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Mark Nelson, Contributor — The general day-to-day schedule of a warship, better known as the ship’s routine, cycles around working, eating, and sleeping. A ship operates round the clock, and sailors must be available to do the jobs required 24 hours a day, normally split into seven work periods called watches. Two four-hour daytime watches occur on either side of the noon hour and are aptly named forenoon and afternoon. These are followed by a pair of two-hour dog watches named the first dog from 1600 to 1800 and the last from 1800 to 2000. The shorter dog watches allow for cycling of the daily watch schedule. The name is derived from ‘dodge watch’ since it allows the crew to dodge the same watch daily. Since a dog watch already represents a shorter than normal period, if a sailor wants to say something will happen quickly, they might say it will take half a dog watch. When a ship rotates on a three-watch system, one of the best watches to stand is the first watch from 2000 to midnight. Standing the first watch allows for the special treat called all night in, or all-nighters, meaning you miss the inglorious undertaking of standing the overnight watches, namely the middle, midnight to 0400, and morning, 0400 to 0800. The middle watch is the worst for interrupting a sailor’s sleep. Often referred to as the mids, another nickname for this awful watch is long trick, a trick being a short spell of duty on a particular job, e.g., a short trick on the helm. Midrats, short for middle rations, is a light meal served to those about to stand a middle watch; the leftovers are usually a treat for those coming off the first watch, consumed before they head to their racks. Historically, the...

Meet the new Fleet Chief – Chief Petty Officer First Class David Bisal

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The Fleet Chief of Canadian Fleet Pacific (CanFleetPAC) is embracing his new job with great enthusiasm. “I was very happy and honoured with the appointment but it comes with a great deal of responsibility along with a sharp learning curve,” said Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) David Bisal. “All my jobs in the past have been in the tactical realm of the Navy and I have spent a lot of time during my career at sea.” CPO1 Bisal replaced CPO1 Arvid Lee as CanFleetPAC’s most senior non-commissioned member when CPO1 Lee moved on to become Formation Chief of Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) at the end of August. The moment marked a new chapter for CPO1 Bisal, who spent most of his 32 years of military service at sea on Canadian vessels as Boatswain. CPO1 Bisal’s path to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) began in June 1990 when he enrolled at Esquimalt, B.C., as a Boatswain. He spent the first two decades serving on HMCS Huron, Protecteur and Regina. He also had two shore postings as a Seamanship Instructor. Some of his most rewarding deployments included serving on former RCN Supply Ship HMCS Protecteur during Op Altair in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea in 2008. “I was aboard Protecteur for seven years and [OP Altair] was likely the best time because of the amazing port visits during the deployment to places including Puerto Rico, Italy, and Greece,” he said. CPO1 Bisal said being a Chief Petty Officer on ships and other units for the past six years has been an excellent way to groom him for his new job. “My experience at sea, along with my more recent and previous positions on ships, is a good fit for the job,” he said. “That’s because I will be helping senior leadership and others understand the challenges when ship’s deploy and what is going on, on the water.” One of CPO1 Bisal’s critical responsibilities as Fleet...

4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group commended for Operation Laser

Captain Natasha Tersigni, 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group — The 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (4 CRPG) was awarded the Canadian Forces Unit Commendation on Sept. 1 for exceptional efforts and dedication, in support of Operation Laser, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “4 CRPG is proud that our members were ready and able to respond to the needs of fellow Canadians during Operation Laser,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Pascal Roy, CRPG Commanding Officer. “This commendation is a reflection of every member in our unit and their continued dedication and commitment to serve our communities and the Canadian Armed Forces.” The Canadian Forces Unit Commendation is a group award that recognizes distinguished service by a military unit. It is awarded to any unit or sub-unit, composite formation or other military groups of the CAF, or to any similar organization of a foreign armed force working with or in conjunction with the CAF, that has performed a deed or activity beyond normal duty. From March 2020 to June 2021, Canadian Ranger Patrols across Western Canada provided humanitarian assistance and support to community officials during the fight against COVID-19. “During this unprecedented pandemic, Canadian Ranger Patrols were able to provide unique on-the-ground support to communities when they needed it the most,” Roy said. Canadian Rangers worked hard to assist Canadians in need as part of the CAF’s response to community requests for assistance through provincial authorities. This was a collaborative effort, and the Canadian Rangers operated closely with other Canadian Army units and municipal, provincial, and federal officials to support COVID-19 relief efforts. 4 CRPG’s contribution to Operation Laser included activating several Canadian Ranger Patrols to support relief efforts in their communities. To assist with situational awareness in many communities across Western Canada, one to two Canadian Rangers Patrols worked full-time...

MFRC offers extra support for CAF parents

Kateryna Bandura, Editor — The Esquimalt Military Family and Resource Centre (MFRC) offers community resources and information for parents looking for extra support this school year. “With the military lifestyle, oftentimes newly-arrived parents don’t have family support in their new community,” said Kaitlyn Ross, Social Worker-Counsellor with MFRC. “The point of our activities and services is for them to build their networks and integrate not only into the local military family community but also into the broader community. We know strong networks create healthy families.” Some of the MFRC support programs include: Monthly community dinners, which will provide an opportunity to meet others in the military family community and share tips about living the military lifestyle. MFRC staff and volunteers will be on-site to provide requested information about programs and services. After dinner, there will be activities for children. The first MFRC community dinner will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 28. Coffee nights/Kids connect program, which provides opportunities to build social supports in the community. Ross said it has a similar concept to monthly dinners, allowing adults to connect over coffee while their children partake in various activities, such as playing outdoor games, doing an obstacle course, or creating arts and crafts. The program is offered monthly, with the next session running on Wednesday, Oct. 12. Supporting Children Through Absence is a workshop for children with a deployed parent. It is an opportunity to learn why mom or dad is away, and connect to others their age with similar experiences. Workshops run continuously throughout the year, with one session per week. Pre-school programs help children with their social and learning skills, and prepare them for their school years. ‘123 Music’ and ‘Stay & Play’ programs provide fun opportunities for children and their parents, while ‘Growing Parents’ group supports new parents and...

Naval Security Team begins operations under new mandate

[caption id="attachment_30762" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Right: Naval Security Team members undergo weapons training on Sept. 14 at the Heals Range. Photo: Lt(N) Robert Newton, NST.[/caption] Lt(N) Robert Newton, Executive Officer, Naval Security Team — After two years of reduced operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Naval Security Team (NST) is ramping up again, however, this time with a new mandate. NST will be focusing on Harbour Defence (HD) and Force Protection (FP) in support of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Operations. HD / FP will comprise many aspects, including: high-value asset (HVA) escorts, enforcement of controlled access zones (CAZ), and protecting crucial military or civilian facilities and infrastructure. NST is currently in pre-deployment training to support Domestic FP requirements this fall at CFB Halifax. NST is typically comprised of full-time Naval Reservists, but as we’re ‘One Navy’, 25 regular force members have joined NST to be trained in HD and FP outside of their regular duties. Having both Regular and Reserve Forces collaborate and build an elite deployable force creates a unique opportunity to train and deliver the Fleet Commanders’ intent. Over the next six weeks, NST and their new augmented members will be in full swing with pre-deployment training. This training consists of weapons training on four systems: C7/C8 rifle, Sig Sauer pistol, C9 light machine gun, and the C6 general purpose machine guns. The light and general purpose machine guns are used as mounted weapons on the fore and aft of the Defender-class HD Response Boats. The trainees will have intensive classroom and dry land training on all four weapons and will use this training on the live fire range. Upon successful completion at qualification, these members will be fully qualified on four weapon platforms, which is uncommon for naval members. The next training...

HMCS Winnipeg makes donation to children’s centre in Jakarta

[caption id="attachment_30758" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Commanding Officer Commander Annick Fortin partakes in community outreach with children from Kampung Kids during Operation Projection in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Friday, Sept. 2.[/caption] Kateryna Bandura, Editor — Canadian sailors brought smiles to children thousands of kilometres away. As it is a custom that Canadian ships participate in outreach activities during port visits, 11 sailors, including the Commanding Officer of HMCS Winnipeg, Cdr Annick Fortin and Padre Dominic Lafrenière, presented a cheque to Juliana Sitepu, Coordinator of Kampung Kids, a children’s centre in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Sept. 2. “The children laughed with us, they were proud to show us their skills, and they liked giving us high fives,” Lafrenière said. The monetary donations came from Boomer’s Legacy, a charity that funds humanitarian initiatives that provide a lasting impact in communities the soldiers serve while deployed. In Jakarta, these funds served for buying English teaching supplies. The Canadian Embassy families donated children’s books. Lafrenière said the Canadian Defence Attaché (CDA) proposed three different charities, but Padre Lafrenière personally chose Kampung Kids because of its direct impact on children. The target, he said, was to help the Center teach English as a second language to kids. “I felt a little tear in my eye when Juliana asked the kids why it is important to learn English, and one young girl timidly answered ‘for our future’,” Lafrenière said. The crew also spent some time with the children. They read story books, sang and danced, and drew pictures. Some children could speak some English, and Sitepu translated the rest. “We sang some action songs such as ‘Head, shoulder, knees and toes’ and ‘If you’re happy and you know it’ – these transcend language,” Lafrèniere said. After visiting the Center and the kids, the crew was toured around the neighborhood. “It was...

It takes a village – FMF Cape Breton assists DCTG Galiano

Ashley Evans, Strategic Communications Officer, FMFCB/CS — The Damage Control Training Facility (DCTF) Galiano, located in Victoria, B.C., and its sister facility DCTF Kootenay in Halifax, N.S., are integral, state-of-the-art training sites. The facilities teach flood control, firefighting, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defence to 4,000-6,000 Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) sailors and other service personnel per year. “The facility is essentially as important as the Jetties,” said Challis Eacott, Damage Control Training Facility Maintenance Administrator Esquimalt. “Sailors cannot deploy if they have not had the proper damage control training.” Due to the wide range of training delivered at DCTF Galiano, when a shutdown occurs, it affects the yearly training schedule and puts pressure on other training facilities to cover part of the loss. This was the reality Eacott was facing earlier this year when he decided to call on the team at Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMFCB) for assistance. “In the last year, I have had to reverse engineer the controls on air units due to the obsolescence of the actuating control system,” Eacott explained. “The electronic cards that control the pitch of the blades on our fans, via pneumatics, are no longer available.” The bearing between the piston and the main shaft in the air system was worn, causing a metal-on-metal condition. The DCTF was unable to supply the air required to support both fire training and habitability, and after failing their annual Air Balancing and Testing, a complete shutdown of all firefighting training capabilities for the West Coast Fleet ensued. The DCTF reached out to FMFCB for sourcing parts. Eacott said FMFCB could manufacture the bearing surfaces that were no longer available through industry, which solved the mechanical linkage portion of this failure. They then manufactured new hoses for the pneumatic system. After multiple days on site,...

HMCS Ottawa visits Port Alberni

Lookout staff — More than two dozen people gathered at the Maritime Discovery Centre Pier in Alberni Inlet to watch HMCS Ottawa arrive at Berth 3 of the Port Alberni Terminals on Aug. 12. “Ottawa’s visit to Port Alberni was significant given it has been many years since the last time a major warship was alongside,” said Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) Steve Sheffar, Coxswain of HMCS Ottawa. The Harbour Chieftain fireboat and Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Station 39 vessel greeted the ship with a water salute while tugs from Pacific Towing Services Ltd. helped guide the ship to the wharf. A large delegation from the Tseshaht First Nation greeted the ship’s crew with drumming and song. Commander Sam Patchell, the ship’s Captain, then exchanged gifts with the elected Chief Councillor Ken (Wahmeesh) Watts. HMCS Ottawa offered ship tours to the public the following day. Visitors chatted with the ship’s crew about their roles onboard, including representatives from the Boarding Party, Dive Team, and Marine Technicians. They also checked out different stations on the ship, including the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter on board. A team from Canadian Armed Forces Recruiting was on-site to provide information about enrolling in the Royal Canadian Navy. “The ship’s company was welcomed by the community and enjoyed all that was offered while also having the opportunity to do some work, welcoming visitors onboard, and cleaning up parks and grounds around the town,” CPO1 Sheffar said. Crew members worked on community service projects around the Alberni Valley and visited Royal Canadian Legion Branch 293 to converse with branch members and play pool. The ship departed the Port Alberni berth Monday morning.

Interested in mentorship and coaching?

Meet on September 27th for the RCN Mentorship and PD Session #4 Topic Mentor-Protégé vs Coaching with Commander Lucille Boettger to ask questions and learn more. Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) sailors from Regular and Reserve Force at all ranks and civilian employees at all levels are invited to the next session of the RCN’s Mentorship Program. The next group session: Date: Tuesday, September 27, Noon to 1:30 p.m. EST Location: Microsoft Teams, contact CPO1 Tara White (P-OTG.RCNMentorPD@intern.mil.ca) The program is also open to all Canadian Armed Forces personnel and all Department of National Defence civilian employees and if you can’t make it, don’t worry the recordings can be found on the SharePoint page. These sessions will be available to all on Microsoft Teams and everyone is encouraged to actively participate, share their insights and ask questions. For more information, visit the Mentorship Program’s intranet page. Le mentorat et l’encadrement vous intéressent? Consultez le 27 septembre à la séance de mentorat et de PP no 4 de la MRC sur le thème Mentor-Protégé contre Encadrement avec le Capf Lucille Boettger pour poser des questions et en savoir plus. Les marins de la Marine royale canadienne (MRC) Force régulière et Réserve de tous les grades et les employés civils de tous les niveaux sont invités à la prochaine séance du Programme de mentorat de la MRC. Vous êtes invité à assister à la prochaine séance de groupe : Date : Mardi 27 septembre, Midi à 13 h 30 (heure de l’Est) Lieu : Microsoft Teams via CPO1 Tara White (P-OTG.RCNMentorPD@intern.mil.ca) Le programme est également ouvert à tout le personnel des Forces armées canadiennes et à tous les employés civils du ministère de la Défense nationale. Si vous ne pouvez pas venir, ne vous inquiétez pas, les enregistrements sont offerts à la page SharePoint. Ces séances seront accessibles à tous sur Microsoft Teams et tout le monde...

Meet the Team Commander of the CFB Esquimalt Medium Search and Rescue Team

[caption id="attachment_30735" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Team Commander – Glenn Cooper.[/caption] SLt Wilson Ho, MUSAR Team — The CFB Esquimalt’s Medium Urban Search and Rescue (MUSAR) Team completed its monthly training throughout the last week of August at the Emergency Response Training Operations Centre, formerly known as the USAR Training Compound, near the Naval Officer Training Centre (NOTC) Venture. This month, the team maintained proficiency on the DELSAR Urban Search and Rescue kit, a seismic/acoustic listening device used to detect and locate trapped victims. The team also used the SearchCam 3000, an articulating, extendable, waterproof search and rescue camera to help searchers locate victims trapped in collapsed buildings and spaces. Preparations were made for the Base Disaster Response courses scheduled to run from Sept. 12 to 30 in preparation for Shake-Out British Columbia, which is occurring in late October. In addition to training, the team is starting a segment to feature members of the CFB Esquimalt MUSAR team to highlight their experiences and technical expertise. This month, we sat down with Glenn Cooper, the Team Commander of CFB Esquimalt’s MUSAR team. What are your main responsibilities as the Team Commander? As the only full-time employed member of CFB Esquimalt’s MUSAR Team, my primary responsibility is to ensure the Team is properly trained and well-equipped to respond to any emergencies as directed by the Base Commander or the Joint Task Force (Pacific) (JTF(P)) Commander. How long have you been on the team? I’ve been a part of the MUSAR team since 2001. I’ve worked in all positions, including Rescue Squad, Rescue Team Leader, and Operations Chief. I was promoted to the role of Team Commander in 2008. How long have you been working/part of the Defence Team? I’ve been working with Department of National Defence since January 1989. Where did you learn the technical...

All Gate and Gaiters, and a Pig on the Knee

Mark Nelson, Contributor Gaiters are traditionally white or khaki leggings, worn to wrap around the ankle and fasten with buckles. The name is derived from the French guêtre, traditionally translated as ‘a leather cover for the ankle’. Gaiters were once worn as a normal accoutrement to the square-rigged uniform. Today, they are most often worn with a web belt by ceremonial guard or brow staff members. Sometimes sailors refer to gaiters as war spats, but webbing is used as the collective term for gaiters and a web belt, a pairing that is showy but marginally functional. The term all gate and gaiters can be used to describe someone, or something, that is all show and lacking genuine substance, i.e., ‘That new ship announcement was all gate and gaiters’. In this way, gate means big talk, bragging, or even mouthing off, i.e., ‘Bloggins was gating off at the Boatswains’. In the same vein, gate can be used to refer to the mouth, as in, ‘Shut your gate’. To thousands of Naval Reservists, the word Gate has only one meaning… as a nickname for their former training vessels. More formally known as the Porte Class, operating from the early 1950s to the 1990s, gate vessels were originally built to open and close submarine gates. They were later converted to function as training vessels. Their sailors happily referred to them as pig boats, probably derived from the clumsiness of the short-hulled single-screw vessels. An unofficial badge suggested the acronym, ‘Pride, Integrity, Guts’. To sailors, a pig can be a figure of reverence and might appear in places other than the breakfast table. HMCS Winnipeg is fondly referred to as Winter Pig. The recently paid-off Iroquois-class destroyers, also known as the 280 class, were often referred to as war pigs because of their age, size,...

A new sporting tradition honours Commanders of Canadian Fleet Pacific

[caption id="attachment_30729" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Participants in an intramural touch football game from HMCS Calgary and other Base units gather for a group shot on Aug. 17 at the Colville Rd. Sports fields. HMCS Calgary’s team won the game and will move on to compete in the Commodore’s Cup football game versus 442 Squadron from CFB Comox. Photo: PSP[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Military members on Vancouver Island will get the chance to partake in a new sporting tradition. The first ever Commodore’s Cup flag football game will see Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) take on 442 Squadron in Comox on Oct. 14 at the Colville Road sports field. Commodore (Cmdre) David Mazur said the competition is named in honour of current and past Commanders of Canadian Fleet Pacific (CANFLTPAC). “The new competition stems from a conversation with the Fleet Chief about creating an event with some fitness and fun, and forging new sports rivalries,” Cmdre Mazur said. “We looked at building on the tradition of the Mini Grey Cup in Halifax and arrived at the idea of battling 442 Squadron in a flag football game.” The highly popular Mini Grey Cup sees the Non-Commissioned Members (NCM) from the CFB Halifax Fleet Club compete against the Wardroom. MARPAC’s team will consist of sailors from HMCS Calgary’s intramural touch football team and other fleet members. Lieutenant (Navy) David MacLellan, a Combat Systems Engineer with HMCS Calgary and MARPAC’s Team Captain and Quarterback, said his teammates relish the opportunity to take on 442 Squadron on the football field. “There is a great deal of anticipation and excitement surrounding the game,” Lt(N) MacLellan said. “I think it will be a great morale booster since no games were held for the past few years because of COVID-19.” Lt(N) MacLellan said the MARPAC team is still taking...

Tritons qualify for slo-pitch nationals

[caption id="attachment_30725" align="aligncenter" width="595"] The Men’s gold winning team. Credit: PSP[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The Esquimalt Tritons Slo-Pitch team defeated CFB Winnipeg in the Gold Medal Game of the Canada West Regional Slo-Pitch Tournament with a 12-6 victory on Aug. 26 in Wainwright, Alta. The win earned them a berth at the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Men’s Slo-Pitch Championship tournament in Edmonton, Sept. 19 to 23. Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Troy Kendrick, Tritons Team Captain, said the team feels upbeat about their chances at the Nationals. “I’m very optimistic,” he said. “As a team, we are approaching it with the mindset of ‘Do your job and nobody can beat you’.” His spirit is buoyed by the Tritons winning five of their six games at the regional tournament. Esquimalt defeated Cold Lake, Moose Jaw, and Edmonton twice, with the only loss of 21-15 to Comox in their second game of Round Robin. PO1 Kendrick hit two home runs in the championship game. Major defensive blocks came from the gloves of outfielder Acting Sub-Lieutenant Caleb Stuckless and shortstop Chief Petty Officer Second Class Rob Tibbetts, hanging on for the win. PO1 Kendrick said his pitcher, Sailor First Class (S1) Eric McRae, was ‘on fire’ and earned game MVP honours. “He delivered a pitching gem and allowed the opponents only six runs over seven innings,” PO1 Kendrick said. He said that, unfortunately, S1 McRae would be attending a career course at the time of the game in Edmonton and thus unable to suit up. “Player availability always seems to be an issue for the Navy and not having Eric for the Nationals will be very difficult for our team to overcome,” PO1 Kendrick said. At press time, a schedule had yet to be released for the Nationals, and it was unclear who Esquimalt would face in their first game. Women win silver Esquimalt’s Women’s Slo-Pitch team will not be competing at CAF Nationals. The Tritons lost to Edmonton in their gold...

Babcock Blues win second Victoria-Class Cup

[caption id="attachment_30719" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Group Shot: Members of the MARPAC Selects and Babcock Blues gather at centre ice at Wurtele Arena following their Sept. 8 game to celebrate a donation by Babcock Canada $5,000 to the Military Family Resource Centre. (Centre right) Babcock Marine Vice President Keith Cunnane presents a cheque for $5,000 to Esquimalt MFRC Board Chair Samantha Krzywonos. Credit: Peter Mallett/Lookout.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — A last-minute goal made the Babcock Blues winners of the Second Annual Victoria-Class Cup Championship hockey game on Sept. 8. With a 3-3 tie late in the third period and headed to overtime, Blues forward Mike Turner broke the deadlock with MARPAC Selects with just 40 seconds remaining. “Today’s result was disappointing for the MARPAC Selects but it sets things up nicely and builds our rivalry for when we meet again next year,” said Chief Petty Officer Second Class (CPO2) Rob (Michael) Tibbetts, MARPAC Selects Captain. Goaltenders Petty Officer Second Class Randy Collens (MARPAC Selects) and James Fletcher (Babcock Blues) faced a barrage of shots throughout the game. Fletcher was awarded the Rob Sneath Most Sportsmanlike Trophy for his outstanding play and cementing the win for Babcock. “It was great to win and be honoured after the game,” Fletcher said. He is a retired sailor and previously worked as a Marine Technician and a Stoker at the Base. Before his retirement less than three years ago, he played in goal for the Esquimalt Senior Tritons team. Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific (CANFLTPAC) Commodore David Mazur and Keith Cunnane, Babcock Marine Vice President, performed the ceremonial opening puck. The game’s final score did not seem to matter much. The Esquimalt’s Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) introduced the Victoria-Class Cup in partnership with Babcock in 2019 as a hockey fundraising event for Defence Community members and their families. “Being able to support an organization like the MFRC is a victory for everyone involved because it does such a great job of supporting our sailors and families,”...

Museum curator reunites Indigenous veteran with artwork 62 years later – the Hosaqami connection

[caption id="attachment_30695" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photos from 2012 Hosaqami raising. In celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II”s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, then-Lieutenant Governor Stephen Point and the Government House Foundation commissioned Chief Tony Hunt to carve a replacement for Hosaqami. Guests assist with the raising of the Pole Hosaqami at the front of the Government.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — A recent presentation at CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum led to the return of an item to the hands of its crafter 62 years later. Following Lieutenant-Commander (Retired) Bill Shead’s presentation on Hosaqami, a historic 24-foot totem pole, Tatiana Robinson, Museum Curator, brought his attention to one of the Museum’s artifacts. “What a delight it was to see it and hold it again after 12 years of not knowing its final disposition,” Shead, 83, said after confirming a lance Robinson pointed out was indeed the one he carved so many years ago. “It was quite a surprise to learn the lance was in good hands of a museum curator after all this time.” Shead, an Indigenous veteran, visited CFB Esquimalt on Aug. 29 to speak about the intriguing story of Hosaqami. This totem pole was given to the Royal Navy in 1960, and Shead was on the voyage to England as one of the Special Escort of the Hosaqami delivery on HMCS St. Croix. On his journey, he and his mates carved and decorated mop handles to create lances for the ceremonial presentation on arrival in England. Robinson was equally surprised about the discovery. “His life’s story as a sailor and connection to Hosaqami is very intriguing,” Robinson said. “At how many points in his life was he connected and reconnected with Hosaqami and how unusual is that.” During his presentation, Shead spoke about his connection with Hosaqami. “At the outset, no one really had any inkling of what role the escort would or should play in the ceremony,” he said. “The members of the escort, including myself, came from...

Hoist Blue Peter