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[caption id="attachment_17880" align="alignnone" width="450"] Deborah Morrow makes a $5,000 donation to Cockrell House chairman Angus Stanfield, Jan. 19. Morrow donated her cash prize from a Canada Volunteer Award to the West Shore facility that provides transitional housing and other support for homeless and at-risk veterans. Photos by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A one-time donation to a West Shore charity that helps homeless veterans has snowballed into two matching donations.Cockrell House, which provides transitional housing to homeless and at-risk veterans, received a total of $15,000 two weeks ago from three very supportive donors.Deborah Morrow, Verity Health Resources Chief Executive Officer, donated her Canada’s Volunteer Award cash prize to the charity, which was followed up with donations from the West Shore Poppy Fund of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91 and the Greater Victoria Afghanistan Memorial Project.Morrow received her award in Ottawa Dec. 5 on UNESCO’s International Day of the Volunteer for her 35 years championing the cause of youth and homeless veterans. She also volunteers and mentors youth in the Duke Edinburgh’s Award Challenge, the Youth NATO Summit global conference, the Coast Guard, and the Navy League of Canada.“I blurted it out right away, that all of the money would go to Cockrell House,” said Morrow. “About five minutes later I contacted Cockrell House Chairman Angus Stanfield on the phone and told him the news.”With everyone in attendance Jan. 19, Stanfield accepted the money.“It is a great shot in the arm for this organization,” he said. “This money will be put into use immediately to fund our program and assist veterans who need our help now.”The 11-bed multiplex on Sooke Road has provided a place to live, food, counselling, social services and transportation to over 70 residents since it opened its doors in 2009.Supporting Cockrell House seemed a perfect fit...

A/SLt Alex Wood, HMCS York PAO ~More than 100 members from 22 of Canada’s 24 Naval Reserve divisions participated in a two-week exercise aboard four Orca Class training vessels in January.Lead by Officer in Tactical Command, Lieutenant-Commander Trent Nichols (Commanding Officer, HMCS Queen), Naval Reservists from all ranks and trades came together to refresh their skills, progress in individual training, and for several members experience life at sea for the first time.Naval Warfare Officers honed their expertise in navigation and ship handling as they responded to man over board and steering gear breakdown drills.Boatswains, cooks and other crew members worked on firefighting techniques, knot tying and casualty clearing, as well as working with heaving lines and manning the Zodiac.Every mariner knows that weather is a crucial factor when planning for ships going to sea.  In this case, however, weather throughout the country played a direct role. Conditions in Eastern Canada at the beginning of January delayed and even canceled flights for many participants. This resulted in travel times up to 50 hours, requiring exercise planners to adapt the sequence of events and personnel changes in order to ensure valuable training time was not lost.“You are always considering weather when planning any Orca sail, but particularly so at this time of year,” said lead planning officer Lieutenant (Navy) Ron Clancy, HMCS York. “However, while we had several plans in place to mitigate inclement weather on the coast, including alongside training and alternative port visits, we did not expect to have so many people impacted by flight delays on their way here. It certainly called for some creative problem solving.”During week two, the ships were forced to seek shelter and go to anchor in Nanoose Bay as winds in the Strait of Georgia exceeded 30 knots. Despite the foul weather, sailors participated...

[caption id="attachment_17874" align="alignnone" width="450"] Mark MacIntyre, Victoria Police Department Director of Public Affairs, speaks to those gathered about the good work of two CFB Esquimalt sailors, Master Seaman Nathan Charbonneau and Leading Seaman Stephon Mullett, after they were presented with a Community Service Award by and Acting Police Chief Del Manak. Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Two sailors from CFB Esquimalt have been recognized for their quick action that helped police arrest an impaired driver in downtown Victoria last year.Master Seaman Nathan Charbonneau and Leading Seaman Stephon Mullett were among six citizens bestowed with the Civic Service Award at Victoria Police Department headquarters Jan. 22.“It was amazing, great work, and the officers were thankful for what they did,” said Constable Matt Rutherford, spokesperson for the Victoria Police Department.While returning home from a concert in LS Mullett’s vehicle on Nov. 4, 2017, the two sailors spotted a car speeding and going the wrong way down a one-way street in the downtown core.MS Charbonneau called 9-1-1 to report a possible impaired driver, relaying vital information including vehicle description and location to the call taker. LS Mullett followed the suspect vehicle at a safe distance.The sailors said they observed the vehicle run multiple red lights, pass other vehicles in a no-pass zone, and then nearly sideswipe a BC Transit bus. It was at that point they lost sight of it. Police eventually tracked it down, but the driver refused to bring his vehicle to a stop and fled.The vehicle re-appeared near MacCaulay Elementary School in Esquimalt, almost colliding with MS Charboneau and LS Mullett’s car.“He almost hit us head on as it came around a corner,” said LS Mullett. “At that point it occurred to us they had evaded the police,” said LS Mullett.With his car, he boxed the suspect vehicle...

[caption id="attachment_17871" align="alignnone" width="450"] Following a major defence announcement, Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan, centre, posed for a photo with Commodore Jeff Zwick (left), Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, and Captain (Navy) Ed Hooper (right), Commanding Officer Fleet Maintenance Facility, in front of a Close-In Weapons Systems simulator at Naval Fleet School (Pacific). Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~With a Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS) simulator towering behind him, Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan announced a major defence spending contract at Naval Fleet School (Pacific) last Friday.The $704 million defence contract is being awarded to Raytheon Canada Limited and will focus on the improvement of radar systems for the CIWS. The rapid-fire, radar-guided gun systems are designed to deter threats from missiles, small ships and aircraft.“We are making strategic investments in the Royal Canadian Navy that will help protect our sailors as they conduct the full spectrum of operations in a modern security environment,” said Minister Sajjan to fleet school students, senior officials and local media.The CIWS is already in use by the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Halifax-class frigates and will also be installed on the new Joint Support Ships following their construction.The new contract is aligned with the goals set out in the Federal Government’s Defence Policy entitled “Strong, Secure, Engaged” announced last year, which called for defence spending to increase from $19 billion in 2017 to $32.7 billion by 2027.Commodore Jeff Zwick, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, says the CIWS is affectionately known to sailors on RCN frigates as “R2D2”, and has already proven itself reliable as the last line of defence for warships from external threats.“CIWS is extremely important when we talk about the essential tools that our sailors need to make a Canadian warship effective,” said Cmdre Zwick. “The improvements to CIWS ensures that...

[caption id="attachment_17855" align="alignnone" width="450"] Junior Ranger Nova Gull received a James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Award from Ontario Lieutenant-Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell in a ceremony held at Queen’s Park in Toronto in December. Photo by Sergeant Peter Moon, Canadian Rangers[/caption]Sergeant Peter Moon, 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group ~A last-minute submission for a writing competition won a Junior Canadian Ranger from the remote Cree community of Peawanuck in Northern Ontario a prestigious Indigenous writing award.“I’d written a couple of poems before,” said Junior Ranger Nova Gull, 16. “And then I wrote my winning entry and everyone liked it. At the last moment, we decided to enter it for the competition.”That required typing it out and emailing it to Timmins, Ont., where it was printed and rushed to a mailbox just before the midnight deadline for entries.“Nova’s poem ‘Where’s Our Voice?’ highlights the lack of attention towards Indigenous issues,” said the citation for her winning entry, “and aims to bring awareness to what has happened to Indigenous people in Canada.”Her poem was one of five entries that received a James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Award from Ontario Lieutenant-Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell in a ceremony held at Queen’s Park in Toronto in December.Nova’s father, Matthew Gull, the Canadian Ranger sergeant commanding the Ranger patrol in Peawanuck, was at the ceremony along with her grandfather Moses Gull, and other members of her family, including her sister, Aurora, 14, who won a similar award last year.“I’m very proud,” Sergeant Gull said. “I’m proud of my kids. They are also both Junior Canadian Rangers.”Nova was invested into the Order of St. George in October 2017 for her dedication to the Junior Rangers. The Order of St. George, the Canadian Priory has roots going back to 1326, and it helps support military family organizations, Canadian Armed Forces...

[caption id="attachment_17852" align="alignnone" width="450"] Terrebonne MP Michel Boudrias, a former Army Captain who served in Afghanistan, participates in a force protection scenario on board HMCS Toronto. Photos by: CPO2 Shawn Kent, FIS Halifax[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff ~For residents of Halifax, seeing Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) ships sail in and out of the harbour is routine, and it’s common to see the navy uniform being worn around town by the thousands of sailors who call the region home.However, Canadians who live away from the coasts don’t normally have the same level of familiarity with Canada’s naval service, and it can be harder to understand how the navy fits within the Canadian Armed Forces service to the country.One of the way’s the RCN continues to combat this effect is through the Canadian Leaders at Sea (CLaS) program, which offers once-in-a-lifetime seagoing experiences to influential civilians in government, business and academia. The latest group set sail from CFB Halifax just before the holidays, spending more than 24 hours at sea with both HMCS Windsor and HMCS Toronto.Each CLaS program is designed to be an intense and immersive experience, giving participants a brief taste of what life is really like for RCN sailors and submariners, while also leaving them with a better understanding of naval operations and their importance to Canadian security.Sailing in submarines and warships while accompanied by senior navy leaders is an opportunity that most civilians are unlikely to come across, and the significance of the trip isn’t lost on the participants, said Gabriel Ste-Marie, the MP for the Quebec riding of Joliette and one of two members of the Bloc Quebecois party to go to sea.“It’s a unique chance that’s presented to us, to get a bit of knowledge of this reality without enrolling for anything long term, and I appreciate...

Over the past several decades, the definition of a “healthy workplace” has shifted from an almost exclusive focus on the physical work environment, including traditional occupational health and safety concerns such as physical, chemical, biological and ergonomic hazards, to one that has broadened to include the psychological, social, and cultural aspects of health. We spend the majority of our time in the workplace and often find ourselves sliding down the Mental Health Continuum from the green to the red when things start to get stressful, deadlines get closer, and work begins to pile up. However, with the support of a healthy workplace we are able to overcome these challenges and continue on a successful and healthy trajectory.Click here for more details (PDF).Mental Health at Work: Let’s Talk at CFB Esquimalt Wednesday, 31 January, 20189:45am to 12:30pmRainbow Room at C&PO’s Everyone welcome!

[caption id="attachment_17845" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo by ADM(Mat)[/caption]Courtesy Maple Leaf ~The Canadian Army and the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command are conducting the first-ever operational trials and evaluations on the latest version of the smallest operational military aircraft in the world – the Black Hornet 3, made by FLIR.Weighing just a few dozen grams, it consists of two aircraft, a hand controller and a chest-mounted tablet, all fitting into a small shoebox-sized package.The aircraft has a range of over a kilometre with video and night-vision capabilities.This equipment opens up a whole range of possibilities, and both commands will seek innovative ways to evolve tactics, techniques and procedures to use this new capability, assess its usefulness and identify requirements.

[caption id="attachment_17842" align="alignnone" width="450"] PSP Fitness and Sports Instructor Thomas Dalziel, right, got his first pro kickboxing victory on Dec. 18, 2017, in a main-event match American fighter Ravon Baxter of Nashville during the World Combat Arena fight card at the Montreal Casino. Photo courtesy of Manseau Sports Photos[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~The men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces are highly trained and capable of defending themselves if necessary. However at 12 Wing Shearwater they’re not the only ones who know how to put up a good fight.Thomas Dalziel, a Personnel Support Programs Fitness and Sports Instructor at the Shearwater gym, is a third degree black belt in Kajukenpo and four-time amateur kickboxing champion. He recently took the next step in his fight career by winning his second professional kickboxing match.Dalziel defeated American fighter Ravon Baxter of Nashville on Dec. 18, 2017, fighting in the main event of a World Combat Arena fight card at the Montreal Casino. The victory came by way of TKO; his opponent was saved from Dalziel’s strikes in the third round by the bell, and was unable to return to fight in the fourth.Baxter was making his professional debut after going undefeated in amateur kickboxing, with multiple knockout wins on his record. Dalziel took the bout on short notice after plans for a promotional fight in New Brunswick fell through.“The promoter with World Combat Arena reached out and I jumped at the opportunity,” he said. “It was great to get the win.”He made his professional debut in July after a decade of amateur experience, and though he lost that fight after suffering a broken orbital bone early on, he was confident in his abilities going into his second pro matchup – as long as he could keep his eye sockets in one piece.“I...

[caption id="attachment_17838" align="alignnone" width="450"] HMCS St. John’s crewmembers line the rails as the ship departs Halifax on Operation Reassurance.[/caption]Darlene Blakeley, Navy Public Affairs Ottawa ~Family and friends watched as HMCS  St. John’s, covered in a thin layer of fresh snow, left the jetty Jan. 16 on its six-month deployment.HMCS St. John’s left for the Mediterranean Sea on Operation Reassurance, the Canadian Armed Forces’ contribution to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe.“Today is the culmination of a tremendous amount of work by the crew of HMCS St. John’s,” said Rear-Admiral Craig Baines, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT), who was on hand to see the ship off. “In fact, not only did they have to prepare for this deployment, but in the fall they were our go-to ship to head down south to help out after the devastation that was wreaked by hurricanes in the Caribbean area. And I think this, in very real terms, shows the flexibility of sea power.”Speaking directly to the families, RAdm Baines underlined the importance of both training and deterrence to the mission.“It’s very important that all of our nations be able to operate together if and when required in the future,” he said. “St. John’s is a very high-end contribution to Op Reassurance.”St. John’s, under the command of Commander Gord Noseworthy, will be part of Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1), one of NATO’s maritime immediate reaction forces.Prior to sailing, Cdr Noseworthy commented that the past eight months have been extremely busy for crew members as they prepared for the mission.“We have already sailed thousands of miles and spent many weeks away from home in preparation for our upcoming deployment,” he said. “Now that day is upon us. We are all extremely excited to get underway as we set sail east to represent...

[caption id="attachment_17835" align="alignnone" width="450"] Lieutenant-Colonel Bob Hart, Commander 1 Dental Detachment Unit Esquimalt, talks teeth with Rear Admiral Art McDonald, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, as Jinky Apayo, a Certified Dental Assistant, prepares for the Admiral’s checkup. The checkup was part of RAdm McDonald’s work with the dental unit after it secured his services in the “You’re the Boss” auction in support of the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign. Photo credit: Rodney Venis, Base Public Affairs[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Rear-Admiral Art McDonald made a career move earlier this month when he temporarily left his command at Maritime Forces Pacific to become a “Dental Care Program Clerk For a Day”.The Admiral was “won” in the “You’re The Boss” special auction by the Dental Unit, with monies raised going to the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC.)He ventured over to the 1 Dental Unit Detachment Esquimalt, located at the base hospital on Colville Road, Jan. 12, taking up his post as dental clerk under supervision of Darla Gibbins.“It’s a tough job and her work is twice as hard as mine,” said RAdm McDonald as he sent out emails to command teams to ensure their ships/units are dentally fit, and also to individual members to schedule their annual checkups.“Our readiness in the Royal Canadian Navy starts with looking after the health of our people and our Dental Detachment is a key component of that.”As he drafted a reminder letter on a computer, he noted one of the biggest challenges of his new job was tracking down patients attached to the fleet who had switched units or moved between ship to shore. As patients arrived in the lobby for their checkups, they were surprised to see a new person in the receptionist’s chair.Gibbins marvelled at the Admiral’s professional telephone demeanour and his typing speed.“He’s doing great,”...

PSP ~As of Jan. 22, Personnel Support Programs (PSP) will no longer be accepting drop-in participants for FORCE testing.FORCE testing, unlike other CAF Fitness Evaluations, is not conducive to allowing drop-ins due to the evaluation protocol. Rest times set by FORCE testing protocol are stretched when there are more people than what PSP can accommodate, leading to unfair advantages and disadvantages across the board. In addition to this, PSP bases staffing levels off of the number of registered participants, and struggles to accommodate large influxes of drop-ins.Each unit should have their own FORCE Test Coordinator, who takes on the role of booking members, and PSP encourages units to have a 2IC for this tasking.Should a unit need to set up an IC or 2IC with access, they can contact PSP at either 250-363-4485 or 250-363-4412.If a member is deploying and there are no open test spaces available, the unit is to contact the PSP Fitness Coordinator, Alyssa Jesson, at 250-363-4495. These circumstances will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and the member/unit will be required to show the appropriate documentation (DAG sheet) in order to process the request. If people have any questions, or would like a copy of the memo, please contact Fitness Coordinator Alyssa Jesson: alyssa.jesson@forces.gc.ca.

[caption id="attachment_17813" align="alignnone" width="450"] Federal Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough was on hand to officiate the start of construction on the future HMCS Max Bernays, the third Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel being built for the navy. Photo by LS Dan Bard, FIS Halifax[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff ~The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Irving Shipbuilding marked another milestone on the road to building Canada’s future naval fleet on Dec. 19, when officials gathered at Irving’s Marine Fabricators facility in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, to cut the first steel to be used in construction of the future HMCS Max Bernays.Officials from Irving and senior RCN leaders were on hand, as well as Public Services and Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough.The ship will be named after Chief Petty Officer Max Bernays, a Canadian naval hero from British Columbia, known best for his time as Coxswain of HMCS Assiniboine during the Battle of the Atlantic.CPO Bernays famously manned the helm by himself under heavy fire from German submarine U-210 in August of 1942, surrounded by smoke and flames. He ordered his junior sailors to safety and sent more than 100 telegraph orders to the engine room while executing all helm orders on his own, maneuvering the ship in position to ram and sink the enemy boat after a long and extremely hard-fought operation, during which Assiniboine lost one sailor and 13 others were wounded.He was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal by the British Admiralty.Each ship of this class is being named after individuals who exhibited outstanding leadership and heroic service during wartime, and CPO Bernay’s story is one that fits squarely within that criteria, making this a good opportunity for the navy to name a ship after an NCM for the first time.To mark the occasion, a group of non-commissioned sailors from various ranks and trades...

[caption id="attachment_17810" align="alignnone" width="450"] Second Lieutenant Yana Hempler[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A reservist is rallying the support of the running community around her cause: pounding the pavement to assist critically ill children.Second Lieutenant Yana Hempler, a passionate member of the fitness community who works as a Logistics Officer with 39 Service Battalion, launched her new charity Run4Dreams late last year to provide financial assistance for sick children and their families.This runner’s charity is one with a unique twist. Monies are not raised the traditional way, through pledges in a formal race.Instead, participants register, run five-kilometres on their own time, and record their results online.“In a physical race, everyone has to be in one place at one time, so it really limits the amount of people you can get involved,” said 2Lt Hempler. “In a virtual race, you get to run your own race at your own pace and time it yourself, or you can also submit your results from a local race.”In mid-October, Run4Dreams held their first-ever virtual race. It raised $400 with 32 competitors in four Canadian cities paying registration fees of $24.99 to take part.“We had good feedback on the first Run4Dreams event and we are now in the growth stage and our registration is starting to pick up,” she said. Top finishers receive recognition in the form of bragging rights and cash prizes. Great swag, as well as draw prizes such as donated athletic equipment or gift certificates and race entries to other local events are also available to random entrants, she adds.Funds raised by Run4Dreams go to support the Help Fill A Dream Foundation, a non-profit that provides financial assistance and care for children under 19 suffering from life-threatening illnesses and their families.Helping others in need is nothing new for the 27-year-old who grew up in Grande...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Pacific Fleet Club has been home to the Junior Ranks Mess for the last four decades but will be closing its doors later this year due to structural concerns.Located at the top of Lyall Street, the iconic seaside building currently serves as the primary social hub and gathering spot for over 1,200 non-commissioned sailors, soldiers and aviators. The impending closure comes following the release of an engineering report in March 2016 that revealed flaws in beams that support the ocean-side portion of the building, estimating repairs to be upwards of $8.5 million.The decision to move the club was announced in a base-wide email by Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd, Base Commander, just ahead of the holiday break.Capt(N) Boyd indicated the current building will continue to operate as the Junior Ranks Mess until its closure in late 2018, at which point Naden Building 40 will become the temporary home of the Pacific Fleet Club.“This move will be made in the interest of the safety and well-being of all club users, combined with the desire to be fiscally responsible, as the cost of repairs and maintenance to the existing facility have been found to be prohibitive,” said Capt(N) Boyd.He also noted the importance of the Pacific Fleet Club to the “morale and culture of the Canadian Armed Forces” and said options for a permanent replacement home are currently being considered.Forty-two years ago the Club opened with its spectacular view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Olympic Mountains. The venue’s two main rooms, the Okanagan Lounge and Bonaventure Room, can accommodate up to 325 guests.It has been the primary spot for junior ranks and guests to unwind after work and on weekends, and over the years it has hosted events such as town hall meetings, conferences and seminars,...

[caption id="attachment_17756" align="alignnone" width="450"] An employee working on the scrapping of HMAS Sydney removes the bottle of whisky from its package of insulation tape after it was recovered from the main mast.[/caption]Darlene Blakeley, Navy Public Affairs Ottawa ~It was a strange place to find a miniature bottle of Canadian whisky.The bottle, hand-marked April 10, 1982, was recently discovered in the forward starboard leg of the main mast of Her Majesty’s Australian Ship Sydney, a guided-missile frigate named after the state capital city of New South Wales.The frigate was one of six modified Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates ordered from 1977 onwards, and the third of four to be constructed in the United States.The Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) have close ties, but it was actually an American who placed the whisky in the main mast when the ship was being built at the Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Wash., in 1982. Future crews of the ship had no idea it was there.The bottle remained hidden for 35 years until earlier this year when Sydney, decommissioned in 2015, was towed to Henderson in Western Australia to be scrapped.As part of the Sydney disposal activities, the RAN was contacted through the HMAS Sydney association that an individual from the United States who was involved in the construction of Sydney had placed a bottle of Canadian whisky wrapped in insulation tape inside the mast during construction.“I was not sure if the story was valid or if the bottle still existed 35 years later, thus have been waiting to get an opportunity to inspect,” said RAN Captain Brad Smith. “This has now been done and the story is true. I think this is a fantastic story to finish the HMAS Sydney story.”Although it is not known why the shipyard employee placed...

[caption id="attachment_17753" align="alignnone" width="485"] LCdr Judith Harlock, Joint Personnel Support Unit Commanding Officer (centre), is joined by Petty Officer Second Class Shanna Foster (left) and Sergeant Stephanie Henry after participating in Operation Chrome Dome Part II.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Three women from the Integrated Personnel Support Centre (IPSC) went under the barber’s sheers and scissors in support of cancer fundraiser Operation Chrome Dome, Part II.On Dec. 14, 2017, Lieutenant Commander Judith Harlock, Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU) Commanding Officer, once again went cue-ball bald following $4,900 in pledges raised to support the BC Cancer Agency and the Gord Downie Fund For Cancer Research through the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC).The inaugural head shaving in 2016 was not only a fundraiser, but also a show of support by LCdr Harlock for her co-worker Petty Officer Second Class Fiona Borland, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016.PO2 Borland, the organizer of the charity event, eventually went on to beat the disease by undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, but wanted to keep Chrome Dome going.Chrome Dome II had a different twist. Two other volunteers, Sergeant Stephanie Henry and PO2 Shanna Foster agreed to climb into the barber’s chair. Unlike LCdr Harlock, they opted to cut their long hair and donate it to the children’s cancer charity Wigs For Kids, which provides wigs for children undergoing cancer treatment.With eyes pointed upwards towards their scalps, the pair winced and grimaced as Angela Smith of Fusion Hair Works collected their locks with a group of approximately 20 co-workers cheering them on.LCdr Harlock’s much shorter hair wasn’t long enough to be used for a wig and there was little angst from her as Smith’s clippers cut away.LCdr Harlock said she was “more than happy” to sport a more radical look again this year.“Hair grows back quickly,”...

[caption id="attachment_17750" align="alignnone" width="485"] Photo by Parks Canada[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~High in the mountains of Rogers Pass members of the Canadian Armed Forces were having a blast over the holiday season, but not from opening presents or spending time with loved ones.Instead, 17 members of CFB Shilo’s First Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1RCHA) spent Christmas 2017 and New Year’s Eve high in the Selkirk Mountains of B.C.’s southern interior.There they set their sights at predetermined targets with their C3 105-mm Howitzer artillery guns as part of the annual avalanche control program in Rogers Pass.The CAF, under Operation Palaci, partner with Parks Canada to keep the 40-kilometre stretch of the Trans-Canada highway corridor safe and free from lengthy avalanche closures throughout the winter. The roadway is B.C.’s main link to the rest of Canada, and even a short closure can inflict great economic losses as the flow of goods, services and people screech to a halt.Rogers Pass is a notorious slide zone. In 1910, it was the site of an infamous avalanche that killed 62 railroad workers. The section of highway through the area passes 134 different avalanche paths.The region experiences an annual snowfall accumulation of approximately 12 metres, so the objective is to create mini slides in an effort to avoid massive buildups of snow and ice that result in more destructive, road-closing slides.Each year from November to April, in an effort to keep the traffic corridor open and safe, members of Royal Canadian Horse Artillery regiments fire away with C3 105-mm Howitzer artillery guns from 17 shooting areas, at 271 predetermined targets covering 134 slide zones.“The soldiers in Palaci must be ready to go within a minute’s notice, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” says Captain Charles Meyers, Joint Task Force Pacific (JTFP). “For them,...

[caption id="attachment_17746" align="alignnone" width="450"] Leading Seaman Kris Winther set a new world record by performing 5,200 consecutive air squats over four and a half hours on Dec. 20 at Victoria’s Delta Hotels by Marriott Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort. The previous record was 5,135. LS Winther, 36, accomplished the feat for his charitable organization Vets for a Cure in benefit of BC Children’s Hospital. Photo courtesy of Base Public Affairs[/caption]Rodney Venis, Base Public Affairs Office ~On his attempt to break the world record for consecutive air squats, Leading Seaman Kris Winther said it would end one of two ways: he would either pass out from the pain or he would finish.Turns out he did both.Five days before Christmas, the sailor embarked on his amazing feat on the grounds of the Delta Hotel.  As he approached the 3,000 mark of the joint-bending exercise, the sleeves used to protect his knees cut off circulation to his legs. His muscles seized and he started to black out. His record-setting goal of 5,135 squats appeared distant.“I was in the most pain I’ve ever been in my entire life,” said LS Winther. “I was coming in and out of consciousness and my friend had to stand behind me and keep catching me.”Even for onlookers there to witness the feat, and those cheering him on in a live stream on Facebook, it was an exercise in pain and endurance.They watched him fall repeatedly, clutching his leg, dance about, and scream in frustration. Anything to coax another squat from his agonized body.But most of the time he went down and got back up, for four-and-a-half hours, reaching 5,200 squats to set a new world record and support a charitable cause.In addition to months of training and thousands of squats leading up to his December feat, LS Winther set up...

[caption id="attachment_17743" align="alignnone" width="485"] Corporal Christopher Imamshah, from Personnel Coordination Centre, looks on as Base Commander Capt(N) Jason Boyd handles mail and hands out treats. Cpl Imamshah single-handedly secured the Base Commander with a donation to the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign’s “You’re the Boss” auction.[/caption] Base Public Affairs ~Just before Christmas, Capt(N) Jason Boyd took on a special tasking order. One carefully crafted by the folks at the Personnel Coordination Centre (PCC).Detailed in the order, written by Corporal Christopher Imamshah, the Base Commander had to ensure that fun, and plenty of it, was embedded in all his duties for the day.Not his base commander duties, but those assigned to him in the tasking order, which was part of the PCC’s winning You’re the Boss auction bid in support of the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC).His day started with morning coffee, the making and delivery of it, closely followed by the most pressing task – ironing shirts.No day at PCC would be complete without mail delivery, processing of leave passes, and a few financial transactions, all done with a big smile, the passing out of candy, and gushing about the greatness of the Corporal.“Cpl Imamshah has purchased me for the forenoon and I got the easy job of talking about how awesome he is,” said the Base Commander as he offered up a tray of chocolates.Cpl Imamshah also added a few unique taskings, ones that required dexterity and creativity:  the rearranging of tiny letters on an office stamp to spell out “L. Wilkins, LCdr” and composing a West Coast-style haiku on any subject.Hockey makes me smileWarms my heart despite the coldTired but contentTo round off his tasking Capt(N) Boyd donned a chef apron and grilled up hamburgers and hot dogs for the unit’s NDWCC barbecue.Other unusual assignmentsOn the same...

From the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge to the spirited Invictus Games, here is our 2017 Year In Review.View it here (PDF): bit.ly/2CI1GX9

It is with great sadness that the family of Graham Bruce Smith announce his unexpected passing on Dec. 28, 2017, at the age 54.Forever remembered by his wife of 27 years Jennifer, and sons Ryan (Jennifer) and Conner, grandson Calaeo, brother Carl (Elaine) and family, and brother-laws Steven and Joseph Pospolita and their families.After graduating from the University of Waterloo with a degree in Environmental Science, Graham joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) as an officer in which he served for two years before being posted to the Base Construction Engineering Group of CFB Esquimalt to develop the environmental program.Accepting a position as the RCN Environmental Officer in 1997, Graham moved his family to Ottawa for a period of 18 months before returning to the West Coast to take on the role of Formation Safety and Environment Officer for CFB Esquimalt.In this position he successfully put together a team of professionals that developed and implemented an overall environmental and safety program for the Formation and its operations.Under his leadership, these programs received both national attention and recognition.In the latter part of his career Graham ventured into a new area of First Nations relationship building. It is here that he truly excelled; using his natural ability to talk from the heart, along with his sense of humour, to build a relationship of trust between the navy and many of the local First Nations of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii.Graham was formally recognized several times during his illustrious career for his contributions and dedication to his profession with the Federal Government. These included:2012  Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work within the Department of National Defence;2016  Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment) for work in Indigenous relationships; and2017  Deputy Minister Unsung Hero Award citing his leadership and compassion as being instrumental for forging...

Andrea Lam, Health Promotion Esquimalt ~The holiday season is a time to reflect on the year we’ve had, to reconnect with good friends and family, and to recalibrate by relaxing and doing what makes us happy.But for many the holidays can bring up mixed emotions, especially for those who are spending the first holiday season without a loved one, or struggling with the temptations and over indulgences that come with holiday festivities, or the stress and anxiety of holiday pressures and expectations. Here are a few ways to help live in the green this holiday season:Remember the Low Risk Drinking GuidelinesGo out and have fun, but keep the low risk drinking guidelines in mind.For these guidelines, “a drink” means:Beer 12 ounces – 5% alcohol contentCider/cooler 12 ounces – 5% alcohol contentWine 5 ounces – 12% alcohol contentDistilled alcohol 1.5 ounces – 40% alcohol contentFor women:10 drinks a week with no more than 2 drinks a day most days.For men:15 drinks a week with no more than 3 drinks a day most daysManage your holiday stressLet’s face it, the holidays can be stressful. Crowded malls, last minute shopping, living up to familial expectations and traditions, cooking, cleaning, entertaining – the list goes on. The holidays are also a very social season, which can cause a lot of anxiety and be somewhat overwhelming at times. So try out these tips for managing your holiday stress.Relaxation techniquesPracticing daily meditation or breathing awareness can relieve chronic stress and realign your outlook in a more positive way. Good breathing habits alone can improve your psychological and physical well-beingSet realistic goalsLearning to say no is essential for some people. The holidays are often filled with invitations for parties and gatherings, so asses your schedule and identify tasks or activities you can or should let go. Don’t automatically...

[caption id="attachment_17718" align="alignnone" width="580"] Left photo: Chief Petty Officer First Class Michael Miller, centre, is promoted to his current rank by Rear-Admiral Art McDonald, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, and CPO1 Miller’s wife Toni. Right photo: CPO1 Simon Lepage, centre, is promoted to his current rank by Commodore Steve Waddell, right, Director General Naval Strategic Readiness, and Command Chief Petty Officer, CPO1 Michel Vigneault.[/caption]Darlene Blakeley, Navy Public Affairs Ottawa ~The substantial experience and perspective of two Chief Petty Officers First Class recently appointed to newly created senior positions, will assist in the continuing transformation of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) as it prepares for the future fleet.CPO1 Simon Lepage has taken on a senior appointment with the Directorate of Naval Strategic Readiness in Ottawa, while CPO1 Michael Miller will work with the Naval Personnel and Training Group (NPTG) in Esquimalt.“The new appointments were made owing to the significance of the portfolios they represent,” says Commodore Steve Waddell, Director General Naval Strategic Readiness (DGNSR). “They will figure prominently throughout our continuing transformation.”CPO1 Lepage will complement the efforts of DGNSR for the RCN personnel policy.“With the embodiment of ‘People First, Mission Always’ in the RCN’s Strategic Plan, CPO1 Lepage is fundamental to the succession planning work necessary to ensure our cadre of senior non-commissioned officers are developed and assigned institutional opportunities where they can best contribute,” explains Cmdre Waddell.CPO1 Miller, he adds, will work alongside Commander NPTG, Captain(Navy) Martin Drews, as they lead “a significant change agenda to completely overhaul and modernize the navy’s individual and occupation training system.”CPO1 Lepage, who has over 35 years service in the RCN in a variety of leadership positions, says he is honoured to take the new senior appointment and plans to provide institutional guidance with respect to the future employment of the RCN CPO1 corps. He...

Marianne Prigly, ADM(PA) ~The Canadian edition of the Invictus Games held in Toronto in September brought athletes, their families, and friends to Toronto from around the world.Athletes, who were able, brought their service dogs to support them during this exciting, but also potentially stressful event. However, those making the journey from countries as far away as New Zealand had to leave their support dogs at home.Enter the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs Toronto Pack. During the week of the Games, they provided therapy dogs of all sizes and breeds to help athletes who were without the support of their own service dogs.“We’re doing four-hour shifts with our dogs, and the athletes are really enjoying interacting with the dogs,” said Christine, handler of Dexter, a Cavalier/Brittany Spaniel, during the Games.The dogs and their handlers spent hours boosting spirits at the Toronto Sheraton, which served as the Athletes’ Village during the Games.Christine also explained the difference between service and therapy dogs.“A service dog is specially trained to assist its owner with a specific condition, like post-traumatic stress disorder, whereas therapy dogs are selected for their calm and patient dispositions and provide comfort simply by their presence and interaction with people.”When not working at a special event such as the Invictus Games, St. John Ambulance therapy dogs provide comfort and companionship to people in the community. Seniors, sick children, palliative care patients, and the physically or mentally challenged have all enjoyed regular visits from therapy dogs and their handlers.

[caption id="attachment_17712" align="alignnone" width="450"] LCdrs Victoria and Chris Devita. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption]Darlene Blakeley, Navy Public Affairs Ottawa ~They have made history as a navy couple commanding the same warship, but to Lieutenant-Commanders Chris and Victoria Devita balancing their busy careers in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) with a happy family life remains their prime objective.Victoria commanded HMCS Glace Bay for two years from 2013 to 2015, and her husband Chris took command of the same ship in early August.They were recently told by navy historians this is the first time married partners commanded the same warship.The couple lives in Bedford, N.S., with their two children Kassandra and Alexander. They are a typical busy navy family and do not find it unusual, or even significant, that they can command a warship in counter-drug operations at sea on one day, and be watching their children dance or play soccer the next day.In fact, Victoria was at sea for more than half of the 24 months she spent as Glace Bay’s Commanding Officer, taking part in the full range of naval operations, from fisheries patrols to international exercises, to tracking vessels of interest. When she took over the ship her children were nine and 11 years old.“At that age, both kids understood the significance of the jobs that Chris and I hold, and were supportive in my taking the command,” Victoria says.She adds that in order to be successful at balancing work and family priorities, several support networks are needed, including military, extended family, and community.“First, our career managers understood the significance of our situation,” she explains. “With this understanding, both the Regular Force career manager and the Reserve career manager tried their best to have only one of us at sea at a time, but this was not always...

[caption id="attachment_17709" align="alignnone" width="450"] LS Kris Winther practices squats with his daughter Francesca Sabrina near his home in Sooke. On Dec. 20 LS Winther will attempt to break the world record for consecutive squats in a fundraiser for BC Children’s Hospital. Photo by Fabiola Gavidia[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~This week, Leading Seaman Kris Winther is working his leg and back muscles in support of the BC Children’s Hospital.On Dec. 20, in the gymnasium of Victoria’s Delta Hotel by Marriot or on the grounds if the weather is good, the 36-year-old member of Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU) will attempt a world record 6,000 consecutive squats in three hours. The current world record for consecutive squats is 5,135.When the clock strikes noon, he will begin the process of repeatedly bending his knees to a right angle and returning to an upright position over and over again in a benefit for the children’s hospital.LS Winther’s efforts are all about raising $30,000 in financial support and awareness of the province’s only full-service, acute-care hospital that serves the medical needs of more than one million children.“I’m also doing this for my three-year-old daughter. She is healthy, but I don’t know what I would do if anything bad ever happened to her,” he says.LS Winther is currently posted to JPSU because he’s transitioning out of the military.  For the first seven years of his 11-year military career he was a member of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and saw two deployments to Afghanistan. For the next four years he was a boatswain with the Royal Canadian Navy.At some point in 2018 he will officially conclude his military career, and he believes his fundraiser is a great way to end it.To prepare for the ambitious goal, he has been doing those “death by squats” as he...

[caption id="attachment_17675" align="alignnone" width="560"] Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd and his family: wife Deborah, daughter Grace, and son Taylor. Photo by MCpl Carbe Orellana, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]With the holiday season just around the corner, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the whole Defence Team for all the perseverance and dedication you have displayed over the past year.While I have only been Base Commander for a few short months, I know how hard all of you work and believe that your efforts deserve to be recognized. As 2017 comes to a close, it is important that you take pride in all that you have accomplished and look forward to what 2018 has to offer.Today, Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt is engaged in a number of projects to make the base more flexible and efficient for years to come. Included among our endeavours is the Esquimalt Harbour Remediation Project, which not only ensures that our harbour will be cleaner and healthier for future generations, but is also uncovering a number of historical artifacts. These items tie us to those who came before and ensure that we will never forget their service or sacrifices.Alongside this is the replacement of A and B jetties and the ongoing construction at Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton. All of this means that CFB Esquimalt will remain a busy place for the next several years, while guaranteeing us that we will have the tools and infrastructure necessary to support the fleet far into the foreseeable future.With all of the work going on inside our base, it is important to acknowledge all the effort that has gone into strengthening ties with the community outside our fences. I am proud of how members from so many different units and organizations come together to participate in events including everything from the Victoria Pride Parade to the Defence Team Appreciation Night.Of special note is all the volunteering that so many of you do, be it with a local sports team or...

As part of Canada’s new defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada announced an enhanced income tax relief measure for all Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel who deploy on named, international missions.I am happy to advise that all arrangements are now in place to make this initiative a reality for members of the CAF on these named missions.What this means in practical terms is that soon you will no longer have to pay income tax while deployed on named international operations. Here’s how it will work:  CAF members who deployed outside of Canada on a named international operational mission since Jan. 1, 2017, are eligible for income tax relief.  This means they will be refunded the income tax they paid during the period of their deployment via their 2017 income tax submission to CRA. For those deploying after Jan. 1, 2018, the military pay system will automatically calculate the income tax to be withheld (if any).Importantly, this new measure de-links tax relief from risk levels, and raises the eligible deduction from income up to and including the maximum pay incentive level of Lieutenant Colonel (General Specification Officers – GSO).For those on missions in 2017 already eligible for tax relief, this change in pay incentive levels will also be captured through your 2017 tax return.Commander MILPERSCOM will soon be issuing a CANFORGEN to provide further technical details, and in the coming days, your respective chains of command will communicate more information on how these tax relief measures apply specifically to you.Below you will find a list of frequently asked questions - should you need further clarification.Thank you for the incredible work you do on these important operations across the globe.General Jonathan H. VanceChief of the Defence Staff

[caption id="attachment_17663" align="alignnone" width="450"] Invictus Games 2017 gold medal winner Lt(N) Krista Seguin is joined by Esquimalt Tritons’ Capt(N) Jason Boyd (right) and Comox Flyers’ MCpl Alex Coles for the ceremonial opening puck drop to commence the Men’s Pacific Region Hockey qualifier at the Wurtele Arena Dec. 4. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Esquimalt’s Old Timer’s Tritons hockey team advanced to the National Canadian Armed Forces Championship Tournament with a 2-0 series sweep of the Comox Silver Totems in Pacific region qualifying action last week.The senior Tritons opened their best-of-three series at Wurtele Arena with a 1-0 win on Dec. 4 and then eliminated their Royal Canadian Air Force rivals with a 4-1 win in Game 2 the next day.Tritons goaltender, Chief Petty Officer Second Class Ken Simoneau earned series Most Valuable Player (MVP) honours for allowing just one goal over two games.Esquimalt now moves on to face the four other regional tournament winners in the national championship tournament at CFB Borden, March 17 to 22, 2018.Esquimalt’s men’s Triton team were not as fortunate and suffered a 2-1 series defeat to 19 Wing Comox Flyers with a 4-3 Game 3 loss on Dec. 6. The Flyers took a 4-0 second-period lead by scoring three of their goals in a span of 68 seconds despite a three-goal, last-gasp rally by the Tritons late in the third period.Comox opened the series with a 4-3 win over the Tritons on Dec. 4, but Esquimalt then rallied for a 6-3 Game 2 win to force the tie breaker.Master Corporal Alex Coles, a forward with the Flyers, earned series MVP Honours.This season’s Men’s championship tournament will also be hosted by CFB Borden, March 3 to 8, 2018.