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[caption id="attachment_23842" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Lt(N) Kevin Okihiro with a bomb disposal robot.[/caption]Navy Public Affairs ~Lt(N) Kevin Okihiro knew he would have to disarm nearly a dozen incendiary improvised explosive devices when he arrived at the small Cornish village of Upton Cross in South West England.The moment seemed surreal and unfolded like his training, but it was not a drill.The landlord of a car mechanic garage had come upon firebombs on the morning of Aug. 26, 2019.“When we got the call I was on duty,” said Lt(N) Okihiro. “We are held at 10 minutes’ notice to move, so we have to respond quickly.”The Royal Canadian Navy clearance diving officer has been posted to the United Kingdom (UK) on a three-year exchange with the Royal Navy Fleet Diving Squadron. The posting is to help him gain experience while acting as the No. 1 Improvised Explosive Device Disposal Operator and bomb disposal team leader on domestic operational taskings in support of UK Civil Authorities.Over the past year in the UK, Lt(N) Okihiro has responded to 45 calls, but most were historic bombs and mines from the First and Second World Wars. None had been like this, with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) purposefully placed under cars around a car mechanic’s garage.“When I arrived the police, the fire service, and crime scene investigators were already on scene awaiting my team's arrival.”After everyone in the affected area had been evacuated and the area was blocked off, Lt(N) Okihiro spoke with the on-scene incident commander to get a better idea of what type of IEDs they had found.Then, with his fireproof protective equipment on, he approached the first car.“They were under cars and they were armed incendiary bombs. So, if I made a wrong a movement or was too aggressive there was a chance that I could...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~An old trunk belonging to a deceased navy chief who served during the Battle of Atlantic and in the Cold War era has been donated to the base.The contents give a glimpse of a bygone era chronicled through an old uniform and hand-written notes by Chief Petty Officer First Class Edward ‘Dick’ James, who was born in the Shetland Islands in 1923 and served the Royal Canadian Navy from 1940 to 1961. His name and military identification number, 3881-E, are stencilled on the navy blue trunk, travel worn with dings and pockmarks.“It is not only the contents inside the trunk, but this giant and cumbersome steamer trunk is itself an artefact of how people got around way back when,” said Rick James, son of Chief James and donor of the trunk.   Following the death of his father in 1990, the family took possession of the trunk and overtime reviewed the contents. James has kept a ship’s bell with a small anchor attached and shell casings from bullets his father fired on artillery ranges. But he was compelled to donate the trunk to the base because of its historical value.“One of the most destructive elements is leaving important stuff that you think is unimportant for only your own immediate family to enjoy. I constantly hear stories about families of mariners throwing out items including journals and notebooks. No, no, if you think it might be important, get it to a museum.”The trunk’s ownerDick James became an Ordinary Seaman in March 1941 and was first assigned to CFB Esquimalt-based armed yacht HMCS Cougar and later minesweeper HMCS Outarde, where he became Coxswain. In 1943, he joined the crew of River-Class frigate HMCS Beacon Hill, which would become part of an all-Canadian convoy Escort Group based out of Londonderry, Northern Ireland.After the war, he served in C-Class destroyer HMCS Crescent, which was sent to China in 1949 to safeguard Canadian interests during the Chinese Civil War. It was the first...

[caption id="attachment_23830" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Celest Nygaard, Personnel Support Programs Travel Supervisor deployed as part of Operation Impact, assists a member at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, on May 11. Operation Impact is Canada’s training mission in the Middle East. Photo by Cpl Nicolas Alonso, Op Impact[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~If you’re a Canadian citizen yearning for travel and a taste of military life, there are Personnel Support Program (PSP) deployment opportunities available.   The PSP Deployment Support team is currently searching for candidates to fill positions at overseas Canadian military locations and at sea in warships.Over the year, they deploy about 60 non-public fund staff in morale and welfare support roles. Twenty staff are already on the ground at two locations: Kuwait for Operation Impact, and Latvia in support of Operation Reassurance. Deployment contracts are typically six months. Jobs are available in fitness, sports and recreation, retail, travel services, financial services, barber and morale and welfare managers. Salaries are based on a deployment support pay grid and may include operational allowances if applicable in deployed locations. Celest Nygaard, a deployed PSP employee from Trenton, Ontario, has worked on contracts as a travel agent several times since applying to the organization in 2008.  She has taken 10 overseas postings throughout the Middle East and Europe. She is currently working at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait in support of Canadian troops deployed on Operation Impact. “My first deployment was to Kandahar in 2008; it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for adventure,” she said. “I also wanted to do something that had more meaning than just working in tourism. Serving the military has been very rewarding.”Deployment Support Manager, Maj (Retired) Dan Morrison, works at Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare  Services (CFMWS) Headquarters in Ottawa where the program is coordinated, building a roster of...

[caption id="attachment_23825" align="aligncenter" width="594"] CFB Esquimalt Base Commander, Capt(N) Sam Sader participates in the Navy League Cadet Corps Annual Ceremonial Review.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Members of Victoria’s Navy League Cadet Corps (NLCC) were reunited for the first time in months at their Annual Ceremonial Review, but not in person. Thirty-six of the youth program’s 43 cadets, ages nine to 12, logged into their ceremony on the morning of May 31 via Zoom. Capt(N) Sam Sader, Base Commander, was the Honoured Guest at the virtual review. He was joined by Cdr(NL) Chris Willis, NLCC Vancouver Island Division Commander, with both men presenting awards and promotions during the ceremony.“Their dedication to staying connected through creative virtual means and representing the Navy League was evident throughout,” said Capt(N) Sader. “I was honoured to review a group of cadets and corps leadership who demonstrate such strong professionalism in the face of challenges. Bravo Zulu!”During normal times, the annual event is held at Work Point’s HMCS Venture building, but the cadets were ordered to stand down in early March due to the required physical distancing measures.Capt(N) Sader said that despite the COVID-19 disruption, he was greatly impressed by the level of “dress, discipline and drive” displayed by the cadets virtually.Award winner highlights include: NLCC Coxswain, CPO1 Caleb Bourgeois who received the HMCS Malahat Cadet of the Year Award and the Medal of Excellence of his division. Fellow cadet, PO1 Isaiah Hammuda was recognized with the Don and Jean Bendall Citizenship Award for his exemplary fundraising efforts. This award recognizes the efforts of cadets who work outside of their normal duties and responsibilities within the unit.NL Cadet, PO2 George Donnelly was the recipient of the Officer’s Choice, Most Improved cadet award. PO2 Donnelly is 12 and will move on to the Royal Canadian Army Cadets next year. While noting it was an honour to be recognized with an award, he said it was also equally important to be reunited with the other cadets.“It was nice to see...

The Lookout is an award-winning weekly base newspaper. It is the main source of news for CFB Esquimalt’s military members, veterans, civilian employees, and their families. It has a weekly print distribution of 3,000, plus a considerable online reach. Email melissa.atkinson@forces.gc.ca or call 250-363-3372 to book an ad. See Advertise section for rate sheet.

[caption id="attachment_23804" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Three-year-old Oliver Forbes (foreground) and his sister, two-year-old Abigail Forbes get ready for some roundball action on the newly refurbished basketball court. Photo Credit Lt(N) Melanie Weaver[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A donation by a Langford Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart program was a game-changing final slam dunk for a neighbourhood improvement project in Belmont Park.A few residents decided to tackle cleaning up areas of the military housing community during the pandemic, including an abandoned play area located at the end of Belmont Park Road that had remnants of a basketball hoop and backboard. “I was out on a walk with my children on a nice sunny day in April and my three-year-old son pointed to the old, dilapidated backboard,” said Lt(N) Melanie Weaver. “We hadn’t noticed it before as the whole court was shrouded and covered in weeds and debris. We decided it needed some love and attention.”Following physical distancing protocol, residents, armed with brooms, pruning sheers, shovels, a pressure washer, and rakes, joined Lt(N) Weaver and her husband LCdr John Forbes in beautifying the area. Canadian Forces Housing Agency arranged for the disposal of the garbage and brush.A call to the Langford Canadian Tire resulted in a new hoop and backboard donation.“It feels great to come together on a project like this,” said Lt(N) Weaver. “With people being so isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic, we tried to build up a sense of community. Our dream couldn’t have been fully realized without the help and quick response of CFHA and Real Property Operations (RPOps) staff and Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart.”Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart is a non-profit that gives children access to sport and play through the funding of sports and activity programs.Mark Barsanti, Langford Canadian Tire store No. 366 owner, says his store takes great pleasure in helping out communities, and he...

[caption id="attachment_23800" align="aligncenter" width="592"] Leading Seaman Brittany Oliver traces patterns to be used in the creation of non-medical face coverings for Canadian Armed Forces members to wear in the wake of COVID-19. Photo by MCpl Carbe Orellana, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~To prepare military and civilian staff for a safe return to work, base units and ships are fabricating non-medical face coverings.A joint directive – DND/CAF COVID-19 Public Health Measures and Personal Protection – released by the Chief of the Defence Staff, Deputy Minister of Defence, and DND details guidelines for the wearing of face coverings in order to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious viruses. It states that face coverings will be worn by all Department of National Defence staff who cannot maintain the required two metres of physical distancing in the workplace. In order to minimize the risks of COVID-19 transmission within the DND workplace, the Deputy Minister and Chief of Defence Staff has authorized the procurement of materials for non-medical face coverings at a national level, says Cdr Katherine Kincaid,  logistics officer for Maritime Forces Pacific.“Globally, there is a shortage of disposable face coverings. Therefore, the production of cloth masks by our local units will allow Defence Team members authorized to report to work to meet the criteria of public health measures outlined in this joint directive,” said Cdr Kinkaid. Multiple teams at Maritime Forces Pacific and CFB Esquimalt are currently manufacturing them - Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMF CB), Naval Fleet School Pacific, and boatswains in HMC Ships Vancouver, Winnipeg and Ottawa have been assigned the task. Fabrication teams have received assembly instructions through an internal DND memo. Face coverings are to be conservative in nature and should not detract or discredit the military uniform. At CFB Esquimalt, most face coverings will be fabricated...

Peter Mallett Staff Writer ~A grim and largely unacknowledged anniversary came and went over the May 24 weekend, but a poet from Edmonton has penned a few lines to help us remember.Garth Ukrainetz, the Poet Laureate of the Blackmud Creek, wrote his poem Fourteen Hundred Men as a solemn tribute to Royal Navy vessel HMS Hood and its crew.On May 24, 1941, the massive Admiral-class battle cruiser came under attack from German battleship Bismarck in the Strait of Denmark. It sank in less than three minutes with all but three of the 1,418 sailors killed in the attack.The ‘Mighty Hood’ was launched in 1920 and for nearly two decades had been the largest warship in the world.Ukrainetz said he discovered the Hood story while researching other naval vessels for his Battle of the Atlantic poetry tribute. “I had heard about the sinking of the Hood but never realized that nearly the entire crew had died so quickly. I was shocked,” said Ukrainetz.During the shelling, the ship’s magazine exploded. The official investigation into the explosion could not determine whether the ammunition cache was struck by a German shell or by accident from one of Hood’s gun turrets as they returned fire. “I was struck by the fact that 1,415 brave men perished in a matter of minutes. One fluke shot from the Bismarck, which was 16 kilometres away, hit and sunk HMS Hood, the world’s largest battle cruiser, within three minutes,” said Ukrainetz. Ukrainetz, a former newspaper cartoonist, has been writing poetry most of his life. He lives beside the beautiful Blackmud Creek in Edmonton and operates a small picture framing shop in Leduc. With business slowing to a trickle due to physical distancing measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, he has more time to write poetry. He has always been interested...

[caption id="attachment_23784" align="aligncenter" width="593"] HMCS Ville de Québec sails under the Confederation Bridge between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island on May 17. Photo by MCpl Anthony Laviolette, CAF Imagery Technician[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~As one of two ready duty ships on the east coast, HMCS Ville de Québec has taken extreme measures to ensure its ship’s company remains free of COVID-19, including a two-week hotel isolation period before heading to sea in mid-April.Keeping sailors physically healthy is crucial to the ship maintaining its readiness, but with crew members separated from their loved ones during a difficult time, taking stock of the morale and mental health on board becomes increasingly important.“It’s certainly the biggest concern I have day to day, taking that temperature and trying to find new and innovative ways to eliminate those negative effects,” said Cdr Michael Eelhart, Ville de Québec’s commanding officer. Sailors are concerned about their family members and loved ones at home during the pandemic, some members personally knew victims of the shootings in the Portapique area, and all are coping with the tragic loss of their colleagues from HMCS Fredericton, as well as the news of the recent Snowbird crash.While those who required it were given time to grieve, Cdr Eelhart said sticking to routine and keeping up with normal business at sea can be therapeutic for the crew. Part of this has been the domestic presence operations the ship has been conducting over the past month, sailing to, and anchoring near a number of maritime communities, including the hometowns of many of their sailors. Ville de Québec toured through the Bay of Fundy and Minas Bay on the first leg, sailing near Portapique in the days following the tragedy, and proceeded to sail through the Northumberland Strait, making appearances off of Prince Edward Island,...

The Maritime Forces Pacific Activity Guide is a comprehensive booklet on all recreational, health, wellness and family programs available to the Defence community. It has a distribution of 3,000 copies per issue, and is produced three times a year. Email melissa.atkinson@forces.gc.ca or call 250-363-3372 to book an ad. See Advertise section for rate sheet.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Warrant Officer Frederic Daoust, 45, had no idea a big surprise was in the works during a recent video conference call.The acting Sergeant-Major at CFB Esquimalt’s Rocky Point Ammunition Depot was joined by members of three other ammunition depots and the command team from Canadian Materiel Support Group to discuss business on the morning of May 19.As the meeting neared its end, his wife Julie and their 15-year-old son William snuck into the home office in view of the laptop camera with his promotion epaulettes in hand.“As soon as they walked in the room, I knew something strange was going on, but I really wasn’t sure what,” he said. “Then my son walked up to me, and my commanding officer asked William to put the epaulette [flap] on my chest. At that point I realized this was the moment I had been waiting for.” Having his son do the honours added to the specialness of his promotion.“It came as a complete surprise and it was really great that it involved my family members,” said MWO Daoust. “It was easily the best promotion I’ve had and a super big deal for me to have the new rank, increased responsibility, and also an increase in pay.” LCdr Robin Sheffield, Commanding Officer of the Rocky Point Ammunition Depot, says MWO Daoust is fully deserving of his promotion and described him as a dependable “take-charge” and “hands-on” type of guy who is perfect for the position of Sergeant-Major. It took some engineering to pull off the promotion on a video conference call.“I think he knew something was going on when I told him to wear his uniform for the video conference,” said LCdr Sheffield. “It’s very hard to surprise someone in a video conference setting like this, so his wife and son...

CFMWS ~Due to the unique circumstances of military life, funds for pursuing post-secondary education are a significant barrier for many Canadian Armed Forces families. The National Scholarship Program works to remove some of those barriers. Last year, more than $72,000 was awarded to military family members through 42 scholarships, with winners selected from over 400 competitive applications.The 2020 National Scholarship Program is accepting applications from May 21 to Aug. 1. Scholarship recipients will be announced at the beginning of September. There are 50 scholarships available ranging from $500 to $2,500.EligibilityYou are a dependent (includes spouse) of a serving or former member of the Canadian Armed Forces;You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada; andYou are enrolled in an undergraduate program leading to a degree, diploma or certificate at an accredited Canadian college or university.  Post graduate and career college students are also welcome to apply.All 2020 scholarship applications must include the following: Proof of enrollment from an  academic institutionA three-part essay A reference letterMost recent academic transcriptA point form list of volunteer/civic engagement activitiesFor application details go to: www.supportourtroops.ca/Get-Support/Education/Scholarships––––

As part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to refocus existing innovation programs to support the fight against the spread of COVID-19, the Department of National Defence has announced the first of a series of calls for innovations aimed at addressing some key challenges Canada is facing. With an initial commitment of $15 million, the first three challenges focus on:Viable and effective processes and methods for safely and rapidly decontaminating enclosed work environments, such as buildings and modes of transportation, containing sensitive equipment;Innovative material and designs to aid in decontamination of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), operational clothing, and equipment for personnel responding to events involving biological hazards; andData gathering solutions to support the early detection and community-based monitoring of outbreaks of contagious diseases.These challenges were determined by multi-departmental panels led by the National Research Council of Canada as part of the COVID-19 Challenges Procurement Program. In addition to the call for innovation, these panels are engaging Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises to refine their near-to-market products to meet a COVID-19 related need. Promising solutions in the areas of PPE, sanitization, diagnostics and testing, therapeutics, and disease-tracking technology may receive funding to further their solutions of interest.This effort is a collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, and Health Canada and sees an additional investment of up to $10 million.Innovators are encouraged to consult the IDEaS program website (https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/defence-ideas.html) for more information on the challenges and how to apply to the program.  “These are unprecedented times. We need to leverage all great minds and innovators in our efforts to combat COVID-19,” said Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan. “We will invest in Canadians as we look for innovative solutions to keep not only the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces, but all Canadians safe.”–Quick...

[caption id="attachment_23765" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Mission Complete: Army and Navy Reservists line the jetty at Albert Head following the at-sea move from HMCS Malahat in downtown Victoria to the training area during Exercise Strong Mariner May 22.  Photo by Capt Jeff Manney, 39 CBG Public Affairs[/caption]Capt Jeff Manney, Public Affairs Officer, 39 Canadian Brigade Group ~In a first since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, Army and Navy Reservists of Land Task Force Vancouver Island combined forces May 22 for a critical proof-of-concept event.Exercise Strong Mariner saw HMCS Malahat’s two Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boats convey soldiers with the Task Force’s Domestic Response Company (DRC) on a choppy but exhilarating 30-minute crossing from Malahat’s downtown Victoria location to Albert Head. The marine-to-land movement aimed to explore the unique capabilities of the DRC’s naval component.“Across Vancouver Island there are literally thousands of islands with isolated populations that might require immediate assistance, but that could not be reached without our small boats,” said Lt(N) Stephen Holisko, commander of the DRC’s 4 Platoon. “This is what we’re good at – moving equipment, sustenance and people from point A to point B quickly, in a safe manner and with an economy of effort.”This was the first action Lt(N) Holisko’s sailors had seen since the Chief of the Defence Staff directed the Canadian Armed Forces to “stay home, stay healthy and stay fit”. The DRC’s Army Reservists had recently chalked up a pair of convoy exercises, Strong Drive I and II, but were just as excited to get out of the house again.“This is a great way to spend a day,” shouted Master Corporal Jesse Hunt through his improvised personal protective mask. “But it’s also a great experience. It’s rare enough we get to work with other trades let alone another element. This kind of face-to-face time is really beneficial.”Like...

[caption id="attachment_23761" align="aligncenter" width="593"] HMCS Nanaimo returned from Operation Laser May 22. Members of the crew received SPARKMOUTH drinks as they disembarked. Photo by Leading Seaman Valerie LeClair, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A British Columbia beverage company has come through with a substantial, thirst-quenching donation to CFB Esquimalt. Vancouver-based SPARKMOUTH Drinks Co. Ltd made good on a delivery of 57,600 355ml cans of its new sparkling water on May 20. The 2,400 cases of drinks were unloaded at base storage facilities Colwood 66 and Y702 and will be distributed to military and civilian staff working at integral and lodger units across the base. Jackie Fox, SPARKMOUTH Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, says the donation was her company’s way of letting the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces know they greatly appreciate the work they do. “Our company wanted to support and give thanks to those on the front lines that are supporting our community and keeping us safe in such a precarious time,” said Fox. “When we decided to earmark some of our product for donation, we immediately thought of the Canadian military. We hope it puts a small ‘spark’ into their day.”LCdr Colleen O’Brien, N44 Staff Officer, Supply Chain Management and Systems Readiness, said the drinks can be consumed by members in the workplace or taken home to their families. Units receiving shipments are Base Administration, Base Information Services, Base Logistics, Port Operations and Emergency Services Branch, Canadian Forces Health Services, Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, Military Police Unit Esquimalt, Regional Joint Operations Centre, and Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships. LCdr O’Brien says SPARKMOUTH’s generosity is a morale booster for those in the defence community who have provided essential services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and Operation Laser. The donation by SPARKMOUTH has an approximate cash value of $43,000. The company...

[caption id="attachment_23614" align="aligncenter" width="593"] LCol (Retired) Max Shaw, Maj (Retired) Elizabeth Brown-Shaw, and their children Victoria, Benjamin and Johnathan.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~What began as a casual discussion over a bottle of wine led to an epic seven-year sailing journey throughout the South Pacific islands. Back in 2011, as a fierce snowstorm raged outside their Halifax home, LCol Max Shaw and his wife Maj Elizabeth Brown-Shaw tossed around ideas for their future.  Both had 23-year careers in Canada’s military and were still enjoying those challenges and opportunities, but they realized it was time for new adventure, especially one they could share with their children.So, they plotted a non-traditional course. In 2012, they sold their home and bought an old 47-foot fibreglass hulled sailboat they named SV Fluenta. With their children, eight-year-old Victoria and six-year-old Johnathan aboard, they set off from Anacortes, Washington, for the South Pacific.Their first major destination was Mexico, where they spent 18 months near Puerto Vallarta and the Sea of Cortez refitting the boat - and eventually welcoming baby Benjamin. This extended stay enabled them to adjust to their new lifestyle before setting off for more-distant lands. They departed Mexico for French Polynesia when Benjamin was four months old.Two decades in the Canadian Armed Forces and Shaw’s leadership of the sail-training program in Halifax had helped prepare them for the adventure. However, the learning curve was still steep as they had to become DIY mechanics, plumbers, electricians, and riggers all while nurturing and educating their children in tight spaces and in a foreign countries. “Many times, the Lego characters were doing the same kinds of jobs as Mom and Dad, such as installing solar panels and 12V batteries!” said Shaw. Living aboard a boat wasn’t a vacation. They lived in close quarters, which sometimes brought about trying moments. “There...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~With this year’s freshwater fishing season opening up across the country, despite social distancing measures in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, a recreational fisherman from the base is in his kitchen making lures.LS Adam Leach has been fishing since age 12, casting a balsam spinning rod to catch pan fish off the dock at his family’s cottage. From that point, he developed a keen interest in fresh water fishing. As he got older, he moved from the dock to a 12-foot aluminum boat with a 4hp outboard motor looking to hook pike, walleye, musky, and smallmouth bass.Having a decent selection of rods, reels, and lures is essential to success, he says.“I have a large selection of equipment I use for different applicants.”Lures, he says, are an important part of a fisherman’s tackle box, and require practice and experience to use them well. Four years ago, after learning about the cottage industry of making lures in Sweden and Europe, he decided to make his own. His kitchen is his workshop. He designs lures by drawing them on graph paper and then augmenting details with a paint program on his laptop. The process of making a blank begins with the lure sculpted in polymer clay and then baked in the oven. It is then sanded and epoxy putty is applied to create more detail in the eyes, gill plates, mouth and fins. LS Leach then seals the blank with spray paint and uses this as his mold blank. He mixes a two-part mold making silicone, which acts as the negative for what will eventually be a lure made from soft pliable rubber. This is where his art takes off. Before pouring the molten plastic, he adds colorant, glitter, and mica powder to the liquid rubber to enhance the attractiveness...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Last week, PO2 Marielle Audet played her traditional Aboriginal drum at four locations on base to mark Indigenous Awareness Week. The yearly event to celebrate Canada’s Indigenous Peoples and their diversity of cultures, traditions, and values was recognized virtually this year due to COVID-19.The musician is of mixed background, Indigenous and French, and when not playing clarinet with the Naden Band, she serves on the Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group (DAAG).“I wanted to see members of the DAAG and the Naden Band come together and help the base celebrate Indigenous Awareness Week and with their help and support we achieved that,” said PO2 Audet.A second initiative was a video of band members and DAAG members performing a drum and singing solo Come Drum With Me from their home or other remote locations. Each person beat a segment of the song on one of the band’s 10 traditional Aboriginal drums. The drums were handmade in 2016 for the band’s Aboriginal drum group.“While most of us in the video are professional musicians, none of us are professional singers, so while our drumming is very good, our vocals are really far from pitch perfect, me included,” she said. They recorded their performances with their cameras or cell phones, and bandmate LS Laura Engsig put together the finished product.The members who made the director’s cut are PO2 Audet, LS Laura Andrew, LS Simeon Westeijn, PO2 Greg Sly, PO2 Roy Styffe, PO2 Steve Donegan, and DAAG member Sgt Nikki Ducharme.PO2 Audet wore a medicine pouch around her neck, an eagle feather, and two woollen braids to reflect her Métis heritage, while Sgt Ducharme, who is also Métis, wore a Métis sash and other traditional wear.The video can be viewed on the Naden Band Facebook page.––––

Lieutenant Chelsea Dubeau, HMCS Nanaimo Public Affairs Officer ~"Is the Doc in here?" asks a member of the ship's company as they poke their head into the wardroom. The Doc is in. Sub-Lieutenant (SLt) Nicole Spivey, HMCS Nanaimo's Physician Assistant, or Doc as she is known, waves the person in. Nanaimo's Doc is a former Medical Technician of 13 years who commissioned as a Physician Assistant in January 2020 after completing her training. The patient takes a seat while SLt Spivey does a quick examination of what ails: a bump to the head, but it's not too bad. A quick clean of the wound, a couple Band-Aids, and a few encouraging words and the patient is good to go. Today, it's a minor head wound; tomorrow, who can say. The medical needs of a ship's company can be vast, varied, and as complex as the human beings on board. The relationship that forms between individual members and the specialists on board who nurture their welfare is unlike any other, especially with the person who provides medical care. Physician Assistants see the usual bumps and scrapes, coughs and colds, headaches, bellyaches, and more; those normal ailments that come from working in tight, close quarters, with disrupted sleep schedules and the unique trials and tribulations that come with the territory in which the crew operates: a ship at sea. But they are prepared to treat, at least initially, more serious medical events that might occur, everything from urinary tract infections to cardiac events. Kingston-Class ships don't normally sail with a Physician Assistant on board unless on deployment or other demanding sails where they are required. The rest of the time it's the Casualty Clearing Team, led by the Chief Cook, that responds to the medical needs of the crew. SLt Spivey has been...

[caption id="attachment_23578" align="aligncenter" width="593"] A platoon from Land Task Force Vancouver Island’s Domestic Response Company assemble at Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot Rocky Point before returning to base May 6. Photo by Capt Jeff Manney, LCC D/PAO[/caption]Capt Jeff Manney, Public Affairs Officer, 39 Canadian Brigade Group ~Making their first foray from their armouries since the start of the pandemic, B.C. Reservists took to Vancouver Island roads two weeks ago to continue honing their skills working in a COVID environment. On May 6, Exercise Strong Drive saw the Domestic Response Company (DRC) from Land Task Force – Vancouver Island dispatch a fleet of nine vehicles from Victoria’s Bay Street Armoury and another three from Nanaimo. Soldiers conducted convoy and communications training en route to Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot Rocky Point. Two days later, 17 DRC vehicles carrying troops from Comox, Nanaimo, and Victoria met up at the Nanaimo Military Camp before heading into the city’s environs for more training.“We are all Reservists; we care about our communities and Vancouver Island has a significant amount of land to cover,” says LCol Brendon LeBlanc, commanding officer of Land Task Force – Vancouver Island. “We want to be good at convoy ops so we can deliver assistance when called upon. That means having a task force that is flexible, well-trained, and prepared to handle any situation.” LCol LeBlanc’s Land Task Force is one of five across British Columbia answering to Land Component Command. It represents the army element of Joint Task Force (Pacific), which is mobilized to respond to requests for assistance from government on either the COVID front or for natural disasters such as wildfires or floods. While convoy driving and communications skills may be second nature to soldiers, correctly disinfecting vehicles, staying at least two metres from one another, and wearing masks when that’s...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Digital Navy initiative, rolled out in February, is being hailed by senior leadership as a multi-pronged approach to empower members of the naval team for the rapidly evolving digital age. The objective is to create a fundamental cultural shift that will enable the navy to innovate with more agility in the digital domain. In doing so, the RCN is seeking to ensure Canada continues to have a relevant, highly capable naval force in the years ahead. “We have entered a new era where naval activities are more dependent on actions taken in the digital domain than ever before,” said Vice-Admiral Art McDonald, Commander of the RCN. “From the business space to the battle space, the same digital technologies that are driving fundamental disruptive changes across the global economy are creating equally game-changing impacts throughout the naval enterprise. Increasingly, those organizations that find innovative ways to digitally empower their people will be the ones who secure for themselves future mission success. Your Royal Canadian Navy will be among this cohort.”Leading the change is Capt(N) Mark Sheppard, a Naval Engineer who heads the recently formed Digital Navy Office located in Ottawa. His job is to drive coherence and the many specific digital innovation initiatives that are underway across the RCN. The end result will be a needed acceleration of the navy’s digital evolution, he says. The navy, he adds, is taking a leadership role in the military’s digital drive building on its proud history of leveraging digital technologies in its warships.The Digital Navy initiative is being executed across the country. Execution has been organized along functional lines, meaning that teams in each area will have a role to play in moving the initiative forward. All elements of the naval enterprise, from the financial, business and human resource management functions, which underpin the back-end of business to ships that execute the RCN’s mandate at sea, will be engaged, says Capt(N) Sheppard.The Digital Navy initiative includes a...

Kevin M. Carlé, Broadmead Volunteer Golf Committee ~The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all in so many ways. As we continue to “plank the curve,” we really don’t know what the “new normal’ will be like.Many events have been cancelled or delayed, including the 17th Annual Charity Golf Tournament in support of the Broadmead Veterans Memorial Lodge. Originally scheduled to be held on June 4 at the famed Royal Colwood Golf Club, the organizing committee made the difficult decision to postpone the tournament until 2021. However, all is not lost, and the show will still go on.We will be “taking our mulligan” by holding a virtual Stay ‘N Play event.This live-streamed event will include messages from our sponsors, Broadmead Care’s CEO, and residents/family members; suggestions from a golf pro; live draws for the Diamond Raffle, 50/50 draw, and our grand prize of a $1,000 Capital Iron gift card – but you have to be online for the entire streaming event to be eligible for that one!Diamond Raffle tickets are available at https://www.broadmeadcare.com/diamond-raffle/About the tourneyFrom humble beginnings, this charity tournament to support military veterans has grown into a significant fundraising vehicle for Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead.Vice-Admiral (Retired) Nigel Brodeur, who, along with now deceased MGen (Retired) Herb Pitts, and veteran Jim Parker organized the first tournament at Cadboro Bay Golf Course in 2004.“We were pleased to have raised some $600 that year,” recalled Brodeur. Then, in 2005, the high value prize was $400 in gift certificates donated by Tom Martin, owner of Hillside Esso and a strong supporter of Broadmead.Over the years, the tournament has grown in the number of players, the amount raised annually, and the number of appealing prizes and silent auction items.“In addition to being an event for golfers, the annual tournament brought other folks into Broadmead Care,...

Ashley Evans, FMF CB ~Over the past seven weeks, employees in Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton’s Shop 124 Work Centres have been active supporting the navy, working all but two business days. This work has included supporting deployers HMC Ships Brandon, Regina, and Calgary; aiding preparations to move HMC Ships Ottawa and Vancouver over to Victoria Shipyard Ltd, and assistance to Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) with the transfer request of Ottawa’s C5 Sonar Dome on to Regina in Nanoose Bay. The first two week’s work was spent on the storing requirements of the deployed ships, and the last minute preparations to get Brandon, Calgary, and Regina to sea. In addition to ensuring all expired life rafts on future deployers were certified and changed out as required, FMF CB staff assisted and supported brow installs and removals, oftentimes on short notice and after hours. “Establishing and maintaining communication while working remotely is probably one of our biggest challenges, but we have a system in place that is working well to get the information to the people on the ground,” said Steve Ringma, Work Centre Manager, Shop 124.Similar to other management teams, Ringma and fellow managers meet virtually with supervisors weekly to discuss work priorities, safety concerns, and to provide updates. Additional check-in calls are then done daily, as priorities are constantly changing. Work on Ottawa and Vancouver was dynamic. Ottawa had major destoring requirements before being sent for its work period at the Esquimalt Graving Dock. Under tight timelines, with the assistance of TEME (Transportation, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering), crane crews helped ship staff remove approximately 250 pallets of stores and equipment.Vancouver has seen a prioritizing of crane support related to their docking dependent rudder work and hull insert requirements, but also to meet contractual requirements under waterfront management within the Ship...

[caption id="attachment_23538" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Commander Jason Bergen, Commanding Officer of HMCS Nanaimo, oversees a transit. Photo by Leading Seaman Brendan Gibson, MARPAC Imaging[/caption]Lieutenant Chelsea Dubeau, HMCS Nanaimo Public Affairs Officer ~It's a beautiful morning at sea. The water is calm. The bridge is quiet. Commander Jason Bergen, HMCS Nanaimo's Commanding Officer, sneaks up to the captain's chair and goes, for the moment, unnoticed by the bridge team. He's stealthy, calculated. There's a wicked gleam in his eye. He knows something.Seconds later, the Man Overboard alarm goes off and the bridge transforms into organized chaos. Cdr Bergen smiles. "We try to do these drills once a week. It's up to the Officer of the Watch to make sure they kick off the proper procedures. For the most part it's them driving and I'm there as a safety check. Mistakes get made sometimes, and that's when I step in."It's no easy task to share a ship with close to 40 people for whom you're ultimately responsible. You'd think that leadership is made easier only if you've got good followers, but in the case of Nanaimo, leadership is made easier by virtue of the fact that everyone on board is also expected to lead. "Leadership can come at all levels," says Cdr Bergen. "Everybody's got a role to play, everybody's got one common goal, you know, the mission objective, and all it takes is one person for mission success or one person for mission failure."Eat, sleep, lead: it could be touted as the Nanaimo way. At sea and at all times, Nanaimo sailors are doing one of those three things. When it comes to the lead part, they are often doing so at a higher level than would normally be expected of their rank. "Before I was even a Lieutenant (Navy), I was the navigating officer...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Physical distancing rules were the catalyst for a unique surprise promotion ceremony of an HMCS Vancouver Combat Systems Engineer.Sub-Lieutenant Rebecca Post and 11 other ship’s personnel were at the Albert Head Cadet Training Centre May 6 on the pretense to film a video on how to lead an active lifestyle under COVID-19 health and safety measures.She was told by shipmate Lt(N) Tracy Tkachuk, the video’s producer, to jog around the training track as a drone filmed her from above. On the inside of the track, LCdr Rob Hooper, Vancouver’s Commanding Officer, and his Coxswain, CPO1 Steve Wist tossed around a football. In the finale moments of her scene, LCdr Hooper called out and tossed her the football. She caught it, and upon closer inspection saw Lieutenant Navy epaulettes (bars) affixed to the surface. “I didn’t expect to be promoted or become the focal point of a video, but that’s what happened,” said Lt(N) Post. “I have never seen anyone promoted this way, so it really came as a complete surprise. To be sure I got some extra attention with this particular ceremony and I think people will find the video very interesting and amusing.”LCdr Hooper lauded the one-of-a-kind promotional ceremony, noting it is likely the “most creative method” to promote a sailor he has encountered over his 25 years of service. “We are always looking at new and interesting ways to promote in the RCN, and this video is a cool method of outreach to the public. It’s also a great way to boost morale of our ship’s company and I think our sailors are going to be pretty stoked about this.”The idea for the video was hatched by Lt(N) Tkachuk, who has filmed other promotional videos. “The original intention was to show people having fun while...

[caption id="attachment_23522" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Malcolm Colquhoun. Right: Flight Lieutenant Malcolm Colquhoun during the Second World War.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) came and went quietly this year due to fear of COVID-19 spread.But memories of the final days of the Second World War will never be forgotten by those old enough to remember, including 103-year-old Malcolm Colquhoun. He lives at Veterans Memorial Lodge, and through the aid of his daughter Rhonda and son Ross, has detailed life as a prisoner of war. He spent two years, three months, and 10 days at the infamous German prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft III. For those too young to know, the camp had two major prisoner escapes made famous in the movies: The Wooden Horse and The Great Escape. “It was our duty and job as officers to confound the guards and use up their time during the escapes,” says Colquhoun. “It still amazes me that so many made it home alive without a scratch while so many others died.” The camp was built in 1942 in the German province of Lower Silesia near the town of Sagan (now Żagań, Poland), 160 kilometres south-east of Berlin. The site was selected because its sandy soil made it difficult for prisoners to escape by tunnelling.Shot down over GermanyColquhoun was born and raised on a family farm near Maple Creek, SK. In September 1939, when war was declared on Germany, he was 21 years old; less than a year later he travelled to Regina to join the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). After passing aptitude tests and basic training, he was enrolled in a bombing and gunnery course at Jarvis, ON, in 1941. He honed his navigation skills aboard small planes at Pennfield Ridge, NB, before training in larger aircraft...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Two weeks ago, Bill Stewart, 62, grabbed his drum and headed to Duntze Head to perform an Aboriginal drumming session one final time.After 27 years at Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMF CB), the Ahousaht First Nation member decided to retire from his Technical Data Specialist position. The April 29 drumming and chants of his Travelling Song, with the Esquimalt harbour as back drop, marked his departure from the base. “The song is a message of hope to those in combat or travels, sending good luck in travels wherever one goes,” he explains. “I do it to help people understand Aboriginal culture is in harmony with our workforce, and to make sure we understand and respect the First Nations land on which we live, work, and play.”He began working at CFB Esquimalt in 1993 with Base Construction Engineering (now Real Property Operations) as a term clerk. A month and a half later he was hired at Naval Engineering Unit (Pacific) (now FMF Cape Breton) as Duplicating Equipment Operator that was reclassified to Technical Data Specialist in 2004. After receiving a DND Scholarship award in 2003, he continued to work part time until he obtained an Associate Degree in Indigenous Business Leadership. He then became the FMF Cape Breton Technical Information Centre drawings guy for 27-plus years. To continue with the superior customer service, he transferred all his knowledge into an e-file (manual) for future employee reference.“He has extensive knowledge and has been a huge asset to FMF Cape Breton’s Technical Information Centre,” said Syndi Baker, department coordinator. “He is friendly, cheerful, and always ready to lend a hand to co-workers and management.”He was born and raised in Ahousaht First Nation areas, a tiny community located north of Tofino, B.C. His traditional name is (h)ooo-tuk-siah, meaning always learning, and...

[caption id="attachment_23515" align="aligncenter" width="592"] Leading Seaman Kayla Ruiz and Lieutenant (Navy) Miguel Perez conduct a maritime domain awareness patrol. Photo by Leading Seaman Brendan Gibson, MARPAC Imaging[/caption]Lt Chelsea Dubeau, Public Affairs Officer ~It's around 10:15 a.m. on a chilly morning at sea, day seven for HMCS Nanaimo since rejoining Task Group Exercise (TGEX) 20-01 following a week of rest. At around this time most days, depending on the ship’s position, the pipe is made to close up boats' crews and lowers in preparation to launch the RHIB. The sweep deck is a hive of activity as the key players step into their roles. The boat coxswain delivers her brief to the boat crew. The Officer of the Watch flips through her charts. The mission: Nanaimo's RHIB will conduct Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) patrols in the narrow inlets of the remote areas of the B.C. coastline, those parts inaccessible to the ship itself. "MDA is, basically, knowing what's in your waters," says Commander Jason Bergen, Commanding Officer of Nanaimo. "You have to establish a baseline, go through and understand the pattern of life, see what's just the normal tug and tow, fishing vessels, and Canadians out here sailing, versus stuff that's out of the ordinary. So you have to establish that baseline first, which is what the task group has been doing."Besides establishing what's out of the ordinary, the patrols are also treated to sights that feel distinctly extraordinary. Black bears foraging for food, seals languishing on the beach, and, probably the most spectacular, Orcas breeching in the distance. The RHIB's engine is immediately cut when the presence of the marine mammals is known so as not to disturb them, and the crew floats, able to enjoy the moment. When the whales have safely passed, the RHIB continues the mission. There are...

[caption id="attachment_23506" align="aligncenter" width="593"] HMCS Calgary crewmembers line up to enjoy some McDonalds food provided by Westshore McDonalds while the ship was alongside F jetty in Colwood on April 30. Photos by Corporal Jay Naples, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Lt(N) Greg Menzies, PAO HMCS Calgary ~It takes a lot of planning and preparation to feed 230 sailors on a Canadian warship, something the cooks sailing in HMCS Calgary know too well.  However, when Calgary came alongside F Jetty on April 30 to refuel and resupply before heading back to sea, the cooks were given the night off. McDonalds did the cooking.  The McDonalds on Island Highway in Victoria donated a “McBuffet” for the ship’s company consisting of 120 Quarter Pounders, 120 Big Macs, and 100 packs of 10 piece Chicken McNuggets, cookies, and apple slices. After a suggestion was made by a crewmember to order McDonalds  the next time the ship was alongside to keep morale high, Commander Alex Barlow, Commanding Officer of Calgary, reached out to Jeff Topping, McDonalds Director Restaurant Development Eastern Canada, for assistance.   The request was well received and Lt(N) Krisztina Rekeszki, ships Logistics Officer, and her team coordinated the details and delivery to F Jetty, while ensuring all health protection measures were taken.  Calgary’s crew sends out a thank you to Ken Taylor and the Westshore McDonalds team for their support.  The McBuffet donation was a great gesture and show of appreciation to Calgary during these difficult times.  Every sailor was “lovin’ it!”–––

This year, Dog Walk Day is Saturday May 16. So, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services has created an hour walk challenge to encourage physical activity. Participants will be reminded of requirements for social distancing and when and where outdoor exercise is permissive. One participant will be the winner of a “dog goodies package” prize.There are four ways to participate for a chance to win the prize:First way to participate: walk your dog for an hour, click on “going” on the Facebook event and post a picture of your walk (www.facebook.com/events/247106163035268);Second way to participate (if you don’t have a dog): take a 60-minute walk, count the dogs you meet on your path, click on “going” on the Facebook event and let us know how many dogs you saw on your walk (www.facebook.com/events/247106163035268);Third way to participate (if you don’t have a dog): map your walk and take a walk in the shape of a bone, click on “going” on the Facebook event and post a picture of your mapped walk (www.facebook.com/events/247106163035268);Fourth way to participate (if you don’t have a dog): put a bowl of water in your driveway for your neighbourhood’s dogs taking a walk, click on “going” on the Facebook event (www.facebook.com/events/247106163035268).More information about the event: https://www.cafconnection.ca/National/Virtual-Services/PSP-Recreation-Special-Events.aspx.  Due to questions from Soldier On, the registration incentive is on hold.