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[caption id="attachment_26669" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Canadian Ranger Instructor Warrant Officer Kirk McColl rides down from Groundhog Lake with the Quesnel Canadian Ranger Patrol.[/caption]Canadian Ranger Lindsay Chung4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group––What would it look like if Canadian Rangers were asked to support a ground search and rescue operation using horses to get through difficult terrain?Members of the Quesnel Canadian Ranger Patrol in British Columbia’s Cariboo region set out to answer that question during an exercise in July.The purpose of Exercise Goldfield Sojourn, which took place July 15 to 18, was to run a rehearsal of the Quesnel Canadian Ranger Patrol deploying on horseback to assist in a ground search and rescue.“The exercise was to put all of the moving parts into play and establish patrol-level standard operating procedures,” said Canadian Ranger Sergeant Paul Nichols, Patrol Commander of the Quesnel Canadian Ranger Patrol. “I can say with confidence that it was a success. I think the major success was the emphasis placed on the scheme of maneuver versus just getting out and riding horses.”To be an effective asset to a search, the patrol needs to move quickly from its home location and self-sufficiently stage out of a new area; so, mobility and communications were a focus of the exercise. The patrol group loaded their trucks and trailers and drove in a convoy from Quesnel to Wells, where they set up a reception area and met with village residents, community officials, members of the local RCMP Detachment, and the Wells Volunteer Fire Brigade. From there, they drove to a new location and set up an administration area and camp in the village and spent the night.“From assembling, loading equipment, forming our convoy and vehicle packets to a road move and creating a reception area in Wells, the entire move was broken down into its...

[caption id="attachment_26651" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Winnipeg departed CFB Esquimalt for Operations Projection and Neon on Aug. 17. Photo by S1 Mike Goluboff, MARPAC Imaging Services, Esquimalt[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––Last Tuesday, HMCS Winnipeg departed Esquimalt harbour on a four-month deployment in support of its allies in the Asia-Pacific Region. Friends and family of the crew and senior leadership were among the well-wishers gathered on A Jetty in HMC Dockyard to say good-bye to the 258 crewmembers. Winnipeg is taking over Operations Projection and Neon from HMCS Calgary, which is set to return home at the end of August.Under the mandate of Operation Projection, Winnipeg will conduct forward naval presence operations in the region to further strengthen Canada’s relations with partners in the area. Operation Neon is Canada’s contribution of United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed against North Korea. This mission includes conducting surveillance operations to identify suspected maritime sanction evasion activities. “Winnipeg is heading off to a part of the world where there are stresses, strains and great power competition, and certain international laws, human rights issues, and those evolutions in that part of the world are not necessarily going in a direction that is in Canada’s national interests,” said Commodore David Mazur, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, before the ship left. “As a tool of our national power, the navy has been asked to maintain a presence in that part of the world and Winnipeg is taking up that torch, which is very important.”Winnipeg’s Commanding Officer, Commander Doug Layton echoed the Commodore’s comments noting that Canada’s “unwavering resolve and commitment” to allies and partners is important to freedom and navigation rights in the region. “Winnipeg’s deployment will also be an opportunity to showcase [Canada’s] values of dignity and respect for all human life,” he added. “All of us enjoy this in this...

[caption id="attachment_26614" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photos by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT Public Affairs[/caption]Ryan MelansonTrident Newspaper––Years of preparation and training came to a head on Aug. 2 in Halifax, as the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) newly commissioned Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), HMCS Harry DeWolf, set sail on its first operational mission to Canada’s north. The ship begins a four-month deployment with participation in Operation Nanook in the Arctic region and will carry on by sailing through the Northwest Passage, something that hasn’t been done by a Canadian warship in more than 60 years. From there, Harry DeWolf will complete the circumnavigation of North America before continuing through to Operation Caribbe in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea. “This is a mission that fully demonstrates the capabilities of our ship and the new capabilities of the RCN. This goes far beyond just focusing on sovereignty in the north – we’ll be doing all that this class of ship can do,” said RAdm Brian Santarpia, Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic and Joint Task Force Atlantic, as he saw the ship and crew off from the jetty in Halifax. Testing and trials over the past year for Harry DeWolf have demonstrated the ship can successfully operate year-round in both the frigid conditions of the Arctic and in warmer southern waters, which is a unique feature. “HMCS Harry DeWolf now has thousands of miles on its odometer, and we’re about to embark on a patrol that hasn’t been done in more than 64 years. It’s no small feat,” said Cdr Corey Gleason, the ship’s Commanding Officer. Op Nanook is a signature annual exercise focused on preparing Canada to respond to any crisis or security issue that may arise in the north, and Harry DeWolf will be conducting surveillance patrols and other activities alongside HMCS Goose...

[caption id="attachment_26611" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Cyclists from Team HMCS Donnacona pose for a group photo before their Navy Bike Ride trek in Mont-Tremblant on July 22. From Left: Team members Gabriel Fontaine, Mikey Colangelo Lauzon and Philippe Gagnon are joined by Maj (ret’d) Pierre Carron who was there to wish them good luck on their journey. Photo by Mikey Colangelo Lauzon[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––A naval reservist is among the top money earners for the 2021 Navy Bike Ride’s fundraiser after completing a scenic cycling trek through the Laurentian Mountains. Sailor First Class Mikey Colangelo Lauzon, a 28-year-old Naval Communicator with HMCS Donnacona of Montreal, currently occupies second place in the ride’s individual leaderboard, raising $2,620 and counting. This year’s virtual Navy Bike Ride, entitled The Harry DeWolf Challenge, used the nautical miles travelled by the Artic and Offshore Patrol Ship during its inaugural deployment through Canada’s north. Approximately 30,000 cyclists from coast-to-coast-to-coast rode in support of military non-profits Support Our Troops, Soldier On Canada, and the Royal Canadian Benevolent Fund. While many cycling teams logged their kilometres individually on their own time, S1 Colangelo Lauzon and three civilian friends formed Team HMCS Donnacona and transformed their fundraiser into a cycling adventure. It was a scenic 222-kilometre four-day ride in July along the Parc Linéaire Le P’tit Train du Nord, an old Canadian Pacific Railway now turned into a multi-use recreational trail. Riders covered an average of 55 km per day and paid their own out-of-pocket expenses such as hotels and meals. It didn’t take long for exhaustion to set in, along with the typical cyclist’s pain and discomfort in the thighs and lower back. “The distance and the mountainous course made me push myself to the maximum every day and by the third day was quite a challenge because of the elevation between...

Dan DempseyGuest Contributor––Fifty years ago, on July 11, Canada’s newest airshow team took to the air for their first major airshow at CFB Moose Jaw. The newly named “Snowbirds” - following in the footsteps of such eminent predecessors as the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Siskins, Royal Canadian Navy Grey Ghosts, RCAF Golden Hawks, and Canadian Armed Forces Golden Centennaires - were destined to become Canadian icons with millions of fans across North America. The team adopted its name on June 25, 1971, following a “name the team” competition at the base elementary school. We now know that two young students both independently chose the name “Snowbirds” - Douglas Farmer and Cathy Tiller.The “Saskatchewan Homecoming Air Show” that day was billed as the largest single day airshow in North America that year - and so it was. A total of 52 Canadian Forces aircraft participated in the show supported by 65 technicians with another 15 aircraft from the US Air Force on display. Also performing were some of the top civilian acts in North America who became good friends with the team - Art Scholl, Al Pietsch, Joe Hughes, and his wing-walker Johnny Kazian to name a few. A torrential downpour the evening before the show reduced parking spots to the extent that while 45,000 folks made it onto the base that day, another estimated 40,000 did not, being stuck in a traffic jam that stretched 16 miles back through Moose Jaw and down the highway towards Regina when the show started at 1 p.m.Led by Major Glen Younghusband, the team’s performance that day was the first major airshow of the approximately 2,700 official airshows the team has now flown over the last 50 years across North America. Hundreds of flypasts have also been flown, including those flown last year and this year under “Operation Inspiration.”[caption id="attachment_26605" align="aligncenter" width="189"] Snowbirds founder Colonel O.B. Philip[/caption]Proudly watching from the ground that day was the team’s founder, CFB Moose Jaw Base Commander, Colonel...

CFMWS––Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) has partnered with a research team from the University of Ottawa, led by Drs. Benoit Séguin and Milena Parent, to perform an in-depth review of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) sports program. The objective of this research is to help CFMWS demonstrate the value, contribution, and impact of sport on the operational readiness of the CAF and thereby make the necessary strategic decisions regarding the future directions of the program. To achieve these goals, they have already interviewed CAF members who are involved in CAF sports. They are now embarking on a series of interviews with members who do not participate in the sport program. Representation from commands, ranks, sex, locations/bases, and languages (French/English) will be ensured. The objective of this qualitative research study is to help guide decision-making when it comes to program elements, governance, and resource allocation, while helping further quantify the impact of the program within the CAF. This will have a specific focus on the impact of sport participation on the social, mental, and physical dimensions of wellness. If you are a current CAF member who has not participated in the CAF sports program, or a current CAF member who has previously participated in the CAF sports program but for various reasons are no longer participating, researchers want to hear from you.Personnel interested in participating are asked to contact either of the lead researchers: Benoit Séguin and Milena Parent, at bseguin@uottawa.ca and milena.parent@uottawa.ca––––

[caption id="attachment_26597" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Left to right: Harold Leduc, former President of the CVPA; Heather Parry, Chair, Broadmead Care Board of Directors; Denise May, Broadmead Care Interim CEO; and Ron Lloyd, Director, Broadmead Care Board of Directors.[/caption]Broadmead Care––On National Peacekeepers’ Day,  Aug. 9, the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association’s (CPVA) Outstanding Service Award was given to Broadmead Care’s Veterans Memorial Lodge and Veterans Health Centre, both located at 4579 Chatterton Way in Saanich. “The CPVA annually presents awards to its members that have made a significant contribution to our veterans’ wellbeing,” said Retired Brigadier General Joseph Gollner, CPVA Patron. “Sometimes CPVA receives a nomination that identifies a veteran’s facility that has provided, over decades, outstanding care and support to a large number of veterans and their families. Such is the case of the Broadmead Care Society’s Veterans Memorial Lodge and Veterans Health Centre. Through these, Broadmead Care has cared for our veterans in an outstanding manner. They deserve our recognition, and we are proud to present the CPVA Outstanding Service Award to them with our thanks and best wishes for the future.”Veterans Memorial Lodge residents Murray Edwards and Ted Vaughan were on hand for the festivities. At 101 years of age, Edwards is one of the oldest surviving Canadian Peacekeepers from the Second World War. He joined the Queen’s Own Rifles in Toronto in 1942, serving with distinction in the war, and was also in the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry during the Battle of Kapyong, as well as peacekeeping in Cyprus. Edwards is one of less than a dozen survivors of Kapyong. Vaughan, age 97, served as a pilot during the Second World War, flying multiple missions in support of the liberation of France, for which he was presented the Légion d’Honneur, French Legion of Honour Medal in...

Totem Times Newspaper––The Comox Valley Art Gallery is featuring Shelley Vanderbyl in their current exhibition Under One Sky. The exhibit integrates creative research, relational practice, and collaborative production, and is at the gallery until Sept. 4. Vanderbyl’s work incorporates signal fires and is directly connected to the search and rescue experience of her partner Maj Daniel Vanderbyl, now posted to the Search and Rescue Test and Evaluation Flight at the SAR Centre of Excellence in CFB Comox. “I have often drawn connections in my work between the lengths search and rescue teams will go to in searching for someone who is physically lost, and the attention that we put into seeking out those who feel mentally distanced,” she says. “Signal fires have been a recurring theme in my work for many years, representing the desire to be found, or to let oneself be seen, as well as a way to improve one’s own morale when lost.” Prior to the exhibition, she engaged in a creative residency at the gallery. The experience is documented at www.comoxvalleyartgallery.com/events/offsite_onsite-research-production-residency/. She was onsite at the Project Room Studio between December 2020 and March 2021 when a fire started outside the gallery doors. “I think one of the interesting elements of this story is that a fire set outside the gallery had a huge impact on Shelley’s work,” says Glen Sanford, executive director of Comox Valley Art Gallery. “She has incorporated that impact into the presentation of her work.” CVAG is located at 580 Duncan Avenue in Courtenay, and open to the public, in accordance with public health measures, between Wednesday and Saturday. To learn more about the exhibition visit comoxvalleyartgallery.com––––

Peter MallettStaff Writer––On HMCS Winnipeg’s flight deck on Monday Aug. 16, dressed in their Salt and Peppers (N3B), three Sailor First Class were promoted to Acting Master Sailor (MS) by Commodore David Mazur, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific. While it might seem an ordinary promotion, it was anything but that.S1 Venkarlo Cornes and S1 Nicholas Sanders received the promotion after qualifying as Shipbourne Air Controllers (SAC). S1 Shelby Andrews, also a SAC, was promoted to Acting Lacking MS after successful completion of her RQMS course. MS Cornes and MS Sanders are heading off on a six-month deployment with Winnipeg and its embarked Cyclone helicopter this week. MS Andrews currently attends Naval Fleet School Pacific.On Aug. 16, S1 Nelson Holland, from HMCS Vancouver, will be promoted on board his ship. Qualified Shipbourne Air Controller sailors of Maritime Forces Atlantic are also being promoted. The promotions are a reward in a new incentive program by the Royal Canadian Navy to generate interest in air control when posted to SAC billets on HMC ships.Shipbourne Air Controllers are responsible for the tactical air control of helicopters and fixed wing maritime aircraft, as well as international aircraft, excluding fighter jets. Their job and title is a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) qualification granted to Combat Operators from the naval trades of Naval Combat Information Officer, Naval Electronics Sensor Operator, and Sonar Operator that complete the voluntary course.The fast-track promotion and substantial pay hike are sanctioned by the navy to address the shortfall of Shipbourne Air Controllers on warships. The goal is to entice other Combat Operators to follow suit and take the additional training. Combat Operators can request the course once they attain the S1 rank, and have the recommendation from their Commanding Officer and career manager, says CPO2 Warren Beattie, Chief NCIOP with Sea Training...

[caption id="attachment_26586" align="aligncenter" width="595"] A view from HMCS Calgary of USS America, an amphibious assault ship and the lead of her class from the United States Navy, and HMAS Parramatta, an Anzac-class frigate from the Royal Australian Navy, as the ships maintain their position in formation with other ships in the Coral Sea on July 22 during OPERATION Projection and Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021. Photos by Corporal Lynette Ai Dang, Canadian Armed Forces Photo[/caption]Capt Jeff KlassenHMCS Calgary––HMCS Calgary operated with partner navies off the coast of Australia late July during the Australian and American led Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021. During this two week-long massive multi-element joint exercise, Calgary honed a variety of task force skills and improved interoperability with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the United Sates Navy (USN), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Republic of Korea Navy.The ship, along with its embarked Cyclone helicopter, participated in anti-submarine warfare, air defence, communications, and surface-to-surface warfare exercises. Talisman Sabre 21 culminated in a multi-day simulated war scenario where Calgary acted as an escort for Expeditionary Strike Group 7 as other ships performed an amphibious assault ashore.“By taking part in Exercise Talisman Sabre, Calgary is helping to ensure Canada is ready and able to work with our allies to promote peace and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Commander Mark O’Donohue, Calgary’s Commanding Officer.Calgary’s participation in the exercise occurred while it makes its way through the Indo-Pacific on Operation Projection, an operation focused on Canada’s commitment to global peace and security and building ties and interoperability with partner nations.On Op Projection since February, Calgary has visited Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, and Guam, and after visiting Australia made its way to New Zealand. Because of COVID-19 protocols, the ship has not been able to conduct regular port visits and this...

[caption id="attachment_26581" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photo by S1 Sisi Xu, MARPAC Imaging Services, Esquimalt[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––A lasting tribute to Second World War naval pilot Robert Hampton Gray was officially unveiled Aug. 8 at the BC Aviation Museum in Sidney.On Aug. 4, 1945, Lt Gray, flying Vought F4U Corsair, left British carrier HMCS Formidable with a fleet of Corsairs to attack Japanese naval vessels in Onagawa Bay. He sunk the Etorofu-class escort ship Amakusa before his plane crashed into the bay.The three-pillar monument show Gray in uniform, detailing a full list of his titles, awards, and citations etched in the stone. It includes a description of his life and military service, and a greyscale painting of Gray’s final battle by renowned Canadian aviation artist Don Connolly.To round off the monument is a stone bench with the names of committee members and key donors who worked to bring this monument to fruition.Despite the physical distancing and mask protocols in place, dozens of veterans, dignitaries, and high-ranking military personal were in attendance including Consul General of the State of Japan in Vancouver, Takashi Hatori; Commander Royal Canadian Air Force LGen Alexander Meinzinger; and Mary Collins, former Associate Minister of National Defence who represented Canada. Representatives of the Gray family included Dr. Anne George, Gray’s niece; Marcia and Mary George, his great nieces, and his great-great nieces Nyah, Niobe, and Nahla Clarke. Representing the Royal Canadian Navy was Rear-Admiral Angus Topshee.Flying overhead during the ceremony were six vintage aircraft.The unveiling of the pillars was emotional for Terry Milne and MS (Retired) Joe Buczkowski, who worked behind the scenes for years lobbying and fundraising to bring concrete honour to this war hero.“With few friends and family members left who knew ‘Hammy’ Gray, it was felt that if any lasting tribute was to be created for the only BC pilot ever awarded the Victoria Cross and the last Canadian so honoured, now was the time,” says Milne, who volunteers at the BC Aviation Museum.[caption id="attachment_26582" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Descendants of Lt Robert Hampton...

[caption id="attachment_26566" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HCapt(N) Debbie Eisan, centre, receives her scroll from RAdm Brian Santarpia at a ceremony on June 21. PO1 Katerina Stewart carries the DND/CAF Eagle Staff.[/caption]Joanie VeitchTrident Newspaper––Honorary Captain (Navy) (HCapt(N)) Deborah Eisan’s dream of becoming a nurse and travelling the world didn’t work out quite as she had envisioned. Instead, the Anishinaabekwe from the Batchewana First Nation in northern Ontario joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) at age 17.“It was the military that gave me the courage to stand up for who I am and to be proud of my culture and my heritage,” she said. “The military gave me the confidence to express my thoughts and opinions.”In her 36-year career, she travelled to more than 20 countries and played a key role in recruiting and mentoring Indigenous youth through the Canadian Forces Aboriginal Entry Program and various summer training programs, such as Raven and Black Bear. She retired from the military as a chief petty officer second class.On June 21, she was officially appointed Honorary Captain (Navy) at a scroll and pin presentation ceremony.  The event was held in the Admiral’s Conference Room at Maritime Forces Atlantic headquarters in Halifax with limited in-person attendance, but many watching on-line.Raymond Sewell, a musician from the Mi’kmaq community of Pabineau, N.B., drummed and sang the Mi’kmaw Honour Song, and Chief Dean Sayers, Chief of Batchewana First Nations, gave congratulatory remarks before Rear-Admiral (RAdm) Brian Santarpia, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic, presented Eisan with her Honorary Captain Scroll and Pin.“Honorary Captains in the RCN are selected leaders who have distinguished themselves in their private or public life. They act as ambassadors for the navy to the Canadian people,” he said.He listed her many achievements, including the National Aboriginal Women in Leadership Award of Distinction, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal for her...

[caption id="attachment_26563" align="aligncenter" width="595"] This 7/8 scale replica of the Nieuport XI, located at Canadian Forces Base Trenton.[/caption]Emily LindahlD Air PA––It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…well…it’s a bi-plane.At NDHQ (Carling) in Ottawa, the Battle of Britain Building houses Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) staff, both military and civilian, and a VIP – a very important plane, a Nieuport XI. This 7/8 scale replica of a Nieuport XI, C-IPOR comes with the nickname ‘Pokey’ and is on a long-term loan from the National Air Force Museum of Canada, located at Canadian Forces Base Trenton. The aircraft itself was donated to the museum in 2017 by a private collector from British Columbia.This Nieuport XI participated in a commemorative flight at the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge in France, in 2017. The biplane also took part in the “Birth of a Nation Tour” across Canada for #Canada150. The aircraft was flown by currently serving pilot, Captain Brent Handy.‘Pokey’ moved into the Battle of Britain - Building 7, March 27 when it was re-assembled and painstakingly hoisted to hang from the ceiling in the building’s three-story atrium a week later.The process to hang the biplane securely without compromising its structure was an incredibly delicate process. Metal frames were built to take the aircraft’s weight safely.The project was coordinated by LCol Jean-Pascal Paris, who is responsible for the Air Staff RCAF Artefacts aircrafts project, working in concert with the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Carling Campus Project Director, Mark Ross, and BGIS Manager, Dave Sprung, as well as a team of aviation technical experts. The Nieuport XI is also a tribute to Alan Duncan Bell-Irving of Vancouver, a Canadian who fought with the Gordon Highlanders during the First World War. In 1915, Bell-Irving was seconded to the Royal Flying Core (RFC) where he was...

Peter MallettStaff Writer––Three HMCS Regina sailors have banded together – literally. Sailor First Class Marianne Mojica, Master Sailor Justin Grant, and S3 Giovanni Bellosillo have combined their musical talents to form the 3 Deck Band. They play in the ship’s junior rank’s mess and other locations on board where sailors gather during special occasions and events.“A lot of people have been excited to hear us play and will join in and sing or even bring their own instruments and jam along with us,” says S1 Mojica, who plays tenor saxophone. “I started the band because I wanted to make things a little bit different on board during the pandemic and boost people’s moods. It is a morale booster and sweet escape for us and something our ship can be proud of.” The 27-year-old has been interested in music since she was four; she also plays piano, oboe, guitar, drums, Ukulele, and does vocals. She has been involved in orchestra bands, concert bands, and choirs, some of which were paid gigs. The favourite genre of 3 Deck Band is jazz, but they are not opposed to taking requests on anything from rock, pop, country to R&B. When Regina was stationed at the West Coast Firing range in Nanoose Bay for Canada Day to test its 57mm guns, the band assembled in the ship’s hangar to mark the holiday with a stirring rendition of O Canada. Joining S1 Mojica’s saxophone is MS Grant on Baritone saxophonist and S3 Giovanni Bellosillo on the violin. When S1 Mojica isn’t playing music or performing her Naval Weapons Technician job, she is looking for art projects. On the wall of the junior rank’s galley she painted city skylines of places the ship has visited in recent years. She also helped make and paint a plaque, which served...

Peter MallettStaff Writer––A team of Maritime Technicians - dubbed Y Jetty - are champions of this year’s Damage Control Olympics. The competition was held July 22 at A Jetty in Dockyard as a fun way to build Maritime Technician (MARTECH) hand skills while fostering morale and camaraderie for those who work in the trade. Approximately 80 participants from HMCS Regina, HMCS Vancouver, HMCS Ottawa, and team Y Jetty, who work in Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels, took on the challenge, being mindful of COVID-19 health and safety protocols. “The event was intended to build skills but also to get people out of the workplace and start conversations and friendships between members of the trade, and I think it worked well,” said CPO2 Lee Bickerstaffe, event organizer and Fleet Chief Engineer Marine Systems. “Those who competed seemed to be having fun and we are already looking at restaging this event next year with more teams and participants.”This year’s competition involved simulated emergency scenarios such as a simulated firefight and setting up an attack hose in a Kingston coil, flood response involving the repair of a burst pipe using band-it clamps, rescuing a casualty, performing a shoring by cutting in five specific areas of a pipe, filling a bucket with a firehouse until a piece of wood floats to the top, the knocking down of five targets with a fire hose, and the securing of bunker gear and a re-flake hose. CPO2 Bickerstaffe says COVID-19 safety protocols were followed throughout the event. Penalties were assessed to teams for any members not following protocol or wearing proper Personal Protective Equipment between events or maintaining  proper physical distancing. No awards or trophies were handed out during the competition; however, all participants were treated to a post-event, celebratory luncheon of hot dogs and hamburgers held at...

[caption id="attachment_26554" align="aligncenter" width="595"] The new garden is meant to be a space for anyone to come to reflect on nature, think, and remember SLt Abbigail Cowbrough. Photo by Jessica Miller[/caption]Joanie VeitchTrident Newspaper––A memorial flower garden in honour of SLt Abbigail Cowbrough was officially dedicated on July 30 at the Veteran Farm Project in Sweet’s Corner, NS, a veteran-run organization that grows farm produce for food packages delivered weekly to veterans and families in need.With about 25 attendees gathered under tents during heavy rain, Jessica Miller, who owns the farm along with her husband Steve Murgatroyd, began the ceremony by welcoming the guests, which included S1 Shane Cowbrough, father to SLt Cowbrough; other military personnel; Kody Blois, MP for the Kings-Hants area; representatives from the Royal Canadian Legion; and farm staff and volunteers.Miller said the idea of a creating garden in Sub-Lt Cowbrough’s memory seemed a natural fit as the Veteran Farm Project has evolved into a healing space for women veterans who volunteer at the farm.SLt Cowbrough died on April 29, 2020, when the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter she was on crashed into the sea off the coast of Greece, while returning to HMCS Fredericton after a training flight as part of Operation Reassurance.Five other CAF members also died in the Stalker 22 crash: Capt Kevin Hagen, Capt Brenden MacDonald, Capt Maxime Miron-Morin, Master Cpl Matthew Cousins, and SLt Matthew Pyke.Miller reflected on her own military experience as a former medic on board navy ships, serving 21 years with the Canadian Armed Forces. She said she felt a kinship with SLt Cowbrough and was deeply affected by the news of her death.“I had sailed those seas and I had flown in those helicopters. I knew what it was like to be there and I felt, as a woman, this would...

[caption id="attachment_26550" align="aligncenter" width="595"] S1 Ron Hiscock drew on wartime tradition and his artistic background to create a unique piece of gun shield art for HMCS Goose Bay.[/caption]Joanie VeitchTrident Newspaper––S1 Ron Hiscock has created a lasting legacy on HMCS Goose Bay, drawing inspiration from the ship’s name and old war movies he remembers seeing as boy with his father. He has made a striking piece of gun shield art, deploying a style of artwork that became popular during the Second World War, most notably on the Canadian Flower-Class Corvettes. Similar to the “nose art” painted on the fuselage of aircraft during the First and Second World Wars, ship’s crews, especially of the smaller vessels, such as the flower-class corvettes, began painting cartoon-style designs on the ship’s gun shield, often coming up with artwork that played on the ship’s name.“I have always liked the way the crew of military vehicles would paint a picture on them for luck, or to show how proud they were as a team,” says S1 Hiscock. “Being a person who likes to draw and paint, they always appealed to me.”Based out of HMCS Donnacona in Montreal, S1 Hiscock was posted to Goose Bay in September 2020 while he went through training for his Marine Technician trade A-ticket Roundsman qualification.Hearing the ship often referred to as “The Mighty Goose Bay,’’ an image of a cartoon version of the Canada goose image on the ship’s badge began to form in his mind. After thinking more about the history of gun shield art on board navy ships during the war, the idea of painting something in that style began to take shape.“I had lots of time to kill living in Tribute Tower in a pandemic,” S1 Hiscock says wryly. Drawing and painting has always been a part of his life....

[caption id="attachment_26547" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Members of HMCS Yellowknife at Chatterbox Falls in Princess Louisa Inlet as they conducted an over-the-horizon boat mission for long range communications planning and a quick shore recce. Personnel from left to right are: S3 Herrington, A/SLt Boerger, S1 Krolikowski, S1 Saygnavong and S3 Belanger.[/caption]A/SLt Jonathan BoergerNWOIII Student––Getting to sail in an HMC Ship for the first time is one of those exciting navy experiences that, for Naval Warfare Officers (NWO), is generally reserved for when you have completed phase training at Naval Fleet School (Pacific) Venture. For the students of the Shawinigan NWO III course, we were able to experience this during our core skills sea phase aboard HMCS Yellowknife, HMCS Whitehorse and HMCS Saskatoon. Being a course primarily composed of Reserve Force members, the opportunity to sail aboard a commissioned warship was unique and invaluable to our progression in becoming Naval Warfare Officers.The core skills sea phase is the first time we were able to put into practice core bridge watch keeping, contact avoidance, and coastal navigation skills that we developed through two months of in-class learning and two weeks of practical introduction at the Navigation and Bridge Simulators (NABS). Although it was exciting and rewarding to put into practice everything we had learned ashore, the most memorable aspect of the sail was integrating into the crews of these three Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDV). Not only did the ships’ companies build a program to support the core skills sea phase requirements, they also included fun and interesting value-added evolutions that enhanced our training and gave us an early introduction to more complex naval operations that we normally wouldn’t be exposed to until later in our training. Over the course of the sail we were introduced to task group exercises, maneuvers and formation steaming,...

Peter MallettStaff Writer––Four candidates of the Raven program briefly left their flock to share their stories. The Raven program is operated by Naval Fleet School (Pacific) Seamanship Division Leadership Section and blends Indigenous cultures and techniques with military training. They have been on site at Work Point undergoing Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) training from July 8 to Aug. 13. After that, they will graduate and decide if a military career is for them.--[caption id="attachment_26539" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photo by S1 Kendric Grasby, Canadian Armed Forces[/caption]Name: S3 Elijah GilmoreAge: 22Hometown: Brantford, Ont.First Nations Community: Six Nations, OnkwehonweSchool: North Park Collegiate, Grade 12Favourite Activities: Running, weightliftingHow did you hear about the Raven program? I was browsing the CAF website while also learning about the Great Wolf program in Ontario when I heard about Raven.Why did you join the Raven program? Because I thought it would be a fun way to challenge myself this summer while getting insight into a possible career.What do you miss most about home? I definitely miss my family, my dogs, and also having a little bit more leisure time.What benefits do you think a career in the CAF would provide you?My favourite aspect of the Raven program is also what is most difficult for me. The difficult thing is no matter how good I feel I have done at something, the staff will always push me and the rest of the platoon to do better. The schedule is very tight and very well run and they always work to get everything done between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. I joined the Raven program to learn about the Forces, but I am also learning about myself and what it means to work as a unit, which is something I am not accustomed to.--[caption id="attachment_26544" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photo by S1 Kendric Grasby, Canadian Armed Forces[/caption]Name: S3 Frieda HakkarainenAge: 18Hometown: Prince Rupert. B.C.First Nations Community: Gitxsan NationSchool: High School graduateFavourite Activities: Playing soccer, reading, writing and drawingHow did you hear about the Raven program? Through a family...

[caption id="attachment_26536" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Air crew from 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron and B.C. Wildfire Service members pose for a group photo at YKA Kamloops Airport, B.C., on July 15. Photo by S1 Victoria Ioganov, MARPAC Imaging Services, Canadian Armed Forces photo[/caption]Lt(N) Pamela HoganJTFP PAO––In response to a request for federal assistance from British Columbia, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) assets deployed to the province on July 5, as part of an overall CAF response to wildfires across the country called Operation Lentus. In anticipation of the request, multiple Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) assets were sent to Edmonton, AB, in preparation to be quickly expedited to B.C. An Airfield Activation Surge Team from 2 Wing Bagotville, QC, rapidly deployed to Kamloops to establish the airfield and initiate mission support services ahead of the Air Task Force’s arrival. A CH-146 Griffon helicopter from 417 Combat Support Squadron, Cold Lake, AB, specializing in contingency medical evacuation, was skids-down on the taxiway July 8, and within minutes was followed by the first CH-147F Chinook helicopter from 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, Petawawa, ON. Later that day, a 436 Transport Squadron CC-130J Hercules aircraft from 8 Wing, Trenton, ON, arrived with supplies necessary to set up the airfield and has since accomplished many transports of military and B.C. Wildfire Service equipment.A second CH-147F Chinook helicopter from 450 Squadron joined the Air Task Force on July 11 to share the workload of providing air mobility to fire support crews, conducting reconnaissance to determine the scope and scale of fires, and transporting mobile firefighting equipment. An additional CH-146 Griffon helicopter from 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, Edmonton, AB, arrived July 8 to support the B.C. Wildfire Service with utility moves.The abnormally harsh conditions of the 2021 wildfire season have led to approximately 448,952 hectares burned at this time –...

Royal Canadian Navy Public Affairs––Sailors will no longer have to spend hours tromping around trying to get signatures on paper to transfer in and out of Canadian Forces Bases (CFB) Esquimalt and Halifax.The Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) In-Out Routine Signature Sheet has been digitalized.“The old in-out routine process was labour intensive and required the transferring member to fill out a paper form and take it from one section to another, both at the losing unit and at the gaining unit, to complete the process,” explains Commander (Cdr) Dan Thompson, a Digital Program Manager with the RCN’s Digital Navy organization. “As the process moves through all the sections, officials at each section had to update data in several systems to reflect the transfer process.” At the request of CFB Esquimalt’s Base Commander at the time, Captain (Navy) Sam Sader, the Digital Team began looking at ways to simplify the process using the newest technology.“When we initially started, we wanted to modernize the routine…(to) see how any DWAN (Defence-Wide Area Network) applications could assist in digitizing the process,” says Cdr Thompson. “The Base Commander wanted a more modern process for personnel posted in or out of CFB Esquimalt vice having to walk around the base looking for offices to find signatures. Ironically, this project started prior to COVID-19 restrictions, but the team was able to continue its efforts through the use of teleconferencing.” It would have been nearly impossible to automate the overall in-out routine process from all sections into a single solution without causing huge disruptions across the navy and other government sections, according to Cdr Thompson. As well, some of those systems are already slated to be updated or replaced as part of other projects.He says digitalizing this part of the system will save time and allow sailors to focus more...

[caption id="attachment_26504" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Corporal Michael Smith[/caption]My name is Corporal Michael Smith and I’m proud to represent the Military Police again in the 2021 Canadian Cancer Society Cops 4 Cancer Tour de Rock. Being both a military member as well as a police officer, community involvement is essential. I’ve had the pleasure of representing the Canadian Armed Forces, CFB Esquimalt, and the Military Police during past Tour de Rock events and I’m excited to do my part for the community I now call home. Cancer has effected my life, just like it’s effected many others and I’m eager to raise funds for pediatric cancer research. What is Tour de Rock? Well it’s the biggest community event on Vancouver Island. Spanning over 1,000 kilometers and visiting more than 27 communities from Sept. 20 to Oct.1, with 80 per cent of funds raised from Tour de Rock going towards Pediatric Cancer research and 20 per cent to Camp Goodtimes.A more in-depth look at Tour de Rock can be found at TourdeRock.ca.I ride for the kids, I ride to fight cancer, and I ride so no one has to do this in the future.No donation is too big or too small. Thank you for your support!https://support.cancer.ca/site/TR/Cops%20for%20Cancer/?px=12979055&pg=personal&fr_id=27810––––

At the CFB Esquimalt Auto Hobby Club annual general meeting on March 27 members discussed and voted on changes to the club that set it up for a great year. Members voted on updates to policies and the fee structure, as well as absorbing the assets of the former motorcycle club. Now, membership in the Auto club offers not only the opportunity to work on cars, ATVs, and other vehicles, but also enables access to two different bike hoists. A new membership option was introduced allowing those who wish to try out Club facilities, or have a short-term project in mind, to acquire a week-long membership if sponsored by an existing member. There are two custodians on hand to help members find the tools they may need, as well as answer questions about the shop and its safety policies. If you would like to join the Auto Club, you can purchase a membership at the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre in Colwood, or by calling 250-363-1009. More information can be found at facebook.com/CFBESQAutoClub ––––

[caption id="attachment_26493" align="aligncenter" width="594"] MCpl Brendan Collins. Photo by Cpl Jay Naples, MARPAC Imaging Services, Esquimalt[/caption]Master Corporal (MCpl) Brendan Collins returned to his hometown July 24 to help battle the raging wildfires in the region. He serves as a medical technician in the aircrew of a CH-146 Griffon rescue helicopter that augments national search and rescue capability and allows him to engage in medical evacuation operations. “It feels good to be back in Kamloops helping out a bit and having the opportunity to help anybody, medically, during evacuations,” he says. He enrolled in the infantry with the Rocky Mountain Rangers after graduating from Kamloops Secondary School in 2003. Following eight years of service as an infanteer, and two tours in Afghanistan, MCpl Collins pursued an interest in healthcare and transferred into the Medical Technician trade where he specializes in aviation medicine at 417 Combat Support Squadron, Cold Lake, Alberta.The CAF has currently deployed several aircraft and approximately 50 members to Kamloops, B.C., to support the B.C. Wildfire Service by providing air mobility of personnel and firefighting equipment, as well as evacuation services to communities threatened by wildfire activity.––––

Peter MallettStaff Writer––With the pandemic subsiding, Soldier On is back on track to further its mission to help ill and injured military members and veterans on their road to recovery. In Victoria, six people climbed atop paddleboards on Thetis Lake on July 20 to learn the recreational activity. Instructors Marc Hellman and Krista Vass led the training. “A few members were nervous at first about the balance involved to stand up [on the paddleboard] but were easily able to overcome this, and then were excited to be out on the water,” says Vass. Soldier On is a program of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) that contributes to the recovery of ill and injured CAF members and veterans by providing opportunities and resources through sport, recreational, and creative activities. The program is managed by Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services.“Based on my personal experiences, I can’t think of a better organization to support than Soldier On,” says Vass.  “It was important for me to be able to share the combination of mental wellness and physical activity with others through paddle boarding as I can offer an experience and opportunity through this activity to leave whatever is bothering you on the shoreline.” Soldier On Regional Coordinator Nicole Wray has more Soldier On Camps in the works. She is organizing a two-day fly fishing workshop for the Victoria region, and encourages Soldier On members to stay tuned for an upcoming creative event planned for September. Meanwhile, in August members in the Comox/Courtney region will participate in Yoga sessions and a golf camp.For more information about their programs visit www.soldieron.ca, or connect with Soldier On through Facebook, or email SoldierOnBC-CBSansLimites@forces.gc.ca––––

[caption id="attachment_26486" align="aligncenter" width="595"] A Cyclone helicopter exercised with the Orcas, doing helo hoists. Photo by SLt Wilson Ho[/caption]SLt Wilson HoUPAR - HMCS Vancouver––Students of Algonquin Division, Naval Warfare Officer (NWO) Course Phase IV were hard at work the last two weeks, day and night, honing their skills in their final phase of training prior to graduating the course.All core crew and students tested negative for COVID-19 prior to embarking on three Orca Class Patrol Craft Training vessels for the sea phase that ran from July 14 to 28.Spread out between Orca 55, Grizzly 60, and Moose 62, students conducted navigation training around the Southern Gulf Islands. Accompanied by three five-day courses of NWO II students, the Algonquin NWO IV students conducted flag hoists in Constance Bank, multiple pilotage runs, manoeuvres in the Strait of Georgia, and formation steams, cumulating their training with a helicopter operations exercise with Stinger 20, a CH-148 Cyclone based out of 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron in Patricia Bay, Victoria.This was the first time an Orca Class vessel and a Royal Canadian Air Force asset worked together since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected millions of people worldwide.Students were exposed to challenging situations and were consistently mentored throughout the course by experienced bridge watchkeepers from the fleet. All of them were successful in passing the sea phase.Of course, one cannot navigate through the coastal waters of beautiful British Columbia without enjoying the scenery. Therefore, students planned and executed an anchorage run in Tribune Bay, by Hornby Island, where they got time off for a swim exercise.Additionally, to raise morale during the sea phase, a friendly biscotti bake-off was coordinated between one of the bridge watchkeepers and all the chefs on board the three Orca Class vessels. There were no winners, as all the bakers...

Peter MallettStaff Writer––A team of Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) cyber security experts emerged victorious at this year’s Cyber Flag 21-2 defence exercise. Locally, S1 Brian Michalski, a Naval Communicator in HMCS Vancouver, and Cody Cools-Lartigue, a civilian Base Information Services (BIS) employee, were among the 19-member team declared champions of the annual competition hosted by the U.S. Department of Defense. The navy contingent were among 430 cyber professionals who competed from across the U.S. military’s joint services, other agencies, and international partners. Canadian Armed Forces teams also captured second place in the competition, with a team of Canadian Army Reserves and another from the Royal Canadian Air Force, both augmented from branches of the Department of National Defence, finishing the competition tied.Teams competed virtually inside the U.S. Cyber Command’s web-based Persistent Cyber Training Environment in one of two nine-day cohorts, June 7 to 25. Each team was judged on their ability to thwart an unknown adversary or adversaries’ attack on their team’s network. They analyzed security intelligence regarding threats and malicious actors, conducted mission planning, deployed to the compromised network, detected the malicious activity, and recommended response actions. To deal with their cyber threat, the RCN team was divided into two sub groups, with its Blue Cell performing incident response and attempting to eradicate the threat from their network, while members of its White Cell oversaw the mission direction and provided technical support to affect change on the network. S1 Michalski was part of Team 15’s Blue Cell. Cools-Lartigue was a member of Team 15’s White Cell. He specializes in IT infrastructure and server engineering for the Department of National Defence. Cools-Lartigue and S1 Michalski said the victory came as a surprise. S1 Michalski was home doing dishes and listening to the exercise debriefing in the background when he heard the...

[caption id="attachment_26480" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Sailor First Class (S1) Michael Moores and S1 Logan Hunder lead Tabata workout classes on the ship’s flight deck to improve the physical fitness and well-being of the ship’s company during their deployment. Photo by Cpl Lynette Ai Dang, HMCS Calgary Imagery Technician[/caption]Capt Jeff KlassenHMCS Calgary––Two sailors in HMCS Calgary are hosting a different type of workout class on ship. It’s called Tabata, a form of high intensity interval training that uses many small sets of a wide-variety of exercises.“The most interesting thing about Tabata is that it incorporates all different types of exercises. Whether its weight training, cross fit, cardio, marital arts – you can include anything,” says Sailor First Class (S1) Logan Hunder, who hosts the Tabata classes with S1 Michael Moores.The two sailors met when they were at the same PAT platoon in Esquimalt in 2018 and bonded over their shared interest of eating healthy, fitness, and trying new things. They were posted to the same ship twice, most recently to Calgary. The Tabata classes started in 2020 when Calgary sailed for 50 continuous days on an Operation Laser deployment during COVID-19.“At that point, we didn’t know how long we were going to be at sea, so we wanted something that would help motivate us so we could sustain an interesting and useful fitness routine,” says S1 Hunder. “It works because it allows us to continue to try new and interesting routines.”Each Tabata class involves 14 different exercises, and these change every class. At the class, everyone pairs up and starts with two exercises. They do 60 seconds of working out, and then 20 seconds rest, three times for each exercise. This is followed by a 60 second rest before swapping to another exercise. There are seven pairs of exercises in total making...

[caption id="attachment_26474" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Participants of the Pulling Together canoe journey come ashore somewhere in Howe Sound.[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––Military members, public service agencies, and First Nation communities of B.C. have ‘pulled together’ once again.The annual canoe trip and outreach was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns, but returned with a scaled-down re-launch July 16 to 18 in Howe Sound. Pulling Together is intended to bridge the gap of understanding and knowledge between government employees and First Nation communities. “Paddling in the Royal Canadian Navy canoe was an incredible experience and the cultural immersion was even more meaningful,” says LCdr Rebecca Hardie, Acting Commanding Officer HMCS Discovery. “Being able to observe and share in traditional songs, teachings, and ceremonies will always stay with me.”S2 Lindsay Yeung of HMCS Discovery said the opportunity to meet people from different First Nations was invaluable.“Everyone was so friendly and a friend I made told me about growing up around Howe Sound and the places he’d been,” said S2 Yeung. “Every place we went he pointed to a location and told a story about that place.”––––

[caption id="attachment_26470" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Karen Kang[/caption]A/SLt Wen GuoBase Administration––Karen Kang's career with the Department of National Defence started at age 22 when she took a break from pursuing her degree.It was 2003 when she started as a temporary administration clerk at CFB Esquimalt. She fit right in and immediately knew she had found a lifetime career.“At the end of my term, there was a position available and my supervisor, Mrs. Marian Cranston, was supportive in me taking the vacancy within the department. I took it because I genuinely enjoyed the people I worked with and the benefits that were available.”Over the past 18 years, she worked to advance her career and now holds the position of Business Manager of Centralized Administrative Services. Managing a team of 23 staff members, she supports the Base Administration Officer’s corporate functions in human resources, finance, administration, operations and training, procurement, and safety.“We are a large team of 23 members; we take care of each other as well as hold each other accountable while following the motto: people first, mission always. Our department is a large team, and we help each other out to meet our goals. I find it helpful for my team members when they are given autonomy and allowed to focus on their priorities within their job.” She encourages her team to think outside of the box, be pragmatic, and put themselves in their clients’ shoes.She learned from senior leadership that taking care of staff should always be a top priority.“The command team has always promoted work-life balance; they focus on staff’s mental well-being. Especially during the past year of COVID 19, our senior leadership’s support has been felt greatly as they stood behind everyone and are willing and ready to respond to the needs and wants of the team.”Senior leadership enabled her to take care of her priority – her family.“My children Taranjot and Tejal, both nine, are my greatest inspiration and the reason behind a lot of my decisions at work.”She...