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[caption id="attachment_31917" align="aligncenter" width="595"] This photo has been digitally altered for operational security. Royal Canadian Navy members of HMCS Yellowknife work alongside members of a United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) during a search of a seized panga during Operation Caribbe, March 6 2022. Photo: MARPAC Imaging Services, Canadian Armed Forces photo.[/caption] Kate Bandura, Lookout Editor — What measures should a Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel (MCDV) crew put up to deter a potential attack from pirates? This is the type of simulated operations seven Naval Reservists from Quebec trained in during a specialized course using the Naval Bridge Simulator at HMCS Venture last December. “This course is teaching potential Operations Officers (OpsO) to react fast to an evolving situation,” said Lieutenant (Navy) Titus Villegas, course director and lead instructor. “It refreshes the core skills of an OpsO, which will set the students up for success when they assume the position on ship.” Titled ‘Coastal Operations Planning – Part II’ (COPS II), the course is designed for prospective Operations Officers on the Kingston-class vessels and explores equipment such as sensors and radars used during coastal operations. It caters towards Naval Warfare Officers (NWO) in the Primary Reserves who already have significant time at sea. MCDVs go to the Caribbean Basin for drug interdiction operations. They support the navies in the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa and train them in anti-piracy, and conduct training in countering illegal activities in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea. The platform was originally designed for Naval Reserve Sailors. Lt(N) Villegas said about a decade ago the MCDVs were amalgamated into the Regular Force fleet; combined with the pandemic, the COPS courses lost visibility. Reserve trainees come to Esquimalt because many resources are not organic locally. “We needed simulators such as the one in HMCS...

[caption id="attachment_31913" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Detail of RCNVR pendant and necklace from the collection of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum.[/caption] Clare Sharpe, CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum — There are few more potent symbols of wartime love, separation and affection than so-called ‘sweetheart jewellery’. These keepsakes reminded the wearer of a relative or sweetheart who served in the military. Such tokens of love and like, in the form of personal jewellery and adornments, were made to be given as gifts to family members and romantic partners. The givers were often men serving in the military who wanted to offer a small but significant present to a woman they loved or admired. The hope was that the gift would remind the recipient of them and their role in the armed forces. Women such as those serving in the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS) also purchased and gifted sweetheart jewellery to those they cherished and admired. The giving and wearing of sweetheart jewellery symbolized respect for service and personal affection. Sweetheart jewellery took the form of pins, brooches, necklaces and pendants, rings, bracelets, watches and sometimes earrings. Designs incorporated the badges and symbols of many military branches and reflected the donor’s allegiances. Patriotic symbols such as the iconic Canadian maple leaf were also depicted. Jewellery of this kind was widely advertised during the Second World War; it represented a form of morale building. Another purpose was to bridge the emotional gap between loved ones separated by war. Because these items were small, easy to buy and cheap to mail, they became trendy. The jewellery was often mass-produced and could be ordered from catalogues or bought in stores. Other items were hand-made by specialty jewellers and artisans, or created by the person giving them. Even metal military badges were sometimes incorporated into...

[caption id="attachment_31906" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Commodore David Mazur, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific and Reviewing Officer, Commander (Cdr) Meghan Coates, incoming Commanding officer His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Vancouver, and Cdr Kevin Whiteside, outgoing Commanding Officer, participate in the ceremonial signing at the Change of Command Ceremony Feb. 3. Photo: Sailor First Class Kendric C.W. Grasby.[/caption] HMCS Vancouver looks ahead to a summer deployment with a new leader. Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Commander (Cdr) Meghan Coates assumed command of her second Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) warship in less than a year. “My most important lesson so far is that I can learn so much from the ship’s team every day, and if I show up for them when they need me, they show up for me when I need them,” Cdr Coates said. Cdr Coates bid a fond farewell to HMCS Regina on Feb. 2, relinquishing her command to Cdr Tyson Bergmann. The following day, she hoisted her pennant on HMCS Vancouver as Cdr Kevin Whiteside turned over command of the ship. He is now  preparing for his next posting in Esquimalt. Cdr Coates said her first experience as the CO of an RCN frigate was an exciting learning experience. “It takes a lot of work and sacrifice to become a CO or any appointed position; everyone looks to you and is counting on you,” she said. In his farewell message, Cdr Whiteside thanked the ship’s company and the entire Defence community for their support. “Vancouver is getting a fantastic Commanding Officer in my good friend Cdr Meghan Coates who comes with a wealth of experience,” Cdr Whiteside said. “I could not think of a better person and leader to take the ship through the next phases of its operational journey.” Cdr Whiteside has no doubt Vancouver will succeed in their 2023 program. The Change of Command for HMCS Regina is a new beginning for Cdr Bergmann: he now gets his first chance to command a major Canadian warship. He agreed...

[caption id="attachment_31851" align="aligncenter" width="595"] A view of Canadian Pacific Railway Steamship Terminal on Belleville Street in Victoria. The building currently houses the Bateman Gallery but will soon become the new home of the Maritime Museum of B.C.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The Maritime Museum of British Columbia and the Bateman Gallery await approval for their planned house swap. The museum, currently in a retail space on Douglas Street, is looking to double its floor space by moving to the Canadian Pacific Railway Steamship Terminal (CPRST) on Belleville Street. Jamie Webb, Maritime Museum President and the Senior Protocol Officer at Maritime Forces Pacific, said the CPRST is an ideal spot for his organization to boost its profile as a more prominent tourist destination. “As a maritime centre, we need to be on the ocean and we had our eyes on the steamship building for more than a decade,” Webb said. While the museum looks for a new home, most of its collection is stored at its archive building in Saanich. Webb said a home at the CPRST would finally give the museum a chance to show more of its artifacts. The archive contains approximately 35,000 objects, including model ships; military and naval uniforms; navigation instruments; and one of North America’s largest nautical libraries. The museum also boasts three historic sailboats, which it plans to dock on the water next to its new home. The Tilikum was converted from a whaling canoe to a three-mast schooner in 1901; the Dorothy, a 30-foot yacht built in 1897, is the oldest sailboat on Canada’s West Coast; and the Trekka, which launched into Victoria Harbour in 1954 and five years later became the smallest vessel to circumnavigate the globe. The museum, which began in 1955, previously occupied the Lookout Newspaper’s current home on Signal Hill until...

[caption id="attachment_31848" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Dr. Clement Ligoure[/caption] Rene Gannon and Ashley Evans — Over 100 years since the Halifax Explosion, we are still learning about the people who made an indelible difference to those affected by the tragedy. One of those people is Dr. Clement Ligoure, a Queen’s University School of Medicine graduate and Halifax’s first Black doctor. After the explosion, he treated hundreds of patients, some with devastating injuries, and all for free. Dr. Ligoure was born in Trinidad and emigrated to Canada by way of New York to study medicine at Queen’s University. He graduated in 1916, just two years before the school enacted a ban on Black students that would endure until the mid-1960s. He then moved to Halifax, hoping to join the war effort, but was refused entry into the Canadian Armed Forces. He decided to stay in Halifax but needed help to obtain hospital privileges, so he set up a private clinic, the Amanda Hospital, in his home on North Street, not far from where the Angus L. MacDonald Bridge is today. Reports filed in the Halifax Disaster Record Office recount that immediately after the explosion, Dr. Ligoure’s hospital filled with patients, some of whom had been turned away from the city hospital despite being severely injured. Under threat of a second explosion, he worked steadily, assisted only by his housekeeper and a Pullman porter who boarded with him. That night, seven people slept on his floor. As the disaster response continued, Dr. Ligoure worked around the clock for days to help people in his community, sometimes getting only one or two hours of sleep each night. Eventually, after he appealed for a dressing station to be set up in the area, two nurses and some military personnel were dispatched to help him; their work continued until Dec....

Scuttlebutt is a commonly used term with a naval origin. As far back as the 17th century, a scuttled butt was the term for a barrel that had been breached to provide a source of fresh water for the crew. Much like a modern water cooler, rumours and gossip were often shared, and these tidbits of information were referred to as scuttlebutt. [...]

[caption id="attachment_31841" align="alignnone" width="595"] HMCS Thiepval[/caption] Clare Sharpe, CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum — HMCS Thiepval, a steadfast trawler that once travelled 10,000 miles in search of old-fashioned adventure as a support vessel for an epic round-the-world flight attempt, is now a shipwreck of national historical significance and a trendy site for recreational divers. Thiepval was launched in Montreal, Que., in 1917 and named for the First World War battle of Thiepval Ridge, in which many Canadian troops fought and died. It was designed initially as a fishery patrol vessel for the Dominion Government of Canada but was later modified as a minesweeper before its first commission in the RCN. During its short wartime career, the ship guarded convoys and hunted for U-boats off Newfoundland in response to the increasing threat to merchant ships in the Atlantic from German submarine activity. In peacetime, Thiepval was transferred to Esquimalt, and served as part of RCN life-saving winter patrols along the treacherous west coast of Vancouver Island, the so-called ‘graveyard of the Pacific’. Thiepval was damaged by rocks, once near Prince Rupert and later in Gunboat Passage near Bella Bella. On another occasion, it rescued its sister trawler, HMCS Armentieres, that was stuck on a rock in Barkley Sound. Thiepval also took part in northern patrols off Prince Rupert and worked as a fishery inspection vessel, sometimes stopping and seizing American fishing boats that had ventured too far into Canadian waters. Another duty was to intercept American rum runners engaged in smuggling alcohol to U.S. markets. In 1921, Thiepval used one of its shipboard guns to fire a warning shot across the bow of the Sylph, a fast U.S. boat that took off after being caught loading liquor from a Canadian supplier while just south of the border with Alaska. Thiepval’s most incredible...

Stephen Vallis, MARLANT Security Officer — Social Media is widely popular with Canadians and people worldwide, including Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and employees. It is a powerful communications tool but is not without risk. Within generally well-understood limits, DND/CAF members and employees are entitled to use [...]

[caption id="attachment_31828" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Ordinary Cadet Brody Williams and Cadet Chief Petty Officer Second Class Shelby Pauls try their hands at the controls of a bridge simulator at HMCS Venture. Photos: Peter Mallett/Lookout[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The Alpha Bridge simulator at Naval Personnel and Training Group’s (NPTG) HMCS Venture enticed many ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from young cadets this past week. Cadet Chief Petty Officer Second Class (C/CPO2) Shelby Pauls from Powell River called her hands-on training with one of Venture’s six Bridge simulators ‘terrific’. “Learning how to navigate a ship from a bridge simulator was super cool,” she said. “It was all about learning from mistakes, training to be better and working as a team to overcome obstacles,” she said. Pauls is the Coxswain of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (RCSCC) 64 Malaspina. She is one of twenty-six cadets from RCSCC Malaspina and RCSCC 54 Admiral de Wolf who descended on CFB Esquimalt Jan. 31-Feb. 1 to get an up-close look at life in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). The cadets, ages 12 to 18, and five adult staff members from 64 Malaspina were housed at Work Point barracks for their stay. On Day One, the group visited the Damage Control Division and Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) in Colwood and toured HMCS Ottawa and the Orca-Class training vessel Moose of the Patrol Craft Training Unit. The program concluded with Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) rides at Naval Fleet School’s Seamanship Division in Naden. Danny O’Regan, Navigation Bridge Simulator Manager, introduced the school’s Alpha Bridge on the second day. He said this was an excellent opportunity to showcase the RCN to an audience that has already demonstrated an interest in the maritime environment. Pauls said the Bridge simulators at Venture piqued her interest in the RCN. She also said the tour was a valuable experience for her and the rest of the cadets. C/CPO2 Aidan Parkin is also considering a career in the RCN after the Base visit. “I...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The same factors that dented the efforts of all charitable fundraising across the country did not stop HMCS Vancouver from going above and beyond for the Base’s charitable initiative. The 240-strong crew raised almost $8,000 for the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign while deployed on Operations Projection and Neon. [...]

[caption id="attachment_31798" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Commissionaire Bob Cosman[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Bob Cosman is a familiar friendly face at the Y-Jetty security booth who checks IDs and gives motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians access to Dockyard. But upon closer inspection of his credentials, there is much more to Commissionaire Cosman than meets the eye. He works for the Commissionaires, a national security provider and the largest employer of Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP veterans, with 22,000 employers coast-to-coast. Cosman’s time in Canada’s military was limited. A successful student and member of the local militia in his hometown of Sussex, N.B., Cosman enrolled in Royal Military College (RMC) Saint-Jean in 1963 after winning a scholarship. He was a member of the RMC track-and-field team until a severe knee injury resulted in five weeks in the hospital and cut his military career short. He continued his university studies at the University of Ottawa before launching a 25-year career as a parliamentary legal specialist. His work spanned over a decade at the Saskatchewan Legislature and five years at Parliament Hill. A personal crisis followed his exit from Parliament Hill in the late 1990s, when Cosman found himself unemployed, experiencing homelessness and living out of his van on the streets of downtown Toronto. 1. What contributed to you being able to overcome your experience of homelessness? If it wasn’t for my parents sending me enough money each month to keep my vehicle licensed and my son, who travelled to Toronto to save me, I could still be experiencing homelessness. I relied on eating scraps from food court trays at Union Station for several months to survive. With the help of my family, things began to change. I eventually attended a job fair downtown, and my recovery began. Working for Commissionaires has given me a new lease...

[caption id="attachment_31793" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Image: Marian S. Carson collection at the Library of Congress[/caption] To be over a barrel means to be in a tricky situation or at a disadvantage compared to another person. The phrase is commonly used today and has two derivations related to the maritime environment. The first alludes to an old practice of reviving a drowning victim by placing the casualty over a barrel and rolling it back and forth to empty the lungs of water. While the act describes the term, it does not explain being at a disadvantage as much as the second explanation. That one describes a sailor draped over a cannon barrel and ready to receive punishment, also known as kissing (or marrying) the gunner’s daughter. It was not a happy event as the gunner’s daughter was a gun barrel, and the marriage ceremony was a flogging. In today’s navy, a sailor might also be referred to as kissing the gunner’s daughter when he prepares to undergo a service tribunal. When the accused was said to have a date with the Captain’s daughter, it meant the sailor would receive corporal punishment such as flogging, usually with a cat o’ nine tails – a short, nine-tailed whip kept by the bosun’s mate. Loose folklore states the ‘cat’ was held in a baize bag, which is a possible origin for the phrase ‘let the cat out of the bag’, although this has been widely refuted. The phrase ‘not enough room to swing a cat’ may also have been derived from flogging as it describes the desire to punish transgressors on the upper deck since there was not enough room to swing a cat below the decks. Today, flogging is a generic term for a variety of military punishments, as (thankfully) corporal punishment is now...

[caption id="attachment_31786" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Grade 11 student Naomi Morrell and her family recently launched a fundraiser to pay for Naomi’s expenses for her participation in the 2023 Junior Roller Derby World Cup.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Lacing up her roller skates and putting on a Team Canada jersey is a huge deal to Naomi Morrell. The 16-year-old is preparing to represent Canada at the 2023 Roller Derby Junior World Cup in France this July. “The idea of representing Canada hasn’t quite set in yet, it feels too big to hold in my head,” Naomi said. “I try to think of it like my dad’s role in the military; when he’s in uniform he’s part of something bigger, and he holds a feeling of belonging to something with greater purpose.” Naomi found out in December 2022 she had been named to Team Canada’s 35-player roster. Her parents are glad to see she will soon take to the world stage in the sport she loves. “We’re incredibly excited and proud of Naomi for her achievements and can’t wait to cheer her on at the World Cup,” said Cindy MacDougal, Naomi’s mother. Her father, Master Sailor (MS) Clayton Morrell, works as an Electrician for Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific). He said Naomi is a natural at the sport and is glad she is shooting for something big. [caption id="attachment_31787" align="aligncenter" width="250"] Naomi Morrell, Roller Girl[/caption] “She’s worked hard to get where she is and is working even harder to prepare for the World Cup,” MS Morrell said. Naomi began playing ‘derby’ five years ago after reading a graphic novel Roller Girl featuring the sport. Her on-the-rink nickname ‘Scream Soda’ also derives from the book. She explains the sport’s rules so frequently that she has a script for it. “Most assume I play banked track derby which is very different in its rules and far more dangerous,” she said. Roller Derby has existed as a sport since the 1930s. The version Naomi plays is not to...

Kateryna Bandura, Lookout Editor — Master Sailor (MS) Kate Gouthro loves listening to podcasts, but remembers saying she could never start a podcast because she is an introvert. Now, as a host of a women-centric podcast, she loves what she does. “I hope younger women who are struggling to find a career path might listen to these episodes and consider the Canadian Armed Forces or their country’s military as a career choice,” she says. “Maybe they will also get some training or mindset tips for certain difficult military courses.” Shoot Like A Girl is a podcast featuring interviews with military women from around the world who push their limits on and off duty. MS Gouthro says she wanted the name to feel strong and catchy. It derives from an anecdote about a little girl playing a sport. “The girl was playing baseball, or maybe basketball, and someone said ‘you hit like a girl’, and she said ‘if you practice hard enough, you can too’,” MS Gouthro says. “I wanted to remove the negativity of ‘like a girl’ because the women on my podcast do some very amazing things that many men can’t do.” The women MS Gouthro interviews work in military trades all over the world. She has interviewed Canadian women, American women, and even a woman from the Irish Naval Service. She hopes to speak with women who push themselves outside of work in other endeavours too, such as athletics or adventuring, and dive into the mindset and physical training required. “I think some women don’t get the credit they deserve sometimes, so I hope to bring awareness to their achievements,” she says. MS Gouthro was born and raised in Halifax, N.S. She joined the Navy in 2008 as a Port Inspection Diver and has worked at the Naval Tactical Operations...

LCdr Paul Pendergast, Naval Reserve, Public Affairs — The Naval Reserve will celebrate a big milestone in 2023, marking 100 years of service to Canada. There will be commemorative events and activities throughout the year, most of them conducted locally by Canada’s 24 Naval Reserve Divisions, located in most major cities nation-wide. Some events will also be national in scope. “It has been an honour to work on this project to commemorate the contributions of our sailors to Canada over the last 100 years,” said Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) Patty Bouthat, the centennial’s Project Coordinator. “From helping to win the Battle of the Atlantic in the Second World War to coming to the aid of Canadians during natural disasters, to deploying with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) across the full spectrum of its operations, naval reservists continue to have a lasting impact on our nation.” Twelve Reserve divisions will celebrate their own centennials this year with local celebrations. Canadians across the country will be able to watch some of the biggest events take place on Sept. 23, when 4,000 sailors will be on parade in 24 cities across the nation. The Naval Reserve 50th Anniversary Monument in Ottawa will be restored and rededicated, and Navy Bike Ride and Nova Scotia International Tattoo will both have a Naval Reserve Centennial theme. Ottawa’s Canadian Tulip Festival will highlight the sacrifice of naval reservists, known as citizen-sailors, from the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) who served in the Second World War. The beginnings of a Naval Reserve force in Canada were due largely to the efforts of one man, Rear-Admiral (RAdm) Walter Hose, a Royal Navy officer who transferred to the RCN. He had served with Royal Navy reservists from Newfoundland during the First World War and was impressed with their seamanship...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Members of the Esquimalt Tritons broke into song moments after clinching a berth in next month’s Men’s Hockey National Championship tournament. After accepting their winner’s medals, the players retreated to their locker room belting out their best rendition of Juno Award winner Carly Rae Jepsen’s hit song Call Me Maybe, said Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Curtis Gillies, Triton’s Assistant Captain and Team Manager. “The team was really excited to win and meet all our goals so overall there was a true sense of accomplishment,” PO1 Gillies said. “The locker room was electric and we had an excellent championship sing-along to cap things off.” The Tritons overcame a slow start in the Canada West Regionals competition on Jan. 15-20 at CFB Edmonton. The blue and gold overcame two losses in the round-robin phase with the sweet reward of a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory over the host team on Jan. 20. A/SLt Darcy McHugh scored the winning goal. He converted his wrist shot from the left face-off circle midway through the first sudden-death overtime period to give Esquimalt the tournament title. The Tritons also defeated CFB Winnipeg in their opening game before falling to Edmonton and Comox in the round-robin. They defeated Comox 8-3 in the tournament semi-final on Jan. 19. Master Corporal (MCpl) Colin Maclean was voted Most Valuable Player of the Championship game for Esquimalt and A/SLt McHugh for the entire tournament. Other standouts for Esquimalt included Sub-Lieutenant (SLt) Seamus Maguire and Sailor First Class (S1) Derek Cheetham. PO1 Gillies, who plays left wing for Esquimalt, said getting the most out of each player on their 20-person roster was crucial to the victory. “The key to our success in this tournament was from our depth as we could play every member on every line and through...

DND, Canadian Armed Forces — The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have confirmed that remains recovered in Vendin-le-Vieil, France, are those of Corporal Percy Howarth, a Canadian soldier of the First World War. The identity was confirmed through historical, genealogical, anthropological, archaeological and DNA analysis. [...]

From the Archives: Stories from the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum Clare Sharpe, CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum — One of the most prized possession in the belongings of ships’ ratings in years gone was the ditty box. A ‘ditty box’ (or bag) was a small, usually lockable receptacle every sailor made to store and protect treasures such as letters, photos, and mementoes of loved ones. In addition to holding personal memorabilia, keepsakes and souvenirs, it had practical articles such as sewing supplies and soap. These could also house specialized work tools of the sailor’s trade, such as a bosun’s call (whistle) or a fitting or accessory needed to complete routine shipboard tasks. The need for such an item likely arose due to the lack of personal space aboard ships, where living was essentially communal, and privacy was at a premium. A few theories float around about the name. Ditty bags and boxes date as far back as the 1600s, if not earlier, and were made of cotton known as ‘dittis’, thus the name ‘ditty box’. Another theory is from the word ‘ditto’ or ‘the same thing’ as a ditty box held two of everything – two sewing needles, two spools of thread, and so forth. Yet another possibility is that ‘ditto’ was short for either ‘commodity’ or ‘oddity’. Still, another suggestion is that ‘ditty’ has its roots in the ancient term ‘dight’, meaning to clean, repair or make good. Some containers were round, and others were square; some were plain, while some were decorated. Favourite motifs were diamond shapes, stars, names and initials. Some ditty boxes were embellished with coins, medals, anchors and other paraphernalia carved or burned into the wood, especially on the lid. Wood was the most common material, while whalers sometimes used baleen from the jaws...

[caption id="attachment_31749" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Members of Broadmead’s Veterans Memorial Lodge’s Veterans Association include: (left) Paul Newcombe, Vice President; Lloyd Liesch, President; and Bruce McShannon, Social Justice Executive, say its encouraging to see the progress of their organization in giving a voice to residents at the long-term care home. Photo: Peter Mallett, Lookout staff[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — An advisory group at Broadmead’s Veterans Memorial Lodge has given former military members a more prominent decision-making voice while encouraging camaraderie. Resident’s councils are not uncommon at long-term care homes across the province, but one made up exclusively of veterans is unique, said Janet Power, Executive Director of Veterans Lodge. “It gives them a voice and they use this group to express themselves and share their experiences with other veterans,” Power said. “They also help other residents and help improve their lives.” The Veterans Association is a resident’s council representing 115 veterans at Broadmead Care’s 225-person long-term care home in Saanich. The Association was formed in May 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Association was helping its members end isolation. Now, it has also become a valuable resource for healthcare staff for a more comprehensive sense of issues concerning residents. Power said the group has contributed to significant improvements at the Lodge. Some of their accomplishments include organizing Remembrance Day ceremonies during the pandemic, creating a Celebration of Life book that holds the legacy of past Lodge residents, and designing a Veterans Recognition Wall made up of military memorabilia, which will be prominently displayed. Over the holidays, Association members formed a carolling group and serenaded residents who were isolated in their rooms. The Veterans Association is run by a seven-member Executive headed by Lloyd Liesch, Association President and a former Royal Canadian Air Force member. Liesch, 98, served Canada during the Second World...

[caption id="attachment_31742" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Rhapsody in Blues painting (above) is a view overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca from her apartment in downtown Victoria. Photo: Susan Kruzel and Peter Mallett Lookout Staff.[/caption] Peter Mallet, Staff Writer — After recently launching her Pacific Seascapes exhibit at Gallery Splash in Esquimalt, painter Sergeant (ret’d) Susan Kruzel admits she is swimming in her art, literally. As patrons at a nearby coffee shop exit into the lobby, they appear drawn to her paintings. As an artist, Kruzel takes extreme gratification in this. “I hope that if one person sees my art, it will at least bring a little bit of beauty, tranquility and relief from the everyday grind,” she said. This is the first time a large-scale art gallery has dedicated an entire exhibit to her paintings. Her artwork has previously appeared in multiple art-friendly coffee shops across the city since 2018, an exhibit at the Victoria International Airport in 2019, the Saanich Library, the Coast Collective Art Centre in 2020, and most recently at the Art Faire Urban Arts Tour in June 2022. Kruzel says she wanted the viewer to be transported with her painting, feel one with nature and forget about their problems and the busy city life. She draws inspiration from photographs and walks along the seaside at the first light of day, a moment which she describes as truly magical. Since growing up in Hungary, Kruzel had always been drawn to the water but lacked the swimming skills to immerse herself in it. “I struggled in my personal journey of learning how to swim but I have always been drawn to water, if not mesmerized by it,” she said. Kruzel served 28 years in financial for the Canadian Armed Forces. She took photography courses in her spare time during her military service. Her postings took her across the country, but she ended her career in Esquimalt where she worked in the Base Orderly Room (BOR) in claims and as a...

Shannon Childs, Personal Financial Planner, SISIP Financial — A weight lifted in 2021 when individual investors saw a rebound in their portfolios from the downturn of 2020. With a sense of normal returning to the world, people started to feel at ease: unknowing that 2022 would bring strong headwinds. Seeing the largest rate hike in over 40 years caused even risk-adverse individuals to feel significant losses. It felt as if no one’s investments were safe. The volatility seen in 2022 is a good reminder of how quickly and drastically the market and funds can change. With losses in our portfolio, we saw substantial cuts to transfer values upon early release. Cash values were nonexistent or reduced to minimal amounts. Many of us rely on these values as a buffer in the transition to the next stage, as a down payment for property or retirement, as other employers may not provide retirement plans. For some, postponing release can be an option; for others – current opportunities or challenges can force our hand. A stressful process now turns into a larger, more complicated decision. Knowing the pension options and benefits and understanding your immediate and future tax consequences will assist you in making informed decisions. History has shown periods of volatility run short. If we hold strong, avoid looking at our statements and continue our contributions, we will benefit from the discounted prices and rebound that follows volatility patterns. Automatic contributions over time provide the benefit of dollar cost averaging, the practice of investing a fixed dollar amount at regular, pre-determined intervals. Since the amount is fixed, you buy fewer units when the prices are higher and more units when prices decrease. This provides the benefit of growth over time, a consistent plan and spreads funds over multiple pay periods. As uncertainty in the...

Roger is a voice communications proword which means ‘received and understood’, i.e., “The formation will transit Haro Strait at 0900”. Reply: “Roger”. Proword is short for procedures words and describes the specific words and phrases used in radiotelephone communications. Roger being as commonplace as it is today, it is strange how most people have yet to learn the derivation of the term. One explanation of its origin is a tidy piece of folklore which states ROGER is an acronym meaning ‘Received Order Given Expect Results’. Alternatively, there is a more logical explanation of how Roger began to be used in the 1940s when the name ‘Roger’ was the ‘spelling alphabet’ equivalent for ‘R’, the first letter in the word ‘received’. Roger is a commonly used proword that leaks from the voice communications world to a sailor’s everyday jargon, i.e., “Bloggins, will you pass me the navy gravy?” Bloggins: “Roger”. In voice communications, Roger is often combined with the prowords over or out, such as ‘Roger over’ or ‘Roger out’. Over is used when a reply is expected. Out is used when no response is expected or required. The phrase ‘over and out’ is something you may hear in popular culture, but it is never used in actual practice. Other common prowords are Wilco, which means, ‘I understand and will comply’; Say again, used to request a message be repeated; and Correction, which means, “I made an error in this transmission. Transmission will continue with the last word correctly sent”. While Roger is a method of verbal acknowledgement, the correct way to respond to an order given by a superior is Aye Aye, which means, “I understand the command and hasten to comply with the order”. While the word Aye is derived from the Olde English ‘ay’, which means ‘ever’, it...

[caption id="attachment_31727" align="aligncenter" width="596"] (Left) Sergeant Martin Ouellet; Jennifer Bolster, Paramedic Practice Leader; Sergeant Sonya March; Warrant Officer Nicolas D’anjou; Warrant Officer Scott Rose; Chris Millar, Advance Care Paramedic; Jennifer Taronga, Honour Guard. Photo: Acting Sub-Lieutenant Ty Pellerin, Base PA.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Warrant Officer (WO) Nicolas D’anjou is convinced real-life superheroes walk among us. His comments come while recalling the fateful moment when three colleagues from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron rushed to his aid and performed lifesaving Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). “My heart would stop beating on three separate occasions that night, but I was in the right place at the right time,” WO D’anjou, 49, said. “Although my friends will say the opposite, they are my personal superheroes, my Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.” WO D’anjou previously worked as a maintenance manager at the helicopter squadron and was on hand to congratulate his friends at a Jan. 15 awards ceremony at Victoria’s BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) headquarters. The ceremony honoured his co-workers WO Scott Rose, Sergeant (Sgt) Sonya Marchand and Sgt Martin Ouellet with a BCEHS Vital Link Award. The award his friends received recognizes the skilful actions of one or more bystanders during a cardiac arrest emergency. “It’s nice to be recognized with this award, but the greatest reward for us is to spend time with our friend, Nicolas,” said WO Rose, who works as an Air Maintenance Superintendent. Springing into Action During a telephone interview, D’anjou recalled the night of Jan. 10, 2020, when all four friends had gathered at a local pub in Esquimalt. Soon after arriving, Nicolas collapsed in his chair and went into cardiac arrest. He says that moment would change his life forever. It was the quick action of WO Rose and his fellow 443 Squadron members who performed CPR and helped save his life. “Nick was telling a story to us, and he is fairly animated so when he stopped talking at first, I thought he was joking around,” said...

  [caption id="attachment_31708" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Leading Seaman Justine Boivin (left) and Leading Seaman Alexy Thibault pose for a photo onboard HMCS Kingston before deployment in 2018. Photo: Sergeant Shilo Adamson, Canadian Forces Recruiting Group Headquarters.[/caption] Sailor Third Class Robyn Oliver  — When I was growing up in Edmonton, Alta, my next-door neighbours were in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). As a child, watching them come home in their uniforms every day was equal parts intimidating and awe-inspiring. One of them was a woman. One time, as my sister and I picked strawberries from her yard, she approached unnoticed and picked us up by our ankles. The moment, filled with giggling and sheer surprise, is a very wholesome memory. It was also a nod to her incredible physical strength. For lack of a better word, she was a total ‘badass’. She was strong, kind, hard-working, and well-known throughout my neighbourhood. She was an Infantry Officer in the Army, a position typically held by men, especially at that time. But she kept up. She did just as many push-ups, lifted just as many sandbags, and outdid some of her coworkers in the number of pull-ups she could do. She was strong. I joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) two years ago, and am continually inspired by the awesome, hard-working women I work with. Women are now able to enroll in any position or trade in the CAF and RCN, but it wasn’t always that way. Women originally served in nursing positions as civilians during the Northwest Rebellion in 1885. In 1942, female paramilitary groups were created. New divisions such as the Women’s Royal Canadian Army Corps (WRENs), Women’s Canadian Army Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division allowed women to serve and fulfill positions in the CAF. They were limited to...

Piping is a traditional method of passing orders in a naval setting. A verbal pipe is often replaced with the sound of a boatswain’s call, which can convey specific orders. Naval lore states the use of a boatswain’s call in English ships can be traced back to AD 1248. The call can be worn as a symbol of rank, mainly because it can be used for passing orders. Until 1562 it was worn as a badge of office of the Lord High Admiral of England. In today’s navy, the boatswain’s call and chain are worn by the Chief Boatswain’s Mate, Quartermaster, and Boatswain’s Mate. A boatswain’s call is played by holding it between your index finger and thumb, the latter laying along the bottom of the pipe, referred to as the gun. The orb-shaped buoy rests against the palm, and the fingers are used to throttle the air exit from the hole in the top of the buoy. The boatswain’s call is relatively easy to master, as there are only two main notes; low and high, and three tones; plain, warble and trill. The low note is produced by blowing steadily into the gun with the hole of the buoy unobstructed by the fingers. The high note is made by moving the fingers over the buoy and partially throttling the exit of air. A warble is produced by repeatedly moving the fingers from the high to the low position. The trill is produced by vibrating the tongue, similar to how you roll the letter ‘R’. Pipe the side is a 12-second pipe with very smooth transitions from low to high and back to low. It is used when a Commanding Officer arrives onboard, for Royalty, the accused when entering a Court Martial, or for the Officer of the Guard when the guard is formed. The still, a high note held for eight seconds, calls all hands to attention as a mark of respect or to order silence. If done correctly,...

[caption id="attachment_31699" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Holy Rood Church in Wool, England. Photo: englandexpected.wordpress.com[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — A long-standing mystery of who has been placing Canadian flags on the graves of First World War soldiers in Southern England has been solved. For the past ten years, tiny maple leaf flags have been appearing at the headstones of two 1st Canadian Tank Battalion members at Holy Rood Church in Wool around Remembrance Day. Lance Corporal Vernon Ward and Private Ivan Tremayne Green were buried in the churchyard in Dorset, England, in October 1918. The Canadian flags first caught the attention of Lieutenant-Commander (ret’d) Rick Wall of Campbell River, B.C. “My brother-in-law and I were amazed that someone continues to care for and place small Canadian flags in front of the graves, even though these soldiers died over a hundred years ago and were buried five thousand kilometres from Canada,” Wall said. He sent pictures of the flags on the graves to The Trumpeter, a Royal Canadian Hussars Association newsletter. Current and former members of the armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Army Reserves publish it. They issued a story in their December 2022 edition and asked their readers who were behind the good deed. “We do not know who is following the tradition of placing flags on the graves in Wool churchyard but if we did, we would commend them for this act of remembrance,” wrote Master Corporal (ret’d) Louis Lamarre. Canada Connections The mystery has since unravelled. The flag placer is Rod Webb, a retired Royal Fleet Auxiliary Senior Radio Officer. He and his late wife Gill Webb started placing the flags on the Canadian soldiers’ graves in 2013. “My wife had discovered her Canadian family and we both thought this would be a good thing to do for Remembrance Day,” Webb wrote via email. Gill found out her father was a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and served in the Canadian Army in 1939 as an Intelligence Officer...

[caption id="attachment_31693" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Mina Purewal.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — After a hard day’s work, Mina and Sukhi Purewal say they are incredibly proud of their work. The two sisters and their staff operate two tailor shops, their flagship retail store A&B Tailor Shop is located in the heart of downtown Victoria. Their retail outlet at the Base, Mia’s Tailor Shop, is inside the CANEX building in Naden. It specializes in naval mess kits and provides alterations for Commissionaires, CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue, local police, firefighters and corrections officers, and even garment alterations to non-military clothing. “Our shops bring customers the most experienced tailors in Victoria,” Mina says. “When other tailors turn away extraordinary jobs, we take on the challenge to make it possible. We have plenty of regular customers but also see new faces in our shops every day.” The Purewals and their staff also work as contractors at the Base Logistics (BLog) Building in Dockyard, where they adjust and fit uniforms to the requirements of military personnel. They began working as contractors for BLog in January 2018 and purchased Mia’s Tailor Shop from founder Mia Larsen before her death in 2019. Mina and Sukhi are the third generation of tailors from their family, with their grandmother starting in the trade back in 1935 in India. Their family moved to Vancouver in 1993. Mina and Sukhi have operated A&B Tailor Shop inside The Bay Centre (formally Eaton Centre) since 2001. Their work includes everything from tapering, custom-fitting and removing pleats to altering bridal and graduation dresses and replica clothing. 1. What are the qualities that make a good tailor? Excellent hand-eye coordination and decades of experience make a good tailor. In the military, everything needs to be measured to the millimetre and precisely to regulation, but we have...

Craig York, Financial Counsellor, SISIP Financial, CFMWS — If you fear the arrival of your January credit card bill after purchasing Christmas gifts and Boxing Day sales, now is the time to make a resolution to improve your financial well-being in 2023 and avoid a ‘holiday hangover’ in the future. First, it’s important to separate wants from needs, and clearly define what it means to ‘save’ money. The sales in January can be tempting. Before you start shopping, consider if what you plan to buy is a ‘want’ or a ‘need’, and whether you can afford it. If you are putting ‘that great deal’ onto a credit card that you are unable to pay off immediately, the amount you are saving on the item quickly disappears with any interest that accumulates. Consider how your shopping affects your long-term financial goals. Your spending habits should reveal what you value most. If you want to buy a house in the future, ask yourself if you would rather put that money into the down payment fund. Second, start your savings plan now. Include two types of savings into your monthly expenses to create a more sustainable budget: Expenses you know will happen throughout the year. Start planning now by putting aside money every paycheck for gifts – Christmas will always be in December. It is much easier to put aside a little bit every paycheck than trying to afford everything all at once. Automate your savings to save time and money. With better preparation, financial emergencies become only financial inconveniences. Expenses that are likely to come up throughout the year, such as vehicle repairs, home maintenance, clothing, shoes, vet bills, etc. You may have to estimate how much you should save, but it will lead to being better prepared for the unexpected. Third, understand...

Ryan Cane, Senior Manager Recreation Program and Community Services, PSP HQ — Soldier On is launching an initiative that provides new opportunities for ill and injured serving and Veteran soldiers, sailors and aviators. Soldier On members and their family and friends can participate in different events, ranging from bowling to skating and even horseback riding! “Military families are the strength behind the uniform,” Joe Kiraly, National Manager for Soldier On, says. “Soldier On Family and Friend Days presented by The Personal Insurance Company will bring together the Soldier On community. We hope it will offer everyone a chance to connect and experience the wider benefits of the program.” Since 2007, Soldier On has supported over 10,000 ill and injured members using sports, recreational, and creative activities to enable social support, build confidence in their abilities and realize their full potential. Soldier On provides members with a safe environment to challenge themselves and become inspired in ways they may not have thought possible, contributing to and providing a gateway to enhance one’s well-being. This re-introduction to an active lifestyle offers opportunities to develop new skills, build confidence and meet peers with similar challenges. “We hope these events will help Solider On families to build the connections that will be helpful for the long haul. We are so grateful to our sponsor The Personal Insurance Company,” Joe Kiraly added. Personal Insurance has been the official home and auto insurance provider for Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services since 1986. It continues to deliver a partnership beneficial to those who serve – CAF members, Veterans and their families. Personal Insurance offers customized home and auto insurance options specific to the needs of the Canadian Defence Community. “The Personal Insurance Company is proud to continue supporting the Defence community by giving ill and injured members a fun, interactive way to spend time with their family and friends,” says Tiffany Marinacci, Senior National Manager – Partnership Development, The Personal Insurance Company. For any Soldier On members interested...

[caption id="attachment_31646" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Lisa deWit, former national and local Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group civilian co-chair.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — A Senior Project Manager at CFB Esquimalt has been hailed by the Chief of Defence Staff. Lisa deWit of Formation Review was recognized for her contributions as National Civilian Co-Chair to the Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group (DAAG) in an open letter dated Dec. 16 from General (Gen) Wayne Eyre, Chief of Defence Staff, and Bill Matthews, Deputy Defence Minister. “I recognize the importance of communicating how volunteers of this organization are being change-makers and was glad the other Defence Advisory Groups (DAGs) were also highlighted,” deWit said about the recognition. Gen Eyre said deWit was being recognized for her work toward building a more inclusive Defence team and “steadfast advocacy, providing voice, counsel and support to leadership and helping foster deeper relationships between the Indigenous community and the Department of National Defence Canadian Armed Forces”. deWit has worked as a Department of National Defence (DND) civilian employee since 2010, beginning her DAAG membership in 2011. She is a proud member of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation of British Columbia. Both deWit and military co-chair Master Warrant Officer (retired) Simon Linklater, a former DAAG Military Co-Chair, completed their terms on the national DAAG in December 2022. In reaction to the General’s congratulatory letter, the Lookout engaged deWit for her thoughts on being recognized and the scope of her work involving the DAAG and the military’s senior leadership. Q: What specific projects or tasks have you been involved in that led to this recognition? A: Both Linklater and I were conduits for the DAAGs across the country as we aimed to raise the voices of Indigenous Peoples in DND/Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Typical engagements included meeting with heads of various departments, sitting in on Indigenous-related events hosted by political dignitaries, and advising all levels of leaders across the country. We met annually with other National DAG leaders and hosted an annual gathering of...