Latest News

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer / Ashley Evans ~Larry Fletcher and Steven Faust are usually the first friendly faces returning sailors or visiting sailors see when their ship comes alongside a jetty in HMC Dockyard. They have dubbed themselves the “electrical ambassadors” because they are the ones who hook the ships up to on-shore power.“Larry and I are the first faces sailors meet when they return home. We also really enjoy interacting with visitors from other countries, making the most unique aspect of our job customer service,” says Faust. “We take pride in being the electrical ambassadors for the base, and making shore power hook-ups as easy and efficient as possible.” The two electricians work in the Electrical Shop of Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Breton and provide, maintain, and repair shore power for HMC Ships and those of visiting navies. Fletcher, 54, joined FMF three years ago after working several decades as a technician in the data communications, and film and television industry. He made his way to FMF in 2017 after working five years at Seaspan Shipyard where he became a qualified electrician and earned his ticket with the local branch of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Faust, 39, carved a much quicker path to FMF. After graduating from Camosun College, he worked as a commercial electrician for office buildings and also installing power and data at the University of Victoria with a private company. He upped his credentials by joining FMF’s apprenticeship program.The biggest part of their job is maintaining, testing, repairing, and even manufacturing cables inside the Electrical Shop’s cable repair facility. They have a large inventory of 40 different cables to maintain because the cable requirements for each vessel in the navy and other navies are different. A frigate, for example, needs 12 individual cables organized...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A team of sailors are preparing HMCS Yellowknife for a five-month maintenance project. Led by Lieutenant (Navy) Jayson Scott-Westfield, 20 sailors and members of the D702 logistics branch have been removing and safely storing sensitive materials from the ship, such as computer hardware and software, for the past six weeks. “Literally, every item on the ship that isn’t bolted down or nailed down is being moved,” he said.Before items can be removed and packed for storage, each item is recorded and registered with its own tracking number. The team is taking detailed notes of every step performed in order to create a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document for future refits involving the Kingston-Class ship. He says a procedural blueprint such as this will help the navy develop a phased plan for similar prep work, outlining requirements and timelines, and making recommendations to avoid any slowdowns.With preparations completed, it was officially handed over to SNC Lavalin who will oversee all maintenance work. On July 13, the ship will be towed to Point Hope Shipyards, located in Victoria’s Upper Harbour, by two Queen’s Harbour Master tug boats.Like a standard seasonal tune-up for a car, Yellowknife will be cleaned and repaired or overhauled where needed, as part of a routine maintenance project to keep it operational in the years to come. LCdr Colin Dudeck, Group Technical Officer Coastal Forces Pacific, says this work is fundamental to preserving the lifespan of the six Kingston-Class vessels in the Pacific Fleet, and the six stationed on the Atlantic Coast. “These vessels have been getting a lot of use, logging a lot of sea time, and all while sitting in saltwater,” he said. “Having the ship in dry dock for an extended period is really the only chance we get to see the ship...

 Rae Chadwick, Return to Duty Coordinator and Client Services TC Trenton ~A Trenton Quilts of Valour (QoV) group turned their quilting skills from comfort to safety after one member saw a need to protect military members, their families, and the 8 Wing Trenton community against the spread of COVID-19.“The idea came up as the demand grew,” said Sergeant (Sgt) Luc Jean, Section Coordinator, Transition Centre Trenton (TC Trenton), and 8 Wing’s QoV military liaison. “I approached the Quilts of Valour Trenton group with a Facial Covering for Soldiers challenge, and in less than two weeks hundreds of masks were made.”Out of those masks, some were donated to families attending the recent repatriation ceremony for six Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members who died in a helicopter crash during Operation Reassurance.QoV Canada is a registered charity that acknowledges the significant contribution made by injured CAF members and veterans. They design and produce quilts to support injured CAF members and veterans.“I chose to be a part of Quilts of Valour for many reasons,” said Denise Wenzel, Quinte/Belleville/Trenton Area Representative QoV – Canada Society. “The organization is made up entirely of volunteers and the quilts we make are a way to thank our military members who have made sacrifices most of us can only imagine.”Twelve quilters from the Trenton group are involved in the challenge. To ensure their own safety, quilters are working from home. There are a variety of masks – some have ties and filters while others have elastic around the ears. The design of the masks was created by local quilters, and Sgt Jean personally donated money for supplies to help kick off the challenge. “I donated a small amount of money to support some supply orders. Others have offered generous donations as well. I believe these masks can help keep our military...

[caption id="attachment_24020" align="alignnone" width="591"] Naval reservist Lieutenant (Navy) Joseph Kinley at the main gate of Joint Base Lewis-McChord after completing Warfighter Exercise 20-3 Feb. 13, just before COVID-19 became a pandemic. Photo Credit Sergeant First Class James Lally[/caption]HMCS CataraquiWhile attached to the 26th Yankee Brigade, naval reservist Lieutenant (Navy) Joseph Kinley participated in the Warfighter exercise at the Joint Base Lewis–McChord just south of Seattle, WA, from Feb, 5 to 13.Lt(N) Kinley is attached to 26th Yankee Brigade through the Reserve Foreign Training Program (RFTP). The RFTP is a program supported by the governments of Canada and United States of America that permits reservists to fulfill drill and training requirements while temporarily located in the other nation for civilian commitments. He is a Naval Warfare Officer and member of HMCS Cataraqui located in Kingston, ON. The three-week Warfighter exercise was a conditions-based training event using a Decisive Action Training Environment for corps, divisions, and brigades. A simulated enemy and battlefield provided real-time feedback and results based on command and control decisions. Working from a Tactical Operations Center (TOC), Lt(N) Kinley supported the plans cell to formulate orders given to subordinate units. The 26th Yankee Brigade oversees a variety of elements, including organic units such as military police, engineers, and logistical support elements, and is assigned other units based on the mission.  It is a National Guard formation structured as Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) that provides brigade level combat support to the United States Army.During this training scenario, the MEB was charged with the mission to secure and maintain the rear support area to keep the supply routes open to and from the frontline during a major offensive of two divisions into enemy territory. In the scenario, they controlled an augmented battalion of engineers who built, repaired, and maintained defences and...

[caption id="attachment_24016" align="alignnone" width="591"] Do you know if your new ebike is legal to ride on the road? The owner of this one (inset picture) found out via the courts that it was not.[/caption]SLt M.X. Déry, Contributor ~My first editorial about bicycling was two years ago regarding scooter-like motor-assisted cycles and how they rode a thin legal line. An electric bike, or motor-assisted cycle, is a two- or three-wheeled cycle with a seat, pedals, and an electric motor or motors (power output not exceeding 500 watts in total). They cannot be gas-powered.Recently, the B.C. Supreme Court moved the majority of this type of motor-assisted cycle over that line, making most of them illegal to ride on the roads in B.C.It all started with a cyclist that had been ticketed for riding a 200-pound electric scooter without insurance, which started from the current california car seat law. He fought the charge, but the Court ruled that since the pedals on the motor assisted cycles were not the main form of propulsion, it was actually not a motor-assisted cycle but a limited-speed motorcycle, which requires insurance.The defendant claimed they had attempted to get insurance from ICBC, but that the provincial insurer stated this type of vehicle did not require it. Regardless, his ticket was upheld. While I welcome the ruling that blocked these 200-lb electric scooters from riding in the bike lanes, I am confused by the ruling and the insurance issue. I reached out to ICBC, the City of Victoria, and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (PSSG) for their advice. My goal was to find out how to use these cycles and not be afoul of the law.The City of Victoria is looking to adopt a Motor Vehicle Act pilot project, likely this fall, to allow currently not road...

[caption id="attachment_24012" align="alignnone" width="591"] Former Navy Lieutenant Rex Landis behind the wheel of a 1968 Pontiac Beaumont convertible, completely rebuilt by the Rust Valley Restoration crew.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~This summer, former Navy Lieutenant Rex Landis will ride into Victoria behind the wheel of a 1968 Pontiac Beaumont convertible, completely rebuilt by the Rust Valley Restoration crew. According to www.justcarchecks.co.uk,  this rare classic car, valued at over $102,000, will be given away by Dec. 16 to the lucky winning ticket holder in the Habitat for Humanity Kamloops 2020 Classic Car Raffle.Landis is bringing the Beaumont to Victoria, and to CFB Esquimalt, to entice car enthusiasts to buy a $25 raffle ticket. “Only 50,000 are being sold, so the odds are great,” says Landis, Procurement and Donations Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity Kamloops, B.C., an affiliate of the Habitat Canada. “I know there will be a huge level of interest in winning the Beaumont among sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy, and Army and Air Force members alike.” This car, says Landis, is certainly a “beaut” and one of only 47 made that year.It features a dark cherry red exterior with a deep black leather interior, a 385-horsepower engine, automatic transmission, smoothie rims and baby moon caps, along with a new dashboard, carpet, and convertible top. “Everything on the car is brand new, the motor has zero miles on it; the original car only had 8,000 miles on its odometer,” said Landis.The car was restored by Shuswap classic car specialists The Rust Bros, who are featured in the History Channel series Rust Valley Restorers. The TV series, which is filmed in Tappen, B.C., follows Mike Hall, Avery Shoaf, and Connor Charman-Hall as they fix up cars. They have agreed to restore a 1960’s classic convertible car every year for the next five years, and...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Despite a world pandemic, two Canadian warships will transit to Hawaii in August for a major training exercise. HMC Ships Regina and Winnipeg will represent the Royal Canadian Navy in a scaled-back version of the 27th biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. RIMPAC organizers - the United States Navy - had anticipated this year’s event to be even grander than the past one in 2018. They planned more complex scenarios and more participating nations. However, on March 6, they issued a statement detailing a drastic scaling back of plans due to COVID-19. RIMPAC 2020 will be an at-sea-only event. Both the land and air components of the exercise have been cancelled to minimize international travel and person-to-person contact. There will be a smaller support staff ashore in Honolulu at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, and limited social events surrounding the exercise.Cmdre Angus Topshee, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, says the Royal Canadian Navy is ready to adapt and respond to changes in the world and that includes the navy’s response to COVID-19 mitigation efforts for RIMPAC. Sailors and aviators will be quarantined prior to the exercise, and COVID-19 testing will be conducted in cooperation with the Government of British Columbia.“We will continue to review and adapt all our procedures in light of COVID-19 and I have confidence in the flexible and innovative nature of our sailors and aviators to get the job done safely,” said Cmdre Topshee. “I am extremely proud of the fleet’s accomplishments, and the resilience and leadership shown by all Canadian Fleet Pacific personnel throughout this unprecedented pandemic.”In early August, the ships with a combined 500 sailors, each with an embarked Cyclone air detachment, will sail from Esquimalt Harbour for the Aug. 17 to 31 exercise off Hawaii. Training scenarios will focus on multinational anti-submarine warfare...

[caption id="attachment_24001" align="alignnone" width="591"] Antoniette Yap, a millwright apprentice at Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton, cleans the 57mm barrel of HMCS Winnipeg’s main gun while conducting an inspection of naval ordnance.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~It’s been all hands on deck lately at Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Breton to get HMCS Winnipeg ready for the upcoming RIMPAC 2020 exercise and an overseas deployment afterwards.Their ultimate goal is to get the Halifax-class frigate into a state of high readiness level 3 by the end of July, in time for the August multinational military exercise off Hawaii. The process was more demanding than usual because military personnel and civilian staff have been slowed by the strict physical distancing and COVID-19 mitigation guidelines. It’s been an aggressive work schedule across multiple platforms totalling more than 2,500 employee work hours a week. Currently involved in preparing the ship for sea are the crew, Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton, and the Fleet Technical Authority.There are three major aspects to the work package: preventative maintenance, corrective maintenance, and engineering changes.Some of the preventative and corrective maintenance relate to the high pressure air ship support system that provides air for gas turbine start bottles, the diesel generator start system, and the torpedo tube flasks. New engineering changes include systems and helicopter upgrades for the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter, such as moving ship and deck lighting, and hangar rearrangements to fit gear necessary to support the aircraft. All of the work in Winnipeg’s work package is critical to the ship’s operational readiness and ability to deploy.Geoff Michael, leader of FMF’s Project Management Team, says both the planning and work on Winnipeg are being conducted simultaneously. Due to the time constraints, some jobs had to start in advance of the official work period in order to ensure they were completed on...

[caption id="attachment_23986" align="alignnone" width="591"] Senior engineer watchkeeper students resume classroom instruction at Naval Fleet School (Pacific) on June 22. Schools are opening up at bases across the country as part of a gradual re-opening plan. Photo by Corporal Jay Naples, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Training for military members has started up with a gradual, phased re-opening of facilities across the country.The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), through the Naval Personnel and Training Group (NPTG), has reactivated its Naval Training System (NTS) in the first of a four-phase, conditions-based restart plan in accordance with public health guidelines. “The restart of naval training is predicated on a set of deliberately selected and approved preconditions that places a premium on protecting the health of Defence Team members and civilian employees,” said Capt(N) Jason Boyd, Commander of NPTG. The four-phase re-opening plan was announced following direction from the Chief of the Defence Staff on June 1. It was developed under the parameters of a COVID-19 persistent operating environment, coupled with the training system’s mandate to support fleet readiness and RCN Force Generation. NPTG is headquartered in Esquimalt and is comprised of nine units located in three regions across the country - the Atlantic, Pacific and Quebec. In total, approximately 1,980 military and civilian staff support skills development and training through Naval Fleet Schools Atlantic, Pacific, and Quebec, Naval Training Development Centres Atlantic and Pacific, and Personnel Coordination Centres Atlantic, Pacific, and Quebec for about 8,200 students across the country in a typical year. Of that, 3,900 students receive training in the Pacific. This is, of course, not a typical year. Phase 1 of the re-opening, or the Crawl Stage, saw the resumption of one course in each of Naval Fleet School (Pacific)’s five divisions: Marine Systems Engineering, Seamanship, Combat Systems Engineering, Combat, and Venture Division, with similar undertakings in the Atlantic and Quebec training centres. The aim, says Capt(N) Boyd, is to restart courses that are less complex and short in duration, while testing procedures and protocols...

DND ~The Exceptional Hazard Allowance has been amended to compensate Canadian Armed Forces members who are deployed in COVID-19 risk environments.  Eligible Canadian Armed Forces members deployed on Operation Laser, and the domestic portion of Operation Globe, who were/are at risk of exposure to COVID-19 due to their duties, will receive the allowance. The $78 per day allowance is retroactive to when they commenced their duties, and will be in effect until Sept. 30.Hundreds of Canadian Armed Forces members are currently deployed to long-term care facilities in Ontario and Quebec, supporting Canadians impacted by COVID-19. Canadian Armed Forces members, face the physical hardship of spending all of their shifts wearing the full complement of Personal Protective Equipment for up to 12 hours a day and without appreciable breaks in service.Moreover, our women and men in the military have served in these facilities for months, while being away from their families during a highly challenging time.In January 2020, the Chief of the Defence Staff ordered Operation Globe, a blended domestic and expeditionary operation supporting the repatriation of Canadians from overseas and providing quarantine capability in Trenton. Operation Laser, a domestic operation providing Canadian Armed Forces assistance to provinces was ordered in March, and by April provinces began requesting military assistance for COVID-related situations.Since the start of Operation Laser, CAF personnel have supported civilian authorities within 47 long-term care facilities in Quebec and within seven in Ontario. It is expected that approximately 4,500 CAF members will be eligible to receive this allowance.––––

Attention Regular and Primary Reserve Force Members:Please participate in our study on the impacts of isolation on CAF members during COVID-19.Personnel Support Programs (PSP) would like to know how COVID-19 is affecting your individual operational physical readiness. Are you accessing PSP online programming, and/or maintaining operational fitness through other means?We are looking for study volunteers to identify the impacts of isolation during COVID-19 on CAF Individual Operational Physical Readiness. Specifically, the status and behaviours of physical fitness, nutrition, injury and sleep. We are looking for Regular Force and Primary Reserve CAF members of all ages, fitness levels, and work environments to participate. This study requires a commitment of 10 to 24 minutes per two-week period for as long as the COVID-19 restrictions continue, ending with the full return to work and use of PSP fitness facilities and services. We would like to learn from your experience to better serve your needs during this difficult time. If you are interested, please sign up by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/alanceP4EquilibreCOVID-19––––

[caption id="attachment_23966" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Bill Wilson holds a copy of a local newspaper that reads “Germany Quits”, marking the end of the Second World War.[/caption]Able Seaman (Retired) Bill Wilson, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve ~On the morning of May 8, 1945, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ottawa, along with the destroyer HMCS Restigouche, was alongside on the Dartmouth side of the Halifax Harbour, having just escorted the troopship Steam Ship Sithia into Halifax with returning wounded members of the Canadian Forces and a large number of war brides.It was about 11:15 a.m. I was working on my Oerlikon gun on the starboard flag deck when I heard a merchant ship that was close by blowing its horn repeatedly. While we all knew the war was almost over, when I heard the repeated blowing of the ship’s horn, my first thought was that it could be an emergency such as another Halifax Explosion. I quickly moved to the port side and saw the ship was between the Halifax Dockyard and the Dartmouth side, and heading seaward.At the same time, I passed Signalman “Soup” Campbell from Flin Flon, Man., who was reaching out for the lanyard controlling our ship’s siren and yelling, “The war is over!”Within seconds, the entire harbour was a bedlam of noise as every merchantman and warship, large and small, began blowing its horn and siren. It was Victory in Europe, or V.E., Day.As we were all rushing around slapping backs, the pipe was made to “splice the main brace, all hands lay aft on the quarterdeck.”At that point in time, while I was 20 years of age, I did not draw the daily tot of rum that I was entitled to. I had found that two ounces of rum at 11 a.m. was a little too much and made...

Peter Mallett / Capt Lisa Evong, Staff WritersTwo sailors on board HMCS Regina share a remarkable bond, even more resilient than the tightest of Royal Canadian Navy shipmates. That’s because they are father and son. The unique paternal connection in the Esquimalt-based warship took shape June 1, when 50-year-old Petty Officer Second Class Jay Merriam was officially posted to Regina. The posting fills a staffing shortfall for its upcoming sail to the Rim of the Pacific exercise. After getting word of the posting in March, PO2 Merriam instantly realized he would become a crew mate of his 21-year-old son Able Seaman Corey Merriam, who works in the ship as a Marine Technician. Word of the father-son connection spread quickly in the ship.“Our shipmates are all aware of the family connection and everyone I have spoken to think it’s pretty cool,” says PO2 Merriam. They don’t exactly work side-by-side and haven’t been tasked together on any projects, but the Logistics Department where PO2 Merriam works and AB Merriam’s Marine System Engineering Department are in close proximity. Even though they have different responsibilities and belong to different messes, they cross paths as they transit the ship.“If our shipmates see us walking down the flats of the ship from behind, they both say we walk the same and can’t tell the difference between us,” says AB Merriam.While they have different interests and skills, both admit the family bond is completely evident to others. “We share a lot of the same characteristics and are fairly laid back and chill,” says AB Merriam. When work is done and it’s time to head home, they don’t have to travel far to see each other again. That’s because they both reside in a Belmont Park residential housing unit. Sherry Merriam, step-mother to Corey and spouse to Jay, is happy...

[caption id="attachment_23959" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Photo by John Penner, John’s Photography[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A team of cyclists kept the flame of Boomer’s Legacy burning bright last week.A tribute ride was conducted Saturday, June 20, as this year’s full edition of the annual fundraising bike ride for the charitable foundation was cancelled due to COVID-19.On Saturday morning, cyclists Nigel King, Ron Gaudreault, and Dave Rodgers set off on a two-day 228-kilometre trek from Comox, B.C. to the Mile Zero marker on Douglas Street in Victoria.On Sunday, they arrived in Langford where they were joined by five more riders to help them finish the last leg of their journey. Joining them were Captain Jacqueline Zweng, Karen Hough, and Darren Westwood, along with Commodore Angus Topshee, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, and his daughter Amy. “This year’s run was not so much about the fundraising as it was awareness, and the determination of these dedicated cyclists who decided to ensure people know how important the work of the foundation is,” said CPO2 John Penner, Boomer’s Legacy volunteer and photographer.Boomer’s Legacy was founded by Maureen Eykelenboom, the mother of Cpl Andrew ‘Boomer’ Eykelenboom, a medic with 1 Field Ambulance who was killed in Afghanistan in 2006. The foundation is operated by Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) through the Support Our Troops Program and distributes funds to people in need, both domestically and abroad.Earlier this year, the decision was made to cancel the Legacy Bike Ride, as well as the 2020 Battlefield Bike Ride in the Netherlands. For more information about Boomer’s Legacy visit boomerslegacy.ca––––

While COVID-19 restrictions will mute public celebrations somewhat, our West Coast sunny summer days will still make for a terrific Pride Week in Victoria (June 28 to July 5). This week we join (virtual) hands with our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and 2-spirited (LGBTQ2+) service people and Defence Team members to celebrate the diversity of the Canadian Armed Forces and our community. Even if most events are scaled back or delivered virtually while B.C. continues to “be kind, be calm, and be safe”, let’s take the time to celebrate our diversity, even if it is in small ways.Diverse perspectives compliment how we make decisions, providing valuable and unique viewpoints that strengthen the Royal Canadian Navy not only culturally, but operationally as well. We are proud and fortunate to have these voices in our family.We are on a continuum of continual improvement, and while much work remains to be done, I know we are heading in the right direction and I know we will adhere to the Canadian Armed Forces core values of respect and dignity for our LGBTQ2+ community.I am truly pleased to raise the Pride flag over the Formation in June to demonstrate our solidarity with our LGBTQ2+ soldiers, sailors, aviators, civilians, and community members showcasing the inclusivity and diversity of the CAF, and the pride we all share in serving Canada.As Pride events take place here in Victoria and across Canada, let’s celebrate together and in this challenging time remember to be kind, be calm, and be safe.Rear-Admiral Bob AuchterlonieCommander Maritime Forces Pacific––––

[caption id="attachment_23944" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Amy Gordichuk and Alli Jones, members on the Positive Space Working Group, hold up the new Pride flag that is now on a flag pole at CFB Esquimalt.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The base is bolstering its commemoration of Victoria Pride Week 2020 by raising the rainbow flag for seven days in three locations.Each morning, from June 29 to July 5, the rainbow flag will be hoisted high atop flag poles located at Nelles Block in Naden, Dockyard’s Duntze Head, and at Work Point.Also, an official flag-raising ceremony will be conducted following Morning Colours observances on June 29 at Duntze Head. People attending this event are advised to respect COVID-19 physical distancing measures.For the past few years, Pride has been recognized with a single flag-raising ceremony on one day at Nelles Block. The new initiative to raise three flags was organized by Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) Positive Space Working Group (PSWG). Alli Jones, a member of the PSWG, says the new ceremonies are an improved effort to showcase the military’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.“In past years, CFB Esquimalt has raised the flag on the last Sunday of Pride week to coincide with the Pride parade,” said Jones. “Given this gesture previously took place over a weekend in the summer, the message was not reaching a wide audience within the defence team, so this year the decision was made to enhance these efforts.”The PSWG was stood up in 2019 and is made up of 18 military and civilian volunteers. Members carry out initiatives to support diversity and create a sense of belonging for members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning and Two-Spirit people (LGBTQ2+) within Maritime Forces Pacific.Capt(N) Sam Sader, Base Commander, is helping lead the effort to emphasize the importance and bolster the status of...

[caption id="attachment_23941" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Commodore Topshee as FixO (Fixing Officer – assistant to the NavO) during a day sail to Vancouver in 1998.[/caption]Commodore Angus Topshee,Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific ~T he celebration of HMCS Winnipeg’s 25 years of commissioned service has brought back many fond memories. I was not a part of the commissioning crew in 1995, but many of that crew were still aboard when I joined Winnipeg as my first ship right after completing MARS IV in February 1997. Though I was a brand new subbie (one of only three aboard at the time), I was immediately made welcome in a true spirit of “One with the Strength of Many.”Within days of joining, we were off on a (nearly) round the world adventure to join NATO’s Standing Naval Force Atlantic or SNFL (naturally, this was pronounced ‘sniffle’) for six months. It was the best possible start to a career as the transit around to Europe gave me the opportunity to learn the ship and the basics of frigate watchkeeping before becoming immersed in high intensity NATO exercises in the English Channel, and off the coasts of Spain and Portugal. We also had the opportunity to visit St. John’s, Newfoundland, for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Cabot aboard the tall ship Matthew. It was a replica of the original ship Cabot. It sailed across and the NATO fleet was in St. John’s Harbour to greet it when it arrived. It was pretty cool as they came in at dusk to a harbour symphony and fireworks show.From there, we took part in a MARCOT on the East Coast and made a visit to Halifax with the NATO fleet. Having expressed an interest in becoming a Navigator, I was given the opportunity to try navigating Winnipeg out of harbour and I...

SLt Wilson Ho, HMCS Winnipeg ~Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Winnipeg (FFH 338) turned 25 years old June 23. The second warship to be named HMCS Winnipeg was delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on October 11, 1994, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She would spend the later part of that year conducting sea trials to be ready for operations. In January 1995, Winnipeg left Halifax, bound for Esquimalt, British Columbia. On June 23, 1995, Winnipeg was officially commissioned in the RCN.Winnipeg has been through a variety of exercises and operational deployments during her 25 years. In 2001, the ship deployed to the Arabian Gulf, enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq. The following year, the ship deployed again to the Arabian Gulf as part of the Canadian Naval Task Group on Operation Apollo, the Canadian contribution to the international efforts against terrorism. Winnipeg deployed once more to the region in 2005 in support of Operation Altair. In 2009, they warship deployed as part of Standing North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Maritime Group 1 to conduct counter-piracy missions in the Indian Ocean. In 2015, it was tasked with the unique opportunity to sail around the world. During the deployment, the ship supported Operations Reassurance, Caribbe, Active Endevour, and Artemis. Winnipeg’s most recent deployment was to the Eastern Pacific region with HMCS Ottawa in 2017 for Operation Poseidon Cutlass, which would later on be renamed Operation Projection. In addition to the numerous operations the ship has deployed on, it has also participated in numerous exercises with international maritime partners, including NATO task groups, and multiple Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises off the coast of Hawaii.Commander Mike Stefanson, Commanding Officer, wanted the 25th anniversary to commemorate not only the successes of the ship, but to recognize and thank the countless number of people who have contributed to its day-to-day operations. The morale patch for the 25th anniversary includes the cityscape of the ship’s namesake city and the ship’s mascot. The motto One with the...

 DNDEarly June typically kicks off the Pride season of festivals and celebrations from coast to coast that run until the end of August.Participation with, and in, Pride celebrations is one of the ways the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) show their respect to our team members from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and 2-spirited (LGBTQ2+) communities. More importantly, it embodies the principle of inclusivity that is key to success in everything we do.This year, despite COVID-19, we will not be deterred as we, in a safe and respective manner, celebrate and show our individual and collective Pride.The entire Defence Team is committed to the Canadian ideals of diversity, inclusion, and respect. By embracing diversity, we draw on all of the unique strengths and abilities of Canada’s population, which enhances our operational effectiveness. Inclusivity unites all of us as one team, and Pride celebrations are a reminder of how diverse we are and how we garner strength through diversity.Sharing our Pride gives us unity of purpose, making each of us better as people and more relevant as an organization that reflects Canadian values. Whether it’s raising a flag on bases or wings, celebrating from home, virtually or abroad, we want you to show us your Pride 2020 in June and throughout the year.As part of your individual or group celebrations, we ask that you submit your photos and messages or quotes to: +Internal Communications internes@ADM(PA)@Ottawa-Hull. All photos must be accompanied by: sender’s name, email, contact phone number, and rank, if applicable. Please use your @forces.gc.ca email address, if possible, or alternate email address.Also include a brief caption that describes the photo and includes the location/date the image was taken.A gallery of images will be created for all to access and share, which will be featured across our Defence Team communications platforms...

Moira Farr, Army Public Affairs ~There is a new ground-breaking interactive tool Canadians can use to gain insights into the lives of Second World War Canadian soldiers as they embarked on harrowing journeys across Europe to help bring an end to the war. Project ‘44, co-created by Nathan Kehler and Drew Hannen of the Ottawa-based Canadian Research and Mapping Association (CRMA), with sponsorship from Veterans Canada, have digitized the daily logs, also known as war diaries, kept by each Canadian unit during the war. They have previously only been available to researchers in their original form at the Library and Archives of Canada. The project also digitized detailed maps that plot these soldiers’ movements across Europe toward victory. Now, historians in Canada and around the world, students at every level, and family detectives wishing to learn more about their relatives’ wartime experiences have access to a trove of primary-source information, without leaving home. “It’s really nice to see this animated in a certain way; it’s just the bare bones as it was recorded, the maps that were used, so you can start your research with a statement of the facts,” says Hannen.A resource for all CanadiansThe website brings to public view thousands of war diary pages, painstakingly transcribed, edited and scanned by more than 40 volunteers over the course of nearly three years. It also includes detailed digital maps, intelligence reports, and aerial imagery of the Allied forces’ advance.The website currently documents the Normandy Campaign and the movement of Canadian units across northwest Europe; this summer, it will complete its trilogy with the Italian campaign, going back to 1943.The task of bringing all of this material together online required diligence and an array of digital tools that both Kehler and Hannen, as cartographers who specialize in historical geospatial data and web mapping, were keen...

[caption id="attachment_23915" align="alignnone" width="591"] Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Currie at work.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~When COVID-19 travel restrictions ease this summer, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Currie and his family will pack up their Washington, D.C., home and head northwest to Victoria. He will leave behind his CF Health Services Attaché Canadian Defence Liaison Staff (Washington) post to support CF Health Services Centre (Pacific) as Pacific Regional Surgeon.Servicing the medical needs of military members is serious business, but LCol Currie’s got a remedy to add smiles and chuckles. He’s a skilled cartoonist that tackles current day world issues such as pollution and COVID-19 with a comedic edge. “I was always an incorrigible doodler and I still am today,” he says. Skewed is his cartoon series, once hand drawn in ink, but nowadays drawn digitally. “I am of the opinion that we slowly start to lose our imagination as adults. But I never stopped drawing, even throughout my military career, and still get the same enjoyment out of it as I did when I was younger.”His path to a military career is far different than most in his profession. He was born and raised in Imperial, Saskatchewan - population 360. Intelligence and quick wit helped him graduate at the head of the class at the age of 17. He surprised everyone when he rejected university and opted to train in Phoenix, Arizona, for a career as a motorcycle mechanic. “I literally gob-smacked everyone when I decided not to go to university,” he said. “I was good at taking apart clutches and fixing machines, in a round-about way it’s related to medicine – diagnosis and treatment - and I believe the work ethic I learned as a mechanic helped me later in life.”In 1989, he enrolled in Pre-Med at the University of Regina. Three years later, he enrolled in...

[caption id="attachment_23911" align="alignnone" width="591"] CPO1 Tina Steeves with husband CPO1 David Steeves.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~CPO1 Tina Steeves was duped last week. Her Commanding Officer, Major Giuseppe Ramacieri, informed her they were going to conduct a surprise promotion for the unit’s Administration Officer that morning. As the Unit Chief, her presence is required at all of these events.When she got to the venue, the foyer of the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre (CFRC) in Ottawa, she saw her husband and knew something was up. A spark of hope interrupted her thoughts; could it be her promotion?Then CPO1 David Steeves stepped forward with CPO1 slip ons in hand.“I was in complete shock when I realized my husband was going to promote me.”Her husband was thrilled to spring the surprise on his wife.“It was an emotional honour to be able to personally promote my wife,” he said. “Although it isn’t the first time this has happened, it was still an extreme privilege and pretty darn neat to see the two CPO1 Steeves side-by-side on the DWAN [Defence email list].”Husband Steeves serves as the Royal Canadian Navy Chief Petty Officer; wife Steeves is the Recruiting Chief for Northern and Eastern Ontario. They have both reached the pinnacle rank in the non-commissioned officer rank system. CPO1 David Steeves has spent 31 years in the navy, and CPO1 Tina Steeves has accumulated 28 years thus far. In six weeks, she will start a new posting, Commander Navy Comptroller, Divisional Chief Petty Officer First Class. She says achieving the rank of CPO1 is a rarity that only one percent of those in the military ever attain and she is truly honoured to wear the rank.“Achieving this is something I could never have imagined when I was a young reservist and is one of the proudest moments of my...

[caption id="attachment_23901" align="alignnone" width="591"] Commander Jason Barbagallo (middle), Base Administration Executive Officer, with his wife Chantal, is promoted to his current rank by Capt (Navy) Sam Sader, Base Commander, on June 16, 2020. Photo by LS Kendric C.W. Grasby, MARPAC Imaging Services.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~It’s that time again, posting season, when military members are moved to new positions to gain experience, flex their skills, and make a difference in their unit. That change of leadership will touch down at Base Administration July 16 when Commander Cory Foreman vacates the position, and Cdr Jason Barbagallo slides into the chair. Before taking the job, he required a promotion to the rank of Commander, which took place last week. In a Spiderman-like move to avoid close contact, a firefighter dangled from a flagpole to deliver the new shoulder boards to Cdr Barbagallo’s wife Chantal, who then assisted Base Commander, Capt(N) Sam Sader in the promotion. The unusual ceremony was in keeping with the fun, unique ways bases across Canada are handling COVID-19-era physical distancing promotions. The physical move to the new position will be a short one – two steps across the hall, as Cdr Barbagallo is currently the Executive Officer of the branch. “It’s rather remarkable and unique to have an executive officer get promoted and stay within the same organization instead of being moved to a new location,” said Cdr Barbagallo. “My situation differs greatly from most incoming commanding officers because I am familiar with the workings of the unit itself and most importantly its people. I think it is rather advantageous to change positions while staying in the  same organization.”The 44-year-old was born and raised in Montreal. His military career began in 1996 serving nine years in the army reserves before transferring to the Regular Force in 2005. He has...

[caption id="attachment_23876" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Sailors from HMCS Halifax spruced up the Bonaventure Anchor Memorial at Point Pleasant Park in Halifax on May 28, sweeping, scrubbing and painting the memorial.[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~Members of HMCS Halifax haven’t spent much time on board their ship in recent months, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been taking it easy. The team has kept in touch and worked virtually as they prepare for their upcoming summer program. Recently they helped clean the area around the HMCS Bonaventure Anchor Memorial in Point Pleasant Park.A group of sailors, including Commanding Officer Cdr Chris Rochon, headed to the park on May 28 to freshen up the memorial, which honours Royal Canadian Navy members who died during peacetime while carrying out their duties at sea. As part of an agreement with the city, Halifax typically conducts spring and fall cleanups at the site, and sends personnel to tidy the area at various times through the year as required.“We brought our rakes and brooms and scrub brushes and we got to work,” said LS Doug Williams. Sailors raked and swept around the memorial, scrubbed the plaques that list the names of the fallen, and touched up the anchor itself with fresh paint.“This is a monument to some of our predecessors in the navy; people who went out and did the deed way before we did, and people who sacrificed their lives doing that. I think of them as heroes, people who stepped up and answered the call to serve, so it’s important to remember them and this is one way we can do that,” he said. Cdr Rochon was impressed to see his sailors take the task to heart and demonstrate an understanding of the significance of the memorial to the families, friends, and former colleagues of the fallen, as...

[caption id="attachment_23873" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Commodore Richard Feltham, Commander Canadian Fleet Atlantic, presides over the Fleet Chief Change of Appointment ceremony on June 5. From left, outgoing Fleet Chief CPO1 Tom Lizotte, Cmdre Feltham, and incoming Chief CPO1 Darcy Burd. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~While he may be new to Atlantic Fleet headquarters, CPO1 Darcy Burd won’t be among strangers as he assumes the role of Fleet Chief. He and Cmdre Richard Feltham have served together on HMC Ships Skeena, Preserver, Charlottetown, and Toronto, and now they’ll be working together again as they prepare to lead Canadian Fleet Atlantic through a pivotal moment.“I can’t tell you how excited I am to assume the duties and responsibilities of Fleet Chief Atlantic,” CPO1 Burd said during a ceremony held at HMC Dockyard on June 5. While the Change of Appointment took place in person, the crowd was limited to key personnel and family members, and attendees remained physically distanced from each other. CPO1 Burd thanked his wife Vicky and his children for the support that allowed him to reach this career highlight, noting he’s been posted to 13 different units in 13 years, with plenty of moves and other disruptions along the way.He said he was excited to be returning to the Fleet and working alongside an old friend. With the ongoing efforts to maintain readiness levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also preparing for the first of the Royal Canadian Navy’s future fleet of ships to be received later this year, he noted that unique challenges likely lie ahead. Cmdre Feltham expressed confidence that his new Chief will be the right person to handle those challenges.“It’s wonderful to see such dedicated work and professionalism over the years culminate in this very important appointment for Chief Burd. We will...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A Belmont Park resident is distributing friendship bracelet kits to children in the community to help ease their isolation from physical distancing.Lt(N) Melanie Weaver, a military mother and service spouse who works at CFB Esquimalt, resides in one of the Belmont Park neighbourhood’s Residential Housing Units. She began delivering the first 70 kits with friend and fellow resident, CPO2 Lyne Edmondson, a few weeks ago to the mailbox of area families who requested them.Operation ‘Send-A-Hug’, as she calls it, is a care package with a half dozen skeins of embroidery floss, a safety pin, cardstock paper, and a colourful envelope with paid postage. Children can make a bracelet for themselves and a matching one for a friend, and then mail it to them with a note in the postage-paid envelop. The process of making a friendship bracelet requires some parental guidance for younger children and involves braiding and knotting the embroidery floss.“This is all about building community, connecting military families, and spreading happiness,” said Lt(N) Weaver. “Parents seem very excited to do crafts with their kids, and for older children it gives parents a few moments of peace and quiet with their kids being occupied.” Materials were ordered online from local craft shops with curbside delivery. “It was an insignificant cost compared to all the smiles this will create; the bang for the buck is priceless,” she said.The idea was born after thumbing through a summer camp scrap book with her three-year-old son. The scrapbook contained pictures of Lt(N) Weaver when she was 12 years old. One photo caught the youngster’s eye.“My son looked up at me and asked what we were doing,” she said. She and her friends were making friendship bracelets. “Days later I was reading up on changes to children’s summer recreation programs and...

[caption id="attachment_23867" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Cheerleader Jayna Flammand (left) and Pacific Cheer Empire owner and head coach Shannon Samson display Jayna’s bronze medal banner. Flammand is the eight-year-old daughter of Cpl Kevin Flammand. She won the banner for her individual performance at the Feel The Power West Coast Championship in Vancouver, March 7, 2020. The Colwood-based sports club has several military family members and is currently looking to grow its membership. Photo by Sylvie Blais, Pacific Cheer Empire[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Pacific Cheer Empire cheerleading club has scored some impressive results in recent competitions as it continues to grow in popularity, especially in the military community. Since opening at Colwood’s Wale Road location in 2016, the membership base of youth to adult-aged women and men has almost tripled.The club has also found competitive success. In 2018, a senior level team placed third in their division at the UCA International Championships at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, earning them a bid invitation to compete at the U.S Finals in Las Vegas two months later. That success has come under the guidance of head coach and owner Shannon Samson. Samson, 32, has been involved in dance and cheerleading since early childhood and is a past winner of the 2012 Canadian Cheerleading Coach of the Year Award, which she earned during the Cheer Expo national cheerleading competition in Halifax. Samson moved to Victoria from her native Cape Breton in 2012 when a family member was posted to CFB Esquimalt. Samson also owns a gym in Nova Scotia and she was surprised to learn there were no cheerleading clubs in Victoria at the time, so she decided to fill that void and create her own club. “I knew military members and many people from other parts of the country get...

Ashley Evans, FMF CB ~Three banners have been created for future display at Naden’s Wurtele Arena to honour three defence community members passionate about hockey who passed away. Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMF CB) Shops 122, 123, and 124a created the banners in the memory of Joe Lescene, who had worked in the FMF CB woodshop (122) while winding down his navy career, Rob Sneath, and Keith (Butch) Cowden. All three were CAF/DND hockey players who contributed greatly to team successes and national championships.The idea for these banners came following a tribute hockey game for Joe Lescene. Kelsey Khol, Shop Steward Shop 123, and Matt Hood, Shop Steward Shop 122, spearheaded this event after wanting to do something special for Lescene’s family. Kevin Zalba, manager of the Wurtele Arena,  became involved after helping host the tribute game, where he recognized an opportunity to also honour the memory of the other two men.“I am extremely passionate about this project,” said Zalba. “They were major contributors to our hockey community and some of the nicest guys on the planet.” When Rob Sneath passed away four years ago; he left a legacy of 30 national championships as the most highly decorated military hockey member in recent history. Keith (Butch) Cowden held a 30-plus year hockey career, and is remembered as a prolific goaltender and revered competitor. While Sneath and Cowden played for the Tritons, Lescene played for the Angry Beavers and the FMF Outlaws. Not just a meaningful tribute, the banners were also a training opportunity that gave employees a chance to increase their skills and creativity.“The banners have been a collaborative effort of years of design, and different members of Shop 123 adding their own artistic flair,” said Khol. “I was lucky enough to be included in this project, and during my...

[caption id="attachment_23859" align="aligncenter" width="514"] Jeremy ChowAugust 12, 1977 to May 30, 2020[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A dockyard worker and father of two lost his battle with leukemia last week.Jeremy Chow, a 42-year-old shipwright joiner from Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Breton was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in November 2018. On May 30, with his wife Evelyn Chow by his side, Jeremy lost his battle to the disease. Chow leaves behind his wife and two children, Jayla, 9, and Maile, 11. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to raise funds for Chow’s daughters with 100 percent of the donations being set aside for their education and well-being. The campaign is being run through a Match4Jeremy Facebook Page. “Jeremy will be missed dearly,” says a recent post. “He has touched the lives of so many people. He was often a source of strength and inspiration for those around him. Blessed with a quick wit and infectious laugh, he was easy-going, stoic, fair and selfless.”His more than 17-month-long battle to find a potentially life-saving stem cell donation was unsuccessful and complicated by the fact he was of mixed race. He was not able to find a donor match through national and world-wide registries. Positive stem cell matches are determined through inherited ancestral issue types and other genetic markers.The Chow family encourages those unable to make a donation to consider registering to become a stem cell donor at a local blood bank. Those wishing to contribute financial support to the family are asked to visit the GoFundMe account: https://www.gofundme.com/f/wwwgofundmecomhelpjeremysfamily––––

[caption id="attachment_23854" align="aligncenter" width="593"] The Ultra Lightweight Surface Supply Diving System includes lightweight carbon fiber reserve and regulator tanks, a more portable surface supply system, and a much smaller umbilical cord - the long yellow hose that supplies divers with an unlimited supply of high pressure breathing gas, along with an enhanced communication system. During the training, divers will also wear the Kirby Morgan Super light 17 breathing helmet. Photo: FDU(P)[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Members of Fleet Diving Unit Pacific (FDU(P)) are set to resume exercises for Clearance Diver and Clearance Diving Officer students next weekend. The Colwood-based unit of Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) will host its first clearance diver training exercise since physical distancing orders were implemented in March surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The Surface Supplied Breathing Apparatus (SSBA) training exercise will take approximately three weeks to complete. On the roster are 10 students from across Canada. They are currently in the midst of a 12-month-long certification process to complete their initial and Director Level Training.Lt(N) Daniel Hawryluk, FDU(P) Director Diving Safety, says clearance diving is a completely new skill set for them. The training is intensive, complex, and difficult to re-start under COVID-19 protocols. “There are unique challenges that we as divers face when attempting to comply with social distancing in our job, and so putting together a plan to return to training was no small task and will likely require some adjustments as we put it into action,” he said. “These are unprecedented times and we have to be adaptable, but in the end we will find a way to get the job done, we always do.” As required by CAF COVID-19 health and safety regulations, visiting trainees will self-quarantine for 14 days. They will be tested for the virus on a regular basis before they gather for their...