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[caption id="attachment_17660" align="alignnone" width="450"] The Royal Canadian Air Force’s Major-General Christopher Coates listens intently to a caller during the 2016 NORAD Tracks Santa Event at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. Major-General Coates is director of NORAD Operations at NORAD’s bi-national headquarters at Peterson AFB. Photo by Dennis Carlyle, NORAD[/caption]The North American Aerospace Defense Command is celebrating the 62nd anniversary of tracking Santa’s yuletide journey.The NORAD Tracks Santa website, www.noradsanta.org, has launched. It features Santa’s North Pole Village, which includes a holiday countdown, games, activities, and more. The website is available in eight languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Chinese.Official NORAD Tracks Santa apps are also available in the Apple and Google Play stores, so parents and children can count down the days until Santa’s launch on their smart phones and tablets! Tracking opportunities are also offered through social media on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.Starting at 2:01 a.m. EST on Dec. 24, website visitors can watch Santa make preparations for his flight. NORAD’s “Santa Cams” will stream videos on the website as Santa makes his way over various locations. Then, at 6 a.m. EST, trackers worldwide can speak with a live phone operator to inquire as to Santa’s whereabouts by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or by sending an email to noradtrackssanta@outlook.com.Any time on Dec. 24, Amazon Alexa users can ask for Santa’s location through the NORAD Tracks Santa skill for Amazon Alexa, and OnStar subscribers can press the OnStar button in their vehicles to locate Santa. Bing and Cortana users can also find Santa’s location on Dec. 24.NORAD Tracks Santa is truly a global experience, delighting generations of families everywhere. This is due, in large part, to the efforts and services of numerous program contributors.It all started in 1955 when a local media advertisement...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Larry Mohr, Senior Vice President of Commercial Services, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) (left), presented Esquimalt SISIP Financial Manager Wade Walters and members of SISIP Financial, B.C. Region, with the Commercial Services Division Award of Merit, at the CANEX Military Supply Store in Naden Dec. 4.The honour is awarded for outstanding results, member service, and reflecting core values of service excellence, teamwork, professionalism and compassion.During the ceremony, Walters congratulated his staff for their creative and successful local marketing initiatives, as well as “outside-the-box-thinking”, including establishing a scavenger hunt for members as part of an education quiz, bringing the SISIP Financial Office to individual units at the base, and building an Angry Bird game for visitors’ children to play during Family Day.“Their outstanding business results are making British Columbia one of SISIP Financials’ top markets,” said Walters.

[caption id="attachment_17652" align="alignnone" width="450"] LS Edward Gates gives visitors a tour of PCT 62 bridge. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A typically blustery and rainy Pacific coast winter day didn’t dampen the spirits of area students who boarded an Orca-Class patrol training boat for a day sail.Sixteen special needs and special education students, ages 11 to 13, from Victoria middle schools (Grades 6 to 8), were accompanied by five adult chaperones as they sailed the waters of Southern Vancouver Island aboard PCT 62 Moose. The Nov. 30 event was organized by the Esquimalt Lions Club.As heavy rains pelted down for most of the day, and strong winds made for choppy seas, guests were given a taste of what life is like aboard a navy training vessel.“I was really excited to be here today because some of my family members have served in the navy and it was really cool getting my own dog tags,” said a Grade six student from Dunsmuir Middle School. “I know I want to be part of the navy someday, but am not yet sure what I want to do for a job.”Activities onboard included a full guided tour of the vessel, a demonstration of its maneuverability, a man-overboard exercise, and an emergency firefighting demonstration.Lieutenant-Commander Todd Bacon, Commanding Officer of the vessel, welcomed his visitors to the bridge and showed off the ship’s instrumentation, watch operations, and the captain’s seat and helm.“It was our duty and our pleasure to have them here today,” said LCdr Bacon. “We truly enjoyed taking them out to sea and showing them what our sailors do on a daily basis. It gives the sailors onboard this patrol craft training unit an ability to showcase what we do on behalf of the Fleet and also teaches them what ‘right’...

[caption id="attachment_17649" align="alignnone" width="450"] Santa Clause hands out a present to one delighted party goer. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~There were presents to open, food, caroling and plenty of holiday cheer to go around as a group of area school children boarded HMCS Calgary for the ship’s 32nd annual Children’s Christmas Party.Approximately 25 deserving students from six area elementary schools, along with teachers and Esquimalt Lions Club volunteers, attended the Dec. 5 party aboard the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) frigate.Festivities included a tour of warship led by Master Seaman Rene Pittet, a firefighting demonstration, Christmas cookie-decorating workshop, followed by lunch in the ship’s galley. HMCS Regina’s mascot Gunner even popped by for a visit with the children.Cdr Blair Saltel, Calgary Commanding Officer, stopped by to extend warm holiday greetings to the visitors during lunch.The party culminated with a visit from ‘Jolly Old’ Saint Nicholas himself.Santa’s surprise visit came just after lunch; as the children began to sing Christmas carols, the jingling of his sleigh bells could be heard approaching the galley. Father Christmas didn’t arrive at the party empty handed. He brought an oversized sack of presents to distribute, much to the delight of the young party goers.The Christmas Party included invitees from Macaulay, View Royal, Craigflower, George Jay, Tillicum and Vic West Elementary Schools. Retired firefighter and Lions Club member Daryl Driemel helped facilitate this year’s visit and said the goal was to provide a “safe and rewarding” experience aboard a RCN ship.“It was plain to see the party had a positive impact on the students again this year,” said Driemel. “When the kids left their schools for the bus ride to the ship they were quiet and reserved; however, we noticed a big change on the way back home as they were openly engaging...

[caption id="attachment_17640" align="alignnone" width="450"] HMS Belfast alongside in the River Thames with Tower Bridge in the background.[/caption]Darlene Blakeley, RCN PAO ~The Canadian flag will fly over Her Majesty’s Ship (HMS) Belfast in London, England, this holiday season.HMS Belfast, a museum ship originally built as a light cruiser for the Royal Navy (RN), is permanently moored on the River Thames next to Tower Bridge and operated by the Imperial War Museum.Tim Lewin, whose late father, Admiral of the Fleet Lord Terence Thornton Lewin, was a junior officer in HMS Belfast. He proposed the Canadian flag fly at the mast of the museum ship over Christmas week to celebrate and commemorate the participation of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in the battle of North Cape for which Belfast was awarded a Battle Honour.Lewin, vice-president of the Belfast Association, has a deep interest in the Russian convoys that were undertaken during the Second World War. He has introduced a number of initiatives to raise awareness of those operations, and the close ties that existed at the time between the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Russia.According to Michael Whitby, the RCN’s senior naval historian, Canadian warships began escort duties on the Russian convoys in the autumn of 1943, but its sailors were involved before then.“In fact, hundreds of Canadians sailors served in British ships operating in the north throughout the war,” Whitby says. “Eighty Canadian sailors – about 10 per cent of each ship’s company – fought in the cruisers Belfast and Sheffield at the Battle of North Cape. In the final 18 months of the war, Canadian warships participated in more than half of the Russian convoys.”In all, 18 Canadian warships were awarded an Arctic Battle Honour for service in northern European waters during the Second World War.Lewin, recognizing this profound...

[caption id="attachment_17637" align="alignnone" width="450"] Transport and Electrical Mechanical Engineering (TEME) employee Jackson Filtness celebrated his 75th birthday Oct. 23 by driving one of his unit’s big rigs. A former truck driver for TEME and Canadian National Railways, Filtness has enjoyed 51 years of public service. He currently drives a base taxi cab. Photo by TEME[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Base Transport employee Jackson Filtness celebrated his 75th birthday doing what he likes best, hopping into a transport truck, gearing down, and going for a drive.With a combined total of 51 years of public service work, 33 years of those with Transport and Electrical Mechanical Engineering (TEME), his co-workers threw him a birthday bash to remember on Oct. 23. To celebrate the occasion and the former truck driver’s remarkable legacy, he climbed into the cab of an 18-wheeler again and geared down once again.“We had the pleasure of getting him back in a tractor trailer and a quick drive through the compound to open the celebration, which was then followed by a pizza party that was attended by about 30 employees,” said Christopher Shipway, Supervisor of TEME Special Purpose Vehicles.Filtness has worked as a base taxi driver for his unit’s Special Purpose Vehicles since 2008, but began his work for Base Transport by driving trucks, beginning in 1985. He said the birthday party was something he would never forget, and declared he was “flattered to be honoured in such a great way” by his co-workers.  Born in Vancouver but raised in Victoria, Filtness had a three-year career in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) where he spent most of his time working as a Stoker aboard HMCS Beacon Hill.  He then joined the Canadian Coast Guard in 1963 and also worked for the Empress Hotel power plant and the Sudbury II, a deep-sea salvage tug...

[caption id="attachment_17633" align="alignnone" width="450"] Commanding Officer of Joint Personnel Support Unit Pacific, Lieutenant-Commander Judith Harlock (left) is joined by Petty Officer Second Class Fiona Borland after LCdr Harlock shaved her head last December as part of Operation Chrome Dome. The fundraiser for cancer research through the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC) is back again this year with LCdr Harlock agreeing to go bald if $10,000 can be raised prior to Dec. 14. Photo by JPSU Pacific/file[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Commanding Officer of Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU) Pacific Region is vowing to go ‘cue-ball bald’ again as the highly popular cancer fundraiser Operation Chrome Dome returns.The initial head-shaving was a show of support and solidarity for her long-time co-worker and friend Petty Officer Second Class Fiona Borland who hatched the idea after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016.“I volunteered to be shaved again as a celebration of where Fiona is in her journey,” says LCdr Harlock.Together they raised $5,300 through pledges and other donations as part of the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC).The two have been co-workers and friends since first working together at the Reserve Unit HMCS Malahat more than 20 years ago. LCdr Harlock says Fiona’s experience is a great opportunity to remind people about the life-or-death benefits of early diagnosis.“There is nothing like a repeat [shaving] to reiterate the simple message to everyone ‘just get checked’ and Fiona’s positive outcome speaks volumes to that,” she says.Following chemotherapy and surgery, in August PO2 Borland was informed by her doctor that she was cancer free. Despite her recent life-affirming diagnosis, the two women haven’t given up on the Chrome Dome cause and have raised the fundraising bar even higher this year.LCdr Harlock will once again be subjected to having her hair removed by a set...

[caption id="attachment_17629" align="alignnone" width="450"] Emjay Bailey hopes to spin enough yarn to stretch from the Base Commander’s building in Naden to the Admiral’s Office in Dockyard. The yarn will then be given to a local knitting group that produces warm clothing for disadvantaged youth and the homeless.[/caption]Will Chaster, Base PA Office ~When participating in a Spin-A-Thon, it is commonplace for bikes to be involved.However, one CFB Esquimalt member will be spinning a different sort of wheel in December.Starting Dec. 1, Emjay Bailey, Base Executive Corporate Services Officer, will conduct a wool spinning Spin-A-Thon with the ultimate goal of making knitted hats, scarves and mittens for homeless and disadvantaged youth in Victoria, as well as raising funds for the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC).An avid knitter and wool spinner, Bailey is eager to put her skills to good use.“It’s always nice when you are able to combine your art or passion into a community service,” she says.Bailey took inspiration from the history the Royal Canadian Navy shares with knitting.“During World War Two, members of the public and the Navy League would knit items such as socks or hats for sailors deployed to the Atlantic or Arctic. This helped give them a little extra warmth and comfort on their long voyages,” she explains.She would like to spin enough wool to stretch from the Base Commander’s office all the way to Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters by the time she finishes just before Christmas.“I can spin about 50 to 100 yards of wool in an hour, so I’m optimistic I can make it,” she says.Bailey is looking for donations to help raise money in support of the NDWCC. Sponsors can pledge a flat amount or make donations by the yard or by total amount of wool spun.Once she has enough yarn, Bailey and...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A new mobile software application designed to assist military members, and their spouses or parents with deployments has been launched.Developed by the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC), the “MFRC Deployment” app has been up and running since early October, is free to use, and downloadable from the App Store or Google Play. The software is specifically designed for use with mobile phones and tablets, and is Android and iOS (Apple) compatible, but will not work with Blackberry phones.MFRC Deployment coordinator Sandra Pinard says the new software is an effort to reach out to military members and their loved ones with a program that affords them instant information customized to their specific needs and the nature of the deployment.“To our knowledge this App is unique, the first of its kind for sailors on the West Coast,” says Pinard. “At their fingertips, people can get vital and highly-relevant information and resources.”They will officially introduce the App to its unit liaisons during a Dec. 7 training session at the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre (CPAC).The program was designed by Victoria-based software development firm Three Trees Technical Incorporated. Three Trees co-owner and co-founder Ben Leather says the App will have a positive impact during deployments because it was designed to be user-friendly and with simplicity in mind.“We really aimed to get technology out of the way so people who don’t consider themselves ‘tech savvy’ and aren’t always dependent on their phones will find it simple and easy to use,” says Leather.Two key features of the App are a tips section that gives users advice customized to their profile, whether they are army, air force or navy, and the nature of the deployment, and also a planning section that encourages users to complete to-dos such as creating a deployment budget, emergency...

The Command Chief and I have been strong proponents of diversity and inclusiveness in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), and we will continue to promote these values as your command team.I expect that all RCN members will take note of last week’s apology from Prime Minister Trudeau and the subsequent message from General Vance to the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, queer, and two-spirit (LGBTQ2) communities for the persecutions they have faced under Canadian law, including as members of the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP, and the Public Service.Every sailor courageous enough to have served in the RCN, facing the harshness of the sea while dealing with the persecutions brought upon by policies that forced them to hide their sexual orientation for fear of repercussion from not only their peers, but their chains of command as well, merits to be commended.The Command Chief and I are extremely proud to be able to call these brave men and women shipmates, and it is with renewed vigour that the leadership of the RCN pledges to continue to uphold the standards where our sailors can serve proudly without fear and with honour.The leadership of our proud institution remains committed to preventing discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity, on and off duty, in and out of uniform, at sea and ashore, and at home or abroad. We stand together, adhering to the RCN Code of Conduct built upon our core values: Duty, Integrity, Loyalty, and Courage.The RCN’s diversity and inclusiveness is a source of strength. We stand together with our LGBTQ2 shipmates Ready to Help, Ready to Lead, and Ready to Fight.M.F.R. Lloyd, CMM, CDVice-Admiral Commander RCN

James Vassallo, CFB Esquimalt PA Officer ~All Sergeant (Retired) Rob Sneath wanted was an early morning skate and a chance to be on the same ice as some of hockey’s greatest names. A simple request those grizzled NHLers surely thought, a sly grin about their lips: ‘Hey, kid, why not? Strap ‘em on and get out here’.“He was organizing things as part of PSP for the NHL old-timers tour in Halifax,” recounts Master Warrant Officer Paul MacQueen. “He was so good and they [NHLers] were so impressed with his skills, they asked him to play that night.”Sneath did four more dates with the NHL Oldtimers on the East Coast. The next year he did it again, becoming a fixture in a countless number of these kinds of celebrity charity games over the years.It’s a miraculous story perhaps, unless you knew Sneath and his athletic ability.In 24 years with the Canadian Armed Forces, serving as a Boatswain, PERI and ACS Technician, he played in 21 consecutive Canadian Forces National Hockey Championships from 1987-2007. He won 22 CAF national medals and 35 CAF regional medals in five sports. He was named an All-Star 23 times and was honoured with countless MVP awards. Just a month ago he was inducted into Canadian Armed Forces Sports Hall of Fame.To the shock and great sorrow of many, Sneath passed away suddenly Nov. 27 at the age of 52 after a long battle with cancer. Given his reputation, it was no surprise that organizers of Oldtimers celebrity hockey tournaments, his old team the Clarenville Ford Caribous where he played in 2008/09, Olympic gold medalist Hayley Wickenheiser, friends, teammates, his Personnel Support programs (PSP) co-workers and military family all acknowledged what kind of an athletic phenom he was.Over the last week he’s been repeatedly called the best...

[caption id="attachment_17594" align="alignnone" width="450"] Capt Mike Evans’ team competes on a Beneteau 40.7 sailboat during the China Cup International Regatta 2017.[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff ~One of Formation Halifax’s top sport sailors is back from testing his racing skills overseas against some of the best in the world.Capt Mike Evans, a Weapons Tactics Analyst at Trinity, led a 12-person crew in a Beneteau 40.7 sailboat through the China Cup International Regatta 2017, a four-day racing event in and around Hong Kong from Oct. 26-29 that saw more than 1,500 sailors from 40 different countries compete in a series of inshore races.This year was the event’s 11th installment, and the fourth year for Capt Evans, who sails representing Sail Canada and the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Club.The regatta has grown each year to the point where it now takes over a part of the city with a festival-like atmosphere, attracts sailing’s top professionals and brings in plenty of big-money sponsors.“It’s truly a spectacle, and you pinch yourself that you get the chance to be there in the middle of it,” said Capt Evans, who assembled a civilian team of eight Canadians from various yacht clubs, along with other sailors from Germany, New Zealand and China, to take on the difficult races.His team finished 17th in a field of 30 in the Beneteau 40.7 fleet category, in which each team competes in an identical sailboat to allow the sailors to race on equal terms.Finishing 17th was far from a disappointment for the crew. In a field packed with professionals, including the winners of this year’s America’s Cup race in Bermuda, the team finished ahead of all the other non-professional crews in the fleet, earning a trophy for top amateur performance.With only two days practice as a team before the races began, with the...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue are opening their garage doors to provide holiday cheer and free refreshments to members of the DND community ahead of next weekend’s Celebration of Lights Parade.Firefighters will serve up hot chocolate, apple cider, and shortbread cookies at the fire hall on Esquimalt Road Sunday, Dec. 3, between 5 and 7 p.m., in conjunction with Esquimalt’s annual Celebration of Lights Christmas Parade. The parade begins at 5 p.m. and will proceed easterly along Esquimalt Rd., from Canteen Rd. to the Archie Browning Sports centre.Organized by the Township of Esquimalt, the parade features dozens of trucks and vehicles from area businesses and community organizations that are all adorned with festive lights and decorations.Fire and Rescue staff will be busy this week decorating one of their bright red fire trucks to take part in the parade. The parade also includes a contest for Best Decorated Vehicle, which the base firefighters won in 2015 after adorning their vehicle with over 1,000 Christmas lights. This year’s event will also include musical performances by jazz and blues singer Maureen Washington and the Rock Heights Middle School Choir, and a special appearance by Santa Clause.Those attending the parade are asked to bring a non-perishable food item as a donation to local food banks.For further details about the parade, visit the event webpage http://esquimaltlights.ca

[caption id="attachment_17588" align="alignnone" width="450"] Members of The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) and Naval Reserve Division Malahat listen to a safety brief prior to an amphibious landing. Photos by Second Lieutenant Cameron Park[/caption] Second Lieutenant Cameron Park The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) ~The waters near Nanoose Bay at the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges (CFMETR) on Vancouver Island were the site of Exercise Scottish Crown over the Nov. 4 to 5 weekend.Soldiers from the Canadian Army Reserve and the Naval Reserve of the Royal Canadian Navy practiced a variety of skills, including assault boat landings, familiarization rides in a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB), and the conduct of a patrol.With rehearsals complete, a tactical exercise saw a land force use assault boats, crewed by 39 Combat Engineer Regiment, to land and secure a beach head. RHIBs from Naval Reserve Division Malahat monitored the movement of the boats for safety.After the landing, foot patrols were conducted throughout the night by soldiers from the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s), supported by medics from 11 (Victoria) Field Ambulance.In the morning, with patrols completed, the land force was extracted from the beach by the assault boats to conclude the exercise. To ensure effective radio communications were in place, soldiers from 39 Signals Regiment operated a command post and a radio rebroadcast station throughout the exercise.

[caption id="attachment_17585" align="alignnone" width="450"] Crewmembers from Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Moncton mark the drug bundles seized by US Coast Guard members on Nov.11 during Operation Caribbe. Photo by 12 Wing Imaging Services[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Editor’s Note: For operational security reasons, military members deployed on Operation Caribbe cannot be identified.When HMCS Nanaimo contributed to the seizure of approximately 480 kilograms of cocaine last month in the eastern Pacific it marked a successful operational moment that was months in the making.While the high-profile drug bust went down in a matter of hours and got most of the attention, it was the coordinated international effort and several weeks of training that is the real achievement, says the ships’ commanding officer.    “Successful boardings and interdictions are rarely the actions of a single unit or ship; instead, there are aircraft, shore agencies, and other sea consorts that are all critical to the successful capture of illicit product,” he says. “The operation stands as an excellent example of international cooperation and coordination.”The Kingston-class warship and its crew are participating in Operation Caribbe, Canada’s component in a United States-led, anti-drug trafficking operation known as Operation Martillo.Also embarked in Nanaimo are members of United States Coast Guard (USCG) law enforcement detachment (LEDET).How it all went downJust before midnight on Oct. 30, Nanaimo received a dispatch from a Maritime Patrol Aircraft that directed them to their target, a small Panga-style fishing boat. The minor warship then pursued and brought the Panga to a halt. The two vessels remained stopped in the water until the U.S. Coast Guard’s law enforcement detachment received permission to board the vessel.“Many people think an event like this plays out like a Tom Clancy novel and it’s a kinetic thing done very quickly, but it is not,” says the Commanding Officer. “Once you identify a...

[caption id="attachment_17582" align="alignnone" width="550"] The surviving crew members of HMCS Kootenay pose for a group photo during the Commemorative Ceremony held at Damage Control Training Facility Kootenay on Oct. 23. Photo by LS Trent Galbraith, Formation Imaging Service[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff ~Former crewmembers of HMCS Kootenay, along with family, friends, and Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) personnel, gathered at Damage Control Training Facility (DCTF) Kootenay at CFB Halifax on Oct. 23 to mark 48 years to the day since the tragic explosion on the ship that killed nine sailors and wounded many more.It was just after 8 a.m. on Oct. 23, 1969, as Kootenay was traversing the English Channel with a task group on the way back to Canada, when a full-speed engine trial led to the starboard gearbox overheating and exploding, filling the engine room and beyond with fire, oil and toxic smoke.In addition to the nine who perished, seven instantly and two more as a result of smoke inhalation soon after, 53 crewmembers were injured, many developing lifelong chronic issues.The explosion is considered the worst peacetime disaster in RCN history, and the story is well known both for the extraordinary efforts and sacrifices of the crew, as well as for the myriad advancements in safety and damage control that were spawned in its aftermath.For the surviving crew, many of whom attended the ceremony in Purcell’s Cove, the weight of the tragedy is still felt, and some still have difficulty talking about the traumatic events that took place on the ship.Patty Robichaud said her father Rob Robichaud, who died in 2014, never spoke about the events on board Kootenay when she was growing up. He didn’t open up to his family about his role in the disaster until much later in life, when his granddaughter approached him for help with...

[caption id="attachment_17579" align="alignnone" width="450"] A/SLt Melinda Song poses with the Head of Delegation for Bhutan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Damcho Dorji, at the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Conference in Vancouver, Nov 15.[/caption]Katelyn Moores, MARPAC PA Office ~When more than 550 international delegates arrived in Vancouver for the United Nations Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial earlier this month, they were greeted at the airport by Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members from across the country.Tasked as Liaison Officers, these CAF members provided one-on-one support to their assigned delegations, showcasing Canadian hospitality and helping to facilitate the successful execution of this high-profile international conference.Since August, a small team from Joint Task Force Pacific, led by Commander Blair Saltel, has been working in support of the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial, creating a detailed Liaison Officer program that included two-days of training, a transportation plan to and from the airport for delegates, and the development of a Joint Communications Operations Centre that provided 24-hour support to the Liaison Officers and their delegations.It required significant planning and effort, he says, but this behind-the-scenes support proved to be an essential part of making sure the conference ran smoothly.Meet A/SLt SongOne of the Liaison Officers was Acting Sub-Lieutenant Melinda Song, a Naval Warfare Officer with Naval Fleet School Pacific. A/SLt Song had volunteered for similar roles in the past, acting as a personal translator for Rear-Admiral Art McDonald during the Chinese Navy visit to Victoria last year, and assisting with the Pacific Command Chiefs of Defence Conference this fall. When she learned of the opportunity to assist with the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial, she jumped at the chance to once again be a Liaison Officer.“I consider it to be a great honour and privilege to have the opportunity to represent Canada, and showcase to other nations the professionalism and...

[caption id="attachment_17576" align="alignnone" width="450"] Naden Band composer and saxophonist Petty Officer Second Class Robyn Jutras (centre) is joined by fellow band members as she is presented an honorary membership in the Submariners Association of Canada (SAOC) by SAOC Canada West President, Lloyd Barnes (right) and past president Paul Hansen. The two former RCN submariners dropped by the band headquarters Nov. 21 to show their appreciation to PO2 Jutras for composing an official SAOC march entitled The Dolphin March. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Submariners old and young are going “Ahooga-Ahooga” for a new tune created in their honour by a Naden Band member.The Dolphin March was composed by Petty Officer Second Class Robyn Jutras, the band’s bassoonist, for the Submariners Association of Canada. PO2 Jutras, 35, says her creation was written with the traditional modern military march in mind. It  employs an upbeat or rapid tempo meant to match those of military members marching in step.“Ahooga is not only the sound the diving alarm (klaxon) that older submarines made but also an old submariners saying and the Association wanted that along with ‘Dive, Dive, Dive’ to be highly recognizable in the piece. So I decided to open with it in the first section,” says PO2 Jutras.The march opens with two non-traditional, classic submarine sound effects at the beginning of the piece: a ‘ping, ping’ of a sonar before transitioning to two blasts of an old submarine’s klaxon, which sounds phonetically like “Ahooga, Ahooga.”Paul Hansen, who spent nine years in the navy starting in the mid-1960s, including several years on both the HMCS Grilse and HMCS Rainbow, is past president of the Submariners Association of Canada West and the initiator of the project.  He worked closely with PO2 Jutras to explain what his group wanted for the...

[caption id="attachment_17537" align="alignnone" width="450"] Leading Seaman Glen Straarup, Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific), tries out the Standby Diver Over Garment during a recertification course. Photo by Master Seaman Sara MacAleese[/caption]DND ~The standby diver is an essential member of dive teams in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). This individual must be fully dressed and ready to enter the water at immediate notice to assist, rescue, or recover a stricken diver.It’s imperative the standby diver remain ready, focused and cognizant of the task at hand throughout the dive. Burdened by wearing a diving ensemble that is heavy and awkward when sitting on the surface, this diver waits virtually motionless, often in cold severe weather, sometimes for several hours.The Standby Diver Over Garment provides environmental protection to the standby diver during CAF diving operations, whether they are on shore or afloat, improving their comfort, sustaining their focus, and maintaining a critical safety response.

[caption id="attachment_17534" align="alignnone" width="450"] West Coast Toastmasters members (left) Rob McDermot, Wendy Arthurs, Ian Dorge, Deidre Moran, Linda Quesnel, Acting Sub-Lieutenant Guillaume Lussier-Houle gather for their weekly meeting at Naval Fleet School Pacific. Photo by Peter Mallett[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~If you’ve ever become tongue-tied while speaking with a colleague, large audience or potential employer, the solution to your dilemma could be joining Toastmasters.The West Coast Toastmasters chapter can help you overcome those all too common stumbling speech blocks.The group meets every Thursday over the lunch hour in the Naval Fleet School Pacific Building N92 conference room.Central to the Toastmasters mandate is providing practice and training in communication skills. The benefits of membership extend past having confidence and poise while speaking, says Ian Dorge, West Coast Toastmasters Vice President of Education.“Toastmasters is really about the entire communications spectrum: listening, evaluating, impromptu speaking and presenting. If you join our group and become a member you will notice an improvement to many aspects of your communication skill set. If you are a better listener, you comprehend things better, you can answer more effectively and you can speak more effectively.”Dorge, who works as a Deputy Material Distribution Manager with Base Logistics, says the club is all about creating a warm and hospitable space where members can interact and learn as the international organization’s founder intended.Toastmasters was created in 1924 by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley in the basement of a YMCA in Santa Ana, California. Smedley’s overall vision was to offer practice and training in communication and leadership skills, including the art of public speaking, presiding over meetings and promoting sociability and fellowship.Today, the organization boasts approximately 352,000 members in 13,000 clubs located in 142 countries worldwide.West Coast Toastmasters was co-founded in 2013 by current club president Wendy Arthurs. The group has a wide-ranging...

[caption id="attachment_17530" align="alignnone" width="450"] Ice Breaker – Leading Seaman Rommel Billanes first-place entry was snapped from the shoreline of Iceland’s rugged coastline when the Marine Technician visited there in 2015. Photo by LS Rommel Billanes[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~An amateur photographer with a passion for capturing colourful underwater imagery has claimed two awards in the Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Contest.Master Warrant Officer Mario Robillard, who works as a Senior Financial Manager for FSA and Financial Policy, Procedure and Inspection at Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) headquarters, was pleasantly surprised to find out in email from the contest’s judges that his first-ever submissions won not one, but two prizes.He took second place and third place wins in the Novice Division in the CAF’s annual contest for photography and videography, noting his images were unique as they were not taken on dry land.He is an avid diver and member of Aquarius Dive Club and snapped the ­photos while below the surface of Brentwood Bay near Henderson Point. His photo of an illuminated white jelly fish entitled Over Easy Please captured Second Place in the Open category, and Dancing Nudibranch, a close-up image of a colourful sea slug, took third spot in the Macrophotography (close to the lens) category.Four years ago he bought a professional underwater camera to capture the beauty he saw beneath the waves.“It’s not as easy as a point and shoot,” he explains. “The settings and controls are much more complicated, so there was a learning curve.”The camera uses two powerful strobe lights, a focus light, and a floating arm for balance and buoyancy, and is vacuumed sealed to keep water out.MWO Robillard says it’s not only a case of having the right equipment to get a good image, but also having good buoyancy underwater to avoid touching the fragile sea...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A marine art exhibition underway at Victoria’s historic Union Club features the work of five B.C. artists and their coastal-themed paintings.The Maritime Museum of B.C. hosted its Gala Opening for the exhibition, entitled West Coast Perspective on Oct.14 at the club’s landmark building located on Gordon St. The exhibit will remain open for public viewing through the month of December.Contributing artists for the event are: Tofino-based award-winning painter Mark Hobson who is best known for his portrayals of landscapes of the Pacific Coast; John Horton, a naval and marine artist renowned for the historical detail of 18th-Century era paintings; multi-talented Gabriola Island painter and woodworker Tony Grove, Comox-based artist Esther Sample, known for her environmental and conservation art, and Anne Doyle who specializes in land and seascapes.“Preparing the RAS Deck“ is one of three paintings Horton has on display in the exhibition. It depicts former Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) supply ship HMCS Protecteur. His oil-based work features seven crewmembers organizing or ‘flaking out’ their lines. The Vancouver-based artist created his painting in 2004 when he was commissioned by the Government of Canada to capture life aboard the oiler during Rim of the Pacific, an international maritime warfare exercises.The Maritime Museum of B.C. and the Union Club have partnered in a number of initiatives in recent years with the most recent being the 2017 Victoria Day Block Party. Proceeds from the sale of artwork at West Coast Perspective will go towards supporting community programs and the club’s other charitable initiatives.The Union Club’s membership is made up of local business leaders, government officials, academics and professionals who work with a wide array community organizations in fundraising and other outreach initiatives. Its landmark building on Gordon St. was built in 1913 and was designated a National Historic Site earlier...

[caption id="attachment_17517" align="alignnone" width="450"] Battle of Hong Kong survivor Gerry Gerrard, 95, was the guest of honour during a plaque dedication ceremony at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #127 on the evening of Nov. 7. The Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association dedicated a plaque in honour of Gerrard’s service to the Legion and the people of Canada during the Second World War Battle of Hong Kong. Photo by John Yankoski[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Seventy-six Remembrance Days have passed since Signalman (retired) Horace ‘Gerry’ Gerrard fought for Canada in the Battle of Hong Kong. But the memories remain.Each year as the days of autumn grow shorter and Nov. 11 approaches, the 95-year-old recalls the Allies rapid capitulation to the Japanese, and the subsequent brutal treatment he and the other Canadian, Indian and British soldiers faced at the hands of their captors in Prisoner of War (POW) camps.“Remembrance Day brings it all back,” says Gerrard. “In the daytime I don’t think about it much, but nights are difficult, the memories are always with me.”The battle began Dec. 8, 1941, a day after Pearl Harbor was bombed by Japan, which marked the start of war in the Pacific theatre. The fall of Hong Kong transpired in just 17 days, and during that time the Allies suffered heavy losses and turned down multiple requests by the Japanese to surrender. They finally did on Christmas Day, 1941.Approximately 1,976 Canadians were dispatched to Hong Kong in late 1941 and more than half of them, approximately 1,050, were either killed or wounded. Of the 554Canadians who lost their lives, 290 died during the infamous battle portion, while 264 died in its aftermath as POWs. Gerrard says the memories of the camps will remain etched in his mind until the day he dies.“When people say it’s amazing I...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A military historian from Holland has launched an interactive website that provides visitors with instant information on Second World War Allied aircraft crashes.Jan Nieuwenhuis, 59, is an experienced stats and data man by trade who describes his devotion and love for aviation history as his hobby. Since 2006, he applied his intricate knowledge of databases and years of experience as a Data Manager for the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research to launch the project.The website incorporates data from the Aeronautical and War Museum on Texel Island, located in the Province of North Holland, where Nieuwenhuis has volunteered his time since 2004, along with information collected from other museums and historical accounts. His database contains detailed information about fallen airmen who died in the Netherlands and the entire North Sea in the war.During the fierce air war that raged between the Allies and Germany, Texel Island became a death trap for Allied planes and their crews who fell from the sky after being shot down by enemy anti-aircraft weaponry and warplanes. A cemetery on the island houses the graves of 167 Allied airmen who died there, including members from Canadian squadrons who were brought together as 6 Group within Britain’s Bomber Command.Users can employ a number of search criteria options on the site including aircraft make, bases, and crash-­specific details to extract information from the database. Nieuwenhaus says the quick access to information will be of great value to people doing aviation and military history research, and also for others who have more personal connections to the war.“The family members of these lost airmen also benefit because they can now find out information about their relatives and other facts that perhaps they never knew before,” says Nieuwenhaus. “I think that my site is somewhat unique as...

[caption id="attachment_17511" align="alignnone" width="450"] Marine Technicians Leading Seaman Nathan Gillis and Master Seaman Martin Couture describe the fire fighting equipment used on board HMCS Winnipeg to a delegate attending the United Nations Peacekeeping Ministers conference during their tour of the ship while alongside Canada Place, Vancouver. Photo by LS Ogle Henry, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Lt(N) Ellie Aminaie, HMCS Winnipeg ~Last week, HMCS Winnipeg was in Vancouver, B.C., in support of the United Nations Peacekeeping Defence Ministers’ (UNPKDM) Conference.The conference was held at the Vancouver Convention Centre and had United Nations delegations from 80-plus countries and five international organizations in attendance, with gender initiatives as a focal point.It was a highly coordinated event organized by the Department of National Defence, with key representation from all Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) elements. The CAF element was led by Joint Task Force Pacific on behalf of Canadian Joint Operations Command.  Security was managed by the RCMP.The conference had many high profile Canadians in attendance including  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence; Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and la francophonie; and Madame Michaelle Jean, Secretary General of la francophonie.Also in attendance were General Jonathan Vance, Chief of Defence Staff, and LGen (Retired) Romeo Dallaire, who was there for a youth focused event.Actress Angelina Jolie, who is a Special Envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, delivered the keynote address.During the welcome reception held at the Vancouver Convention Centre, Winnipeg’s Guard of Honour was on parade, showcasing the Royal Canadian Navy.While alongside Canada Place, Winnipeg provided a hosting platform for various events throughout the conference. One notable one was a luncheon held on board, co-hosted by Minister Bibeau, and His Excellency Marc-Andre Blanchard, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the UN. Guests discussed various gender initiatives made in their respective nations and the event provided an opportunity for the exchange of ideas in furthering those initiatives.Lt(N) Calley Gray, Winnipeg’s Marine Systems Engineering Officer,...

[caption id="attachment_17498" align="alignnone" width="450"] From left: PO1 Doug Bacon, Whitehorse Coxswain; Betty Coleman, Brandon’s ship’s sponsor; The Honourable Ione Christensen, Whitehorse’s ship’s sponsor; and LCdr Collin Forsberg, Whitehorse Commanding Officer. Photo by MARPAC Imaging[/caption]Lt(N) Joseph Martin, HMCS Whitehorse ~Since their commissioning over 20 years ago, HMCS Brandon and HMCS Whitehorse have both been lucky to have extremely active ship’s sponsors. Both sponsors visited CFB Esquimalt in October to witness the hull transfer between the ships. Betty Coleman, Brandon’s sponsor, has a long history of community service volunteering in Brandon’s namesake city, and has taken an active interest in the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel since its keel was laid in 1997. Having moved to the James Bay area, “Bad Betty” – as she is affectionately known – has accompanied Brandon on numerous sails throughout her tenure.The Honourable Ione Christensen, Whitehorse’s sponsor and former Senator for Yukon, was the first woman to serve as Whitehorse’s mayor and as Commissioner of the Yukon. She has been an active part of Whitehorse’s history since 1996. Also in attendance, and representing the City of Whitehorse, was Deputy Mayor Dan Boyd, a long-serving city councillor with a previous career in the Yukon construction industry.All three attended a small ceremony and luncheon commemorating the hull transfer of Brandon’s crew into Whitehorse. Hull transfers are unique to the Kingston-class and normally coincide with Docking Work Periods. With a ship due to proceed to Point Hope Shipyards, its crew takes custody of the previous “down boat” and prepares it for future Force Employment.On Oct. 10, the crew of Brandon bid farewell to their former ship as Whitehorse’s Yeoman hoisted Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Commander Collin Forsberg’s pennant. Both sponsors had the chance to speak and recall stories from their long association with the ships. The sponsors also spoke about how much being...

[caption id="attachment_17495" align="alignnone" width="450"] LS Corey Aube from HMCS Halifax talks about some of her firefighting gear with the visiting Girl Guides group. Photos by Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~“We are Guides, all GuidesAnd in unexpected placesYou’ll meet our friendly facesAnd a ready hand beside…”Those were the words ringing out through HMC Dockyard in Halifax Oct.10 as a group of young guests marched and sang their way to HMCS Halifax for a visit. The group of 10- to 12-year-old girls were representatives of the 2nd Shoreview Guide Unit of Girl Guides of Canada. They came to the base, along with three leaders, to get an introduction to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and jobs available to young women who decide to pursue a naval career in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).Kara Doucet, a student at Dalhousie University and a long-time Girl Guide turned volunteer with the organization, said her unit is trying to introduce the Guides to a range of traditionally male-dominated jobs and activities, and push the notion that girls can grow up to excel in any area with hard work and dedication. The idea to incorporate a navy visit came when a few girls asked their leaders if women were allowed to serve in the Canadian military.“I found it shocking that some of the girls didn’t know,” said Doucet, who grew up in a military family and has memories of visiting RCN ships as a child.“I always found it to be an exciting experience, so we decided to take them on a navy ship and show them that women can be successful members of the Canadian Armed Forces.”The young visitors were excited to enter a military base and see the inside of a warship for the first time, and with the navy celebrating the International Day of...

[caption id="attachment_17490" align="alignnone" width="450"] Ernie Pain, right, receives a certificate honouring his 95th birthday and war service from Chief Petty Officer First Class Dave Bisal.[/caption]Darlene Blakeley, RCN PA ~The naval veterans who served so valiantly during the Second World War have not been forgotten, and that includes 95-year-old retired Chief Petty Officer Ernie Pain.Pain was a crew member of HMCS Louisburg, a Flower-class corvette sunk by enemy aircraft on Feb. 6, 1943 while escorting a convoy from Gibraltar to Algeria. Thirty-eight members of the ship’s company were lost; 45 survived, including then Able Seaman Pain.The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) was contacted by his granddaughter Jennifer Pain-Andrejin, who thought it would be a great idea if someone from the navy could attend his 95th birthday party at the Cornwall, ON, branch of the Royal Canadian Legion on Oct. 21.“I am hoping someone from the navy would be available to come and give Ernie their best wishes on this special day,” she wrote. “My Grampa is a character, to say the least, and I know he would love this more than anything. The party starts around 7 p.m., and I’m sure he will be hitting the dance floor shortly thereafter!”Chief Petty Officer First Class Dave Bisal of the Directorate of Naval Personnel and Training at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa was happy to attend the birthday party on behalf of the RCN.“I was honoured to represent the RCN at the 95th birthday of Ernie Pain,” says CPO1 Bisal. “When I arrived I had the pleasure of meeting Ernie and three generations of his family, as well as a great number of his friends.”He presented Pain with a certificate and coin from the Deputy Commander RCN, Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier, recognizing his 95th birthday, as well as his courage, sacrifice and dedication to Canada as a...

[caption id="attachment_17487" align="alignnone" width="450"] Lt(N) Nico Lightbody at the finish line of the Ironman Miami 70.3 competition. Photos by FinisherPix[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Base triathlete Lt(N) Nico Lightbody overcame heat and strong winds in South Florida to qualify for next year’s Half Ironman World Championships in South Africa.The 26-year-old Naval Combat Systems Engineer from Base Information Services finished 26th overall in a field of approximately 2,300 competitors, and fifth in his age group at the Ironman Miami 70.3 competition on Oct. 22.He completed the gruelling multi-sport race course with a combined time of 4:28:50, which qualified him for next year’s Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Sept 2, 2018, at Nelson Mandela Bay.The name of the 70.3 competitions refers to the total distance in miles of the event: in Canadian terms a 1.9 kilometre swim, 90 km bike ride, and 21.1km run.The Miami 70.3 used a staggered start, meaning competitors all start and cross the race finish line at different times in an effort to accommodate the large number of participants.Due to the logistics of the race, Lt(N) Lightbody said he didn’t realize he had qualified for the worlds until more than an hour after he had finished the race.The result was even more satisfying for him since his strong finish involved overcoming hot daytime temperatures in Miami that topped out at 31 Celsius with higher humidex readings coupled with strong onshore winds.The choppy wave conditions during the swim didn’t seem to faze the officer, as he is an accomplished swimmer with five gold medals at this year’s CAF Swimming Nationals held in March. Despite the conditions, he finished the course in a relatively fast 26:32.The cycling component, which he completed in 2:26:45, and the final running portion of the event that he finished in 1:32:10 was also hampered by the strong...

[caption id="attachment_17484" align="alignnone" width="450"] Students from Rockheights Middle School attend Veterans Cemetery God’s Acre in Esquimalt to pay their respects to fallen military members. Photo by Maryanne Trofimuk[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~In what is becoming an annual tradition, students from Rockheights Middle School paid their respects to fallen military members by laying poppies at their graves.In the chilly morning of Nov. 3, approximately 200 students in Grade 6, 7, and 8 marched the short distance to Veterans Cemetery God’s Acre for the No Stone Left Alone ceremony.The Colville Road cemetery was originally built in 1858 as a place of rest for Royal Navy sailors, but has since expanded to encompass all members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).Students assembled at the cemetery’s cenotaph to sing O Canada and for territorial acknowledgement to First Nations communities. They then dispersed onto the grounds to honour the dead and place poppies at their headstones.“With the rustling trees heard overhead, our students stood in silence to honour our veterans,” said Rockheights Principal Maryanne Trofimuk.“It’s a meaningful experience for students with an element of poignancy that cannot be replicated in a school gym or assembly.”Rockheights was the first school in British Columbia to join the now international No Stone Left Alone campaign, which launched in Edmonton in 2011. It’s part of an effort by educators to help students understand the sacrifice of veterans on a personal level by placing poppies at their headstones each November.Carleni, a Grade 6 student, wrote in a post-ceremony writing assignment that the experience helped her draw a strong personal connection to the headstone of Harold Stant.“I started to imagine him and what he looked like and then I tried to imagine what his life was like,” she said.  “I felt very emotional and felt like crying, and just yelling his...