Latest News

Lt(N) Seán Place Canadian Submarine Force –– From Nov. 8 to 13, the Marina de Guerra del Perú (the Peruvian Navy) hosted the 8th International Symposium of the New Generation of Naval Officers of the Navies of the Americas. It is an annual conference of junior officers from across the American continent that provides an opportunity to establish contacts in other navies and learn from one another’s experiences. Lieutenant(Navy) Kevin Perron of HMCS D’Iberville and I had the honour of representing the Royal Canadian Navy during this exchange, which we shared with officers from the navies of Argentina, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay. The theme of this year’s iteration of the symposium was “Lessons Learned by the Navy during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Lt(N) Perron and I conducted a joint presentation on two subjects. As the Training Officer of D’Iberville, he discussed the effectiveness of pivoting to Team- and Zoom-based training within his unit. I presented a retrospective on how the pandemic had increased submarine crew’s time away from home and how rapid antigen testing and, more importantly, mass vaccination has allowed the easing of pre-embarkation protocols. However, some of the lessons learned presented by our colleagues were sobering reminders of the devastation wrought in many countries in the early stages of the pandemic. The naval forces of some co-participants undertook grim tasks such as transportation and storage of people who had succumbed to COVID-19 during the strictest lockdowns in their countries, when mortuary or funeral services were completely unavailable. It was with the greatest humility that we listened and learned from our fellow naval officers whose lessons from the pandemic made ours seem trifling by comparison. Nevertheless, we had many enjoyable and thought-provoking experiences during the weeklong conference, including spending two...

[caption id="attachment_28426" align="aligncenter" width="595"] “The shadow boxes support RCN employees by recognizing and showcasing their careers and accomplishments. It is a good representation of positive morale and a good social occasion,” says Shipwright, Marcel Scott.[/caption] Ashley Evans FMFCB –– Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott (FMFCS) Shipwright and Paint Shops, along with the Sail Loft, have been working on a special project. Together, they are crafting unique shadow boxes to present to retirees of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Canadian Armed Forces, and Department of National Defence at ceremonies and formal gatherings. “The shadow boxes support RCN employees by recognizing and showcasing their careers and accomplishments. It is a good representation of positive morale and a good social occasion,” says Shipwright, Marcel Scott. While the original design and process of making the shadow boxes has not changed significantly over time, Scott noted there have been changes made to the design and composition of the boxes by different builders. The boxes measure 25” wide by 23” high by 2.25” deep. The exterior frame is made from a pre-finished frame stock while the inside divider pieces are pine painted white. The back pieces are thin Masonite board, with one side completed with cork and red velvet fabric. The front is made of plexiglass. [caption id="attachment_27393" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Finished shadow boxes.[/caption] The Sail Loft provides the felt for the interior of the boxes, while the Paint Shop preps and paints the interior pieces as well as the back pieces of the box. The remaining work is all completed by the Shipwright Shop. Once complete, most boxes will house a flag (usually the Canadian flag), folded in the upper left corner of the box. The remaining space is then filled with memorabilia and possessions of value to the recipient of the shadow box. This typically includes medals, pins, photos, and small mementos. The personal thanks and recognition from the recipients and presenters of the shadow boxes are the most rewarding aspect of this project, says...

Halifax Base Chief Petty Officer, CPO1 Alena Mondelli was recognized as a Woman of Courage and one of Canada’s top 100 most powerful women by the Women’s Executive Network. Photo by Joanie Veitch, Trident Staff Joanie Veitch Trident News –– The award may have her name on it, but for Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) Alena Mondelli, Base Chief at CFB Halifax, being named one of Canada’s top 100 most powerful women is a win for all women who work as non-commissioned members (NCM) in the military. “I’m an NCM. In the civilian world, officers are valued more for their leadership than NCMs are, at least that’s the perception. So it means a lot and it says a lot, especially for women NCMs. We are professionals within the profession of arms. And we are also leaders,” says CPO1 Mondelli. “I see this award as giving value to what we represent. [People think] Sailor First Class Bloggins, she’s not going to be able to relate to an Admiral or a Commodore. But she needs to see herself represented and see what she can aspire to. Representation matters.” On Oct. 25, CPO1 Mondelli was recognized as a Woman of Courage by the Women’s Executive Network, which called her a “transformational and values-based leader” who “incorporates education and mentorship” in her leadership style.  To celebrate her win, CPO1 Mondelli joined the other 2021 award recipients in a virtual two-day leadership summit and awards gala held Nov. 24 and 25. Earlier this year, she made Royal Canadian Navy history when she became the first woman to serve as Base Chief Petty Officer. She is also the first woman in a hard-sea trade to have served every rank at sea, a distinction she earned as Coxswain in HMCS Toronto from July 2018 to August 2019....

[caption id="attachment_28424" align="aligncenter" width="595"] MS Scott Ferron poses on a motorcycle with one of his hand-made, fun helmet covers.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer –– MS Scott Ferron’s unusual hobby is now part of a philanthropic endeavour to help sick children on Vancouver Island. The HMCS Yellowknife sailor creates fuzzy character covers for motorcycle helmets. They add levity to an often misconstrued biker persona, one he is all too familiar with when he straddles his Harley Davidson. They are themed after Muppet characters.  “Riding around with my helmet cover makes people smile; their smiles are contagious because the experience also makes me smile,” says MS Ferron. He plans on wearing one when he delivers toys from his toy drive to local hospitals, something he has also done when posted to Halifax. “It’s an absolutely amazing experience and you can actually hear the excitement of the children snowball as word that a guy wearing a giant Muppet-like helmet is handing out toys travels down the hallways,” he says. He is currently gathering toys for the Victoria General, Nanaimo Regional, Campbell River District Hospital, and the Ministry of Children and Family Development B.C. Beneficiaries are sick children, orphans, children at medical appointments, and parents of premature babies. Collection boxes are set up at Victoria-area businesses including Liquor Planet, Barnes Harley-Davidson, the customer service kiosk at The Hudson’s Bay Centre, and the North Oyster Fire Hall near Nanaimo. A donation box is expected in Dockyard as well. MS Ferron says his intention is to spread a little joy and holiday cheer. “There is a lot of negative in the world, especially lately. and I wanted to make something as mundane as being in a hospital at Christmas time fun,” he says. “If I can make one kid smile while they are on their way...

[caption id="attachment_28423" align="aligncenter" width="596"] HMCS Harry DeWolf crew members help launch Defence Research and Development Canada’s new Towed Reelable Active-Passive Sonar, which was tested during the ship’s passage through Northern waters earlier this fall. Photo by Corporal Simon Arcand, Canadian Armed Forces Photo[/caption] Lt(N) Lisa Tubb HMCS Harry DeWolf –– While HMCS Harry DeWolf conducted presence and surveillance patrols in Canada’s Arctic in August and September, a new piece of technology was being tested beneath the waves. During the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship’s recent participation on Operation Nanook 2021, a team from Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) launched a new underwater listening device that could be used to find submarines. Called the Towed Reelable Active-Passive Sonar (TRAPS), the system recorded passive data to characterize ambient noise and the Harry DeWolf-class acoustic signature. The collected data will be analyzed for environmental characterization and sonar performance modelling, and may also have the potential for marine mammal acoustic monitoring. “The deployment of the sonar system near the hamlet of Grise Fiord, Nunavut, was the northernmost deployment of a towed array system by the Royal Canadian Navy,” said Jeff Scrutton, a lead engineer for underwater warfare at DRDC and part of the TRAPS trial team on board the ship. The increased cargo and payload capability of Harry DeWolf provided a unique opportunity to accommodate not only three DRDC technical staff, but also a sea container that stored their equipment and served as a mobile laboratory. “This trial is one example of how DRDC’s research is advancing acoustic sensing applications for anti-submarine warfare operations. It is part of our overall mission to enhance Canada’s defence and security posture through excellence in science, technology, and innovation,” said Michel Couillard, Section Head for Underwater Warfare with DRDC. During the deployment of the TRAPS system, several...

[caption id="attachment_28421" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photo by Master Corporal Andre Maillet, MARPAC Imaging Services/HMCS Winnipeg[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer –– It will be a brighter holiday season for the family and friends of HMCS Winnipeg’s crew. The warship is on the final leg of its four-month deployment - the journey home from Pearl Harbor – and is expected to arrive in Esquimalt a few days before Christmas. Winnipeg transited over 30,000 nautical miles on Operations Neon and Projection in the Indo-Pacific region. Operation Projection deploys Royal Canadian Navy ships to enhance relationships with allies and partners through exercises and patrols, personnel exchanges, and port visits. It is also a demonstration of Canada’s commitment to global peace, and its ability to defend Canada’s interest around the world.    “Our allies and partners were extremely grateful to have Winnipeg in the theatre of operations,” says Cdr Doug Layton, Winnipeg’s commanding officer. Winnipeg participated in multinational security patrols and exercises with the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Queen Elizabeth, and navies of the United States, Japan, Germany, Holland, Australia, and New Zealand. Patrols were conducted in the Philippines Sea, the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and a transit of the Spratly Islands and the Strait of Taiwan. “Not all nation states view the international rules in the same way as we do in Western countries and they will continue to push the boundaries unless Canada and its Allies remain committed to peace and stability,” says Cdr Layton. “It provided a powerful message to the People’s Republic of China that Canada is committed to supporting international rule-based order.” Operation Neon is Canada’s contribution to a coordinated multinational effort to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed against North Korea. Winnipeg conducted 48 patrol days at sea and collected intelligence on 23 vessels of interest suspected of violating the UN sanctions. Limited Port Visits Rigorous COVID-19 health and safety protocols limited the crew’s ambassadorial engagements and charitable initiatives....

[caption id="attachment_28410" align="aligncenter" width="595"] 443 MH Squadron.[/caption] Sgt Ryan Harpell 443 MH Squadron, HMCS Winnipeg –– This journey began many months before ever stepping foot on the deck of HMCS Winnipeg and sailing away for a four-month deployment on Operations Neon and Projection. It began in the summer of 2020 when I received news I would be the next Air Detachment Sergeant from the squadron in line for deployment. The months of pre-deployment planning began, which included pulling together maintenance team members and officially standing up the Air Detachment. With work ups behind us, I packed up my bag of kit and personal items and boarded Winnipeg. I brought so much stuff I wondered where it would go; but it’s amazing how much you can fit it these tiny lockers. I said goodbye to my family on the flight line at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, and boarded the Cyclone, which would embark with Winnipeg for the deployment. That’s when it hit me like a ton of bricks. This is real, I am leaving my life behind for the next few months. The first few weeks at sea took some getting used to it. The movement, small beds, showers, just about everything is different from a normal day to day on land. As air force, I came in thinking the navy routine and culture would be tough to understand. But the sailors have been amazing at making the air detachment feel welcome and embracing us as part of the ship’s family. Sometimes there are long hours and trying days that push me to my limit. Then the helicopter lifts off the deck and disappears out of sight on a mission. The hours pass by, and then I finally see it break the horizon. The wheels touch down on the flight deck,...

[caption id="attachment_28408" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Members of the Helicopter Air Detachment spread the blades on Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) WINNIPEG’s CH-148 Cyclone helicopter on Nov. 13, in the East China Sea, during Operation NEON.
Photo by MCpl Andre Maillet, Maritime Forces Pacific Imaging Services[/caption] Capt John Jacob HMCS Winnipeg –– An embarked Helicopter Air Detachment (HELAIRDET) is a force multiplier for any Royal Canadian Navy ship going to sea. The CH-148 Cyclone boasts an array of modern surface and sub-surface sensor suites and an integrated mission data management system that allows this maritime helicopter to excel in the modern battle space. Much like the multi-role maritime patrol aircraft, the CP-140 Aurora, it has the ability to conduct anti-surface, anti-submarine warfare, and search and rescue mission sets with cross-trained crews that can switch between these roles seamlessly in-flight. HMCS Winnipeg has benefited from the flexibility and capability of their embarked Cyclone, call sign Guardian, during their deployment to the South Pacific on Operation Projection and Neon. On Operation Neon, partner nations liaising through the Enforcement Coordination Centre in Japan conducted detection and deterrent operations of illegal ship-to-ship transfers in the South and East China Seas. This is in support of UN Security Council resolutions 2375 and 2397, observing sanctions to North Korea. Operating over waters densely populated with maritime traffic, it is a concerted effort by all aircrew on board to process hundreds of vessels in the area, sifting out the few that require further investigation. The use of the 360-degree Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar allows the crew to routinely identify fishing vessels from cargo ships out to nearly 80 nautical miles. The Electro-Optic and Infrared turret then highlights visual references that narrow the identification to bulk cargo, container, or tankers. From the remaining vessels, closing to within a few miles allows for a clear look at their name, port of registry, and IMO number, allowing the crew to cross reference them against a list of established vessels-of-interest. Upon finding a vessel-of-interest,...

Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) is launching another Community Needs Assessment (CNA) Survey, this time with a different focus. Instead of re-assessing collective needs and program deficiencies, the 2021 assessment will look at community needs from a micro-level perspective, such as when is the best time to offer programming and how and when to prioritize spending. We believe that when CAF personnel are able to take good care of themselves and their families, they can do better-both at home and at work. Whether families need to sign the kids up for swimming lessons, improve their fitness, make friends in a new community, or organize their finances, our services are there to support them. To ensure that our programs and services are meeting their requirements, we want to make certain military members, Veterans and their families are aware of our services and that our services align with when, where, and how they need them.In 2016, Military Family Services (MFS) partnered with Personnel Support Programs (PSP) in the development and implementation of a new comprehensive CAF Community Needs Assessment tool. The results of the 2016 CNA generated essential data that has directly informed morale and welfare program and service modernization.How can you help:From Nov. 17 to Dec. 10, 2021, we invite you and your colleagues to share your opinions in our CNA survey. Please encourage participation by sharing this survey link with your teams and allowing them time to fill out the survey during work hours: https://cfmws.checkbox.ca/CNA-2021.Participating in this survey is an opportunity to express opinions on preference, gaps and potential improvements in CFMWS services for our military community.CAF members should also be encouraged to send the survey to their spouse.To find out more, visit: www.cafconnection.ca/CNA.Thank you for your engagement in this process and your commitment to providing services that meet...

[caption id="attachment_28406" align="aligncenter" width="595"] PO2 Jonathan Dunphy gives a tour of HMCS Harry DeWolf in Arctic Bay on Aug. 26.[/caption] Lt(N) Lisa Tubb HMCS Harry DeWolf –– A mineral collection was the last thing Petty Officer Second Class Jonathan Dunphy expected to see while giving a tour of HMCS Harry DeWolf in Arctic Bay on Aug. 26. However, while admiring the local landscape, he had a conversation with a local community member on the tour that drifted towards geology. Years ago, he explained to the man, while at home in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he found a rock tumbler in a hobby store with his wife Jolene; it was something he had wanted since childhood. Much to his delight, he later received said tumbler as a Father’s Day gift. He eventually decided a rock tumbler was not enough, and, after researching methods of polishing stones, he discovered a love of lapidary – the art of cutting and polishing stones for jewelry purposes. The Arctic Bay amateur geologist pulled a rock collection from his jacket pocket and showed it to PO2 Dunphy. “He said that his collection was kind of plain, but I told him he had some great specimens. At that point, he offered me one of his favourite pieces and I immediately asked him for his mailing address and offered to send him some from my own collection.” According to PO2 Dunphy, Nova Scotia is “abundant in minerals and semi-precious gemstones that are mainly found around the Fundy shore.” “I love collecting because it’s always a nice hike to get to some of the more isolated locations and it’s like hunting for treasure.” Amethyst, Jasper, and even Stillbite, Nova Scotia’s provincial mineral, are easily attainable on beaches if you know where to look, he says. [caption id="attachment_28407" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Jolene Dunphy displays specimens of minerals and gemstones.[/caption] This hobby also led PO2 Dunphy to volunteer with the Nova Scotia Mineral and Gem Society, eventually serving as its president. The society...

[caption id="attachment_27333" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Harry DeWolf’s Commanding Officer, Commander Corey Gleason (right), and Royal Canadian Navy members prepare to enter Port Chiapas (Puerto Chiapas), Mexico, during Operation Caribbe on Nov. 15. Canadian Armed Forces Photos[/caption] Lt(N) Lisa Tubb HMCS Harry DeWolf –– A little history was made recently when HMCS Harry DeWolf became the first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship to deploy on Operation Caribbe, and successfully confiscate narcotics in their first drug bust soon after arriving in the operations area. The interdiction was made by the embarked United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET), who are sailing with Harry DeWolf. They are the ones who board and inspect vessels of interest. Royal Canadian Navy ships and crewmembers provide the LEDET with logistic and transport support. A vital component to boarding parties are the navy boarding vessels; they chase after vessels of interest, which are frequently small, fast-moving boats. On board Harry DeWolf are two multi-role rescue boats capable of supporting personnel transfers, rescues, and boarding parties. This craft boasts top speeds of 35-plus knots, and is 8.5 metres long, giving Op Caribbe boarding parties enhanced capabilities. A crucial feature of these boats is the C6 gun mount located at the bow of the vessel where a gunner can be positioned to protect their boat crew, and the warship at large as they are deployed forward of Harry DeWolf. C6 gunners are volunteers from different departments on board Harry DeWolf, and are usually junior members entrusted with a technical and demanding role on the frontline within boarding parties. Harry DeWolf is currently deployed on Operation Caribbe, Canada’s participation in the U.S.-led enhanced counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean. Naval warships and aircraft deploy to the region on a rotational basis to support the multinational mission to suppress trafficking in international waters. [caption id="attachment_28405" align="aligncenter" width="595"] A vessel is set to be destroyed after a drug trafficking interdiction mission as part of Operation Caribbe...

[caption id="attachment_28403" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Collin Angus (right), Open Ocean Robotics, prepares to install a hydro phone on the Uncrewed Surface Vehicle Data Xplorer with Connor Grooms of JASCO Applied Sciences. Photo by Corporal (Cpl) Jay Naples, MARPAC Imaging Services, Esquimalt[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer –– The welfare of marine mammals is at the fore of Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC)’s recent equipment testing.    A team of researchers launched the surf-board shaped Data Xplorer, a solar powered ocean drone, onto the ocean from Oak Bay’s Cattle Point on Nov. 23.  The technology, developed by Victoria-based Open Ocean Robotics, is a safe, green, and economical way to harvest ocean data. The goal is to detect marine mammals by towing a passive hydrophone array and recording or sending back data to a command centre. If whales are detected, the navy can use the information to pause, delay, or relocate operations to avoid them. “The best strategy to reduce the risk of harm to marine mammals is avoidance, and also the development of new automated technology to improve the monitoring of sea life,” says Major Dugald Thomson, a Royal Canadian Air Force officer currently on secondment to DRDC as their Air Liaison Officer. The ocean drone spent the day sailing near Chatham Island, Discovery Island, and Trial Island recording underwater sounds. The automated processing on board the vehicle detected Baleen whale moans and Pacific white-sided dolphin whistles; these detections will be manually verified after the trial.    Maj Thomson says the Data Xplorer has the potential to deploy at sea prior to military exercises. The Royal Canadian Navy would not own and operate the drone; instead, it would contract out a pre-exercise sweep of a specified area to Open Ocean Robotics. The potential data the drone can collect is enormous, says Ari Robinson, team lead for Open Ocean Robotics. Aside from passive sonar array data, the Data Xplorer has a 360-degree camera; a weather station that collects oceanographic atmospheric information such as...

[caption id="attachment_27323" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Capt(N) Jeff Hutchinson, Base Commander, and 101-year-old Peter Chance cut the ribbon to officially open the Peter Goodwin Chance Battle of the Atlantic exhibit at the base museum. Photo by Rodney Venis, Base Public Affairs[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––CFB Esquimalt’s Naval and Military Museum has dedicated its permanent Battle of the Atlantic exhibit to Commander (Retired) Peter Godwin Chance.On the day of his 101st birthday, Nov. 24, Base Commander, Capt(N) Jeff Hutchinson, base and museum staff, and museum volunteers held a small invitation-only ceremony.“I was absolutely amazed, humbled, and astounded that I was being honoured,” said Chance. “The news from the museum came as a complete surprise and I never anticipated anything like this would happen.”More than 30 years of his life were dedicated to the Royal Canadian Navy, including serving aboard HMCS Skeena during the Second World War. He survived its sinking on Oct. 24, 1944, during a storm off Reykjavik, Iceland, where it was anchored.  The storm pushed the ship aground in 15 metres waves onto Viðey Island. Fifteen crewmembers perished.“He survived naval actions during the arduous years of struggle in the Atlantic that included actions against enemy submarines and surface vessels to the loss of his own ship, wrecked in a gale in Iceland,” said Paul Seguna, museum volunteer, and retired Lieutenant-Commander. “He rose in rank and responsibility from a high school graduate Midshipman of 1938 to command a frigate and destroyer in Canada’s post-war navy, and senior staff positions ashore in Canada, the United Kingdom, and United States.”The exhibit features an account of Chance’s career and several items of interest from the Battle of the Atlantic. Among them are models of a Flower Class corvette and North Sands freighter, a diorama style exhibit of a Carley float, a food ration box and first aid...

LCdr (Retired) Paul SegunaContributor––At the behest of my wife Eva, we set out for an afternoon drive on Sunday, Sept. 26 for something to do on a rainy fall day. We took our regular route through the Saanich Peninsula with a planned stop at a favorite antiques and collectibles store in Brentwood Bay – Everything Old.No sooner had we entered the shop than Eva noticed on the front counter a large ship’s bell with HMCS Algonquin engraved upon it, and brought it to my attention. A customer was engaged with the shop staff in discussion about the bell, so I went about viewing the other items keeping watch on the bell until the opportunity to speak to the store owner, Andrew English, presented itself. I introduced myself as a volunteer with the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum and member of the Naval Association of Canada - Vancouver Island Branch, and expressed my interest in the provenance of the bell. Andrew indicated that he had just acquired the bell from a private collector who had purchased it from a scrap yard some years before. He believed there was a possibility the bell was a ‘transitional bell’ used when the Royal Navy transferred the ‘V’ Class destroyer HMS Valentine to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), which was then commissioned into Canadian naval service as HMCS Algonquin. Andrew was delighted to hear of my interest in the bell in the context of its acquisition by the museum as he passionately believes items of unique historical significance should ideally reside with museums for public display. Accordingly, I informed him that I would explore the acquisition of the bell by the museum and get back to him as quickly as possible.As it turned out, although museum staff had a great interest in acquiring the...

Peter MallettStaff Writer––Tritons Grappling Club members are back in action learning and drilling their technique at the Naden Athletic Centre.The club went on hiatus when COVID-19 swept across the world, ending most close contact sports. As health and safety protocols loosened following mandatory double vaccinations for military members and federal government employees, the club was able to resume. Members competed in the first combat martial arts exhibition tournament since 2019 when grappling became an officially sanctioned sport by Personnel Support Programs. Opponents were members of local gym Crusher Combat Sports in Langford, who won four of the seven matches against the Tritons. “It was so great to see the team competing again and it really was a case of you really don’t know what you have until it’s gone,” says MS Lee Thibault, club coach. “For me, the most important thing about this tournament was getting sailors new to the sport of grappling some valuable experience.” The sport is a form of submission wrestling that involves holds and takedowns but no striking or punches. That makes it a great sport for military members, says MS Thibault, because there is less danger of injury, and it’s about control with no damage to your opponent.“In grappling, competitors are looking to dominate the opponent and deflect,” he says. “Just like in various grappling arts, such as Wrestling Freestyle/Greco Roman, Jiu-Jitsu, Judo and Sambo, there are no body slams or strikes, and every takedown is applied with control, to score points and apply submission.” Club members train Tuesday and Friday in the NAC upper gym between 4 and 5:30 p.m. MS Thibault encourages military members to come check it out, and bring a mouth guard and an open mind, and adhere to the rules. “Put simply, our most important rules are no bullies and...

DND––The Director General of Compensation and Benefits (DGCB) recently introduced new sub-types of compassionate leave, which are now included in Chapter 7 of the Canadian Forces Leave Policy Manual (CFLPM). This new initiative will help reduce personal and family stress for CAF members so they can focus on the challenges at home when difficult situations arise.Following the publication of CANFORGEN 139/21, CAF members may now request compassionate leaves under the following sub-types:Situation of pregnancy or adoption loss;Victims of family violence; andParents of young victims of crime.DGCB has also introduced two new short leave sub-types that were communicated in the publication of CANFORGEN 166/21. CAF members may now request short leave under the following sub-types:Family-related obligations; andReligious and spiritual observances.For more information on the leave policy amendments, refer to Chapter 9 of the CFLPM.In challenging personal situations, remember you can talk to your chain of command, or for confidential counselling, reach out to the Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program.––––

Peter MallettStaff Writer––CFB Esquimalt firefighters can now resuscitate pets. Fire and Rescue Services have acquired oxygen masks specifically designed to fit the muzzle and snout of dogs, cats, and other pets. Three fire trucks are equipped with the new lifesaving masks. “If we attend a structural fire at a residential military housing unit and there is an unconscious pet, this tool gives us the ability to give the animal oxygen,” says Geordie Douglas, CFB Esquimalt Fire Services Fire Chief. “Thankfully, we have yet to come across a situation like this in recent years, but these masks give us another tool in our toolbox to respond to emergencies.”The cone-shaped mask has a rubber seal to fit snuggly around the snout and once the pet’s jaw is closed, oxygen is delivered through the nostrils. Firefighter’s underwent training provided by the manufacturer and tested the mask on Rex, a Doberman owned by Alex Marshall, a firefighter.Additional masks will be bought and sent to the fire stations at Rocky Point Ammunition Depot and Nanoose Bay Base Fire services.––––

[caption id="attachment_27302" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Members of 39 Combat Engineer Regiment deployed to Haida Gwaii on Exercise Haida Sapper to build two bridges for Canadian Forces Detachment Masset. Photo by Private Daniel Pereira, 39 CBG Public Affairs[/caption]Lt(N) Robert FinesHMCS Discovery––In late September, members of 39 Combat Engineer Regiment (39 CER) found themselves in the northern part of Haida Gwaii in support of Canadian Forces Detachment (CFD) Masset, a remote communication site that supports Canadian Forces Station Leitrim in Ottawa.A team of 88 members from 39 CER consisting of reservists from units all over B.C., were tasked with replacing an old bridge and making other infrastructure upgrades. Exercise Haida Sapper was led by Lieutenant-Colonel Jim Julien, and took place from Sept. 23 to 28.Along for the journey were a number of military units from across Western Canada, including 12 Field Ambulance, 39 Service Battalion and HMCS Discovery.About CFD MassetThe arrival of the Sappers and other support trades to Masset was a bit of a throwback to when there was a much larger military presence on what were formally known as the Queen Charlotte Islands.Established initially as a naval radio station in 1942, there were nearly 300 serving members located at CFD Masset as recently as 1997. Now there are only a handful of Canadian Armed Forces members serving in the local area. Nevertheless, the detachment is a strategically important base that provides signal intelligence to both the Canadian Forces Intelligence Branch and the Communications Security Establishment. It is important to keep CFD Masset strategically viable and maintain the infrastructure in the area.Given the geographical location of Masset, and the reduced military personnel on the island, it can be difficult to readily address infrastructure concerns. With the dire need to replace a bridge on one of the main service roads of the detachment, and the necessity of a boardwalk in another site, the request was made for outside support....

[caption id="attachment_27298" align="aligncenter" width="595"] The future HMCS Max Bernays, the third of six Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships being built for the Royal Canadian Navy, was successfully launched by builder Irving Shipbuilding on Oct. 23.[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––A senior member of Maritime Forces Pacific has been selected to command the third Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel – the future HMCS Max Bernays, which was launched Oct. 23 by Irving Shipbuilding. Cdr Collin Forsberg, currently the Officer-In-Charge of Patrol Vessel Sea Training (Pacific), is set to take the helm in January 2022.“I have been interested in the AOPV program for several years and was fortunate at this point in my career to be selected for this amazing opportunity,” he says. “It helped that being in my position with Sea Training allowed me to sail with the navy’s first AOPV [HMCS Harry DeWolf] for their readiness training program.”He will travel to Halifax in the New Year to begin assembling a crew. Maritime Forces Atlantic sailors will primarily make up the training crew, says Commodore David Mazur, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific. “To avoid having Pacific sailors separated from their families for up to two years, the intent is to have a few key West Coasters go [east] early, with much of the initial trials crew coming from the East Coast.”[caption id="attachment_27299" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Cdr Collin Forsberg.[/caption]Cdr Forsberg’s key responsibilities are delivering the ship into service after post-acceptance trials and readiness training. Initial cadre training is expected to last four months. It involves two phases: sailors becoming familiar with the intricate details of their new ship, some of it provided through computer models and training simulators, and their trade-specific learning. The new ship’s captain will also oversee procuring and installing equipment not provided by the ship builder, sea trials, and executing the readiness training program....

[caption id="attachment_27293" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Republic of Korea Ship Soyang alongside in HMC Dockyard. Photo by S1 Kendric Grasby, Canadian Armed Forces Photo[/caption] SLt Wilson Ho MARPAC Public Affairs –– Just after Remembrance Day, two Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy vessels sailed into Esquimalt harbour for a three-day port visit. ROKS Wang Geon and ROKS Soyang came alongside at CFB Esquimalt to allow some rest and relaxation for the crews. The vessels are part of the ROKN Cruise Training Task Force. It is the at-sea training component for the Republic of Korea’s Naval Academy. Fourth-year midshipmen from the ROK Naval Academy embark on the training cruise to practice navigation, cultivate military knowledge, and be exposed to a variety of on-the-job training to develop their professional skills as future junior officers. During the visit, all training staff, students, and crew members remained onboard because of COVID-19 protocols. These protocols extended to the official greeting of the crew and ships’ leadership, which was a small, yet formal ceremony on the jetty. Rear-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific, also met with Rear Admiral Kyu-Paek Park, the ROKN Cruise Training Task Force Commander, during a leadership office call, and welcome gifts were exchanged. The vessels departed Nov. 15.  [caption id="attachment_27294" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Rear-Admiral Kyu-Paek Park, Republic of Korea Navy Cruise Training Task Force Commander, and Rear-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific / Joint Task Force Pacific, exchange gifts at MARPAC headquarters in HMC Dockyard. Photos by S1 Kendric Grasby, Canadian Armed Forces Photo[/caption] ––––

DND –– Deputy Minister Jody Thomas and Acting Chief of the Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre are calling upon the children of Defence Team members to design their 2021 holiday greeting card. The contest is open to children of military and civilian Defence Team members aged four to 12. The task? Come up with some creative holiday artwork around the chosen theme and follow the guidelines to submit. The contest closes on Nov. 24 and shortly thereafter, the DM and A-CDS will pick and announce a winning design. Submission Guidelines: All artwork must be completed on the template found at: https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/dnd-mdn/documents/ml-fd/2021/dm-cds-holiday-card-contest-form-2021.pdf Artwork should be themed around “How our Defence Team members make a difference”. For example, our military performing search and rescue, or our scientists developing new and innovative ways to keep Canada safe. There should be no text within the picture itself – all text is to be included in the description section of the template. Artwork will need to be submitted by the Defence Team member and include a description of the artwork (in the artist’s words) and include the name and age of the child. By providing a submission, you are allowing for the reproduction and use of the artwork for the holiday greeting card and for use on the Defence Team intranet, the Maple Leaf, and on various social media platforms. The deadline for submission is Wednesday, November 24. Artwork should be scanned at a high resolution and emailed to Internal_Communications_internes@forces.gc.ca ––––

[caption id="attachment_27286" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Three Cormorant helicopters and crew from 442 Search and Rescue Squadron evacuated people from Highway 7 after heavy rain triggered mudslides. Photos by Cpl Parker Salustro, Canadian Armed Forces Photos[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––Following the torrential downpour last week, hundreds of motorists were left stranded on a flooded stretch of Highway 7 near Agassiz, B.C.The tiny mountain community is located approximately 24 kilometres northeast of Chilliwack, in the Eastern Fraser River Valley, and was the site of two landslides that had occurred on the night of Nov. 14.Aviators from 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron based out of CFB Comox were tasked by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre to rescue motorists as part of a landslide and flooding emergency response.Three Cormorant helicopters evacuated 311 motorists, including children, 26 dogs, and one cat on Nov. 15. Some motorists were rescued directly from their cars after becoming trapped by landslide debris. The airlift was hampered by the difficult terrain and the slide debris on the narrow stretch of highway.Landslides and flooding came in the wake of record rainfall that occurred across the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island over two days. The fierce autumn storm stranded people in their homes and on roadways, created wide-spread power outages, saw evacuation orders and states of emergency issued for thousands, crippled transportation, and disrupted supply chains.State of EmergencyA State of Emergency was declared by the B.C. Provincial Government on Nov. 17, followed by an official request for assistance to the federal government for the Canadian Armed Forces, which was approved.The request prompted the sixth iteration this year of Operation Lentus, the Canadian Armed Forces response to natural disasters in Canada.As of press time, soldiers from 3rd Canadian Division – Western Canada, overseen by CFB Edmonton command, sent out a team to set up an immediate response unit (IRU) on the mainland.The Royal...

[caption id="attachment_27255" align="alignleft" width="591"] Pat Shaw, Academic Director for Coding for Veterans, travelled across Canada to educate military members on Coding for Veterans. Photo by Patricia Leboeuf, Petawawa Post[/caption] Patricia Leboeuf Petawawa Post Newspaper –– There are unique opportunities for life after the uniform for veterans and members considering leaving the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Coding for Veterans (C4V) channels the distinctive skillset military members acquire during their military careers into well-paid and highly in-demand jobs in the cybersecurity and software development fields.  “The beauty of this is that veterans bring a range of skills and capabilities and a mindset that is directed towards security, so all we have to do is bring them up to speed on the technology,” says Pat Shaw, Academic Director for Coding for Veterans. CAF personnel tend to have a protective mentality and integrity, with the bonus of already possessing security clearance, he noted. This makes them highly desired by employers who are looking for qualified staff. “I personally know people who have been 14 months in the queue trying to get a security clearance as a civilian, and by then, the employer will have already hired somebody from our program rather than wait.” The need for qualified staff in the fields of cybersecurity and software development is growing every day. When the program was first formed, statistics showed there would be a need for an additional 127,000 jobs in the field. In just the last year that number has grown to 147,000 direct jobs. “But just last month, the University of Ottawa has correlated the skills being taught in this program to open jobs in Canada and that came up to 242,000 jobs today. We are actually losing ground by not being able to get people through the training and into the workforce fast...

[caption id="attachment_27252" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Oriole with a crew of cadets sails past Toronto’s CN Tower in 2018.[/caption]DND/RCN––Royal Canadian Sea Cadets will once again crew aboard the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) sail training vessel HMCS Oriole in the summer of 2022.Crewing the 31-metre sailing ketch isn’t new for the Cadet organization, a program for youth aged 12 to 18 years. In the summers of 2018 and 2019, Oriole hosted Sea Cadets to live aboard and crew the ship, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed all that.“The pandemic halted our Cadet training program,” says Lieutenant Commander (LCdr) Robert Pelton, Commanding Officer of HMCS Oriole. “However, we are starting to look to the future again, and hope to be able to host Sea Cadets once again, beginning in summer 2022.”Sailing aboard Oriole, which turned 100 years old in June 2021, was a long-held dream for Lieutenant(Navy) Mark Phillips, Commanding Officer of Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Chaudiere, out of Milton, ON.“Over 20 years ago, I added sailing aboard HMCS Oriole to my bucket list, knowing full well it was highly unlikely to ever happen. The main reasons were that Oriole was permanently located on the West Coast and I was a Sea Cadet Instructor living in the Greater Toronto Area with just a dream.”In July of 2018 all that changed when he sailed aboard the sail training vessel for two weeks as the Sea Cadet Escort Officer, along with 10 Sea Cadets and two staff cadets.“That year it was announced that Oriole would remain on the East Coast, and it began hosting Sea Cadets from across Canada as it sailed from May to October, travelling from Halifax to Lake Erie and back.”With the tall ship receiving a refit the year before, it was in pristine condition.“The experience for myself and the Sea Cadets was awesome; truly a once-in-a-lifetime event. There were some great opportunities for teamwork, learning,...

Peter MallettStaff Writer––The idea of learning a musical instrument usually elicits groans from a child. It’s usually seen more as a chore than a delight. That was not the case for S2 Giovanni Marco Bellosillo. As a boy, he sought out learning the violin after seeing one in a music store and asking his mother to buy it. Music lessons taught him how to hold the bow, proper finger and chin placement, body posture, and a few recital songs.With age came a taste for classical, electronic, and pop music, all trialled on his violin with hours of practice. He has a knack for listening to a piece and playing it on his violin, he says. “I see music as a gift from God that was given to me and provides me with a sense of comfort and relaxation when I perform for people or when I am by myself in my spare time,” says S2 Bellosillo, 22, who serves in HMCS Regina as a Marine Technician. In high school he joined the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra, a regional orchestra for residents of Comox Valley and Campbell River. Founder and fellow violinist Blaine Walbauer schooled him in the more complicated aspects of playing the instrument, adding in a few tips on performing. “The best part of playing violin and performing for other people is seeing how happy they become when I play my violin,” says S2 Bellosillo. Much of that happiness takes place on board Regina where he shares the limelight with two other musicians - Saxophone player S1 Marianne Mojica and Baritone saxophonist MS Justin Grant - together forming 3-Deck band.The trio often perform in the ship’s mess and other locations for special occasion, normally playing jazz, but also capable of serenading sailors with classical, rock, R&B, and country music cover tunes...

Military Police Unit Halifax––It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of the last military police working dog, Vimy, on the morning of Sept. 13.Vimy was named to commemorate the great battle of Vimy Ridge during the First World War, which was situated in the north of France. The battle spanned from April 9-12, 1917, and saw more than 10,000 Canadian troops either killed or wounded. The name “Vimy” represented a military nexus to policing, along with a call to service within the Military Police Branch.Vimy was enrolled into the Military Police Branch in July 2008 after successful completion of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Canine Program with then Cpl Caron. Vimy was trained as a general service police dog for the Military Police Branch. It was a career that lasted for 12 years alongside his partner, WO Caron. Although Vimy was a general service dog, he also had a specialization in narcotic detection.Dog and partner trained with the OPP at the beginning of their career. They became certified in a variety of profiles including tracking suspects/missing persons, drug searches, searching ships, and officer protection. Together they worked countless hours with partnered policing agencies such as Halifax Regional Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Border Services Agency, Ontario Provincial Police, and Corrections Canada. Vimy and WO Caron helped bridge many relationships with partner police agencies through the K9 program.Throughout his career, Vimy followed WO Caron with police responsibilities to MPU Halifax (twice) and 2 MP Regiment, Detachment Petawawa. During the prime of Vimy’s career, he and WO Caron attended, on average, 130 calls of service a year. Vimy retired from duty on March 31, 2020.Vimy will be dearly missed. Anyone who would like to send messages, letters, and condolences can forward them to david.bamford@forces.gc.ca.––––

[caption id="attachment_27240" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Shane Mutlow, author and retired soldier.[/caption]Patricia LeboeufPetawawa Post Newspaper––It has taken over 25 years for retired Canadian soldier Shane Mutlow to summon the courage to share his story with the world.The trauma and suffering he experienced while in Rwanda in 1994 left him with mental health injuries that haunt him to this day. For six months, he bore witness to unimaginable horror - the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide that claimed thousands of lives and saw an estimated two million refugees flee the country.“One Foot over the Edge: A Canadian Soldier’s Personal Account of The Rwandan Genocide” recounts Mutlow’s story, his traumatic experiences in Rwanda including his own kidnapping, and witnessing a friend’s suicide.The story follows him as he tries to regain his mental health and find his footing again.Writing the book was simultaneously a catharsis and a trauma as Mutlow had to recount those dark terrors.“The reason why I wrote this is because I wanted to help others,” he says. “So, if that works, then I feel like I’m just doing my job.”Because he was unable to finish his career in the military, this is his way to help his comrades and show there is a light in the darkness.Response to the book, released in August, has been overwhelmingly positive, and some proceeds from each sale goes to Fortitude Farms in Braeside, ON, to provide funds for veterans who wish to try equine therapy.Ginger, a therapy horse at Fortitude Farms, became Mutlow’s lifeline, helping him slowly regain a sense of emotional balance.“The only thing that worked for him was equine therapy,” says his wife, Justine Mutlow. “Nothing worked except for horses.”His book has made the top 100 on Amazon and there is talk of turning his story into a movie.While the book is a success now, he was initially terrified to release it.“My worst fear was the response I was going to get from people I served with overseas,” says Mutlow. “All those people have...

[caption id="attachment_27234" align="aligncenter" width="595"] MCpl (Retired) Don Ward’s art titled ‘Juno Beach’.[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––Visitors to Peacekeepers Park in Angus, Ontario, are likely to see Don Ward’s art – haunting portraits of the fallen affixed to weather resistant plaques lining the four walls. The 63-year-old artist, a retired Master Corporal, says he wanted to add faces to the list of names etched in the granite monument at the entrance of the park. “Having their faces and information makes a person whole again and brings them back into the light.” So far, he has memorialized 284 fallen peacekeepers on canvas, service members involved in some of Canada’s 56 UN and combat missions from the 1950s to present day, a project he calls Bringing Their Faces Into the Light.“I have focused my artwork on remembering their courage and sacrifice, as I am afraid that it will be lost to future generations. We, as a society, can never forget this, for if we do, their sacrifice was for nothing. So that is why I am doing my part to make sure future generations never forget.”[caption id="attachment_27235" align="aligncenter" width="236"] MCpl (Retired) Don Ward[/caption]Ward is the son of a Second World War veteran, a career he also followed, serving with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, The 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s), and The Royal Canadian Dragoons from 1975 to 1992.His service, and that of his father, brings an intimate understanding of the bonds that tie a unit together, through the shared experience of war and service to country. “Many of the people who I knew during my deployments are still my greatest friends to this day.”  Art is his way of illustrating the value of military service. He fully engulfed himself in drawing and painting after he retired, but age 10 is when he recognized his talent. He won an art contest at The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in Toronto.His watercolour paintings begin with a name – a fallen member, faceless until he finds a photograph. It is the emotion...

[caption id="attachment_27230" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Captain (Navy) Martin Coates, champion of the Defence Team Pride Advisory Organization (DTPAO); Steve Cleugh, Civilian Chair of the DTPAO; Master Sailor Erin Rautenstrauch, Military Chair of the DTPAO; and Chief Petty Officer First Class Al Darragh, Base Chief, hold the Progress Pride Flag that will be raised at CFB Esquimalt for the first time on Saturday, Nov. 20.[/caption]Hadley ParsonsDeputy Base Communications Officer, Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt––While Transgender Day of Remembrance itself is a solemn occasion, a day meant to remember those who have lost their lives because of anti-transgender violence, the raising of the flag can hopefully serve as a symbol that celebrates progress made, and of hope for future progress.“To me, this flag means that the RCN, and the CAF are becoming more inclusive. Meaning anyone of any gender, or orientation can serve their country proudly. Be it in uniform or civilian,” says Steve Cleugh, co-chair of the Defence Team Pride Advisory Organization said that to him.Designed in 2018, the Progress Pride flag retains the familiar six stripe rainbow, it adds in a chevron of white, pink and blue which represents the transgender community, as well as brown and black stripes which represent LGBTQ2+ people of colour. The black stripe also represents those living with HIV/AIDS and those who have been lost.The flag’s designer, Daniel Quasar, used the chevron to denote forward movement, but placed it along the left side of the flag to show that there is still progress to be made for transgender rights and reducing discrimination.“The inclusive nature of this flag and sombre mission of this day of remembrance brings to mind the first principle of the CAF Code of Values and Ethics. It tells us that we have an obligation, not just to the Defence Team, but to humanity, to...

[caption id="attachment_27227" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Kapitänleutnant Tim Hupka, a German Exchange Officer, and Lieutenant (Navy) Christopher Sulyma, on the bridge wing of HMCS Winnipeg. Photo by MCpl Andre Maillet, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Lt(N) Christopher SulymaHMCS Winnipeg––In an environment that seems more fractious with every passing day, alliances and partnerships become increasingly valuable. HMCS Winnipeg, currently deployed to South-East Asia on Operations Projection and Neon, has learned the importance of multi-national partnership first-hand. Outside the guardrails, Winnipeg has operated with a multi-national carrier strike group, participated in multi-national exercises off Japan, sailed in consort with seven allied nations, and participated in enforcement of UN Security Council resolutions. On board, multinational partnerships are also flourishing, as Winnipeg hosted the first German exchange officer to participate in Operation Regulus, Canada’s officer exchange program.Established in 2010, Regulus was created to enable sailors to gain valuable experience during a time when the Halifax-Class Modernization limited opportunities to sail at home. Since then, Canadian personnel have filled billets in numerous allied navies including the United States, France, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Chile, to name just a few. In turn, many allied naval personnel have sought placements and training within the Royal Canadian Navy to further develop their own skills and build the bridges of international cooperation that are vital to operations.Kapitänleutnant Tim Hupka, from Wilhelmshaven, Germany, joined Winnipeg in Manila, Philippines, half-way through the deployment. The time alongside gave him an opportunity to settle into the ship’s Wardroom, and meet the men and women he would be living and working with for the next two months. Assigned as his host, and a veteran of the Regulus program (Chile, April to September 2014), I was able to give KptLt Hupka a unique introduction to life aboard a Canadian warship. Within hours of his arrival, the ship’s...