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships.This particular RCAF composite unit was part of the Canadian contribution to the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF). In its first iteration (there would be a second UNEF created in 1974), the UNEF was deployed beginning in November 1956 during the Suez Crisis.In a nutshell, the Suez Crisis revolved around Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalizing the Anglo-French Suez Canal Company and the waterway from which the company got its name. When Israel and Egypt went to war in October of that year, the British and French governments, who had already worked out a deal with the Israelis, invaded Egypt ostensibly to safe-guard the canal. It being the height of the Cold War, there was a significant danger that the Soviets (supporting Egypt) and the West (supporting Israel, Britain and France) might get drawn into the conflict, resulting in a major war. The...

[caption id="attachment_4374" align="alignnone" width="300"] Maj Nickolas Roby, Maj Dany Hétu, Maj Dany Jacob-David, and Kimpoko school children move their new desks in their classrooms.[/caption] As the newly procured school desks were off loaded from the United Nations (UN) cargo vehicles, the children and villagers of Kimpoko began to chant a traditional Congolese song, thanking the Mundèle (the white travellers) for giving them a helping hand. The children danced and assisted us in moving the desks into their classrooms; it quickly became evident that The Boomers Legacy Fund had once again changed the lives of those less fortunate, but this time it was far from the Afghanistan desert.The village of Kimpoko is situated approximately 45 kilometres east of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and houses 100 civil war widows and their children. In 2006, Canadian Armed Forces members here in the DRC recognized the requirement for assistance in the village. Since then, various projects have been initiated and completed including the construction of water wells, and the construction of 40 homes. More recently, CAF members have assisted in the financing of the education of the children of Kimpoko by paying $8,000 in tuition costs per year.During a recent visit, Operation Crocodile Task Force members identified the requirement for classroom desks, as many students were either sitting on the dirt floor, or were crowded three to five children on one bench, which was originally constructed for only two children. It was clear  these conditions were not conducive to a beneficial learning environment.Remembering the work that had been completed under the auspices of The Boomer’s Legacy Fund, a request was submitted for funding in order to assist in the purchase of school desks.About $10,000 was allocated for the acquisition allowing us to purchase 150 desks for the three Kimpoko...

[caption id="attachment_4371" align="alignnone" width="300"] Taken between 2:45 and 3 a.m., these photos show the blaze at its peak.[/caption] It only took three minutes for CFB Esquimalt firefighters to respond to the 2:30 a.m. emergency call last Tuesday; however, when they arrived on scene the Tudor House was already engulfed in flames. “As soon as I pulled out of the station I saw flames three metres above the roof,” says Battalion Chief, Randy Morton.Bright orange flames were consuming both floors of the building and the unique castle-like tower. But the fire hadn’t quite taken the beer and wine store, and Morton knew it wouldn’t be long before the alcohol inside became fuel for the fire.With no one inside the building, Morton and the Incident Commander from Esquimalt Municipal Fire decided their mission would be to contain the fire to the 109-year-old structure and keep surrounding buildings safe.The two fire departments, which have a mutual aid agreement, set up a perimetre of people and equipment, dousing the structure with water from three hydrants to ensure the flames wouldn’t reach the building next door, which housed residents and several businesses.“It was in such close proximity to the building behind it, it would have set that building on fire,” says Morton.Even though firefighters managed to contain the fire by about 4:20 a.m., smoke from the blaze migrated through open windows in the next building setting off fire alarms. Residents were being evacuated.Adding to the inferno was alcohol from the bar and grease from the kitchen fryer. There was also a gas line that had to be closed off. Fortis BC employees arrived at 3:30 a.m. and dug into the ground with a backhoe to manually pinch the line.Eliminating at least one fuel source for the fire went a long way to help crews douse...

[caption id="attachment_4339" align="alignnone" width="300"] Maurice Hundleby, 91, shows the 2013 CFB Esquimalt Nijmegen Marching Team photos from his time in the Netherlands as part of Canada Command Headquarters during the Second World War.[/caption] Two weeks ago, shouldering 30 pound rucksacks in 30 degree heat, the 11-member CFB Esquimalt Nijmegen March team trekked from the field at Work Point to the Lodge at Broadmead in full kit.Waiting for them at the end of their journey was Maurice Hundleby, a 91-year-old veteran. The team, on one of their final training marches before heading to The Netherlands for the rigorous annual four day march, was making a special visit to see Hundleby.Hundleby, who was born in Victoria in 1922, joined the infantry before heading to Europe in 1944 to work as a clerk in the Canadian Command Headquarters in Nijmegen as Allied forces liberated the Netherlands from Nazi occupation.Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940 and relinquished its stronghold in 1945, when it was liberated by Canadian Forces. The region was in rough shape as famine, forced upon the Dutch citizens by the Nazi government, had led to the deaths of about 20,000 people. “I remember walking through the streets and seeing the kids there starving. Everyone was living on bread. We gave them whatever we could,” he recalls sitting on the rooftop terrace at Broadmead Care, a Victoria retirement home for veterans, surrounded by young military members in CADPAT.On Tuesday, July 16, the base marching team, dressed in combat uniform and carrying a 10kg rucksack, will begin their walk through the same territories Hundleby and other Canadian Forces member traversed 68 years ago. “I wanted the team to get a first-hand account of what that time was like, and why we’re doing what we do,” says CPO2 Chris Koblun, team leader for...

[caption id="attachment_4335" align="alignnone" width="300"] The Naden Band five-person corps of drums took to the streets during the Victoria Day Parade.[/caption] In April, there was an unusual sound coming from the museum parade square; a steady drum beat that echoed throughout Naden. Making the rhythmic noise was a five-person corps of drums training under the watchful eye of Naden Band Chief, CPO2 Pierre Cayer. The distinct staccato of the side drums, along with the military precision of the professional musicians, was impressive, and reminisced of times gone by.“Out of respect for our proud navy heritage and to remember the days when military bands had such a huge importance, I was inspired to facilitate a comeback of the corps of drums here at Naden,” said Lt(N) Matthew Clark, Commanding Officer of the Naden Band.With origins dating back as far as the mid 17th century, drummers were used by the Royal Marines to transmit signals on the battlefield by beatings, but eventually were replaced by buglers. In 1902 at the Coronation Review for King Edward VII in England, Lt George Miller put 30 side drummers in the front ranks of massed Royal Marine bands. Since then, side drummers have always been in the front rank of Royal Marines Bands.LCdr (Ret’d) David J Freeman, an avid historian and volunteer at the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum explained the historical development of the corps of drums in the Canadian Armed Forces. “As far as can be determined, Royal Canadian Navy bands copied the Royal Marines front rank tradition for side drummers. A photo of King George VI presenting Colours to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1939 here in Victoria shows some 40 musicians with the side drummers in the front rank.  This practice continued throughout the Second World War. In the late 1940s, the...

[caption id="attachment_4331" align="alignnone" width="300"] A humpback whale’s head. People often can’t tell the difference between Humpback and Grey whales.[/caption] The waters that make up the workplace of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) are home to countless forms of marine life. Throughout the day, any number of these seafaring critters may be observed by ship’s staff, and it’s a sailor’s duty to take notice. Through a voluntary program run by the Vancouver Aquarium, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) receives marine mammal and reptile sightings data from a variety of sources, including lighthouse keepers, tugboat captains, B.C. Ferries, recreational boaters and private researchers. MARPAC vessels and staff are also an integral part of the sightings network, and ships’ staff record and report all sightings and interactions with marine mammals, with location, bearing, species, number of individuals, and whether or not any young are present. “It’s important to the DFO and to organizations like the navy that we know where and when these animals are sighted,” says Danielle Smith, an Environment Officer with Formation Safety and Environment. “Some ocean areas see very little vessel traffic, especially in the winter season, and the data provided by the navy may be the only observations available. Some of the records provided by ships’ staff are of endangered or threatened species; these data points are extremely important to the DFO when making conservation and management decisions.”With the staggering variety of marine life, it can sometimes be difficult to accurately record the type of marine mammal encountered, especially to someone unfamiliar with the many types of marine life in Canada’s waters. “Some of these species vary from one another in very subtle ways,” says Smith. “The difference between a Grey whale and a Humpback, two species people often confuse, can be recognized by the presence or...

[caption id="attachment_4283" align="alignnone" width="300"] After a year in the driver’s seat at Maritime Forces Pacific, RAdm Bill Truelove updates the Formation and reflects on the previous year.[/caption] With one year at the helm of Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC)/Joint Task Force Pacific (JTFP), RAdm Bill Truelove has frequently turned heads with his “on again off again” beard. But the growth and clip of his chin hairs is a testament to how active his year has been - both on ship and on land. “So much has happened this past year and my role has been busy,” he says. “My job as Admiral comes with many challenges and it is the reality that there are not enough hours in a day. I think every Admiral who has sat in this chair wants to do more. I get many requests to be in places and I hate saying no.” From his corner office window that overlooks Esquimalt Harbour, he’s watched many warships pack up and deploy on sea trials, operations and deployments - from the Rim of the Pacific Exercise, to Trident Fury, to HMCS Regina’s deployment, to the Arabian Sea. On some of these exercises and operations he has sailed, and others he has monitored from his second story office in D100. During his watch, HMCS Victoria has seen great success at sea, including “her impressive and strategically important” MK48 Torpedo firing during RIMPAC. Pacific Fleet ships also participated in Ex Trident Fury this spring, and JOINTEX, a large scale joint exercise that included participants from RCAF, Canadian Army, SOF and friends from the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.   “The ships also completed a very successful visit to Vancouver where they had the opportunity to showcase the RCN to the citizens of that important Canadian economic hub and Pacific port city,”...

[caption id="attachment_4280" align="alignnone" width="300"] With the sun smiling down on the trio, Cmdre Bob Auchterlonie (right) assumed command of Canadian Fleet Pacific from Cmdre Scott Bishop (left) July 3. Commander Maritime Forces Pacific/Joint Task Force Pacific, RAdm Bill Truelove (centre), oversaw the signing of the Change of Command certificate.[/caption] Against the backdrop of HMCS Regina, and under the shining summer sun, Cmdre Scott Bishop passed on command of Canadian Fleet Pacific (CANFLTPAC) to Cmdre Bob Auchterlonie.The July 3 ceremony was attended by friends, family, distinguished public officials, past and present military officers, and overseen by RAdm Bill Truelove.Cmdre Bishop spoke about his time as Commander CANFLTPAC, and his appreciation of those he worked with in that time.“In my time at CFB Esquimalt the West Coast has become a home away from home, and I’m going to miss it dearly,” he says. “At the same time, I know the men and women of the Pacific Fleet will be in good hands with Cmdre Auchterlonie.”Cmdre Bishop also addressed RAdm Truelove for his leadership and support.“Sir, it has been a real pleasure to work with you. I’m truly grateful for the friendship, support, and leadership you have shown me and my team,” he said. “I can say that none of the advancements the Pacific Fleet has enjoyed in the last year would have been possible without you. Thank you, sir.”CPO1 David Bliss, Fleet Chief Petty Officer, then presented Cmdre Bishop with his pennant, which was lowered for the last time as his command was relinquished to Cmdre Auchterlonie.RAdm Truelove then took the podium to thank Cmdre Bishop, and wish him luck on his new position.“Your dedication to getting this fleet in fighting shape, and working with the soldiers, sailors, airmen and women of our armed forces has been truly inspirational,” he says. “I...

[caption id="attachment_4277" align="alignnone" width="300"] MCpl Chris Downey and the rest of Team Commonwealth pull pulks during expedition training in Iceland.[/caption] Teams of wounded veterans from the U.K., the U.S. and the Commonwealth (Australia and Canada) are embarking upon on one of the most high profile and toughest expeditions of modern times - walking to the geographic South Pole. Walking with the Wounded - South Pole Allied Challenge is an extreme undertaking for 11 people that will take 16 days and cover 330 kilometres in -35C, all to show the world the extraordinary courage and determination of wounded military members.MCpl Chris Downey and Cpl Alexandre Beaudin D’Anjou will represent Soldier On and the Canadian Armed Forces as a beacon of hope and inspiration for other injured veterans. Both were wounded during their tour in Afghanistan. “I want to prove to other wounded servicemen that you can still do great things as a wounded soldier,” said 31-year-old combat engineer Cpl D’Anjou. “I know a lot of guys who are wounded and on the couch, and I want to tell them live their lives. We only have this time to take advantage of life, and if you have a goal you should go for it.”Following extensive training, teams will fly to Antarctica in November. They aim to reach the South Pole around Dec. 17.“For me it’s about doing this with 11 other wounded soldiers in the hopes that together we will inspire thousands of injured soldiers to start living the life they should despite the limitations they may have,” said 31-year-old air weapons systems technician and EOD operator, MCpl Chris Downey.Each team has four members, and the Canadian soldiers have teamed up with two Aussies. In Cold Lake, Alberta, MCpl Downey has been hauling a sled weighing 70 kilograms about 13 kilometres to...

[caption id="attachment_4234" align="alignnone" width="300"] Outgoing Base Commander, Cmdre Bob Auchterlonie (far left); Reviewing Officer and Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, RAdm Bill Truelove (centre); and Incoming Base Commander Capt(N) Luc Cassivi sign the Change of Command certificates.[/caption] A well attended ceremony under the lofty rafters of the Naden Drill Shed saw Cmdre Bob Auchterlonie pass on the post of Base Commander to Capt(N) Luc Cassivi last Tuesday.Cmdre Auchterlonie received his promotion during the morning’s proceedings, and conducted his first inspection to the thundering tune of famous composer John Williams’ “Imperial March” performed by the Naden Band.Following his sweep of the gathered companies, Cmdre Auchterlonie spoke about his short time as Base Commander to those assembled.“I didn’t know when I was coming in that I’d only be spending a year as Base Commander, but what a year it has been. I couldn’t have done this job were it not for the amazing people I worked with every day, and I know that Luc will be in good hands as Base Commander.”RAdm Bill Truelove then took the stage, taking a moment to thank Cmdre Auchterlonie for his work.“You’ve done a lot of good work in your time commanding the base Bob,” said RAdm Truelove. “You’ve destroyed our roads, dug up our lawns, and wrecked our buildings [referencing the start of infrastructure upgrades]. In all seriousness you had a huge task ahead of you and performed admirably. I look forward to working with you as the Pacific Fleet’s new Commodore.”Following his speech, he joined Capt(N) Cassivi and Cmdre Auchterlonie in signing the change of command certificates. The Commodore’s pennant was lowered and presented to him by Base Chief CPO1 Shawn Taylor, signifying the end of his tenure as Base Commander.In a burst of applause, Capt(N) Cassivi then took to the podium for the first...

[caption id="attachment_4231" align="alignnone" width="300"] Motocross is fun for the whole family.[/caption] Amidst the bouncy castles, marketplace and food vendors at Formation Fun Day, a unique, interactive display will take young and old on a ride.On Saturday, July 6, kids and grown-ups can try motocross.Westshore Motocross will create a safe and easy track on the parade square and hold lessons on how ride 50cc bikes for four to six year olds, and larger rides for adults.“The rush you get from riding a dirt bike is unlike anything else I’ve found,” says Jeff Everden, co-owner of Westshore Motocross. “We wanted to give anyone interested an opportunity to suit up and get on a bike in the safest and most fun way possible.”The activity comes with safety gear, experienced instructors and lots of fun.“Motocross isn’t just for adults, it’s something that people of almost any age can try,” says Everden. “I myself got into it when I was five years old, and I loved every minute of it.”From his Langford-based riding facility, Everden and Westshore Motocross have been providing a place to ride and a way to learn with its Learn to Ride program since 2009.“After I retired from professional motocross I wanted to pass something on to future riders,” says Everden. “I thought Victoria could use a facility where people who didn’t have their own gear could rent it and learn to ride at the same time. The barrier for entry is much lower, since you don’t have to own a bike and all the gear.”For families at Formation Fun Day, Westshore Motocross will also give away prizes including Learn to Ride passes and a Motocross Birthday Party, which includes gear and bike rentals, as well as riding lessons for up to five kids.“The only thing better than learning to ride is...

[caption id="attachment_4228" align="alignnone" width="300"] The charred shell is all that remains of the Goulding family’s home.[/caption] In the early hours of June 20, Wendy Goulding woke to the smell of smoke.She quickly nudged her husband awake, and together they were able to save the lives of their two children and her parents before the entire house in Langford was consumed in flames. “We looked in the backyard and all we could see was red,” says CPO1 Dexter Goulding, Fleet Combat Systems Engineering Chief at CFB Esquimalt. “I ran out back to the garden hose to see if I could keep the fire down at all, but it was completely out of control by then.”Goulding and his wife got son Jefferey, 19, and daughter Taylor, 10, out of the house along with Wendy’s parents May and John, who were living in their downstairs suite. As the house glowed red with flames licking out the windows, all the family could do was watch and wait for help. “The fire department told us the first truck arrived nine minutes after the 911 call was placed, and the second came 10 minutes after,” says CPO1 Goulding. “If that’s true it was the longest nine minutes of my life.”The intensity and speed of the fire meant the Goudings could not retrieve anything from the house. Lost forever are the in-laws’ motor home, boat, computer that held all their electronic photos and important documents, photo albums, furniture, clothing, and even Wendy’s wedding band and engagement ring.“You can’t replace that stuff,” says CPO1 Goulding. “All you can do is accept that it’s gone and move on.”As the loss sinks in and the family begins to map out their future, they’re staying at the Westin Hotel on Bear Mountain. The provincial government covered the cost of the first...

[caption id="attachment_4197" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lt(N) Rob Czekierda receives the Commander’s Commendation from LGen Stuart Beare, the Commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command.[/caption] A former HMCS Vancouver officer was recently commended for actions that may have saved the lives of humanitarian aid workers off the coast of Libya during Operation Unified Protector.In August 2011, Lt(N) Rob Czekierda was serving in Vancouver as Weapons Officer during the conflict in Libya. Vancouver was tasked with protecting the port of Misrata as well as assisting in the enforcement of the no-fly-zone around Libya.  “There were a number of humanitarian aid flights that would come into the Misrata airport near the coast,” explains Lt(N) Czekierda. “We were in close proximity to the coast and in the airport approach corridor, and having aircraft in close quarters to a warship in a warzone can be uncomfortable. We had to make sure all of the planes were identified properly.”Vancouver had identified a humanitarian aid flight coming in when sensors picked up a number of “technicals” (civilian vehicles with jury-rigged mounted weapons) on the beach facing the ocean.“We went to action stations and took our steps, but our radar had created a number of  false tracks that the ops team was cleaning up,” says Lt(N) Czekierda. “With all of the movement and action the humanitarian aid flight had gotten lost in the clutter for a second.”With unknown forces on the beach and a humanitarian flight at a risk of being targeted with weapons systems, Lt(N) Czekierda had to think fast.“I decided that I had to be sure what we were looking at, so I went against procedure and decided not to activate one of our weapon systems,” he says. “I didn’t want to take any chances with a flight full of civilians and humanitarian aid in the air.”Lt(N) Czekierda’s...

[caption id="attachment_4194" align="alignnone" width="300"] HMCS Ottawa left June 10 for Operation Caribbe, Canada’s recurring contribution to a multinational campaign against transnational organized crime in the Americas and the Caribbean.[/caption] The crew of HMCS Ottawa has made a heading for warmer waters as part of their deployment to the eastern Pacific on Operation Caribbe – Canada’s recurring contribution to a multinational campaign against transnational organized crime in the Americas and the Caribbean.The crew pushed off June 10 to participate in the Royal Canadian Navy’s component of Operation Caribbe. Op Caribbe is the Canadian Joint Operations Command mission that supports multinational efforts led by the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF South). JIATF South’s overarching operation, named Op Martillo, brings Canada and other western hemisphere and European nations together in the Caribbean Basin, eastern Pacific and littoral waters of Central America. JIATF South is responsible for the detection and monitoring of suspect air and maritime illicit trafficking activities in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the Eastern Pacific. JIATF South also collects, processes, and disseminates information to assist interagency and partner nation operations.  CPO1 Michael Miller, Coxswain in Ottawa, says preparing the new command team and crew for the deployment has been a successful and exciting time. “We’ve been getting everyone in line for the deployment,” says CPO1 Miller. “Preparations were conducted at a steady pace, and every effort was made to ensure our team had the pre-deployment leave required to set themselves and their families up for success during the mission.”Most of Ottawa’s deployment will be spent under the sizzling South American sun, and the crew has had to take the unfamiliar environment into account.“Working in a tropical climate comes with new challenges, primarily the requirement for more frequent hydration, as well as protection from the sun,” says CPO1 Miller....

[caption id="attachment_4191" align="alignnone" width="300"] PO2 Thomas Templeman instructs students of the Basic Military Officer Qualification course on the construction of roadblocks in the field using a sandbox diorama.[/caption] Huddled around a small, raised sand box at Rocky Point, naval cadets re-created a road block using plastic toy soldiers and cars.Guiding their choices was PO2 Rob Templeman, an instructor with the Basic Military Officer Qualification course (BMOQ), The sandbox diorama was part of the new recruits field training – dubbed Exercise Challenge – that also included establishing observations posts and orienteering in the Metchosin woods. “This is where they get an introduction to in-the-field knowledge they need if they are ever deployed into a theatre of engagement,” says SLt David Lewis, Operations Officer for the BMOQ. “We do our best to provide the most accurate environment possible for the scenarios they’re being trained for.”Once knowledgeable on the diorama, they set about setting up a roadblock on a small forest track using concertina wire, metal barrels, and fencing material.The real test kicked in when truck loads of navy personnel dressed as foreign military attempt to pass through the roadblock. They were met with a vehicle search and pointed questions in order to determine if a threat existed.“Actually having to act on their lessons helps provide a feeling of realism that lets their new skills shine through,” says SLt Lewis. “It’s one thing to sit down and learn it in a classroom, but it’s another to have to really use those skills. It adds that extra edge to the lesson.”Exercise Challenge is only a portion of the BMOQ training. Recruits from 24 reserve units across Canada participate in the 11-week course for the qualifications that will net them a commission as an Acting Sub-lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Navy.“Most of these recruits are...

[caption id="attachment_4174" align="alignnone" width="300"] The King family lace up their runners in preparation for the Navy Run. This family will run together in the 10K portion as a gift to mom for Mother’s Day. Seen here are Kalliana King, Koltin King, PO1 Mike King, and Cathy King holding her Mother’s Day card.[/caption] When military spouse Cathy King saw the June 23 Navy Run on a Facebook post, she thought it would be a great opportunity to involve her whole family in an active day. She suggested her Mother’s Day gift be running the race as a family of four, and the family agreed.“We have been trying to get on a healthier track,” she said. “I thought we could have some fun and lead by example.”Both children are very active at school, but PO1 Mike King says they’ve been preparing on the country roads around Cowichan.“I am hoping it’s the first of many things like this that we can take part in together,” he says.  It will be a busy day for the family. Following the run they’ll head to Cowichan to take part in the Big Bike Ride. -Shelley Lipke, Staff Writer

Not all sport competitions take place on a field, rink, or pitch. Some take place in a closed room, where the panting of players is drowned out only by rally of rackets and the smack of a ball.This little known competitive sport is one of many played by elite Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) athletes. One such player is LS Kyle Weatherby, who recently won the Canadian Armed Forces Squash Nationals in the Under 30 division at CFB Borden, going up against the best CAF players across the country in team and singles events.“It was a great experience,” says LS Weatherby, a radar technician in HMCS Ottawa. “I love the game, so putting my skills to the test against nationally skilled squash players was an excellent opportunity.”LS Weatherby got into the fast-paced game while visiting his father in Halifax during a course in 2008.“He used to play a lot, and when I came to see him he got me playing too. I played a few people on the east coast and when I came back here I just kept playing and playing.”He stuck with the game out of a love for its fast paced, quick thinking nature.“You have to be very fit, physically and mentally,” he says. “The only way to excel is to be at the top of your game in all aspects. It’s a real challenge.”The only way to improve one’s skill at squash is to play the game, he says. His training regimen before nationals had him playing nearly every day, as well as running whenever possible.“Fitness is important because in squash you’re running around so much, you have to be able to push yourself for the whole match. Tactics and skill are important, but if you’re tired and worn out, it’s very difficult to win.”The CAF Squash Nationals, held May 4 to 10, saw five regions (Pacific, Atlantic, Prairie, Ontario, and Quebec) send their best nine players to compete against each other. The two main categories were...