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[caption id="attachment_20199" align="alignnone" width="591"] The Blue Jays, their mascot Ace, and HMCS Toronto’s command team display the Blue Jays’ pennant. From left: Ace, Toronto Blue Jays Mascot; Ryan Borucki (player); Devon Travis (player); Cdr Martin Fluet, Commanding Officer, HMCS Toronto; and CPO1 Alena Mondelli, Coxswain, HMCS Toronto. Second row, Luke Maile (player); and Dan Jansen (player). Back row: Kevin Pillar (player) and LCdr Matthew Woodburn, Executive Officer, HMCS Toronto. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption] Members of the Toronto Blue Jays, together with team mascot Ace, visited CFB Halifax as part of their Winter Tour on Saturday, Jan. 12. During their time in the city, mascot and the players found time to visit HMC Ships Toronto and St John’s, as well as see an Army display at HMCS Scotian.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~ Family emergencies often strike with little or no warning. If military members are out-of-town or on deployment when the unexpected happens to a family member, who would they call for help? Would they have access to timely assistance from friends or family in the area? If there are children or dependent adults, who would they turn to?     These are questions the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) is encouraging military families to consider as they fill out an Emergency Family Plan for their household. The four-page Emergency Family Plan document was launched by the MFRC in November 2018. It is meant to be kept in a highly visible or familiar place in the home, and shared with the people listed in the plan. In case of an emergency it provides access to vital information including: contact information for family members, care coordinators, emergency contacts, emergency child care providers, and detailed information about the children, including school or daycare contacts, medical information, special needs individuals and their daily routines, and detailed information about dependant adults and family pets. In the past the MFRC was able to provide assistance in the first 72 hours of an emergency, but, for a variety of reasons including limitations from community providers, they may not be able to provide emergency care in those first three days. In the case of an emergency, it is up to you to have a workable emergency family plan, says Cheryl MacQueen, MFRC Esquimalt social worker. “In the past, people may have thought of the MFRC as their backup plan,” said MacQueen. “We can work with you to put a plan together and problem solve who you’d turn to in an emergency.  Upon assessment, we may be able to provide some emergency respite child care. ...

[caption id="attachment_20182" align="alignnone" width="591"] The Women’s Tritons hockey team are all smiles in their team’s dressing room after winning the CARHA Pacific Cup championship game at Oak Bay Arena on Jan. 20.[/caption]   Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~ The CFB Esquimalt Tritons were crowned tournament Champions of the CARHA Pacific Cup hockey tournament women’s division on the weekend of Jan. 20. A shootout goal by Major Pam Harris of Naval Fleet School Pacific gave the base team a 2-1 victory over the Jal Design Panthers of Port Alberni, and bragging rights in the annual recreational hockey tournament held at arenas across the Greater Victoria area.  The Tritons recorded a loss on their opening game of the tournament before rebounding with two wins in the next two games of the opening phase. In the championship game Major Harris’ well-directed wrist shot to the top right corner of the net proved to be the game winner. Their victory in the Oak Bay arena was then cemented when Tritons goaltender Cpl Katie Sawatzky made the game-winning save on the final shot from their opponent. “All the old adages about teams coming together, building chemistry and rallying for the win actually happened and what a great feeling it was,” said Tritons coach, Petty Officer First Class Dave Hillier following the win. Major Harris, who plays defence, also had a hand in her team’s opening goal. The Tritons tied the score in the second period when her shot from the blue line deflected off teammate Captain Amanda Lauder and into the goal. After breaking the scoreless deadlock in the shootout, Cpl Sawatzky was mobbed by teammates following her game-winning save. “It was all hugs and high fives as our bench emptied after Katie’s save,” said Maj Harris. “The victory puts the team in a great frame...

Jan. 30 marks Maritime Forces Pacific’s (MARPAC) support of Bell Let’s Talk Day, an initiative to reduce the stigma of mental health by talking about it openly and honestly.  Here are a few ways you can help end the stigma: Language MattersThe words you use can make all the difference. Words can help, but they can also hurt. Think about what words you are using to discuss mental illness and whether or not those words perpetuate or reduce the stigma.  Educate YourselfThe stigma around mental illness has been around for a long time and knowing the facts and myths about mental health is a great way to help reduce the stigma. So take the time to learn about mental health – there are great resources listed here. Be KindSimple acts of kindness, such as giving a smile, being an active listener, or inviting someone for coffee and a chat, can make a world of difference and help open the conversation and let someone know you are there for them. Listen and AskMental illness is a very common form of human pain and suffering. Being an active listener and asking how you can support someone is the first step in their recovery. You don’t need to have all the answers, just being there for the people you care about is often enough.  Talk About itMental illness affects us all in some way, either directly or through a friend, family member, colleague, or loved one. Stories of people who have experienced mental health issues and who are doing well can help to challenge stereotypes. Let’s start to break the silence and reduce the stigma.  Join us at the Collier Theatre (Building WP1094) on Jan. 30th at 11 a.m. to view the CAF Facebook panel discussion on mental health and join the conversation for Bell Let’s Talk Day. CFB Halifax...

  [caption id="attachment_20176" align="alignnone" width="591"] Master Corporal Manuela Berger, Image tech will deploy with her daughter Leading Seaman Melanie Shering, Naval Combat Information Operator on board Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Toronto for Operation REASSURANCE, 19 January, 2019. Photo Credit: Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption] Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~ For most Canadian Armed Forces members, separation from family and loved ones can be one of the most difficult aspects of a long international deployment. However, for two members of HMCS Toronto, the Operation Reassurance deployment will actually be a family affair. LS Melanie Shering, a Naval Combat Information Operator who’s been with Toronto for nearly three years, was recently joined on board by the ship’s Imagery Technician, MCpl Manuela Berger, who also happens to be her mother. The pair departed Halifax along with the rest of the ship’s company Jan. 19, and will be shipmates for the next six months in the Mediterranean Sea. “I know there are going to be other people crying and missing their family, and I’ll have a piece of mine here with me, so I’m very lucky that way,” MCpl Berger said. MCpl Berger recently joined Formation Imaging in Halifax after spending six years posted to 4 Wing Cold Lake. With her daughter posted thousands of kilometres away on the east coast, they haven’t had a chance to see each other much. “She’s been instrumental in helping me get settled into the navy way, meet people on the ship and learn little tips and tricks,” says MCpl Berger of her daughter. They say that aside from a bit of friendly teasing, their shipmates and messmates have been fully supportive since MCpl Berger joined the crew, and that the command team, including Commanding Officer Cdr Martin Fluet, have remarked on how interesting it is to have the...

Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~Despite it being a weekend morning, HMC Dockyard in Halifax was crowded on Jan. 19 with family members, friends and colleagues on hand to see the crew of HMCS Toronto off on their six-month deployment.The ship is headed to the Mediterranean Sea as part of Operation Reassurance.The mission, which will see Toronto join NATO allies as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, has a goal of reinforcing NATO’s collective strength in Central and Eastern Europe and assuring allies in the region that NATO is dedicated to maintaining security and stability in the face of Russian aggression and other threats.RAdm Craig Baines, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic, said he’s been impressed by the crew as they’ve worked overtime to ensure their weapons, communications, radar and engineering systems are all operating at full tilt ahead of their departure. “This is Canada’s continuous support to our NATO allies in the European theatre, and I know Toronto is ready to take up that mantle,” he said. “The ship has had a very ambitious program over the last six months leading to this, and now they’re going to have a very interesting mission downrange. I know they’ll make the most of it, and I know they’ll make their country proud.” Leaving with Toronto was the second-ever Royal Canadian Air Force air crew to deploy on a ship with the new CH-148 Cyclone, Canada’s replacement for the long-serving Sea King helicopters. In a grand gesture of support for their colleagues, the ship was given a flypast from six additional Cyclones as it sailed out of the harbour, providing a show for both the crew and the many friends and family at the jetty.In addition to the embarked Cyclone crew, Toronto also sailed with an Enhanced Naval Boarding Party from the Naval Tactical Operations Group, who will provide the ship with enhanced protection and a stronger ability to board any suspicious or adversarial vessels. The team will also exercise extensively with allies to help...

[caption id="attachment_20122" align="alignnone" width="591"] Naval Reservist Ordinary Seaman Charleyne Oulton signs a copy of On Her Plate, a recently released collection of short stories by Golden Brick Road Publishing that contains one of her short stories. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer -A military mother and recent recruit of Victoria’s Naval Reserve Unit HMCS Malahat says choosing a career with Canada’s military is giving her a new set of skills and time to develop as an author. Ordinary Seaman Charleyne Oulton was at Coles bookstore in the Westshore Town Centre ahead of the holiday break to promote her latest writing project as a contributing writer in two recently released books by Golden Brick Road Publishing: Her Art of Surrender and On Her Plate, both a collection of short stories. After signing copies for customers, she spoke glowingly about signing up for service in the Naval Reserves.“Being a reservist has allowed me an opportunity to greatly expand my horizons. It opens a host of new options for me: to have training, a reliable salary and the freedom to pursue my passions and dreams while serving my country.”She is a 32-year-old divorced mother of three and the fiancé of Petty Officer Second Class Jonathan McGregor, Naval Fleet School (Pacific). She joined the Naval Reserves in August to broaden her horizons and bring some steady income into the household. For now, she spends approximately two nights a week at HMCS Malahat.This leaves her time to spend with her two sons, ages 14 and 12, and her 10-year-old daughter and allows time for her writing projects.“My whole life, I have kept a journal and written down notes, lists, feelings and ideas,” says OS Oulton. “I had always dreamed of writing as a way to offer my thoughts and life experiences to others.”Her...

  [caption id="attachment_20116" align="alignnone" width="591"] Sailor Profile: LS Thomas LeBlanc, Marine Technician. Photo by Operation Caribbe Imagery Technician, HMCS Edmonton[/caption]   SLt Samantha Crocker, Unit Public Affairs Representative Operation Carribe - Leading Seaman Thomas LeBlanc’s decision to join the Regular Force felt like a family tradition, he says. That’s because there have been members of his family in the Canadian Armed Forces since the First World War. The marine technician from Arichat, NS, enrolled in the Royal Canadian Navy in 2010. He was first posted to HMCS Protecteur and to HMCS Brandon in 2014. During this time, Brandon supported Canadian Coast Guard search and rescue efforts off the west coast of Vancouver Island. LS LeBlanc was then posted ashore at the Damage Control School before joining HMCS Edmonton in June 2017. “I really enjoyed being on a supply ship,” said LS LeBlanc. “But I love the small crew size on the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels.” As a Marine Technician, he is an essential member of the crew. “I love the hands-on aspect of my job and it’s great that I play such an important role in keeping the ship running.” Since joining Edmonton, LS LeBlanc has sailed on Operation Limpid from August to October 2017 and completed two deployments on Operation Caribbe in 2018. During Operation Caribbe, Royal Canadian Navy vessels and Aurora aircraft conducted patrols in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean in support of the multinational, U.S.-led effort to disrupt illicit trafficking operations in the region. “I like knowing we’re doing our part to prevent the ingress of drugs into North America,” said LS LeBlanc. “I feel like we’re making a difference for Canadian society as a whole.” LS LeBlanc currently lives in Victoria. Despite his busy sailing schedule, he enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and camping. He...

[caption id="attachment_20105" align="alignnone" width="591"] Victoria Grizzlies Educational Advisor Butch Boucher (left) gives advice to Grizzlies right-winger Marty Westhaver in the team’s head office at the Q-Centre in Colwood. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]   Peter Mallett, Staff Writer - Butch Boucher enjoyed a 46-year career with the Department of National Defence but now his days are filled with hockey. The 72-year-old retired Chief Petty Officer says while most men his age have hung up their skates, he is still quite handy between the pipes with a stick and blocker. His passion for the national sport began with shinny hockey on outdoor rinks in Timmins, Ontario, in the 1950s and later for his high school team. He wasn’t always a goaltender; he only took up the position when he was asked to fill a vacancy in a local recreation league back in the mid-1990s. Now he doesn’t want to play anywhere else on the ice. Boucher tends goal three days a week in three different senior leagues around the Greater Victoria area plus tournament play. When he turned 65 he played 115 games that year; however, he has slowed down a bit, now playing only 85 to 90 games. “As a goalie, I play against many younger players who could well be my grandsons and enjoy both the competitiveness and the comradeship.” In December, he enjoyed a reunion with his military peers, playing in a Hull Tech’s charity hockey game at Wurtele Arena. Later in the month, he volunteered during the World Junior ‘A’ Hockey Championship Games in Victoria. He is also with the Victoria Playmakers Old-Timers Committee which holds an annual tournament in Victoria, and 2019 is their 30th year. He also mentors the next generation of hockey players. Boucher is one of three educational advisors for the Victoria Grizzlies Junior...

[caption id="attachment_20100" align="alignnone" width="591"] Gary Lahnsteiner, Dan Lahnsteiner, Paul Helston and Mike Knippel at the trailhead on the first day of their hike.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer - High above the Chilkoot Pass three retired sailors looked upon the breathtaking panorama laid out before them. Captain (Navy) Mike Knippel, Chief Petty Officer First Class Paul Helston, and Lieutenant Commander Gary Lahnsteiner, all retirees from the Royal Canadian Navy, had conquered the often barren and harsh landscape that is the high mountain pass through the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains in Alaska and British Columbia. Their three-day hiking journey had brought them to this vista, and to a fresh way to live their retirement: exercise, adventure, and friendship. “When we got up there, we thought what a great experience and who would have thought three ex-navy buddies would ever do something like this,” said Lahnsteiner. Also on the August trip was Lahnsteiner’s brother Dan, a 52-year-old civilian. To get their boots on the rugged ground they flew from Victoria to Whitehorse, then took a bus to Carcross before boarding a train to the beginning of the trail in Skagway. They each carried a backpack stuffed with food, safety equipment, and supplies, about the weight of a toddler. On the first day of their journey they hiked from the coastal rainforest zone near the Klondike ghost town Dyea, Alaska, and then up a steep incline known as the Golden Stairs before arriving at the Chilkoot Pass near the Canada-United States border. The trail was well marked with rest stops, camp grounds and park rangers, lessening the danger of a wilderness trek. But Knippel had a close encounter with a black bear outside his tent, and a massive porcupine in a defensive posture blocked their path for several minutes. “I would put...

[caption id="attachment_20089" align="alignnone" width="591"] Artist Marlene Howell displays her feature painting entitled Under New Ownership, which is featured in The Lost Fleet exhibit at the Maritime Museum of B.C. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer - A new exhibit commemorating one of the darkest chapters in Canadian history opened earlier this month at Victoria’s Maritime Museum of B.C. The Lost Fleet exhibit sheds light on the wave of hysteria and anti-Japanese sentiment that swept the west coast of North America following the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. It included the seizure of approximately 1,200 Japanese-Canadian owned fishing boats on the Pacific Coast. The vessels were confiscated by members of the Royal Canadian Navy Reserves and other government agencies, and eventually sold off to canneries and other non-Japanese fishermen. As part of the Government of Canada’s War Measures Act, approximately 22,000 Japanese-Canadians were deemed a threat to national security and were abruptly arrested. Most were separated from their families and forced into internment camps across B.C. and the rest of Canada in early 1942. The exhibit uses a combination of archival photographs, newspaper articles, government posters, infographics, and art work to showcase the history.   A Series For Contemplation consists of four paintings created specifically for the exhibit by Langford Artist-In-Residence Marlene Howell.   Howell, a Toronto-born Japanese-Canadian, is excited to be part of the exhibit because researching and painting about the fleet has been an educational process. Her grandparents immigrated to Canada in 1916 but they never spoke of the war years or what the family had endured.  “They didn’t talk about the war, so I really don’t know very much about what happened during the internment on a personal level,” said Howell. “That is why I was so intrigued with taking part in The Lost Fleet, and when I received an e-mail inviting me to be the Artist in Residence, I immediately accepted as it was a great honour. Howell was contacted by the museum on June 29 and worked...

[caption id="attachment_20084" align="alignnone" width="591"] Warrant Officer (Ret’d) Jeff Foss with his wife Karen Shelton and support dog Zeni. Foss recently attended Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder retreat in Ontario and is now raising funds to send other military and first responders. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer - A military couple from the Comox Valley are raising funds to send current and former soldiers and first responders to a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) support program. Karen Shelton, who works for the Department of National Defence as a civilian employee, and her husband Warrant Officer (Ret’d) Jeff Foss recently launched a GoFundMe campaign. Their goal is to send 10 people to a retreat-style PTSD clinic in rural Ontario called Project Trauma Support. It is a non-profit charity and runs its operations from a sprawling 250-acre farm near Perth, Ont. Approximately 10 to 12 people attend separate men’s and women’s programs over five days. The program includes psychotherapy, physical activities, information sessions, lectures and group support sessions. Those enrolled are fed and housed at the site and spend most of the five days on the property. But the program isn’t cheap and costs up to $7,000 per person. The couple knows that financial support isn’t available for everyone in need of the program. To solve that problem, Shelton and Foss launched the GoFundMe campaign ahead of the Christmas break. While they say things have started off slowly, they are working hard to raise awareness and have set a fundraising goal of $70,000 that would cover the cost for 10 people. Foss has intimate knowledge of the program; he attended it in December. His PTSD symptoms began following his involvement in United Nations Peacekeeping deployments to Haiti and the Golan Heights. In 2002, he was clinically diagnosed with PTSD but suspects he...

[caption id="attachment_20078" align="alignnone" width="591"] Lieutenant Colonel Heather McClelland[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer -When the Commanding Officer of 11 (Victoria) Field Ambulance began her 35-year military career, she never imagined herself working alongside one of Queen Elizabeth’s vice-regal representatives.But that is what happened last April when reservist Lieutenant Colonel Heather McClelland was named an Honorary Aide-de-Camp to the newly appointed Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, Janet Austin.LCol McClelland says the importance of the appointment and its significance really hit home for her during this year’s New Year’s Day Levée ceremony.“I am so privileged and honoured to be in this position,” she said in the days following the ceremony. “This appointment truly allows me to further show my respect for the monarchy and to stand on guard for Canada.”A nurse by profession, who currently works as a case manager with a local health organization, she was one of six personal assistants to Lieutenant-Governor Janet Austin at the Government House reception that was attended by over 1,400 guests. The annual ceremony can trace its roots to the 17th Century when British and French monarchs receiving their subjects and representatives in an exchange of New Year’s greetings at the royal palace on the first day of the calendar year. The tradition lives on today in Canada’s provincial capitals and at military bases where visiting military and civilians are greeted by senior leaders.LCol McClelland, 54, is one of 28 Honorary Aides-de-Camp across the province who serve LGov Austin at official functions throughout the year. She is there to assist Her Honour with anything she may need or want during a ceremony, ensuring the Lieutenant Governor has the opportunity to spend time with everyone in attendance equally.LCol McClelland typically attends one or two events per month depending on her personnel schedule and the events schedule sent out...

[caption id="attachment_20042" align="alignnone" width="388"] A Canadian sound source is deployed. It simulates the acoustic signature of a passing vessel.[/caption]Mark Baldin/Michael Simms, DRDC – ARC ~In September and October of 2018, Sweden hosted research teams from Canada and Norway to conduct the second of three joint international trials of the Distributed Underwater Sensor Network (DUSN). The Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) and SAAB teams worked with the Canadian research team at DRDC – Atlantic Research Centre (ARC) and the Norwegian (FFI) team to test the ability of each agency’s underwater nodes to perform surveillance, to track targets, and to be interoperable with all other nodes. Canada hosted the first of these trials back in 2017 at the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental Test Ranges (CFMETR) with the third planned for 2020. All nodes, regardless of the where they were developed, are autonomous passive sonar systems capable of communicating with each other’s underwater using acoustic modems. These nodes work together as a group for detecting a contact, obtaining its location through cross fixing, and then relaying the information to an operator. Each country designed and built nodes for operating in their own national waters. DRDC-ARC constructed six DUSN nodes. FOI and FFI each brought four nodes. These 14 independent nodes formed an underwater acoustic network over a small area. Sept. 19, 2018, was the first time that nodes from all countries successfully worked together to acoustically cross fix and track a contact in an autonomous manner. FOI and the Royal Swedish Navy (RSN) provided test facilities and four vessels while SAAB provided and operated an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) in support of the field trial. The four vessels helped deploy and recover the nodes and other equipment while also acting as contacts for tracking purposes. One vessel was also used to deploy and tow a Canadian sound source used to simulate the acoustic signature of a passing contact. The AUV was also loaded with predefined signatures and tones to simulate different types of contacts and was...

[caption id="attachment_20039" align="alignnone" width="590"] From left: CPO1 Derek Kitching, Atlantic Fleet Chief; RAdm Craig Baines, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic; Irving Shipbuilding employee Vicki Berg; CPO1 Sylvain Jaquemot, Pacific Fleet Chief, and Rene Belliveau, Irving Shipbuilding VP, Production, at the keel-laying ceremony on Dec. 6, 2018, with a plaque as a memento. Photo by Mona Ghiz, Marlant PA[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~Construction has officially begun on the third of the Royal Canadian Navy’s new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS). A keel-laying ceremony on Dec. 6 at the Irving Shipbuilding Assembly Hall in Halifax marked the beginning of work on the future HMCS Max Bernays. The ship will follow the future HMC ships Harry DeWolf and Margaret Brooke, which are both currently under construction, with Harry DeWolf set for delivery in late 2019.Keel laying is an important moment in the early life of a ship, marking its birth and the start of full production work. The ceremonial action itself was performed by Irving Shipbuilding welder Vicki Berg, who laid a Royal Canadian Mint Second World War Battle Series coin into the first keel unit of the future ship’s centre module, and then announced the keel to be “well and truly laid.” The coin will stay embedded within the ship through the duration of its life and is meant to bring good fortune and luck to all those who sail in it.The small, informal ceremony was attended by Irving Shipbuilding representatives including President Kevin McCoy, along with RAdm Craig Baines, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic (Marlant), Marlant Formation Chief CPO1 Derek Kitching, AOPS Project Director Cdr Guillaume Cote and Deputy Director LCdr James Brun. As the future Max Bernays will be the first of the AOPS to join the RCN’s Pacific Fleet following its delivery, the keel laying was also attended by West Coast...

Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~New radar equipment, soon to be installed on Halifax-class frigates, will allow for better detection and faster response when dealing with incoming threats at sea, says RAdm Craig Baines, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic and Joint Task Force Atlantic.The upgrade will add a new electronically-stabilized antenna set to the Sea Giraffe 180 radar currently installed on the ships. The federal government announced the news, along with the $21.7 million contract to procure the equipment from Saab Microwave Canada, during a press conference aboard HMCS Charlottetown on Dec. 7.“When we’re out on the water, we have to be very concerned about aircraft and other ships that are out there; and if a missile ever gets fired at us, the ability to detect that missile and have a reaction ready is critical to saving the ship. This equipment will allow us to do that much more efficiently,” said RAdm Baines. “We know the Canadian Navy needs to modernize to be able to face modern-day threats. Getting this new piece of equipment will help us do that.”The new antenna will increase the range of the existing radar from 150 to 180 kilometres and provide the crew with more data, includings elevation levels and the surrounding environment for any incoming potential threats.Dave Monahan, DND’s Project Manager for the Halifax-class Modernization Frigate Life Extension, said the first installation should take place in 2021 on HMCS Ville de Quebec.“Once we prove the system, we’ll carry on with the remaining ships as they enter their docking work periods,” he added. The initial $21.7 million contract with Saab includes the option to purchase 12 more antenna sets for the fleet, which would bring the total up to $97.5 million.The announcement was also attended by government representatives Halifax MP Andy Fillmore, Dartmouth-Cole Harbour MP Darren Fisher, and Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook MP Darrell Samson.“Our modernized Halifax-class frigates safeguard and protect Canada’s waters, and they contribute to peace and security around the world,” Fillmore said. “This upgrade to one of the...

[caption id="attachment_20031" align="alignnone" width="587"] Countless[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A  Nova Scotia photographer who captured images of Europe’s most famous battle sites wants her work to be a permanent reminder of the horrific human cost of war. Justine Macdonald, a self-described military brat, says the inspiration and vision for her newly released pictorial book Remembrance Road: A Canadian Photographer’s Journey Through European Battlefields draws heavily from growing up on Canadian Forces bases in the 1980s. “Not every military child develops an interest in military history, but I did. I think my interest in history in general and my love of travel mixed with my family background led me to this point,” says the 40-year-old resident of Annapolis Valley. “A better photographer now than when I visited these sites with my family as a young adult, I wanted to return and re-photograph them – to try and do the sites justice and share the experience with those who are unable to make the journey themselves.”Her parents met in Cyprus in the early 1970s while her father, Stephen MacDonald, was part of the Canadian Army’s United Nations Peacekeeping mission, and her mother Moira was a Leading Aircraft Woman with the Women’s Royal Air Force. When they married and returned to Canada her father transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force working as a flight engineer before eventually retiring as a Sergeant at CFB Greenwood in 2002.  Prior to that, the family lived on military bases in Cold Lake, where Justine was born, Winnipeg, and Geilenkirchen, Germany.Though never a member of the military herself, MacDonald had a front-row view of life on military bases at the end of the Cold War. She says those experiences had a lasting impact and spurred her interest in travel, writing and photography.“It piqued my interest and I never would have...

[caption id="attachment_20025" align="alignnone" width="587"] Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A new rewards program is giving Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members added incentive to do well on their mandatory fitness and operational readiness test.On Jan. 1 the FORCE Rewards Program was rolled out at military bases across Canada, enabling military personnel a chance to receive prizes and special recognition for registering high scores in their FORCE (Fitness for Operational Requirements Canadian Armed Forces Employment) test. All Regular Force and Class B Reservists are eligible to participate in the rewards program. Alyssa Jesson, a Personnel Support Programs Fitness coordinator who works at the Naden Athletic Centre, thinks the rewards program will be a motivating factor to improved fitness. “I think it was definitely time for some sort of rewards [system] to come into play,” said Jesson. “I am excited that in the coming weeks PSP staff will be seeing members coming through the front doors of our athletic facilities already wearing their FORCE Rewards gear.”After completion of their FORCE Evaluation test the results of members are plotted on their FORCE Fitness Profile and placed in one of four classification categories: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. That placing is based on their performance in comparison to how others of the same age and gender score on the test. Those who place in the top three categories receive the following prizes: Silver, high-performance t-shirt; Gold, high-performance hoodie; Platinum: high performance hoodie, certificate of recognition, and a pin to be worn on dress uniform (not CADPAT). The Force Rewards Program was developed in consultation with members in uniform, and relies on scientific evidence about what motivates people. Over 15,000 questionnaires and seven focus groups were undertaken to determine what motivates CAF members. The findings demonstrated that rewards provide a sense of accomplishment for...

[caption id="attachment_20014" align="alignnone" width="590"] HMCS Corner Brook on Arctic patrol during Operation Nanook in 2007. Photo by Cplc Blake Rodgers[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~HMCS Corner Brook will become the first of the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) four Victoria-class submarines to be equipped with a new modern mast system.The hunter-killer submarine is currently stationed in the purpose-built repair facility dock at Victoria Shipyards as workers from Babcock Canada install the L3 Calzoni Universal Modular Mast (UMM). The system, similar to the one fitted in U.S. Navy Virginia-class submarines was acquired under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.Masts are vital to the functioning of any submarine. In Canada’s diesel-powered subs they provide air supply, communications, radar, and periscope capability. Lieutenant-Commander Darryl Gervis, RCN Deputy Director Submarine Combat Systems, says the new technology puts Canada’s submarine program on a new course. “This is a game changer,” said LCdr Gervis, referring to the current technological shortfall for Canadian subs, which is the lack of a reliable high-speed satellite data link.“What the Universal Modular Mast [when coupled with the Protected Military Satellite Communication PMSC antenna] will do is provide near real-time high-speed [antenna] communications with the shore. This will allow for improved picture and video transmission, and quicker transmission of messages, and therefore reduce counter-detection opportunities as the submarine will spend less time with its mast out of the water.” The new equipment will also include the ability to  “plug-and-play” a Communications Intercept Suite antenna that will provide the class that capability. This is because the Universal Modular Mast has two multi-purpose ports – like data ports on a computer. This will enable other antennas and intelligence-gathering equipment to be swapped in and out to better suit the needs of a specific deployment or changing technology. Here in Esquimalt, Deputy Commander - Operations of Canadian Submarine Force, Commander Mike Mangin is encouraged by the upgrade and says the Universal Modular Mast with Protected Military Satellite Communication will bring Canadian submarine communications capabilities into the modern era.“It...

[caption id="attachment_20011" align="alignnone" width="590"] Members of Seamless in Canada pose for a group photo at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, Ontario, on Dec. 5. Photo by Private Tori Lake, Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa) Imaging Services[/caption]DND ~Canadian Armed Forces members and their families are now one step closer to experiencing a “Seamless Canada”, when they relocate across the country during the course of their careers.Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) representatives met with counterparts from all provinces and territories in Ottawa Dec. 5 and 6 to advance the Seamless Canada initiative, first initiated in the summer of 2018.DND launched Seamless Canada on June 27 to improve the coordination of relocation services across the country, when CAF members and their families move to a different province or territory. The Ottawa symposium focussed on finding ways to streamline and enhance services across governments on issues specific to CAF members and their families.CAF members are required to relocate across Canada throughout their careers. A Canadian Forces Ombudsman report released in 2013 found that relocation is a major cause of stress and strain for military families, who can expect to move three times more frequently than the average civilian over the course of a member’s career in the CAF. Specific concerns included access to healthcare, employ­ment, child care and education, which all come under provincial and territorial jurisdictions.The Ottawa roundtable discussions centred on health care, spousal employment, and education and childcare. Participants also worked on shaping the governance of the Seamless Canada framework and deciding on a strategic, long-term path to improving how military families can better transition between the provinces and territories.The Seamless Canada working group will continue meeting regularly to improve services across provinces and territories in an effort to help ease the burden placed upon CAF members...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A deployment to the Indo-Pacific region didn’t stop HMCS Calgary and the Esquimalt Lions Club from hosting the 33rd annual Children’s Christmas Party.In previous years the party was held onboard Calgary, but with the frigate deployed on Operation Projection the event was moved to the Gun Room at Work Point.With landed members from the ship and volunteers from HMCS Winnipeg sporting festive Santa hats and Lions Club members dressed as elves, they played host to a group of 25 deserving public school students from six Victoria elementary schools.“It’s an annual tradition and great to have the community engagement between the Esquimalt Lions club, local schools and the navy,” said event organizer, Petty Officer Second Class Brad Warford. “It’s great to be able to reach out to the local community and show children what we do and what the navy has to offer.”Retired Saanich Firefighter and Lions Club member Daryl Driemel began his involvement in the Christmas party when it first began back in 1985. He says participating puts a smile on his face every year because the kids really seem to “have a ball.”“That is what makes this event so special because it gives these children some free time away from class where they can experience some holiday joy,” said Driemel.The party kicked off outside of the Gun Room with fire extinguisher and fire hose drills performed by CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue. Firefighters also brought their ladder fire truck to show off to the kids and arranged for a visit by Sparky the Fire Safety Dog. Festivities then moved indoors where the children made Christmas crafts and played games before enjoying a lunch of hot dogs and chicken fingers.But the biggest surprise came at the end of the party with an appearance by Santa Claus himself....

MARPAC Public Affairs ~Can you imagine having a trade, certifications, and a well-paying job with benefits that you enjoy – all without student loans?That’s what Lachlan Palmer has. When still in high school and just 17-years-old, he applied for a student co-operative education term at Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Breton at CFB Esquimalt. As a successful applicant, he took part in the co-op program after graduating from high school in July and August of 2012.  He was paid for his work that summer, making him one of the few students at his age to earn an income so quickly after graduation. After completing the co-operative education at FMF, he was then offered a four-year apprenticeship program as a pipe-fitter. He began the apprenticeship that November and completed it in 2016 – obtaining his Journeyman Ticket in pipefitting. Following his appren­ticeship, he then “bridged” into full-time employment at FMF. Now at 24, he has been working with FMF for nearly seven years. He also received additional training during that time, which was all paid for by his employer, the Government of Canada. He obtained his steam-fitting/pipe-fitting and gas-fitting tickets, as well as qualifications in high pressure brazing. He is currently one of only two employees at FMF who can conduct brazing work on submarines.“I am very fortunate that my shop teacher told me about the co-op program when I was in high school, which made all of this possible.”The bonus is Palmer enjoys his job. From working on submarines to climbing ship’s masts to checking lines, to working in FMF’s new facilities, there’s never a dull moment. He enjoys playing a role in getting ships out to sea to protect our coasts through his work.His connection to ship work has also seeped into his personal life. He purchased a boat...

[caption id="attachment_20002" align="alignnone" width="589"] Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel, for the day, Aiden Anderson, along with his sister Courtney Holland and mother Isabella Anderson, experienced army equipment during their visit to Le Régiment de Hull (RCAC), in Gatineau, Quebec, on Dec. 13. Photo by Jay Rankin, Canadian Army Public Affairs[/caption]Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs ~The Canadian Army appointed its first-ever Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel: a 15-year-old from London, Ontario.However, the appointment was for just one day; the youth in question, Aiden Anderson, who now has memories to last a lifetime.That day, Dec. 13, 2018, was just one of five Aiden spent in the Nation’s Capital with the help of Make-a-Wish Canada, which grants the wishes of children suffering from critical illnesses.Though he has been healthy for several years, Aiden was born with a congenital heart defect that has kept him in hospital frequently in the past and required four surgeries over his lifetime.Aiden, a student at London’s Sir Frederick Banting High School, with a keen interest in politics and military history, wished to experience a day in the life of the Prime Minister. His experiences included sitting in on Question Period and hosting a press conference just as the PM would.In addition to learning about the Prime Minister’s role, he was able to cross another wish off his list by spending quality time experiencing the military way of life up close with the army.His day with the army began with a gathering at which the Army Commander, Lieutenant-General Jean Marc Lanthier, was briefed by other senior leaders at the Army Headquarters in Ottawa.Officers around the table introduced themselves to Aiden, who was uniformed in CADPAT, and explained their respective roles. CADPAT, which stands for Canadian Army Disruptive Pattern, is the army’s distinctive, disruptive camouflage pattern.“Your courage, your resilience, your drive, and your quality as a person...

Peter Mallett Staff Writer ~Esquimalt’s Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) is getting ready to score on a Victoria Grizzlies power play. The Junior ‘A’ hockey club recently announced a new partnership that will see the community-based non-profit as the sole beneficiary of fundraising efforts for its Military Appreciation Night on Jan. 25 game against the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The club is offering reduced ticket prices of $10 for all military and DND employees with $5 from every ticket sold for the game going to the MFRC. Tickets can be purchased through their website and the box office at the Q-Centre in Colwood. When purchasing through the website choose military/senior rate for the discount. The new partnership and other fundraising initiatives surrounding the game were finalized after discussions between MFRC Community Engagement Manager Lisa Church and Grizzlies President Lance Black.“It’s wonderful that the club is reaching out like this to both the MFRC and the military community. Their level of support is very impressive and heartwarming to see,” said Church.Church noted there are other ways her organization will benefit from the event including being the beneficiaries of the team’s traditional game-night 50/50 draw. Grizzlies players will also wear specially designed uniforms for the game, which will be auctioned off to the highest bidders following the game. The black and gold jersey was created by the team’s graphic designer Ty Didmon and features a navy frigate on the front. The MFRC will give one lucky registered youth hockey player, under the age of 18, a chance to participate in opening-game warmups with the Grizzlies. Interested players can fill out an application form available at the MFRC’s headquarters on Signal Hill or the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre (CPAC) until Jan. 17. The lucky winner will be announced on Jan. 21. The Naden Band will also...

[caption id="attachment_19994" align="alignnone" width="580"] Best Griswold Tree, Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific): (Left) Terri Yuen, Sgt Shauna Karnes, Base Commander, Capt(N) Jason Boyd, and Capt Kelsie Morrison.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Three base units headed into the 2018 holiday season with bragging rights and prizes following the judging of the annual Christmas Tree Decorating Contest. This year’s winning entries were Best Festive Tree, Fleet Maintenance Facility; Best Griswold Tree, Canadian Forces Health Services Centre Pacific; and Best Charlie Brown Tree, Naval Development Training Centre. Decorating of the pre-lit artificial trees began Nov. 26 and were completed by Dec. 7. Winners were announced on Dec. 12 after judging by Skate and Swim with Santa attendees.Base Commander, Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd was on hand to congratulate the winners at the Naden Athletic Centre and Wurtele Arena on Dec. 13. $200 gift cards were each awarded for the Most Festive Tree and Best Griswold Tree; $100 gift card was awarded for the Best Charlie Brown Tree.

[caption id="attachment_19969" align="alignnone" width="591"] Capt(N) Jason Boyd, Base Commander, and Family[/caption]Celebrate the Joy As the crunch of the holiday season begins in earnest and the demands of shopping, decorating, and entertaining can bog us down in the heavy business of good cheer, it’s easy to lose sight of one word that makes this time of year so magical: Joy.It’s the refrain of a classic Christmas song: “Joy to the World.” It’s on the faces and in the smiles of our sailors seeing the shores of home for the first time after long journeys keeping this country safe and making it proud. And it’s in the eyes and heart of a child racing to open presents on Christmas day - though perhaps not so much for parents confronted by a much too early morning after a few too many egg nogs. We in the military have a fondness for Latin, and joy comes from gaudere - to rejoice, to celebrate, to feel jubilation and delight. And while it is a gaudy, tinselly word, I don’t think it strains credulity to say I have had plenty to rejoice about during this past year as Base Commander of CFB Esquimalt. I am constantly delighted and filled with pride by the professionalism, dedication to duty and continued excellence of the civilian and military members of the Defence Team at CFB Esquimalt and Maritime Forces Pacific. We are all blessed by the strong, flourishing relationships the Base enjoys with its friends, partners and neighbours, be they First Nations, the Township of Esquimalt, and the other municipalities of Vancouver Island, the province, or organizations such as HealthPartners and the Goldstream Food Bank. And I can say without reservation I still take immense satisfaction and pleasure serving you all and this great country as an officer of the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Armed Forces.Part of the joy of this time of year is in abundance - the heaps of love, excitement, food, gifts, and holiday spirits, both...

[caption id="attachment_19964" align="alignnone" width="591"] On the left, PO1 Marc Buzzi of Team Howlett and CPO2 Josh Barnes get set for the opening puck drop by referee CPO2 Yves Ouellet. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Members of the former Hull Technician trade recently gathered for a charity hockey game, fittingly dedicated to the memory of two former co-workers who loved to play hockey. Approximately 20 sailors gathered for their 5th annual fundraiser on Dec. 6 at Wurtele Arena. It was played in honor of former Hull Tech Instructor, Chief Petty Officer First Class Mike Howlett, and former Hull Tech Petty Officer Second Class Joe Lescene. The beneficiary of the $135 funds raised for this year’s game will go to help to pay for an Autism support dog for the four-year-old daughter of Leading Seaman David Howe, from HMCS Ottawa. When the final buzzer sounded Team Howlett defeated Team Lescene 7 to 5.  But the final score didn’t really matter for the players involved said Leading Seaman Steven Parizeau, a Fire Instructor at Naval Fleet School (Pacific) Damage Control Division. “Playing this game was a good way to help another Hull Tech in need just in time for the holidays and also to remember the legacies of two Hull Techs who are no longer with us,” said LS Parizeau. CPO1 Howlett of Stephenville, Nfld., was an ardent Edmonton Oilers fans. He loved the game of hockey so much that he once had a ball hockey court built in a field next to his place of work, Colwood’s Damage Control building. His students and co-workers first organized the memorial game in memory of CPO1 Howlett back in 2014. CPO1 Howlett succumbed to pancreatic cancer in March 2010.This year organizers of the game decided to remember the legacy of PO2 Lescene. He...

[caption id="attachment_19961" align="alignnone" width="590"] Inset: Piper Donald Kennedy, 43rd Cameron Highlanders[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~As Angus Stanfield, 73, looks back on 2018, he says playing his family’s set of century-old bagpipes at this year’s Bells of Peace Ceremony will stand as one of his life’s greatest memories.The moment came at sunset, shortly after 4:39 p.m. on Nov. 11, when the Bells of Peace tolled 100 times. That’s when the Victoria man put his lips to the mouthpiece, expanded the bag to capacity, and squeezed out a stirring rendition of Amazing Grace for onlookers gathered at Fort Rodd Hill. These are no ordinary bagpipes that Stanfield plays. Made of African blackwood, real ivory, and mounted silver, these authentic Scottish bagpipes have been in his family for over 103 years. They are the same set of pipes played on the battlefield by his Grandfather, Private Donald Kennedy for Canada’s 43rd Battalion Cameron (Winnipeg) Highlanders. Pte Kennedy served Canada at the Battle of the Somme, Passchendaele, and Vimy Ridge. “So many emotions were going through my mind,” said Stanfield of playing his grandfather’s pipes. “I was thinking about my grandfather and how the pipes I was playing were right there on the battlefields in France and Belgium. I was also thinking about the 60,000 Canadians who were killed, with each ring of the bell representing 6,000 men.”Remembrance Day is normally a busy time for Stanfield, who is chairman of the B.C. Yukon Legion Foundation, Cockrell House, and the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy and Remembrance Day Committee; he is also Vice President of the Dominion Command. But he wouldn’t have missed the local Bells of Peace ceremony and the chance to honour his Grandfather. The Bells of Peace initiative was part of Canada’s recognition of the 100th anniversary of the day the Armistice. When the peace agreement...

[caption id="attachment_19958" align="alignnone" width="591"] Ordinary Seaman Kathryn Struthers (left) and Leading Seaman Chrystal Lavigne (right), Naval Communicators, stand watch on HMCS Calgary’s bridge during Operation Projection.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~HMCS Calgary returns to its home port of Esquimalt on Dec. 18 after five months in the Asia-Pacific region strengthening Canada’s relationships with nations in the area.The Royal Canadian Navy frigate and its crew of 236 left Esquimalt Harbour July 30 for Operation Projection, which formally began Aug. 20. Calgary will be one of three warships returning to the base that day; HMCS Edmonton and HMCS Nanaimo will return from Operation Caribbe, the Canadian Armed Forces contribution to the elimination of illegal trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean by organized crime.Lastly, making its way to Victoria for the first time will be the navy’s interim supply ship Motor Vessel (MV) Asterix, which will come alongside at Ogden Point terminal. As Calgary plots a course for home, the ship’s commanding officer, Cdr Blair Saltel says he and the ship’s company have a great sense of pride with the completion of another successful mission. “I believe we strengthened relationships for follow-on ships to continue, bolstered trust in Canadian capabilities and interest in the region, and represented our namesake city in an exciting area of the world. I am proud of what we have accomplished and thankful to the families that supported us from home and the ‘Military Family’ who will welcome us home.”By the time Calgary sailors cross the brow and into the arms of friends and family, they will have transited over 23,000 nautical miles, visited five countries, operated with 15 navies and participated in three multi-national exercises.Also high on its list of operational accomplishments is becoming the first Canadian warship to conduct operations in support of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2375...

[caption id="attachment_19955" align="alignnone" width="591"] HMCS Vancouver’s last ever land on and take off of a Sea King. Photo by LS Dustin York[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Heartfelt tributes flowed freely during the official Sea King helicopter retirement parade Dec. 1, when the military and DND community bade farewell to the longest serving aircraft in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Inside the hangar at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron at Pat Bay, more than 500 people gathered to witness the historic send-off.“To our magnificent Sea King, though you were an inanimate object, you were a living presence in the lives of so many of us in the navy and air force; we will certainly miss you,” said Lieutenant-General Al Meinzinger, Commander of the RCAF, to the crowd. “I see all of the people here today that have worked on the Sea King, many of whom spent 20, 30 or more years around the aircraft. It really was the catalyst for the mission, and for the friendships and bonds we established within the air force and with our navy teammates.” When Rear-Admiral Art McDonald, Deputy Commander of the RCN, stepped to the podium, he also noted the partnership between the two environments that was forged by the aircraft and its role with navy warships. The former Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific said that over the years, from the Cold War era to present-day operations, the Sea King served an integral part in naval deployments. “Today is the day we retire a stalwart workhorse and celebrate how it provided the foundation for continued naval-aviation success in a navy-air force industry partnership,” said RAdm McDonald. “The Sea King was more than just a helicopter; since its introduction in the 1960s it fundamentally changed the nature of naval operations worldwide.” When the Sea King was procured in...