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[caption id="attachment_19466" align="alignnone" width="590"] Photo by LS Laurance Clarke, 12 Operations Support Squadron Imaging Services[/caption]The Gnaval Gnome was recently posted to Formation Halifax. His schedule was busy and included visits to HMC Dockyard, HMCS St. John’s, and HMCS Scotian. Pictured here, Gnaval Gnome enjoys the view of HMCS Windsor and HMCS St. John’s. He is now on a cross-country return trip back to his home base of CFB Esquimalt just in time for Defence on the Dock at Ogden Point, where he will be available for photos with the general public. Follow his gnadventures on his social media and Twitter.

[caption id="attachment_19463" align="alignnone" width="590"] Joe Thorne, a traditional dancer from Cowichan Nation, blesses the candidates before The Raven Program Graduation ceremony Aug. 14. Photo by LS David Gariepy, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]A/SLt Jesse Grigor, Naval Fleet School (Pacific) ~Students who choose to enter the Aboriginal Youth Program with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) undergo four days of cultural awareness training prior to starting basic training. Providing cultural awareness education, and practicing ceremonies and rituals are critical components to bridging students coming from Aboriginal communities across Canada into the CAF.“It’s important to remind them who they are, to develop a sense of pride and recognize that all the students are Aboriginal, and each has something to offer to be successful,” says retired captain Robert Thibeau. He is the owner of Eagle Vision Leadership Training Solutions Inc. and is responsible for the cultural awareness training for both the Raven and Black Bear Aboriginal Youth Programs.Under the guidance and direction of Ed and Madeline Neveau, the culture camp begins with the lighting of the sacred fire signifying the opening of the camp. Students are taught Aboriginal history and practice various rituals and ceremonies over a few days. These include learning about the cultural significance of teepees and sweat lodges, how to build them, and properly use them.The cultural awareness programs provide instruction on Metis, Inuit and First Nations cultures. Training focuses on rituals, ceremonies, government treaties with Aboriginals, the legacy and impact of the residential schools and how all these components explain the political, social and cultural reality of Aboriginal peoples of today.“The combination of military and cultural aspects of this training are good because most recruits are young, and this program is designed so they can learn about their history and get comfortable before they start their training,” said MS Howell, a senior Raven...

[caption id="attachment_19460" align="alignnone" width="590"] Soldiers from the Canadian Scottish Regiment of Victoria and the Royal New Brunswick Regiment of Fredericton stand at ease alongside the final resting place of four Canadian First World War soldiers who died at the Battle of Hill 70. Photos by MCpl True-dee McCarthy, CF Combat Camera[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Personnel from The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) have returned from a burial service in France honouring three of its members killed in battle over a century ago.Three burial parties of eight soldiers each from the Victoria regiment and one burial party representing the Royal New Brunswick Regiment of Fredericton, N.B. participated in the service at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Loos British Cemetery near Lens, France on Aug. 23.  They were honouring four Canadian soldiers who died during the First World War’s Battle of Hill 70. The battle lasted for 11 days in August 1917. The successful identification of the four soldiers was recently announced in May 2018 by the Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) Casualty Identification Program. The identities of the soldiers were confirmed through historical, genealogical, anthropological, archeological research and, DNA analysis. The Casualty Identification Program aims to identify the remains of newly discovered Canadian soldiers killed-in-action prior to 1970, so they can be buried with their name by their regiment and in the presence of their families. The remains of Private William Del Donegan, 20, Private Henry Edmonds Priddle, 33, and Sergeant Archibald Wilson, 25, were found near the village of Vendin-le-Vieil, France, and identified by DND and the CAF on May 22, 2018. All three soldiers enlisted in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as members of the 16th Canadian Infantry Battalion (The Canadian Scottish), Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), a unit perpetuated by The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) of...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Two volunteer firefighters who work at CFB Esquimalt spent part of their summer vacation helping contain a massive wildfire burning in British Columbia’s central interior region. Jason Humphries, from CFB Esquimalt Fire Rescue, and Petty Officer First Class Josh Schmidt, from Fleet Maintenance Facility Engineering, were part of a four-person crew from the Metchosin Volunteer Fire Department that hopped in one of the department’s fire trucks and drove over 950 kilometres to Vanderhoof, B.C.The volunteers’ efforts, between Aug. 16 and 25, were to provide structural protection and security from the massive Shovel Lake fire, under the assistance of the B.C. Wildfire Service. The fire is the second largest of the 551 wildfires burning across tinder-dry B.C. and covered approximately 91,000 hectares. The work of Humphries, PO1 Schmidt and their crew was not done on the front lines of the fire.Instead it involved setting up rooftop sprinklers to prevent homes from burning, which Humphries says provided residents with a “sorely needed sense of security” in knowing they were being supported and hadn’t been forgotten during the disaster.Humphries, 37, who works as a Fire Prevention Officer, also participated in similar support efforts during last year’s wildfires in the Okanagan Region. He says the journey took approximately 14 hours longer this time around, while also noting smoke and poor visibility was noticeably worse than last year.“We quickly noticed that more of B.C. was covered in smoke and the visibility was often very challenging in driving an apparatus [fire truck] from location to location,” said Humphries. PO1 Schmidt, 34, has volunteered his spare time with the Sooke Fire Rescue Department for the past five years when he is not working. He assisted the department with firefighting efforts at the Tugwell Creek, which burned north of Sooke before being contained in early...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Steady rain and cold temperatures forced a brief suspension of the Wounded Warriors Highway of Heroes Bike Ride B.C., but in the end didn’t thwart the cyclists from achieving their goal. Approximately 35 riders took part in the two-day, 240-kilometre journey from Langley to Victoria on Aug. 25 and 26. Their goal was to raise funds in support of injured or ill veterans and first responders living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or operational stress injuries. Organized by non-profit Wounded Warriors Canada, the opening portion of the ride was along a stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway between Langley and Abbotsford, named in honour of the 158 Canadians who were killed during military operations in Afghanistan. A mixture of veterans, currently serving military, first responders and civilians took part in the ride. Participants were greeted by steady rain when first setting out from Langley. The soaking rain lasted much of the day and after approximately five hours or about 60 kilometres into their journey, safety concerns forced race organizers to suspend the ride for the day near Burnaby.Ride Director, Captain Jacqueline Zweng, a Cadet Instructor with Esquimalt’s Regional Cadet Support Unit, said the safety of the riders and possible hypothermia was the main concern when the decision was made to suspend the first day of cycling.“Our riders didn’t bring winter gear or rain gear with them because nobody was expecting weather conditions like this in the days leading up to the race,” she said. “It was a remarkable parallel with what the charity is trying to accomplish and the adversity we had to deal with. In the end, all those participating realized the ride is not just about cycling, but moreover it’s a vessel to raise awareness, and not something that requires participants to become injured.”After putting on...

[caption id="attachment_19449" align="alignnone" width="590"] A team of eight divers from Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) assisted OEX Recovery Group on its Raise the Arrow project from Aug. 8 to 10. Divers inspected sites in Lake Ontario that were identified as possible resting places for free-flight test models of the Avro CF-105 Arrow. Photo by OEX Recovery Group[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~Members of Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) recently lent their support to help recover a piece of Canadian military and aviation history.A team of eight divers from FDU(A) drove to Lake Ontario to join OEX Recovery Group on its Raise the Arrow project from Aug. 8 to10.Now in the second year of the project, OEX’s goal is to recover the final 1/8 scale pre-flight test models of the Avro CF-105 Arrow, which are the only known artifacts from the program remaining to be found.The Avro Arrow was a hypersonic fighter being developed for the Royal Canadian Air Force with cutting-edge technology at the time, but the program was cancelled by the government of the day in 1959, shortly after the rollout of the first Mark 1 models for test flights.“These models were launched back in the 1950s, and they’re still sitting out there on the lake bed today,” said Lt(N) Zach Johnson, FDU(A) Operations Officer and the lead for the navy dive team on site.On the civilian side, OEX is led by Osisko Mining CEO John Burzynski, along with several financial partners, as well as the involvement of the Canadian Conservation Institute and the National Air Force Museum of Canada.The FDU(A) role involved diving to inspect pieces of debris identified as possibly being related to the project after initial surveying with an ROV.“They had a number of probable targets, and sonar pictures aren’t always perfect, so we went down with lightweight surface supply...

[caption id="attachment_19431" align="alignnone" width="590"] MARPAC takes proactive approach to fentanyl crisis via special training sessions[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) aspires to be a leader in organizational health and wellness by offering instruction to military and civilian DND employees on the proper procedures if they encounter a fentanyl overdose victim. The interactive one-hour training sessions are organized by the MARPAC Health and Wellness Strategy’s Addictions Free Living (AFL) Working Group in partnership with AIDS Vancouver Island. They provide an informal discussion about the deadly opioid’s impact on our community and country, the associated stigma and myths surrounding substance use, and a question and answer session. Participants of the session also receive hands-on training on how to use the life-saving Naloxone injection kit. “The purpose of the presentation is to empower the workforce with the skill and knowledge they need to stay safe and be able to respond in the case of an emergency,” said Alli Jones, AFL working group member. The first training session took place in the Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton theatre on July 10. The discussion was led by Lana Fine, a health educator with AIDS Vancouver Island.Get the facts on fentanyl Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that is a powerful prescription painkiller, 50 to 100 times more toxic than morphine and is often found in pill, powder, liquid and blotter form.It is inexpensive, highly addictive and is being mixed with other drugs such as heroin, ecstasy and cocaine, often unbeknown to the user. It is odourless and tasteless, making it difficult to detect, and its potency is what makes it lethal. Many people don’t realize that a small amount of fentanyl, the size of two grains of salt, can send people into respiratory arrest. It is now an accepted fact that the death toll across the...

M.X. Déry, Contributor ~I love that almost everyone nowadays takes photos, but there are a number of you, and you know who you are, that commit every photography sin, and I shutter to think what people in the future will say about our walls of rubbish photos.I’ve ranted heavily about cell phones, but last week I also advised that if you must shoot your photos with a phone, you should use the highest resolution, turn on high dynamic range (HDR) and to not use a digital zoom.While this advice is unique to cell phones, there are things every would-be photographer can do to improve their imagery.For one, you are not a tripod. When people take a picture, they tend to hold the camera up to the eyes while standing perfectly still, legs fully extended as if they were a tripod, unable to move.While this posture might be good for the first shot, if the subject of the photo isn’t the same height as the photographer, it is unlikely the angle will be perfect. Changing the angle for the second and third shot is a great way to improve your photos. Take the time to review the shot you took as the “tripod” and then remember you can bend your legs and move around the subject.On the topic of the subject, there are two “rules” of photography that seem to contradict each other, but the sweet spot is where they overlap: the rule of thirds and don’t centre the heads.Shooting a photo of a person in landscape and centering the head creates an image with more than half the space being empty and is, quite frankly, boring. The same shot in portrait mode, with the subject filling the right or left third of the frame is much more appealing to the eye.Change...

[caption id="attachment_19424" align="alignnone" width="591"] Leading Seaman Dany Nadeau[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Guitarist Leading Seaman Dany Nadeau is striking a new chord by sharing his musical skill with the military community. Registration is now open to take 30-minute lessons from the 29-year-old, who has been strumming for over a decade. Teaching in a classroom setting at the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre is a new beginning for LS Nadeau, who has served eight years in the Canadian Armed Forces, and previously as a private-sector millwright in his home province of Quebec.“I want to pass on my love of music and encourage more people to start playing music,” he said. “Music has been a big part of my life, so if I can find others to do the same that would be highly rewarding for me.” He began playing the guitar at 17, purchasing a cheap imitation Stratocaster from a local music shop to emulate his musical heroes such as famed guitarist Darrell Lance Abbott (Dimebag Darrell), a founding member of heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. Today his taste has evolved slightly with his biggest influencer being Tosin Abasi of Animals of Leaders.“Really I’m a fan of all types of music and the key for me in my lessons is to make the music fun,” said LS Nadeau.   Lessons are one-on-one, tailored to the individual and will have the student’s goals as primary focus. They span from early September to late November on Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 5 and 7 p.m. Fees for a package of four lessons are affordable at $5 for currently serving military members and $8 for Department of National Defence (DND) employees, $10 for all others. LS Nadeau says he will even supply one of his spare guitars if a student does not have one to play.For full...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Members of HMCS Ottawa took time out from a day in paradise last week to build a new paradise, in the form of a meditation garden at Maui Hospice. The Canadian warship was headed to Los Angeles for Fleet Week and made a port visit at Hawaii’s second largest island after sailing from Guam. Instead of spending their leave time unwinding or exploring the island’s rich Polynesian culture, about two dozen volunteer sailors rolled up their sleeves and grabbed rakes, cultivators, shovels, machetes and pruning shears. Under a hot tropical sun they hacked away at dense brush and dug up trees and overgrown shrubberies. By day’s end they had cleared nearly an acre of dense underbrush at the palliative care facility located in the town of Wailuku. “The members of the ship’s crew who volunteered their time to help create a safer environment for the volunteers, workers, patients and their families of Hospice Maui and did so in true Canadian spirit,” said Chief Petty Officer Second Class Susan Frisby, Operations Chief for Ottawa. “We showed up willing to help in whatever way possible, making light work of hard labour. This type of opportunity speaks to what comradery is all about, people helping people.”After the task of bundling and disposing of the brush was completed, volunteers then laid flagstones for a pathway and created gardens using agricultural fabric. As a direct result of their efforts, they also made several road safety improvements on the property by improving sightlines for motorists. When their task was completed the sailors presented a $10,000 cheque to hospice Chief Executive Officer Greg LaGoy and his staff on behalf of Canadian humanitarian charity Boomer’s Legacy. The money will be used to buy a solar lighting system for the hospice parking lot. Their generosity didn’t...

[caption id="attachment_19417" align="alignnone" width="591"] CPO2 Robert Cook[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Chief Petty Officer Second Class Robert Cook spent a few weeks this summer with a whistle between his teeth.He was one of 91 referees from around the world who officiated the 47-team quadrennial 2018 Men’s World Field Lacrosse Championship, July 12 to 21 in Netanya, Israel. “It was my honour not only to be selected to represent Canada, but also as the only active member of the Canadian Armed Forces,” said CPO2 Cook, who is also the head referee with Juan de Fuca Lacrosse.He attended two selection camps before finding out he had been picked as one of 15 referees from Canada to officiate in the tournament. The normally mild-mannered CPO2 Cook admits he had trouble containing his emotions after receiving a phone call from Andrew Corbould, Canadian Lacrosse Association Officials Chairman, in February telling him he was going to Israel. “I take great pride in being a referee and I was the only one from Vancouver Island selected and one of five from British Columbia.” He has officiated in three national championship tournaments, but this was his first international competition. Match officials at the world championships are volunteers and not paid for their work, but tournament organizers do cover the costs of their accommodation and food.It was his first trip to the Middle East and he described the well-known Mediterranean resort town as “scenic” and beautiful. He officiated in 10 games at the Wingate Sports Complex during the tournament including seven on the field, two as a Chief Bench Official, and one as a Bench Manager. The tournament was played in seasonally hot and humid conditions with daytime high temperatures often approaching 40°C. The highlight of his trip was refereeing an 11th place match on the penultimate day of the competition...

[caption id="attachment_19414" align="alignnone" width="591"] Left to right: Maj Harris, Capt Poirier, SLt Leblanc, and CPO2 Tucker.[/caption]SLt M.X. Déry, MARPAC PA ~Military Police (MP) Officer SLt Antoine Leblanc, Officer Commanding Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (Pacific Region), has raised over $4,000 for pediatric cancer while training for the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock ride in September. Over the last few weeks, SLt Leblanc has participated in two spin-a-thons, most recently at the Quality Foods in Langford with paramedic Greg Stubbs where he spun over 50 kilometres. The previous spin-a-thon and barbecue, which took place at CFB Esquimalt with firefighter Matthew Arnsdorf, raised $2,400.“I am always amazed by how generous military members and DND employees are,” said SLt Leblanc. “Thank you to everyone at CFB Esquimalt who helped organize, and participated. Thank you to Thrifty Foods too, who donated all the food.”SLt Leblanc enjoys the spin-a-thons because it not only raises funds, but it also helps raise awareness of pediatric cancer and Tour de Rock, the seminal event of the Cops for Cancer charity on Vancouver Island. He admits they could just be standing behind a table or doing a barbecue, but Tour de Rock is a cycling journey, so they spin.“It is not so much about doing a lot of kilometres, it is to speak with people, connect with the community,” he said.Tour de Rock is the biggest community charity event on Vancouver Island and it has raised over $24 million in the last 20 years. This year they are projecting to raise $1.25 million. This community event, which takes place between Sept. 22 and Oct. 6, is a team of emergency personnel who ride the length of Vancouver Island from Port Alice to Victoria, with a few detours to places such as Ucluelet and Tofino, raising funds along the way.“MPs...

[caption id="attachment_19411" align="alignnone" width="590"] Participants from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria were joined by Pacific Fleet Club Executive committee members and HMCS Victoria and HMCS Chicoutimi crew members.[/caption]SLt M.X. Déry, MARPAC PA Office ~Six “littles”, as they are affectionately known, from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria were accompanied by four adult mentors and family members on an unusual sightseeing tour last week. The youth had the rare opportunity to venture down into the submarine HMCS Chicoutimi and walk the decks of Halifax-class frigate HMCS Regina. The Saturday tour was at the suggestion of PO2 Devin Maxwell, a naval communicator in Chicoutimi.One by one the group crossed the brow onto the black hull and then traversed down the hatch via ladder into the submarine. Once inside, submariners showed them the inner workings of the Victoria-class diesel boat, something very few members of the public get to see.Awaiting the youth on the jetty as they climbed out of the hatch at the tour’s end was a police cruiser and fire truck brought over by the Military Police and Esquimalt Fire Services. It was a hands-on moment as the youth donned fire gear, climbed the fire truck and let the police cruiser siren bellow. In the afternoon, the group moved to Regina for a tour of the surface ship. “Half the kids wanted to become submariners and the other half wanted to be surface sailors,” said PO2 Maxwell.At the end of the day, the sailors surprised the group with a $1,600 donation from the Pacific Fleet Club executive committee and the Submarine Forces. “It is such a unique experience,” said Danielle Gumbley, team lead and mentoring coordinator at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria. “Not only did they plan this fantastic day, but they also supported the agency. We wouldn’t be able...

[caption id="attachment_19407" align="alignnone" width="590"] Firefighter Jon MacDonald helps Able Seaman Conner Dulisch repel from a training tower at the CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue Aug. 20. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Students from Naval Fleet School (Pacific) (NFS(P)) are getting difficult rescue training from CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue after the launch of a new partnership. Last Monday, two members of the base fire department were perched high atop a training tower located at the rear of the fire hall on Esquimalt Road. Firefighters Jon MacDonald and Keith Lee were kept busy helping 15 students complete the Helo Rescue portion of their Hull Technician Qualification Level 5 (QL5) training course. Marine Technicians (MarTech), a new trade that combines elements of the Marine Engineer, Hull Technician and Electrical Technician, are responsible for firefighter billets while at sea. That includes employing the proper procedures for rope rescues.“The training is a sharp learning curve for most and with this type of training it’s always about safety,” said Lee. “We explain all of the safety devices and procedures to build their confidence. It’s not a rush, we don’t want them to rush into anything. We give them an opportunity to learn by watching other people.”Students learn procedures for tying rope knots, the details of their personal protective equipment, the mechanics of the repelling manoeuvre, and how to use the hardware and repelling devices. On day two of training the group focusses on patient packaging and how to rescue an accident victim from a difficult area. While the first two days of training had students learning how to use their equipment in a controlled environment and the relative safety of the fire department’s training centre, on Aug. 22 they took their skills into the real world. Students and firefighters embarked in HMCS Vancouver to learn more about proper rope techniques on Canadian warship ladders, rescues in tight engine spaces, and hangar-top rescues.Sergeant Stephanie Harding, Senior Firefighter with NFS(P) Damage Control School, says an...

[caption id="attachment_19404" align="alignnone" width="590"] Members of the British Columbia Forest Service pick up their bags after being dropped off by a Sea King in support of OP LENTUS Aug. 21. Photo by Cpl Jeffrey Clement[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~As more than 565 wildfires burned across British Columbia last week, CFB Esquimalt’s defence community stepped up its relief efforts in the ongoing provincial state of emergency. Approximately 40 personnel from Joint Task Force Pacific (JTFP) are covering around-the-clock shifts at Dockyard’s Battle Watch Operations Centre. They are acting in support of the Province of British Columbia as part of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) ongoing disaster relief effort known as Operation Lentus. The provincial government made its formal request to the Federal Government for wildfire assistance on Aug. 12. JTFP is now playing a key role in directing and coordinating approximately 400 personnel and military equipment in support of that effort. Captain(N) Steve Jorgensen, Joint Task Force Pacific Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, says the scope of this year’s forest fires is significant.No fewer than 2,000 B.C. properties are under an evacuation order, and around 12,000 are also on evacuation alert. A thick blanket of smoke from the fires has prompted prolonged air quality advisories across Western Canada. Approximately 300 soldiers from 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group from CFB Edmonton were deployed Aug. 15 and 16 and are stationed at the Vernon Cadet Camp, and in Merritt. This Land Task Force is tasked with conducting mop-up activities, making sure extinguished wild fires don’t re-ignite. Deployed in small groups, each team of 20 soldiers is working under a supervisor, also known as a Strike Lead, from the B.C. Wildfire Service. The efforts of multiple teams are focused on the 633-hectare Gottfriedson Mountain Fire, west of West Kelowna, which is now under control....

M.X. Déry, Contributor ~I love that almost everyone nowadays takes photos, but there are several of you, and you know who you are, that commit every photography sin, and I shutter to think what people in the future will say about our walls of rubbish photos.As I stated last week, the fact that everyone now has a miniature camera in their cell phones is a boon, since it allows for more casual, everyday activities to be photographed. What they are not meant for is to replace actual cameras outright. I’ve had friends leave on a long vacation with nothing but a cell phone to capture their memories of foreign landscapes, strange flora and exotic fauna. A cell phone is akin to a multitool or a swiss army knife in that it can do a lot of things in small quantities, but does not replace the original tool. If you are in an isolated cabin and need to remove Philips head screws on a portable generator, a multitool can be a life saver, but renovating a kitchen would require a screwdriver, and preferably a powered one.A cell phone is not purpose built for the task of high resolution photography. The sensor is tiny, the lens equally so and the aperture nearly microscopic. High Dynamic Range (HDR) on smartphones masks how poor the built-in camera is at low-light and contrast.It is the software on your smartphone that is doing the heavy lifting, using more and more processing to convert two to three images into a single corrected photo, but this makes smartphones more power hungry.This is also the device that people rely on for communication, navigation and information; battery power is a finite resource, so taking photos and videos with a cell phone burns through that resource quickly.Imagine you are on a hike...

[caption id="attachment_19384" align="alignnone" width="590"] NCdt Marc Mahadeo takes his turn cranking the winch on board STV Goldcrest.[/caption]2Lt Chelsea Howard, CFB Esquimalt PA Office ~When you think about a typical summer job in-between a school semester, you probably think fast food or retail. However, for a few Royal Military College (RMC) students the ocean was their workplace and learning to sail in Sailing Training Vessel Goldcrest was their job, and they got paid to do it.“We run a program through the International Sail and Power Association, so they’re doing a explains course that shows up on their Military Personnel Record Resume (MPRR),” explains John Haggis, second officer in charge of Royal Canadian Navy Sail, and the skipper of STV Goldcrest. “They get qualifications they can use to move up the different sailing tiers such as crew, day skipper, coastal navigator, coastal skipper, then offshore navigator,” But it isn’t all work and no play. “They get to do what people pay a lot of money to do, and that’s tour the Gulf Islands,” says Haggis. “We do port visits in places like Ganges, Sidney, Thetis Island, Port Browning and Poet’s Cove, and these are all sought-after places for people to go visit.”The program is open to RMC students and personnel awaiting training. It provides a platform for junior military members to learn basic principles of leadership and how to function at sea. Having this kind of hand’s-on experience early in one’s career provides a considerable jump on further training, especially for future Naval Warfare Officers such as Naval Cadet Ken Yim. “We’re learning a lot on the sailing vessel and really familiarizing ourselves such that when we get on the actual frigates, we will have lots of experience already,” says NCdt Yim. Some of that experience includes navigating through a difficult area of...

[caption id="attachment_19381" align="alignnone" width="591"] Petty Officer First Class Kim Chaisson[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A sailor with Regional Cadets Support Unit Pacific gave herself a confidence boosting, early 50th birthday present by completing her first Ironman Race. It took Petty Officer First Class Kim Chaisson from dawn to dusk to complete the gruelling Ironman Canada course at Whistler on July 29 during in an energy-sapping heatwave. She finished near the bottom in a field of 1,191 racers but says she was proud of her perseverance to complete the race course that involves 3.8 kilometres of open-water swimming, 180 km of cycling and a 42 km of running. “When I crossed the finish line I thought to myself, I can’t believe it’s finished. I did it, it made me feel better than graduating college,” said PO1 Chaisson. “It was a great 50th birthday present to give to myself.”PO1 Chaisson finished in 1,148th place, with a time of 16:47:05. A range of emotions, from relief to jubilation, swept over her as she crossed the finish line in the darkness of late evening. “Conquering the course was an internal battle and a process because throughout the race my mind was constantly working to shut my body down,” said PO1 Chaisson. “As the race continued, I continually asked myself: Why are you doing this and can’t I just stop and walk for a little while?”At several points she did take a break to walk or get off her bike to rest and rehydrate at one of the designated rest stops, but says she was determined not to quit.“I was thinking to myself, how you are going to feel tomorrow if you don’t get this check in the box as one of your life’s accomplishments. I needed to get it done, so throughout the race I was...

Lt(N) Paul LePrieur, HMCS Calgary ~HMCS Calgary is leading the way on environmental protection.It became the first ship in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) to install an engineering change for use of fresh water as their ballasting medium to achieve compliance with the recently ratified International Maritime Organizations Ballast Water Management Convention. Fresh water is generated from the ship’s reverse osmosis desalination units and eliminates the threat of transferring aquatic invasive species in the ship’s ballast water.Ballasting is necessary for ship stability to adjust for varying sea states and loads. Traditionally, this has been accomplished by pumping in sea water directly from the environment. However, this can be a transport mechanism for thousands of species, including hard to detect life such as larva of aquatic animals, or microbes. These non-native species can overrun local ecosystems without the checks and balances of predators, or the natural competition of their original environment.Many invasive species to Canada have the potential to be carried in ballast water, such as the Zebra Mussel, European Green Crab and Japanese Skeleton Shrimp. Reports indicate these invasions have caused approximately $54 billion in damage worldwide in the last five years alone.Zebra mussel is a well-known example, having colonized many of North America’s inland water ways, now reaching as far west as California and being detected on recreational craft entering B.C. Zebra mussels completely cover surfaces in newly established waters, suffocating native mussels, clams and plants, altering the food chain, and even the water composition through its filter feeding. Severe economic impacts occur through the clogging of water intakes and fouling in-water structures and vessels. It has been speculated the first wave of the invasion was started by ballast water released into the Great Lakes in the late 1980s from a vessel originating in the mussel’s native Black Sea habitat.In...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Award-winning athlete Lieutenant(N) Nicholas Lightbody has reached new heights after his second-place finish in the Open Age Ironman Canada 70.3 race at Whistler, B.C. Lightbody, formerly at Base Information Services (BIS) and currently posted to HMCS Discovery, recorded a personal best time of 4:09:10 in the Subaru racing series event held under a scorching summer sun on July 29. “I’m absolutely ecstatic about the race; it shattered all my expectations and I couldn’t be happier with how everything came together,” said Lt(N) Lightbody. The race was half the distance of a standard Ironman race and involved a 1.9 kilometre swim, 90 km bike ride and 21.1 km run.  Competitors battled extreme heat with temperatures topping out at 35°C with higher humidex values. The 26-year-old was runner-up in a field of 1,150 amateur competitors from across Canada and around the world. With his second place finish, Lt(N) Lightbody beat his personal best by 15 minutes. After crossing the finish line with his arms raised above his head in celebration he was quick to congratulate his coach Mike Neill from Victoria’s Human Powered Racing.“All the hard work that I have been putting in during training has been paying off,” said Lt(N) Lightbody. “Mike has created a great program that has help cultivate me into the athlete that I currently am.”Lt(N) Lightbody started off strong in the opening swimming portion of the race and was first out of the water with a time of 25:30. He was particularly surprised by his performance in the half marathon portion of the event where he finished 1:23:21. But he still wasn’t fast enough to catch winner Holtham Elliot of Canada, who bettered Lt(N) Lightbody by just 20 seconds. Holtham is an accomplished competitor who won the 2014 Ironman Australia, and so is third-place...

Lt(N) Tristan Robertson, HMCS Ottawa ~On the heels of completing the Rim of the Pacific exercise and during a busy summer schedule, HMCS Ottawa put their training to good use when the ship aided an 18-foot recreational vessel Aug. 4. The boat had lost power 15 nautical miles south of the island of Oahu. Ottawa was at sea for a two-day Canadian Leaders at Sea sail, with guests embarked to experience life at sea in the navy. Guests were afforded the unexpected opportunity to witness a real-world search and rescue situation in which the ship’s company employed its response organization and capabilities.As Ottawa transited to Pearl Harbor, the ship’s bridge team monitored radio transmissions between a vessel requesting assistance and the United States Coast Guard (USCG). When the Commanding Officer, Commander Alex Barlow ascertained the vessel in distress was in the immediate area he offered his ship’s assistance. Once Ottawa reached the disabled vessel, a team from the ship’s Marine Systems Engineering department was sent to affect repairs. Lt(N) Alanna Foscarini, PO2 Michael Tatton, and LS Richard Tessier embarked on the vessel and dealt with a challenging sea state, an unstable deck, and an unfamiliar engine as they attempted to resolve the mechanical issues. Ultimately it was determined the damage to the vessel’s engine was irreparable by ship staff, and the vessel would require a tow. Ottawa coordinated and prepared the vessel to be towed by the USCG and remained on scene until the towing vessel arrived.The ship received a “Bravo Zulu” from the RAdm E. Lunday, Commander of 14th United States Coast Guard District, who highlighted that Ottawa’s “quick and professional response ensured the search and rescue situation did not worsen,” and that the ship “demonstrated the superb teamwork that is the hallmark of Canada-US operations at sea.”

Victoria Police ~An Esquimalt man is in custody facing four charges of sexual assault following a year-long investigation into a series of historical sexual assaults. Special Victims Unit investigators believe there are likely more victims.Kit Wong, a 71-year-old Esquimalt man, faces four charges of sexual assault related to historical sexual assaults involving four women. Wong was working as an acupuncturist, massage therapist and practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine out of his home-based business in Esquimalt. Several of the incidents are reported to have occurred there between 2005 and 2006.Wong previously served as an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces. Although not a member of the medical staff, he practiced traditional Chinese medicine on service members. Given Wong’s career with the Canadian military, his work as an instructor and practitioner of acupuncture, and traditional Chinese medicine during the time of the allegations, investigators believe there could be more unidentified victims, both in the Esquimalt community and across Canada. Investigators believe these victims could include current and former serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces, current and former students of traditional Chinese medicine, as well as members of the wider community.“These alleged sexual assaults left these women feeling powerless,” said Special Victims Unit Detective Graeme Leblanc. “Our investigation indicates that Kit Wong’s position in the Canadian Armed Forces and in the community left women hurt by this man, feeling as though they could not come forward. It doesn’t matter who the suspect is. We will listen.”If you are a victim or have information regarding Kit Wong that you would like to share with police, investigators are asking you to call our non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654. Alternatively, you can contact the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre at (250) 383-3232. If you are a serving member of the Canadian Armed Forces and need support,...

[caption id="attachment_19366" align="alignnone" width="590"] LS Nicholas Dipersio (centre) presents the unit’s new morale patch that he designed to LCdr Tyson Bergmann, Patrol Craft Training Unit (PCTU) Commanding Officer, and CPO2 Eric Pohoney, PCTU Coxswain.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The sailor who created the Patrol Craft Training Unit’s (PCTU) first morale patch admits the words colourful or cartoonish often come to mind when people first see his design.Leading Seaman Nicholas Dipersio purposely choose a cartoon-style portrayal of an Orca whale at the helm of a PCTU vessel as a nod to bygone days of naval art.“The whole intent was to be cartoonish and represent the old school ways that morale patches used to look,” said LS Dipersio. “The idea to make the patch less rigid and more light-hearted in nature came from naval tradition and some of the older design ideas that were painted on the side of Canadian warships during the Second World War.”He was presented the first patch by Lieutenant-Commander Tyson Bergmann, PCTU’s Commanding Officer, and Chief Petty Officer Second Class Eric Pohoney, PCTU Coxswain, on Aug. 10. The embroidered patches will be worn on the naval combat jackets of the 70 men and women who work aboard the unit’s eight Orca-class Patrol Vessels, which are used to train personnel from Naval Fleet School Pacific and the Naval Officer Training Centre.Historically, patches boost morale and build unit pride. PCTU’s patch also has two red maple leafs bordering an inscription that trumpets the unit’s motto: Training Leaders Building Confidence.LS Dipersio, 35, has served eight years in the Royal Canadian Navy, and studied graphic design. The concept behind the logo was developed in early June with his co-worker LS James Hopper. He then put pencil to paper and came up with the design. After getting approval he made a digital rendering, so the...

[caption id="attachment_19363" align="alignnone" width="591"] Rear-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific, inspected the platoon and addressed each graduate.[/caption]A/SLt S. L. Delaney, MARPAC PA Office ~It was the best of military splendour, with a nod to Aboriginal culture, at last week’s Raven graduation.More than 120 family, friends and guests looked on Aug. 14, as 24 Aboriginal recruits earned their Ordinary Seaman rank after completing their basic military qualification this summer. Some parents travelled from as far as Ontario to witness this milestone in their child’s life.The Raven Indigenous Youth Program is a transformative six weeks where recruits aged 16 to 21 learn basic military skills, teamwork and leadership and share elements from their respective First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultures. The National Band of the Naval Reserve primed the audience with a diverse set of tunes as the graduates prepared to march onto the parade square. Five Métis students were presented waist sashes – a symbol of pride and nationhood – just before the parade. A teepee was set up at the side of the Work Point parade square with two Aboriginal drummers and two dancers in full regalia performing for the audience. At the final beat of the drum the graduating platoon marched on to the parade square to face their guests. They displayed poise and unity in their drill movements, a testament to their training from Naval Fleet School Pacific instructors.Rear-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific, inspected the platoon and addressed each graduate. As the National Band of the Naval Reserve played the ethereal theme song from Band of Brothers, a doe and her fawn walked quietly across the parade square. Raven’s spiritual advisor and Elder, Elmer George from the Songhees Nation shared an Aboriginal blessing, and Padre Lt(N) Lara-Ann Bowditch led the Naval Prayer. Awards and...

[caption id="attachment_19352" align="alignnone" width="591"] Petty Officer Second Class Matthew Goodwin displays two Double Dark Chocolate Cookies. The cookies are produced by Whey2Good Cookies, a company started by PO2 Goodwinand his classmates as part of a school project for Royal Roads University’s School of Business. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A Royal Canadian Navy sailor and his classmates at Royal Roads University say they’ve found a fundraising recipe “whey” too good to resist.As part of his studies for a Bachelor of Arts in Commerce, Chief Petty Officer Matthew Goodwin, a Regional Unit Chief for Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU), and four fellow students recently launched their own cookie company called Whey2Good Cookies.  Their assignment is not just about building a profitable small business, but, according to CPO2 Goodwin, it’s also about providing a healthier snack alternative for people on the go, and a bit of community give back. They will be graded on building a successful e-commerce business through product marketing, digital sales and promotion via social media. They are responsible for manufacturing, packaging and selling their product to the public, with their marks dependent on sales and marketing techniques.Each cookie retails for $3. They are free from preservatives, have 16 grams of protein and use natural coconut palm sugar and coconut oil. They come in two varieties: a dark double chocolate cookie made of ginger, cinnamon and a hint of Cayenne pepper and Himalayan sea salt, and English vanilla toffee that has a crispy and crunchy toffee bottom and a hint of vanilla.“They are made with organic ingredients and by tasting them you would never know what’s in them and how healthy they are,” said CPO2 Goodwin. “We wanted to offer our customers something quick and healthy to eat while on the go and at the same time provide an alternative to mass-produced, store bought energy bars.”Profits from sales won’t be going to the shareholders or boosting their own bank accounts. Instead, after their baking and supply costs,...

[caption id="attachment_19348" align="alignnone" width="592"] Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]A boisterous crowd of family, friends and co-workers were on hand in Dockyard last Friday as HMCS Vancouver returned from a four-month deployment in the Asia-Pacific region. From April 3 to June 25, Vancouver participated in Operation Projection, conducting forward naval presence operations and participating in several naval exercises with partner nations. Immediately afterwards Vancouver headed to Hawaii to take part in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world’s largest maritime military exercise.

M.X. Déry, Contributor ~After a month of complaining in an open forum about drivers, e-bikers, cyclists and pedestrians, I have received several comments in person, by email and via Facebook about all of the above topics. I will also have to eat crow since I have made some minor errors in my rantings.The motor-assisted cycle piece received the most reader approval, with all commenters agreeing that a 1300W scooter had no business in the bike lane.While avid cyclists agreed with my commentary on jaywalkers and the alarming frequency that they are nearly struck by vehicles passing them or cutting them off, readers seemed silent on the topic of stop signs. Many readers shared stories of near misses with motor vehicles in and around the base.The military police were quick to point out that headphones are another problem they see on base that I didn’t mention. Another sore topic was the MP gate, with cyclists failing to dismount and follow the sentry’s instructions. This may very well lead to that gate being shut permanently if cyclists can’t obey the rules in the future.The most vocal group were pedestrians, who, upon hearing any portion of my commentary was about them, said that I should write about bicycles burning through stop signs. Luckily, I could reply that I had covered that topic in the previous edition.When talking about jaywalkers, I wrote that this was the top infraction MPs regularly ticket for, but I later learned that while it is the top infraction, they do not regularly ticket for this dreadful behaviour.Another point of contention with readers was my statement that cyclists are supposed to remain one metre from the curb. Admittedly, the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act states that, with the exception of a few highways, bicycles are vehicles that can take up a whole...

Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff ~The Invictus Games comes with all the excitement of a large international sporting event, including stadium venues, cheering fans, skilled competitors from around the world, and plenty of training beforehand.Athletes, coaches and volunteers were in Halifax July 25 for the team’s final group training camp before the 2018 Invictus Games, being held in Sydney, Australia, Oct. 20-27.At the end of training Canada’s 2018 team was officially announced.Team Captain, Maj (Retired) Robert Hicks, described the group as “representative of all three Canadian Armed Forces elements, with diverse backgrounds and different experiences with injury, illness and recovery.”“But what’s shared is that everyone here has sacrificed in service of their country, whether their injuries were physical, or involved mental health, or a combination of the two,” he said. Venues for the training camp included the STADPLEX, Dockyard and Shearwater gyms, as well as MacDonald Beach, the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, and Beazley Field in Dartmouth.BGen Mark Misener, Commanding Officer of the Joint Personnel Support Unit and Mission Head for Canada’s Invictus team, was also in Halifax for the training camp, and said he’s been inspired by the dedication shown from Team Canada. For some, being in Halifax among peers and overcoming social isolation is a success in its own right, with the physical training adding to the intensity of the week. “These athletes have faced great adversity and they’ve met that challenge. They’ve actively chosen to bolster their recovery through sport, and through reconnecting with family, peers and community,” he said.Canadians are encouraged to follow along with Team Canada on social media at www.facebook.com/TCInvictusEC as the athletes continue to prepare for October, and to tune in on television and online for the main event in Sydney this fall.About InvictusFounded in 2014 and with subsequent events in 2016 and 2017,...

[caption id="attachment_19323" align="alignnone" width="592"] Left photo: Luigi Micco is presented the Unsung Hero Award by Deputy Minister Jody Thomas. Right photo: Dustin Williams is awarded the Emerging Leader Award by Deputy Minister Jody Thomas. Photos by Cpl Michael MacIsaac, Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa) – Imaging Services[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Two employees from Esquimalt’s Real Property Operations Pacific (RPOps) have been recognized with the prestigious Deputy Minister Award for Excellence. Electrician Luigi Micco of RPOps’ electrical shop won this year’s Unsung Hero Award, while Dustin Williams, manager of the unit’s Water Fuel and Environment department took the Emerging Leader Award. The Celebrating Excellence Awards Program represents the highest expression of recognition under the Department of National Defence (DND) Awards and Recognition Policy. The pair were among 44 recipients honoured during a June 15 ceremony at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa with Deputy Minister of National Defence Jody Thomas and Chief of Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance among dignitaries. The award recipients received a scrolled certificate signed by Minister Thomas along with a piece of handcrafted Canadian art. Micco, 57, has worked as an electrician for DND since 1984 and said he was “thrown aback” when he first opened an email earlier this year telling him he had won the award. “I am just a little fish from Esquimalt who does his job and loves his work,” said Micco. “If people are happy with the work I do then I’m happy. I never thought my work would be recognized with such a prestigious national award.”He was nominated for the award by Gerald Bennie, RPOps A Electrical Systems Business Manager, who described Micco as a dedicated worker who has gone above and beyond the call of duty and is always ready to spring into action. That includes responding to calls about alarm problems at the base at all hours of the night or teaching himself how to repair new electrical devices and technology on his own time. “I have a lot of...

[caption id="attachment_19309" align="alignnone" width="591"] MS Thibault receives his gold medal at the CAF Combatives Grappling Tournament.[/caption]A/SLt Jesse Grigor, ContributorMaster Seaman Lee Thibault’s elation and pride poured into each word as he detailed his impressive performance at the CAF Combatives Grappling Tournament in Petawawa, ON, in June, and the people who made it all possible.His win in the heavyweight division, his third national title, was his toughest to date. When asked how this title compared to the previous two, MS Thibault tipped his hat to his opponents and noted this was the toughest tournament he has competed in. “The division was stacked,” he acknowledged without any reservations.This year’s CAF Combatives Grappling Tournament surpassed previous tournaments in competitors and online viewers. The tournament was live-streamed and had approximately 80,000 watching online at any given time. In total, 164 men and women from the army, navy, air force, including special operations forces, from privates to lieutenant colonels, took to the mats to compete in the growing sport of combatives, also known as grappling or submission wresting. The tournament format was double-elimination - two losses and competitors were eliminated. Winning his first two matches on points, MS Thibault entered the semi-finals undefeated, but came up short in a grueling semi-finals match. However, because his semi-final loss was his first, and each of his opponents had all lost a match heading into the semi-finals, he was able to enter the finals, only to face off against the opponent who beat him in the semi-finals.“Because I was facing off against the guy who had just beat me I was mentally shaken and I needed to wake up,” MS Thibault admitted. His father and life-long coach, Mike Thibault, a retired military police, had been meticulously studying both his son and his opponent during their matches throughout the tournament...