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On June 26, five members of the Defence Team Pride Advisory Organization (DTPAO) and Positive Space Working Group attended the Victoria Pride Festival 2022 non-uniform, per the Victoria Pride Society’s request.

[caption id="attachment_30023" align="aligncenter" width="595"] The Okanagan Military Tattoo. Photo provided[/caption] Get ready for two hours of heart-pounding, fast-paced family entertainment when the 7th annual Okanagan Military Tattoo returns to Vernon in July. The Okanagan Military Tattoo will stir your heart and feed your soul. It is Vernon’s largest annual indoor event and Western Canada’s only military tattoo. The Tattoo will take place at Kal Tire Place with an evening performance on Saturday, July 23 at 7:00 p.m., and a matinee on Sunday, July 24 at 2:00 p.m. Over 400 performers will take part, including First Nations, massed pipes and drums, highland dancers, military and civilian bands, cultural troops, precision drills, singers, and the poignant refrain of the Lone Piper against the stunning backdrop of “the Castle”. Plans for the 2022 Okanagan Military Tattoo include the 35 member Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Pipes & Drums of the Canadian Scottish Regiment. The Langley Ukelele Ensemble will wow the audience, as will the Okanagan Tattoo Dancers. The annual “Tribute to the Veterans” segment of the program will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid. Tickets are now on sale at Ticketseller in Vernon 250-549-7469, toll free 1-866-311-1011 or online at ticketseller.ca. Special ticket pricing is available for seniors, veterans and groups of 10 people or more. Second World War and Korean War veterans are invited to attend free of charge with their partner or caregiver. All seating is reserved and the shows are indoors with air conditioning.  For more information, check out the Okanagan Military Tattoo website at OkanaganTattoo.ca

[caption id="attachment_30018" align="aligncenter" width="595"] The Haida, an Indigenous group, has traditionally occupied Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), an archipelago off the coast of British Columbia, for over 12,000 years. Photo submitted.[/caption] Royal Canadian Navy Public Affairs — It’s a long way from Haida Gwaii, B.C., to Halifax – both in distance and culture, but that did not stop a member of the Haida from joining the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Sailor Third Class (S3) Jesse Ryan comes from a proud family of Haidas who have made it their home for generations. His decision to join the RCN opened up a world of new possibilities. “Our family’s livelihood comes from living off the land and embracing what nature has provided,” he says. “I was a commercial fisherman before I joined the navy, much like the rest of my immediate family.” S3 Ryan joined the RCN just over a year ago and is training as a Weapons Engineering Technician in Halifax. Leaving his 450-person home village of Skidegate in Haida Gwaii, where Indigenous people make up most of the community, was a culture shock. “I have to remind myself a lot of Canada didn’t grow up working alongside or interacting with Indigenous people. Sometimes they don’t know how to approach someone of a visible minority or ask a question about their culture appropriately” S3 Ryan says. “It’s nice so many fellow members of the navy are interested in my culture and would like to know more.” S3 Ryan is aware of the unique Raven Program, hosted by the RCN for Indigenous youth from across Canada. This national program is designed to build bridges with Indigenous communities throughout the country and offers youth the potential for part-time or full-time employment with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) upon completion. Whether or not graduates choose to...

[caption id="attachment_30015" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Members from the Royal Canadian Navy mentor Caribbean divers in search techniques training during Exercise TradeWinds 22 in the Caribbean Sea.Corporal Hugo Montpetit, Canadian Forces Combat Camera[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A team of five divers fans out across the Caribbean Sea floor. The divers follow GPS coordinates of possible contraband locations, provided by the United States Coast Guard. With no special equipment on hand, they must rely on their eyes to scan the ocean floor. Two Clearance Divers of Fleet Diving Unit Pacific (FDU(P)) track the progress overhead on a Mamba inflatable boat. “Our purpose was to show other nations how we conduct our operations, from initial planning to completing a task at hand,” says Sailor First Class (S1) Brooks Robinson. S1 Robinson and S1 Michael Raco were part of a 13-member dive team of the Canadian Armed Forces personnel participating in the United-States-led training Exercise TradeWinds 2022 (TW22) in Belize, May 7 to 21. The team also included six clearance divers from Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic), a port inspection diver, an engineer, a supply technician, a medical technician, and doctor of the Canadian Forces Health Services Group. The training scenario represents a typical mission of Clearance Divers to recover contraband, explosives, and other debris on the ocean floor, says S1 Raco. S1 Raco and S1 Robinson trained diving teams from Belize, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Barbados on the proper procedures of underwater search and recovery techniques. These included line-and-circle searches and developing a mission plan to locate items. “It’s always wonderful to have the opportunity to increase someone else’s skill by sharing your own knowledge and mentorship. The learning was a two-way street; I found it beneficial,” he says. The diving training was one component of TW22. The multi-dimensional exercise is led by the U.S. Southern Command, with the goal to build the capacity of partner nations to counter organized crime and conduct humanitarian disaster relief operations. [caption...

Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A trailblazing female runner from Nanaimo not only took the title for the women’s category in this year’s Navy Run’s 10KM race, but also left the majority of her male competitors in the dust “This is a big deal, it is very hard racing against the men and it made me so happy when I finished the race and realized, yes, I am right up there with the top male finishers,” said Natasha Parsons following her victory.    Parsons took fifth place among all competitors, with a scorching time of 38:27. The 36-year-old private school teacher began running races three years ago after moving to Canada with her husband Henry Parsons, formerly a member of the British Military Royal Engineers. Since then she has competed and won multiple road races, triathlons and duathlons. In 2019, Parsons won the B.C. Provincial Duathlon Championships in Penticton, B.C. That qualified her for the ITU World Championships in Standard Distance Duathlon in 2020, but the event was cancelled due to COVID-19. Recently, she won multiple races in the Vancouver Island Race Series, and a Vancouver Island Trail Series 17KM race at Westwood Lake. Parsons says her victory came because she ‘just ran’. “Normally in races I try to find a guy who is running slightly faster than me as this keeps me more motivated,” she said. “But the guy I was running with in the Navy Run was not fast enough.” Parsons tried to narrow the gap throughout but was still nearly four minutes slower than the top finishing male in the race. “I was not fast enough to catch up with the lead pack of four men, so I ran most of the race on my own, which was difficult with nobody to pace against,” she said. A sea of...

Ashley Evans Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton/Cape Scott — Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton Electrical Apprentices have been working hard gearing up for the upcoming summer student work term. The term will see an influx of students to the facility’s production floor. In preparation for incoming students, Electrical Apprentices at the facility were tasked with creating an electrical project for students, complete with detailed instructions. Second year Electrical Apprentice Desere Sophonew shared the process behind creating her project, an Electric Motor. When planning for this student apprentice project, Sophonew quickly opted for a battery and copper wire motor. The building process was quite fluid as she used her knowledge and work experience, along with comments and suggestions from curious by-passers within her shop. One suggestion she considered was adding more weight to the magnet to encourage the motor to spin faster. After a few trial-and-error processes, Sophonew completed a working motor. Her next step was providing step-by-step instructions, complete with images. She included websites about how electric motors work, descriptions of armatures and commutators, and required tools and materials such as rare earth magnets and alligator clip test leads. She also included a list specific production floor shops where students could collect them. Thank you, Desere Sophonew, and to all the Electrical Apprentices, for your hard work on these projects! Fun Fact: The copper wire is one long wire folded in half, wrapped around until there is only 12” left on each side.

Peter Mallett Staff Writer — The Victoria HarbourCats want to take you out to the ball game. The West Coast League baseball team is inviting military members and staff to their Friday, July 8 game against the Kamloops Northpaws. “The HarbourCats’ Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Appreciation Event is a great opportunity for the public to interact with and learn more about the Royal Canadian Navy and Canada’s military,” says Matt Carlson, CFB Esquimalt Projects Officer. The summer-collegiate baseball team will host Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Appreciation Event at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria. A limited number of complimentary tickets will also be made available to military members and civilian staff through their unit chief. Discounted general admission tickets can be purchased online by entering the promo code FORCES 2022 at https://harbourcats.com/events-promotions   Event perks: Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt Base Commander Captain (Navy) Jeff Hutchinson will throw the game’s opening pitch. The Regional Cadet Support Unit will provide a colour party for the game’s opening ceremony. The Naden Band will perform O Canada. Other military units from Victoria will provide interactive and dynamic displays, including 443 Squadron, CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum, HMCS Malahat, and N35 Target Cell. The Search and Recovery Dog Association of Victoria dogs and handlers, and CFB Esquimalt’s Urban Search and Rescue team will provide demonstrations for fans in attendance. The Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre will be facilitating the 50/50 draw.      

[caption id="attachment_29977" align="alignnone" width="595"] Master Corporal Bridget Cucksey puts final touches onto her painting Red Geraniums she created for the Steel Spirit Gallery. Credit: MCpl Bridget Cucksey[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Master Corporal Bridget Cucksey remembers facing Cluster Suiciden Headaches  for the first time during a 2010 deployment to Afghanistan. “I woke up in the middle of the night and just started repeating, I want to die,” she says. “My roommate hopped out of bed and got our Warrant Officer to rush me to the hospital.” MCpl Cucksey is a Communications System Technician at the Communications and Information Systems Specialist branch at Canadian Forces Station Leitrim in Ottawa. Doctors could not diagnose her until 2019, after she endured a year of chronic headache attacks. Cluster Suicide Headaches affect less than 0.1 per cent of the population. They cause severe, one-sided pain, typically concentrated around the eye and the temple, but can sometimes spread to other areas. While suicide is rare, those with cluster headaches may experience suicidal thoughts, giving them their name. “It’s unknown where they come from and how they start, and the triggers are different for most people,” she says. “You probably wouldn’t know I had this illness if you met me.” While she takes prescription medication and almost always carries an oxygen tank, she found art and yoga to be great coping mechanisms. In 2021, she picked up a coloured pencils for the first time in over a decade and completed her first colour drawing of a chicken. Since then, MCpl Cucksey has stuck with art again. “Art has had a huge impact on keeping my mental health intact,” she says. “When I’m present in my art, it allows my brain to pause, and all I think about in the moment is finding shapes and combining colours.”...

[caption id="attachment_29973" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Malahat’s Sailor Second Class Tristan Cornett watches some of the 115 yachts during the 77th Swiftsure International Yacht Race on May 28.[/caption] Sub-Lieutanant Donald Den HMCS Malahat — The end of May marked the holding of the 77th Swiftsure International Yacht Race off the coast of Clover Point in Victoria. The race was the first one since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Swiftsure is the largest sailing race on North America’s west coast, drawing hundreds of participants and boats to Esquimalt, with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) onsite for support. This year, the RCN team included HMCS Brandon, the Naval Security Team from Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, and a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat from HMCS Malahat, Victoria’s Naval Reserve Unit. The boat served as the official “Jury Boat” of the race, transporting Swiftsure jury officials and a photographer amidst 115 yachts and their respective crews. HMCS Brandon served as one end of the anchored start line; the ship also transported several event officials and guests, and marked the commencement of the different races with either a horn or a blast from the ceremonial on-deck cannon. For one HMCS Malahat sailor, the event was an experience to remember. “It is definitely surreal to be out here and just see the ocean all around you and so many different ships,” says Sailor Second Class (S2) Tristan Cornett. Newly arrived from HMCS Tecumseh, Calgary’s Naval Reserve Unit, S2 Cornett noted the immediate difference of operating in Esquimalt waters. “You certainly don’t get this much open water in Alberta,” he said. Commanding Officer  of HMCS Malahat, Commander Cameron Miller says the RCN presence is beneficial to the sailors as well as the participants. “By supporting local on-water events like Swiftsure, not only are our sailors able to practise their...

While Pride events take place all year round, Pride Season typically refers to the wide range of events that take place over the summer months (June to September). Beyond parades and summer festivals, it brings together LGBTQ2+ communities and allies worldwide to spotlight the resilience, celebrate the talent, and recognize the contributions of LGBTQ2+ communities. Pride Season is the perfect time to reflect on ways that you can be a leader in promoting a workplace environment of diversity, inclusion, and respect, and in creating safe spaces for people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions to be their authentic selves while contributing to our institutional efforts. The National Defence Identification Services has reviewed how it handles information on sex and gender for Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces identification cards (NDI cards). Studies have shown that people who have identity documents that do not correspond with their lived gender are more likely to face discrimination and violence. By removing the sex data field from the NDI cards, we are taking action in promoting the respect, inclusion and personal safety of transgender, non-binary and two-spirit people. We have also integrated inclusive behaviours measurements within existing performance evaluation frameworks for all CAF and DND Public Service employees. This is an important step forward in our Conduct and Culture efforts to build a more inclusive Defence Team. When we empower our members to bring their authentic selves to the workplace, we all benefit from the full range of their creativity, innovation, and talent – which ultimately leads to greater operational effectiveness. You can find examples, information and resources related to Inclusive behaviours within the Defence Team (accessible only on the National Defence network) on the DWAN. I encourage all members of the Defence Team to participate in Pride events happening...

Lt(N) Joshua Ehnisz Public Affairs Officer, MARPAC — Families bid farewell to their loved ones in HMCS Vancouver and HMCS Winnipeg as the ships conducted a sail past near Esquimalt Lagoon and Clover Point on Tuesday. The warships then left for exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, held yearly in the Indo-Pacific. Before the six-month deployment, captains of both ships spoke to families at A Jetty. “I am extremely grateful to our families and friends for their unwavering support and inherent resiliency – you are the source of our strength.” said Commander Annick Fortin of HMCS Winnipeg. “Thank you to our families, friends, loved ones, and to the greater Defence community, for your support in getting us here – our team will represent you, the Canadian Armed Forces and all Canadians, with professionalism during our six-month deployment,” said Commander Kevin Whiteside of HMCS Vancouver. This year’s RIMPAC will see about 25,000 personnel, including 38 surface vessels, four submarines, 170 aircraft and land forces from 26 nations. All participating nations will exercise a range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. After RIMPAC, both warships will continue on to Operation Projection. The operation enhances relationships with Canada’s allies and partners, and demonstrate the Royal Canadian Navy’s readiness to defend Canada’s interests around the world. HMCS Vancouver will also support Operation Neon, Canada’s contribution to the implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea. Both ships will be deployed over the course of the next six-months and will be returning to Esquimalt in December 2022. Families and friends can stay updated on relevant social media accounts.

[caption id="attachment_29962" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Members of Queens’ Harbour Master and Patrol Craft Training Unit secure the Current Buster 2 system to a craft. Photo: Peter Mallett/Lookout Newspaper[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Members of Queen’s Harbour Master’s Auxiliary Fleet and the Patrol Craft Training Unit (PCTU) tested a new piece of oil spill response equipment in a simulated oil spill response drill on June 14-15 in the Colwood harbour. Marine Environment and Emergency Response Officer Lyle Fairley said the Current Buster 2 is a positive evolution of standard containment booms used in spill response. “With traditional booms the wave, chop and currents in the water created the potential for a lot of [oil] escape,” Fairley said during last week’s training session on D Jetty in Colwood. “The Current Buster 2 is a sweep system designed to be more aggressive, durable and resistant to changes in sea state compared to the tradition boom.” The equipment was purchased and is owned by Port Operations and Emergency Services Branch. It was previously employed during spill response efforts for the Deepwater Horizon Oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Fairley says the Current Buster 2 is more portable than the older system, easily deployable and ideal for collecting more commonplace-sized local spills. The training, provided by Darren Trites, Director of Dartmouth-based DSS Marine Incorporated, included unpacking the Current Buster 2 from its storage reel located inside a 10-foot ISO container and getting it safely into the water. The process involved unrolling a protective mat called a “chafer mat” followed by the Current Buster 2 High Speed Sweep System. The Current Buster 2 consists of a Front Sweep that guides the oil into and through a Tapered Channel and into a Separator located at the back of the system. The Current Buster 2 System was inflated using two high-capacity air blowers that come with the system. Members of the PCTU warmly received the kit. “Past methods of oil collection using booms were very time...

Yves Bélanger Servir Reporter —Over the past year, retired Sergeant Roger Chabot has retraced the path of Canadian soldiers who took part in the Italian Campaign during the Second World War. His goal: bringing to life these important events in our military history in a documentary that should see the light of day in 2023. It was in 2019 that the veteran started working on this project. “The pandemic has slowed me down, but it has still been beneficial. I was able to promote the project more and get more funding. This documentary has thus become the most important project of my life,” he says. The idea was born in recent years, following a first trip to Italy. “I visited some historic World War II sites and found the Italians were very fond of the Canadians and were very grateful.” The former member of the Royal 22e Régiment also realized he did not know his regimental history well. “That's why I had the idea to shoot this documentary, which will have 14 episodes lasting 20 minutes each.” SHOOTING IN NOVEMBER 2021 Initially, the shooting was to be done in two parts. “We had to shoot in the summer to represent the deployment in Sicily and then we had to return during the fall for filming in the rest of the country, especially in the North.” The pandemic forced the team to change their plans, so they decided to do it all in one trip. Chabot knew how to surround himself with good collaborators to carry out his project. John Serviss was the main cameraman and editor, and retired Sergeant Georges Janes was second cameraman and drone pilot. Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Comeau was responsible for logistics. Steve Gregory from the Operation Husky Foundation facilitated contacts with resource persons and expert historians in Sicily....

[caption id="attachment_29933" align="aligncenter" width="595"] On June 7, Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) Alena Mondelli (right) relinquished her appointment as Base Chief Petty Officer to CPO1 Troy Beazley during a Change of Appointment ceremony at Juno Tower 3 Mess at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax. Base Commander Captain (Navy) Sean Williams presided over the ceremony. Photo: Trident Newspaper.[/caption] Joanie Veitch Trident Staff — Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax welcomed the 24th Base Chief at a Chief Change of Appointment ceremony on June 7. Outgoing Base Chief, Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) Alena Mondelli said CPO1 Troy Beazley will be working with ‘an amazing team of professionals’. “They know the base inside and out, they know where to find information, and are wizards of organization and administration,” CPO1 Mondelli said of the Base Administration personnel. “They look after each other and lift each other up, which means they will also lift you up.” CPO1 Beazley comes to CFB Halifax after recently serving as the Naval Strategic Readiness CPO1 and Royal Canadian Navy Succession Manager. He is also a former Coxswain of HMCS Charlottetown. CPO1 Mondelli made history for the second time in less than a year when she became the first woman Base Chief to be appointed Formation Chief for Maritime Forces Atlantic at a ceremony the day before. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we are not a ‘new Navy’ every time a significant event challenges our old beliefs and way of being,” she said. “We’re evolving. Let’s be the change we want to see.” Thanking CPO1 Mondelli for her service as Base Chief, Captain (Navy) Sean Williams, Base Commander of CFB Halifax, praised her ability to empower the people she works with. “Alena gives people a voice and the opportunity to make a difference. She empowers...

[caption id="attachment_29926" align="aligncenter" width="595"] (Left) Lieutenant (Navy) Catherine Norris, Captain (Navy) Blair Saltel and Lieutenant (Navy) Benjamin Van Slyke sign certificates during a Change of Command Ceremony for the Naden Band at the Wardroom on June 7. Photos: Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — The conductor’s baton of the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) officially passed to a new Director of Music and Commanding Officer. Lieutenant (Navy) Catherine Norris relinquished her position to Lt(N) Benjamin Van Slyke in a June 7 Change of Command Ceremony at Esquimalt’s Wardroom. Chief of Staff, Maritime Forces Pacific, Captain (Navy) Blair Saltel presided over the ceremony. “The Naden Band is the first band I have commanded during my military career, so it will always be special to me,” says Lt(N) Norris. “It has been a great and challenging experience, from learning a new role to leading through a pandemic.” The Naden Band was founded in 1940 and is one of six bands of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Its 35 band members are regular force full-time professional musicians whose primary role is supporting naval operations, ceremonial events and public outreach initiatives. Lt(N) Norris is the first female Commanding Officer of the Naden Band, and an extraordinary flute and piccolo player. She took the role in July 2018. New Leader Lt(N) Van Slyke says he connected to the Naden Band during his childhood in Vancouver. “The Naden Band was the first Regular Force band I saw as a child, so it seems fitting I get to become its Director of Music,” he says. “Despite the changeover, I want the unit to continue building on its recent successes and find new ways to support the RCN and its operations musically.” As the Band’s new Musical Director, the first piece Lt(N) Van Slyke chose to conduct during the ceremony was the Concert Band classic Psalm for Band by Vincent Persichetti. The Change of Command ceremony was also the final performance for Chief Petty...

Sub-Lieutenant Donald Den HMCS Malahat Public Affairs Officer, and Chief Petty Officer Second Class (ret’d) Randy Young — This year’s annual Ceremonial Divisions at Victoria’s Naval Reserve Division, HMCS Malahat, included a new award. [...]

Royal Canadian Navy public servants,  I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation to each member of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Public Servant workforce. Over the past two years, we have been living in unprecedented times brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The perseverance, dedication and professionalism that you have displayed in spite of these challenges has been simply outstanding. Your resiliency, flexibility and the quality of work that you perform on a daily basis has been exemplary. You should be very proud. You are vital members of the RCN Team. You provide the critical expertise, stability and continuity that is integral to enabling the RCN’s operational output. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, and throughout the past two years, you have supported the RCN in deploying ships and submarines to sea, meeting our NATO commitments and continuing to work with our allies around the world. The RCN has a wide and diverse public servant workforce that belongs to nine separate unions and is employed in 30 different occupational groups. Without the contributions from all of you, from frontline operational workers to behind-the-scenes support staff, the RCN’s success at home and abroad would not be possible. Your hard work does not go unnoticed. On behalf of the entire RCN leadership team, thank you for all that you do for the Royal Canadian Navy, the Department of National Defence and your fellow Canadians. Yours Aye,Vice-Admiral Angus TopsheeCommander Royal Canadian Navy

[caption id="attachment_29912" align="aligncenter" width="596"] Deputy Commanding Officer, Canadian Scottish Regiment, and Invictus Games athlete Major Patrick Lévis (right). Photo supplied.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A determined athlete from Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt is aiming for a spot on Canada’s 2024 Paralympic team. Since competing at April’s Invictus Games in The Hague, Major Patrick Lévis has been spending up to 20 hours per week at Victoria City Rowing Club, working toward his new goal. “With my results and steady improvement in training, for the first time I am beginning to believe a spot on Canada’s Paralympic team can happen,” he says. Maj Lévis has served 30 years in the Canadian Army and is the Deputy Commanding Officer of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s). He was diagnosed with PTSD following a deployment to Afghanistan in 2009. During a surgery to remove a cancerous tumour in his abdomen, his femoral nerve was damaged, and he was left with permanent mobility disability in his legs. The diagnosis following surgery was like a bombshell, he says. “I was cancer-free but missing out on my active lifestyle, the esprit de corps, and the camaraderie with other members. This created a feeling of emptiness in me,” he says. Filling the Void Instead of giving up on himself, Maj Lévis turned to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Soldier On program, which contributes to CAF members’ recovery through recreational and creative activities. Soldier On also manages Canada’s Invictus Games team. Maj Lévis’ first Soldier On experience was a scuba diving camp. Soon he learned he wanted more. “I kept bothering Soldier On about the Invictus Games team, and it worked,” he said. “They called last year and said they have an opening for me if I play wheelchair basketball and two other events. I was so happy.” Maj Lévis competed in five sports at this year’s Games: wheelchair racing, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, sitting volleyball and indoor rowing. His experience did wonders for his mental and physical well-being. “Walking...

[caption id="attachment_29907" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Master Corporal Joe Cornolius, Meteorological Technician with HMCS Ottawa, and Petty Officer Second Class Robert Allard, Meteorological Office Supervisor, measure wind speed on the foc’sle of HMCS Ottawa with an anemometer. Photo: Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper.[/caption] A  new season in weather forecasting begins this week for meteorological technicians serving in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Robert Allard will become the first navy Meteorological Technician (Met Tech) to sail in active service on HMCS Ottawa. “To have someone on board in a navy uniform making forecasts is something new,” says PO2 Allard. The Met Tech trade has existed within the Royal Canadian Air Force for decades, but in 2011 the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) opened the trade to all elements. Last year, the RCN started seeking candidates for senior positions on frigates. So far, only PO2 Allard and Petty Officer First Class Amanda Pond joined, with PO2 Allard being the first to set sail. PO2 Allard says his posting marks the start of a closer relationship between the RCN and the Met Tech trade. Met Techs observe and forecast weather in support of operations at various facilities in all three elements. They record, process, and analyze meteorological information, operate and maintain equipment, and brief personnel on weather conditions. PO2 Allard works as a Supervisor with the Meteorology and Oceanography department of Maritime Force Pacific. On board ships, he notes, the trade is playfully referred to as ‘weather witches’. Met Techs have other responsibilities, including maintenance work, keeping the ship’s stores and ammunition fully stocked, and processing mail. The Met Tech cohort sailing on ships will increase over time. Uniformed Met Techs need to reach the rank needed to fill senior positions. Occupational training takes six months, with additional six months of advanced...

[caption id="attachment_29884" align="aligncenter" width="595"] World War Two veteran Alex Polowin. Photo Supplied[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — One of Alex Polowin’s favourite pastimes is telling school children the story of his military service. Polowin turned 98 on April 15. He is the last surviving crew member of the Tribal-class destroyer HMCS Huron. He and his crewmates, who served during the Battle of the Atlantic, were in the thick of it during the Second World War. Some of their key contributions to the war effort included protecting convoys of cargo ships, supporting Operation Neptune, and D-Day landings at Normandy, along with the sinking of the mighty German battleship Scharnhorst. For most of his talks to schools and community organizations, Polowin proudly displays his impressive rack of medals on his service jacket. They include the Atlantic Star, Diamond Jubilee, Arctic Star, Russian Peace Medal, Order of Ushakov, and The French Legion of Honour. There have also been other honours too. In Sept. 2021, Alex Polowin was given a guided tour of HMCS Haida, now a Government of Canada historic site located in Hamilton, Ont. He says he was treated like royalty. “Me, a former Able Seaman, they piped me onboard the ship and everyone on board saluted me,” he recalls. “Wow, I thought, if my friends onboard the Huron could see me now.” The 98-year-old retired Ottawa resident has much to tell about his military days. The Holocaust Alex Polowin is a former non-commissioned member, who hails from a family of immigrants. He was born in Lithuania in April 1924 and moved to Ottawa with family when he was three years old. When not in school, he would often work with his father, who was a door-to-door salesman. He watched in horror how the Holocaust unfolded during the war in Europe. “I used to watch my mother cry when she would learn her brothers and sisters have been murdered,” he said. “That’s when I started thinking of ways I could help the war...

[caption id="attachment_29880" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Candlelight Vigil ceremony held at God's Acre Cemetary, Victoria, British Columbia on 26 May 2022. Photo credit: S1 Kendric Grasby, Canadian Armed Forces[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Thursday’s rain could not extinguish the flames of support during this year’s Candlelight Vigil at Veterans Cemetery (God’s Acre) National Historic Site. The vigil was cancelled for the past two years because of COVID-19, but returned on May 26 with 350 attendees. The yearly vigil commemorates past and present service personnel, with current members passing symbolic candles to the younger generation of Cadets, Girl Guides, and Scouts Canada. The youngsters then place the candles on the graves of the fallen. “It is important to show our veterans they will be remembered,” says Jennifer McFarlane, Chair of the Candlelight Vigil Committee. McFarlane, an Administrative Officer with Canadian Forces National Investigation Services, has participated in the vigil since 2006. She is also the proud daughter of a former Search and Rescue Technician, Lieutenant-Colonel (retired) Allan Campbell. “The event gives youth the opportunity to hear veterans’ stories, but also allows the veterans to see their sacrifices will not be forgotten,” she says. Sergeant (retired) Jim Mac-Millan Murphy says he was glad to see the ceremony return this year. “Being involved in this ceremony each year means so much to me,” he says. “Hats off to the organizers and community for braving the terrible weather conditions and lighting their candles to remember our fallen soldiers.” The Canadian Scottish Regimental Association Pipe Band led a marching contingent and colour party. The vigil is managed by the Township of Esquimalt. The attendees this year included local author and historian Mark Zhuelke, Mayor of Esquimalt Barb Desjardins, and Lillian Lyuk, the daughter of Canada’s last survivor from Dieppe. McFarlane notes the cemetery is one of Victoria’s “hidden gems”. She hopes more people can visit the site and realize its beauty and historical legacy. The cemetery is a National Historic site and an honoured final resting place...

Tim Bryant Western Sentinel — The Canadian Rangers marked their 75th anniversary with an open air ceremony in Victoria, B.C. on May 23. The ceremony was the culmination of four days of celebrations and collective training in honour of the Canadian Rangers, who were formally established on May 23, 1947, as descendants of the Second World War-era Pacific Coast Militia Rangers [...]

[caption id="attachment_29873" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Nzolantima Swasisa's invention helped open a digital library in the Democratic Republic of Congo.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — An electronics technician and inventor from Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt has accomplished his dream of establishing a digital library in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton employee Nzolantima Swasisa launched a GoFundMe campaign on Feb. 6 to establish the Bibliothèque Lokole Numérique Zero Mega (Zero Data Digital Lokole Library) in his former homeland. On May 15, Swasisa reported he had reached his fundraising goal of $12,000. “My reaction is happiness to the few people who believed in me and trusted me with their money,” he says. “This enabled me to accomplish the vision of connecting the unconnected to the digital world in a sustainable and affordable way.” Of the raised money, $9,420 came from the Cardano Catylist Network initiative. The remaining sum Swasisa received through GoFundMe. The not-for-profit blockchain platform uses cryptocurrency to fund new technology and cultural projects to make positive global change. The digital library employs Swasisa’s high-tech invention called Lokole – a tiny black box of computer components that harnesses free satellite internet signals available in Africa. It can provide web and email access within a 25-metre radius for 100 users. Swasisa notes only 18 per cent of Congo's 90 million citizens have internet access. “I have contributed my passion and knowledge to implement this digital library,” Swasisa says. “Knowledge is the key for personal and community development, and today the internet holds tons of learning materials, which millions of people in the world cannot access because of poverty.” He thinks other digital libraries like Bibliothèque Lokole Numérique Zero Mega could help many other people. He hopes his success story will inspire others to consider donating to or launching their sustainable...

[caption id="attachment_29869" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Artist Marc-Daniel Allan’s painting “First Kiss” is one of three winning postcards chosen to promote the Maritime Museum of BC’s exhibit, Queer at Sea. Allan says he was inspired to paint First Kiss after viewing the 2016 photograph by Image Tech MCpl (Ret'd) Brent Kenny.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — When Master Sailor Francis Legare of HMCS Winnipeg returned to Victoria from a lengthy eight-month deployment in 2016, he did not anticipate becoming the subject of famous artwork. Titled “First Kiss”, a painting by Victoria painter Marc-Daniel Allan portrays MS Legare in an intimate moment with his partner Cory Vautour during the ship’s traditional First Kiss ceremony. The moment made national and international headlines. The First Kiss is a time-honoured tradition in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). It allows one lucky sailor at a ship’s homecoming to be the first one for the long-awaited embrace with a loved one at the jetty. The iconic “First Kiss” painting is part of a new art exhibit at the Maritime Museum of B.C. It has been recreated on one of three winning postcards to promote the museum’s Queer at Sea: Tales from the 2SLGBTQ+ community exhibit. The exhibit opened on May 17 and will close on Nov. 5. The postcards are available for purchase at the museum. Marc-Daniel Allan is not an artist by trade but a singer working towards a degree in Philosophy at the University of Victoria. He says he has been painting since his youth, primarily for fun. The idea to paint the first kiss came when Allan joined the Museum’s Postcard contest for the Queer at Sea exhibit. He stumbled upon the first kiss imagery and instantly decided this was the image to paint. “It was such a moving scene, I couldn’t help but portray it for the postcard. The First Kiss is such an iconic part of naval history,” Allan says. “Being reunited with the person you love after months at sea is an emotional...

[caption id="attachment_29841" align="alignnone" width="595"] Major Daniel Walton, Senior Fleet Chaplain at CFB Esquimalt.[/caption] Kateryna Bandura Editor — Military members often seek spiritual guidance from their chaplains, yet the specifics of a chaplain’s work are often shrouded in mystery. Major Daniel Walton, Senior Fleet Chaplain at CFB Esquimalt, says the job of a chaplain is not a typical nine to five job. “You look after the spiritual well-being of your unit or your ship. It's our responsibility to go out to where people are. This helps us be seen and they feel more confident to come see us when they need,” he says. Chaplains belong to a purple trade, meaning they can do their jobs in any element. Since being sworn into the military in 2014, Maj Walton has travelled across Canada and around the world, and worked with all three military elements. Now, he leads a team of four chaplains, including himself, at CFB Esquimalt. The secret to being a great chaplain, he says, is dedication. “I try to not just fix the problem and move on, but to walk somebody through their experiences. Then we can find a way to deal with it,” he says, adding that it helps to always have a pocket full of candy. Maj Daniel Walton’s path offered him many opportunities to fulfil his mission to do greater good. Dehydrated jerky and toy trucks Maj Walton changed a family’s life while he was deployed to Iceland for Operation Reassurance in May-June 2017. While on the mission, he raised funds for a charity that helped families with terminally ill children. “One guy had a dehydrator and he made jerky just for fun. People would kick in 10 bucks just to pay for the meat he used and that money would go into the box. Somebody had clippers, so people started cutting each other's hair and donating after they were done. The CO was a runner, so he ran a marathon from Reykjavik to Keflavik, and people sponsored...

[caption id="attachment_29856" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Shannon Bernays[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Shannon Bernays is brimming with pride about her recent selection as Ship’s Sponsor of the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) third Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship. “I was pleasantly shocked and just felt so honoured to be named the sponsor, but with this honour comes great responsibility,” Bernays says. “The whole family is so excited the ship will be stationed in Victoria, so we can continue to build a strong relationship with the Max Bernays and her crew for years to come.” The 54-year-old Colwood resident and mother of two says she was beyond excited to learn that she would be the sponsor of the ship named after her grandfather. She found out about her appointment in March through a Zoom call from Vice-Admiral Craig Baines and Commander Collin Forsberg, Max Bernays’ Commanding Officer. The appointment of a ship’s sponsor is a long naval tradition. The sponsor plays a key role in the ship’s naming ceremony and most sponsors continue their relationship with their ship for many years. The future HMCS Max Bernays is named after her grandfather Chief Petty Officer Max Bernays, who served as the Coxswain of HMCS Assiniboine during the Second World War’s Battle of the Atlantic. The ship is in its final stages of construction at Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax. It is set to launch at a naming ceremony on May 29. Shannon Bernays will attend the ceremony along with her husband Scott Thompson and children Max and Tessa. Shannon says they have been looking forward to the event for weeks since learning about her appointment. She will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of champagne across the ship’s bow. “Just thinking about it gives me goose bumps and brings tears to my eyes because I am so proud of my grandfather and everything he has done,” she says. “I know this moment would make my grandfather so proud if he were here, and he may be with...

[caption id="attachment_29852" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Sailor First Class Marie-Neige Dupuis-Carbonneau, a member of the Stadacona Band, has been recovering both physically and mentally after being struck by a vehicle while on her bicycle last year.[/caption] Joanie Veitch Trident Staff — Last June, Sailor First Class Marie-Neige Dupuis-Carbonneau, a clarinetist with the Stadacona Band, was hit by a pick-up truck while riding her bike home from work. As captain of her unit’s Navy Bike Ride team, she would ride about 300 kilometres most weeks. The accident changed everything. Just minutes away from her home in Halifax, S1 Dupuis-Carbonneau was cycling alongside Lake Banook when the construction truck struck her. “He had no clue I was on his bumper,” she says. She spent four days in a hospital. Among many injuries, she had torn ligaments and damaged cartilage in her chest. Later, she learned she had a significant shoulder injury that may require surgery. Before the accident, S1 Dupuis-Carbonneau was fit and active. She cycled to the band office at Windsor Park most days, often adding an extra 50 to 60 kilometres to her commute. A runner too, she’d qualified for Canadian Armed Forces nationals in both swimming and triathlon. After the accident, S1 Dupuis-Carbonneau could barely move. Her parents slowly nursed her back and in mid-July, she was able to walk with crutches and an articulated leg brace. Knowing her love of the water, her father promised to take her to the beach. “I couldn’t do much but it was enough just to be able to sit on the beach and be outside. That was the first time I had a sense that I was going to heal,” she said. By the end of August, S1 Dupuis-Carbonneau was meeting up with some members of the Navy Tridents Triathlon Club during their training swims. She could feel she was beginning to build up her strength. When summer turned to fall and the lake got colder, she continued her outdoor training with an inflatable swim...

[caption id="attachment_29849" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Sailor First Class Austen Webb of Patrol Craft Training Unit puts the Chasing M2 remotely operated vehicle at D Jetty. Photo: Aviator Bastien Beaucage, Canadian Armed Forces.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — An underwater drone is speeding up inspections of navy training vessels. CFB Esquimalt’s Patrol Craft Training Unit (PCTU) is using a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) to regularly monitor the subsurface conditions of eight Orca-class training vessels. The technology, which arrived in January, helps to determine any necessary repairs or preventative maintenance as an alternative to deploying a team of divers from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific). The technology’s benefits and its positive impact on day-to-day operations were noticed immediately, says Sailor First Class (S1) Austen Webb, Senior Boatswain Mate at PCTU. S1 Webb says the ROV will make inspecting Orca-class vessels easier, save money and transportation costs, and reduce lost training time caused by lengthy inspections during deployments. “Previously, Orcas would either be required to return to port in Esquimalt or have divers sent to locations to check for damage,” he said. “Quite often no damage was found.” The ROV will improve the unit's efficiency by deploying divers only when necessary, allowing deployed Orcas to remain on training missions longer. Practical Uses S1 Webb says the Chasing M2 ROV will be used primarily for surveying hulls of vessels alongside in Esquimalt. While in the open water, the drone can be used when the ship comes in contact with debris. “These can include log strikes or when ropes or fishing lines wrap around the props or shaft line of a vessel,” he says. “During one recent log strike, a tree trunk was caught in the shafts of an Orca. After the removal of wooden object, the drone was deployed to check for damage. Miraculously, no damage...

[caption id="attachment_29839" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Lt Josh Peterson is one of 21 Tour de Rock participants in this year's Tour de Rock.[/caption] Kateryna Bandura Editor — A local firefighter plans to raise $10,000 for children battling cancer. Josh Peterson, a lieutenant with CFB Esquimalt Fire Rescue, is one of 21 law enforcement and emergency personnel taking part in the 25th Canadian Cancer Society’s cycling event Cops For Cancer Tour de Rock. The ride runs over two weeks in September, with participants travelling 1,200 kilometers from Port Alice to Esquimalt, raising funds to support pediatric cancer research. “It is a way to connect with children battling cancer, to help them know they are not alone in their battle - that we care, and so does the community,” he says. So far Lt Peterson has raised $5,852. He received support from his fire chief, coworkers, and family. Now he is looking for support from the base community. Lt Peterson’s team trains three days a week. Tuesdays are hill nights, when the team rides at the Observatory in Saanich. Thursdays are speed nights, where they ride all over town, including Ring Road at UVIC. Sundays are the long ride days, during which they work towards 100 kilometres per day. He says they will reach over 130 kilometres a day by the time the Tour kicks off. All riders are paired up with a junior rider battling cancer. The pairings will be announced soon, and Peterson says he is nervous to meet his honorary rider. “Their spirit and excitement is what will inspire us to continue riding on the hard days. I look forward to hearing the stories on their battles with cancer. These children will fill us with hope and inspiration,” he says. The fire hall at 1350 Esquimalt Road has supported the ride for years, with past riders including Chris Day, Alex Marshall, and Matt Arnsdorf. This is Lt Peterson’s first time participating. “Being part of the Tour is a massive responsibility and takes a...

[caption id="attachment_29836" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Members of the Defence team paddle in the RCN canoe from Work Point to Behrens Island, May 24. The short canoe trip kicked off Indigenous Awareness Week at CFB Esquimalt and a celebration of its theme “We are all in the same canoe, under the same sun.” Photo: Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — “We are all in the same canoe, under the same sun” was the theme for Canadian Armed Forces Indigenous Awareness Week celebrations at CFB Esquimalt last week. The calm waters of Victoria harbour welcomed 15 paddlers from all walks of life on the sunny morning of May 24 as they made their way around Berens Island in a canoe designed for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Topping the list of VIP paddlers was Capt(N) Jeff Hutchinson, Base Commander, and Major General Michel-Henry St. Louis, Acting Commander of the Canadian Army. The Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group (DAAG) co-chair Shae Clutesi says the event built a special bond between participants. “Everyone in a canoe works as a team, so you need to build that trust and camaraderie with each other to get the canoe to perform properly. Building this trust makes for a very significant impact in the way the group can feel as one,” she says. Clutesi, who works as a Client Service Provider for the Base Executive Branch, says the DAAG plans to host more events that feature the RCN canoe. After its visit to Work Point, the canoe was put on display at the Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton and the Naden Athletic Centre. The ceremony at Work Point this week featured a drumming ceremony performed by paddler and DAAG member Petty Officer First Class Marielle Audet of the Naden Band. Chief Petty Officer Second Class Patrick Stephens, the Indigenous Advisor to the Chaplain General, brought the Canadian Armed Forces Eagle Staff, which was displayed prominently at the canoe’s bow for the entire trip. This is not the first...