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[caption id="attachment_16757" align="alignnone" width="450"] Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific, Rear-Admiral Art McDonald (centre), salutes HMCS Winnipeg as the ship arrives at CFB Esquimalt. Photo by LS Sisi Xu, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The return of HMC Ships Ottawa and Winnipeg last Tuesday, after five months away, featured an emotional first kiss and two surprise wedding proposals.First down the gangplank of Ottawa was Sub-Lieutenant Kassandra O’Rourke, straight into the arms of her partner of seven years Eleni Holmes.“I missed everything about her,” said Holmes moments before ascending the ramp to embrace SLt O’Rourke. “I’m extremely nervous and excited right now and hoping I don’t start welling up and crying when we kiss.” Next off the ship was the ship’s cook, Corporal Robert Basso, who slipped to one knee in front of his girlfriend Kacie Sutton.“I had this planned for a while, she had no idea,” he said after proposing in front of a throng of local media and a crowd of more than 1,000 gathered on A jetty to welcome the ships home.When she said “yes” the crowd and crew onboard the ship let out a loud cheer as the two kissed and embraced.“As the ship pulled alongside I didn’t see anyone else but him standing there on the deck waving at me,” said Sutton. “When he popped the question it was a total surprise.”Moments after the proposal, Ottawa’s Commanding Officer, Commander Sylvain Belair stopped by to congratulate the happy couple.“Coming alongside is always special for the entire team, but being able to share in a family moment like this is extraordinary,” said Cdr Belair. “Corporal Basso had this proposal on his mind throughout the deployment, and knowing he was going to go ahead and make it happen was met with great support from everyone.”The emotion of returning home was...

CFMWS ~The 2017 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Imagery Contest will be open for submissions from now until Sept. 1.This contest is open to the seasoned professional and amateur photographers in the Defence Team, including family members, in eight categories.In addition to the photography contest, this year’s contest will also have two video categories -Actuality and Social Media. Send in real world 30 second to two minute video footage for Actuality submissions, and a 30 second to one minute inspirational message video for Social Media entries.Photographers and videographers will be eligible to win $10,000 in prizes. Participating in the contest automatically enters you in a draw for two tickets to anywhere Westjet flies, exclusing Hawaii.The CAF Imagery Contest also welcomes nominations for the Military Photographer Achievement Award, which recognize the contributions CAF Imagery Technicians have made to the CAF community.Visit www.cafimagerycontest.ca to enter and for full contest details.

[caption id="attachment_16731" align="alignnone" width="560"] Reviewing Officer, Capt(N) Christopher Robinson (centre), signs the certificate officiating the command change between Outgoing Commanding Officer, Capt(N) Clive Butler (right), and the Incoming Commanding Officer, Cdr Christopher Nucci (left). Photo by LS Valerie LeClair, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16732" align="alignnone" width="560"] The Outgoing Commanding Officer, Captain (Navy) Clive Butler is rowed ashore during the Change of Command ceremony. Photo by LS Valerie LeClair, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_16728" align="alignnone" width="450"] From left to right: Outgoing Commanding Officer, Captain (Navy) Christopher Earl; Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, Rear Admiral Art McDonald; and Incoming Commanding Officer, Captain (Navy) Ed Hooper sign transfer of command certificates. Photo by Cpl Blaine Sewell, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]PO2 Michael Stone, FMF CB ~On the last Friday in July, under a clear summer sky, Captain (Navy) Chris Earl relinquished command of Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMF CB), a position he has held for four years. Capt(N) Ed Hooper assumed command of FMF CB following the conclusion of his command of the recently-established Naval Training Development Centre (Pacific).Overseeing the ceremony, held at the head of the graving dock, was Rear-Admiral Art McDonald, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific.During his time as the head of FMF CB, Capt(N) Earl led the unit to complete numerous major maintenance and repair tasks, including extensive work on submarines HMCS Chicoutimi and HMCS Victoria, the repairs to HMCS Protecteur following a collision with HMCS Algonquin, the repairs to HMCS Winnipeg following an allision with a civilian vessel, and significant support to HMCS Protecteur following a major fire while at sea.On conclusion of the change of command ceremony, the unit hosted a barbecue and presented gifts to Capt(N) Earl, who will be moving to a position as Chief of Staff for Director General Maritime Equipment Program Management in Ottawa.

[caption id="attachment_16725" align="alignnone" width="450"] SLt Tawonga Mkanda (left), a Deputy Base Personnel Services Officer at Base Administration, and Amy Lee, Administrative Assistant at Base Administration, sign their names and words of encouragement on the Invictus Games flag at the Naden Athletic Centre. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Before the curtain is raised for the third Invictus Games, this year held in Toronto on Sept. 23, a National Flag Tour is being launched at 2 p.m. Aug. 16 at CFB Esquimalt.The Naden location will mark the starting point of the flag tour, which will make stops at 22 military bases, 15 legions, and over 50 communities from as far west as Comox, BC, and as far east as Gander, NFLD.It is an effort to drum up support, interest and awareness for the Games, and its successful use of adaptive sport to assist in the recovery and rehabilitation of ill and injured current and former military members.One hundred and fifty flagbearers, to commemorate Canada’s 150 years of Confederation, will be chosen by organizers to carry the official black flag from coast-to-coast in relay-style fashion. Staff from the Base Commander’s headquarters have assembled a list of local flag bearers to add to the growing list of potential flagbearers.Representatives from the Official Flag Tour partners - the Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans Affairs Canada, Bank of Montreal, Jaguar Land Rover, Via Rail, and President’s Choice - will be on the road with the tour.CFB Esquimalt Invictus athlete, Lt(N) Krista Seguin is competing in sitting volleyball and power lifting and is encouraged by the show of support with the Flag Tour.“It’s a great way to show the people across Canada the power of sport and its effect on ill and injured service men and women, and veterans,” she says. “It will also...

[caption id="attachment_16722" align="alignnone" width="450"] LCdr Meryl Sponder (left) completes an overhead press on the flight deck of HMCS Ottawa during an early morning fitness window. LCdr Sponder was the winner of a Biggest Loser Challenge, losing the most body weight of any of the competitors. Photo by Alyssa Jesson, PSP[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Spirits rose as waistlines shrunk and pounds melted away on HMCS Ottawa crewmembers during the Biggest Loser Challenge.Twenty-six sailors took part in the three-month challenge during Poseidon Cutlass 17, a five-month deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.Between April and July, participants attended bi-weekly weigh-ins where their weight, hip and stomach measurements were recorded.Points were awarded based on each percentage of body weight lost and each centimetre decrease on stomach and hips. Results and overall statistical losses of each participant was kept confidential.Ottawa Fitness Marshall, Alyssa Jesson, from Esquimalt Personnel Support Services, organized the competition. She said participants worked towards realistic goals without close surveillance, and support of athletic trainers and nutritional experts like the Biggest Loser TV show.“Unfortunately we couldn’t duplicate the show on the ship,” says Jesson. “But fortunately one of the things working in our favour of having a successful challenge was we had a captive audience, especially during a five-month deployment. Challenges like this are driven by the leadership onboard the ship and interest of the crew.”The ranks of the participants varied from Ordinary Seaman to Lieutenant-Commander and involved several different trades and occupations.Lieutenant Commander Meryl Sponder, Combat System Engineering Officer, was the overall winner of the challenge, and Leading Seaman Corey Moore, a Naval Communicator, finished second.LCdr Sponder said Biggest Loser encouraged her to make healthy choices.“I got involved in Biggest Loser because I’d gained some weight in the previous year. I’d been very busy at work and I had used it as an...

[caption id="attachment_16719" align="alignnone" width="450"] A member of the Ministry of Forests Flathead Unit Crew is greeted by Sergeant Neil Maclean at Puntzi Mountain Airport. Photo by MS Roxanne Wood, 19 Wing Imaging[/caption]Joint Task Force Pacific Public Affairs ~Since the start of Operation Lentus on July 9 in B.C.’s interior, more than 40 members of Joint Task Force Pacific (JTFP), representing all three military environments and several base branches, maintain 24/7 rotations at the Battle Watch Operations Centre located at the JTFP Headquarters in HMC Dockyard.This multidisciplinary team maintains situational awareness of the wildfires, in close liaison with deployed military members, and municipal, provincial and other federal authorities, in order to provide the Commander JTFP with the information needed for him to direct the Canadian Armed Forces support of the emergency response, as requested by the province.“From the moment a provincial emergency was declared, JTFP liaison officers embedded in the Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre and the Provincial Region Emergency Operation Centres were engaged in advising the province as to how the CAF (Canadian Armed Forces) might best assist,” says Rear-Admiral Art McDonald, Commander JTFP. “The JTFP operations team was at work developing plans for how we, as a headquarters, would support a response effort that might include assets from across the CAF inventory. As a result, when the Chief of Defence Staff ordered a JTFP-led response to the provincial request for assistance, the Formation was in a good position to exercise immediate command and control of the assigned forces, and demonstrate CAF readiness.”It is not often the navy leads joint task forces that include Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) assets in a land-based joint operating area.  However, Army and Air Force staffs within the JTFP HQ construct ensure a seamless assumption of domestic operations command and control owing...

[caption id="attachment_16711" align="alignnone" width="450"] HMCS Toronto leads a sail past during Rendez-vous 2017 in Québec City. It’s the first ship to trial WiFi. Photo by Cpl Andrew Kelly[/caption]Darlene Blakeley, Navy Public Affairs Ottawa ~In an effort to minimize the hardships facing sailors when they head off to work at sea, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is working towards having WiFi available across the fleet of Halifax-class frigates and maritime coastal defence vessels.“If having WiFi allows sailors to stay better connected with family and friends while away from home, then this is a positive step forward in reducing the hardships that often disconnect them from the normal world,” says Commodore Casper Donovan, Director General Naval Force Development, who is leading efforts to introduce the capability into the RCN.Part of that effort also means staying in sync with technology given that new devices such as tablets and some laptops, and certainly cell phones, are being developed without an ability to connect to traditional network cables and jacks.“Communicating is a huge priority for the RCN,” says Cmdre Donovan. “We want our sailors to be able to stay connected, not just with their loved ones, but also their social networks. The RCN is being innovative in how it communicates and social media is another means to allow us to communicate on various fronts, both externally and internally, from the top down. If this means Commander RCN can connect broadly and meaningfully with sailors through social media while they are at sea, then it is beneficial to all of us.”In the longer-term, developing a WiFi capability in ships will help recruit and retain new sailors who will see the RCN understands that staying connected is an important consideration, says Cmdre Donovan.“Young Canadians today can’t live without their phones; why would we think they can just...

[caption id="attachment_16682" align="alignnone" width="450"] Firefighters and emergency workers line the highway to greet local citizens following the rescinding of the fire evacuation order in 100 Mile House, B.C.[/caption]Land Task Force, Public Affairs ~More than 450 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel have been deployed to B.C.’s interior in response to the Province of British Columbia’s request for assistance in battling more than 170 wildfires.The mission is Operation Lentus 4-17, and was assigned to Joint Task Force Pacific (JTFP) by the Chief of the Defence Staff in early July for rapid disaster relief aid to the province.Within hours of the mission start, the Royal Canadian Air Force sent fixed and rotary wing aircraft to the area with relief supplies. While there, they are transporting injured persons, conducting aerial reconnaissance, and bringing in much-needed firefighting equipment.Air Task Force - Pacific has flown more than 50 sorties in response to specific wildfire response tasks.A second request was made to the Government of Canada by the province for increased CAF assistance on July 17. A contingent of 225 Canadian Army soldiers from Edmonton Garrison conducted a two-day road move to Williams Lake. These 3rd Canadian Division soldiers are members of a Joint Task Force (West) Immediate Response Unit and are now operating as the JTFP Land Task Force - Pacific. The road move was conducted with more than 60 vehicles of various types, including 10 Light Armoured Vehicles, which are uniquely suited to working in difficult conditions.Their job is to assist the RCMP in providing information to the public, as well as observation and reporting tasks at assigned points along access roads in the Williams Lake and 100 Mile House area. They will also assist with ground evacuation of persons in distress and the ground delivery of essential aid to affected areas.Of note, 37 Canadian...

[caption id="attachment_16679" align="alignnone" width="450"] A view of the trench Nova Scotia artist and Afghanistan War veteran Jessica Lynn Wiebe built at the First and Second World War Monuments on the campus of Acadia University.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The newest project by artist Jessica Lynn Wiebe involved filling and stacking 550 sandbags around the First and Second World War monuments at the Acadia War Memorial in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. The former Canadian Armed Forces Reservist, now an Artist in Residence at the MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning in Dartmouth, N.S., says her performance art piece was physically demanding to create, and unorthodox.In late May, as part of King’s County Uncommon Common Art Exhibit, Wiebe and a team of participants (veterans and civilians) built a trench wall around the war monuments located on the Acadia University campus.“Monuments tend to merge with the landscape over time and become invisible in our every day. The temporary trench built around the war memorial protects memory and disrupts the invisibility,” explains Wiebe. “This performance-based installation investigates the physical experience and sacrifices of war that monuments represent. It is about linking a new generation of soldiers and their experience of war with former generations, and at the same time bridging the gap between civilian understanding and military experience.”The 29-year-old graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design draws inspiration from first-hand experience. Wiebe was an artillery gunner with the 26th Field Artillery Regiment in her home province of Manitoba, and in 2008 deployed to Afghanistan with the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI).“Coming home from that experience [in Afghanistan] changes you,” says Wiebe. “Art does not always have to be cathartic or have healing power, art can be art. But I also believe it is important to artistically document Canada’s role in Afghanistan.”Her ink...

[caption id="attachment_16676" align="alignnone" width="450"] Capt Jacqueline Zweng (left) and Lisa Magee during the 2017 Wounded Warriors Battlefield Bike Ride.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Saddle sore, fatigued and sweaty, Captain Jacqueline Zweng walked up to the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing in Ypres, Belguim, with a wreath in hand. It was 8 p.m. and she had been asked to represent Wounded Warriors at the nightly service that has occurred uninterrupted since 1928. The memorial’s giant triumphal arch and cavernous Hall of Memory on its underside are located at the beginning of the main road that led Allied soldiers to the front line. Within the hall are the names of 54,395 Commonwealth soldiers who died in the First World War, but whose bodies were never found or identified.It was mid-way through the Battlefield Bike Ride and Capt Zeng was feeling the exhaustion, both mentally and physically, that comes from biking hundreds of kilometres a day across the France and Belgium countryside.“The Menin Gate was exactly the perspective I needed. Up there on the gate and hall were engraved the names of each of these thousands of soldiers, most of whom didn’t make it past their 25th birthday. Some of them died the first day they walked into the battlefield. That experience made me rethink my own journey in life, the preciousness of life, and how lucky I am to have survived cancer. It’s also given me an overwhelming inspiration and an incredible feeling of confidence going forward to make the most out of every day, moment and second.”Her journey to France in June to join 140 other cyclists for the 600 kilometre nine-day ride in support of Wounded Warriors really began two years before.In 2015 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This led to a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy and IV treatments every three...

[caption id="attachment_16672" align="alignnone" width="450"] Members of the Naval Fleet School (Pacific) Sail Training Program aboard Sail Training Vessel (STV) Goldcrest before departing for training. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Royal Canadian Navy sailors are on the water this summer to develop their basic seamanship skills in Sail Training Vessel (STV) Goldcrest.The three-decade old, 36-foot CS 36 Sloop rigged sailboat yacht was adapted by the military for sail, adventure, and navigation training. Last year, the Sea Training Centre in Naval Fleet School Pacific launched a sailing program for new recruits enrolled in the Canadian Forces Regular Officer Training Program (ROTP). Since then, more than 150 officer cadets have boarded Goldcrest and headed out Esquimalt Harbour for an on-the-water experience far different than a warship platform.“The seamanship learned on a sailboat makes a sailor a better Maritime Surface and Subsurface Officer [MARS],” says Edith Eaton, Officer in Charge of the Sailing Program. “The skills learned on a sailboat apply to all trades and occupations of the navy. For example, a new MARS officer can be in command of a small vessel, learn all of its intricacies and systems, and how they work together, and then in turn have a better appreciation of what it takes to operate an RCN vessel.”Most officer cadets participating in the program have no prior sailing experience, and spend one to three weeks with up to a crew of eight. Their successful completion of week one can earn them a competent crew certification by the International Sail and Power Association for their sailing, anchoring, docking, and crew overboard skills. They may earn more advanced Day Skipper certification if they complete a second week in the program, and Coastal Navigation for those who do all three weeks of study. Students may also receive Transport Canada Pleasure...

[caption id="attachment_16668" align="alignnone" width="450"] Crewmembers enjoy a barbeque on the flight deck, served up by the Chiefs and Petty Officers.[/caption]SLt Mairi Anderson, HMCS Ottawa ~Everyone knows that familiar feeling on a Sunday night of Monday looming with its return to work, and that the weekend just wasn’t long enough.How often have you wished you had just one more day, one more Sunday to enjoy your weekend?HMCS Ottawa, currently transiting the Pacific from Japan to Hawaii, got to experience the joy of an extra Sunday as they crossed the International Date Line from west to east July 23. Known as “Double Day” in HMCS Ottawa, July 23 came twice in 2017. “Eggs? Eggs? You want eggs? Two? Can I interest you in three?” called out Lieutenant (Navy) Julian Yates, the ship’s Logistics Officer.To make the ship’s second experience of July 23, 2017, special, the Wardroom served breakfast to the Master Seaman and Below in a reversal of ranks. Junior sailors called out their breakfast order to the heads of their departments while joking ran up and down the meal line. Everyone in Ottawa was relieved the next day when the cooks took up their regular station on the steam line and the morning eggs arrived as ordered.For those to whom Sunday is a day of reflection and prayer, the Padre on board, Captain Joachim Nnanna, offered a bible study to celebrate having two Sundays back to back.“We have a wonderful congregation on board the ship and they ask the really hard questions. Double Day brought up the theological question of which is the real Sunday, the real day of rest? The fact that the crew asks these kinds of questions points to a deep spirituality and an attitude of seeking answers that attracted me to military Chaplaincy in the first place.”Some sailors...

[caption id="attachment_16664" align="alignnone" width="450"] A member of Land Task Force - Pacific shows a returning resident of Williams Lake, B.C., the evacuation alert and order areas during Operation Lentus. Photo by MCpl Malcolm Byers, Wainwright Garrison Imaging[/caption]Land Task Force, Public Affairs ~As the wildfires continued to rage in B.C.’s interior last week, the Province of British Columbia requested additional assistance from the Government of Canada. Following that request, Canadian Army members made their way to the interior to join the Royal Canadian Air Force in supporting wildfire fighting efforts.The majority of the land forces are from 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1 CER) in Edmonton, Alberta. They arrived in Williams Lake July 21, and linked in with partner organizations already in place to manage traffic observation and reporting points.“We’ve been ready for this deployment; vehicles were ready to go and we were itching to get out the door,” said Corporal Thomas Hart, a combat engineer working alongside three other Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and a RCMP officer at an observation and reporting point south of Williams Lake. “By coming out here we get to help fellow Canadians in a real-life situation, dealing with a real-life problem, where we can have a beneficial and positive impact on their lives.”Farther south, CAF members had the opportunity to welcome residents of 100 Mile House home after the evacuation order was downgraded to an evacuation alert on July 22.Soldiers saw lots of weary but grinning faces as locals returned home following nearly two weeks away.“It’s been very rewarding to work in our own community, which we don’t always get to do,” said Master Corporal Roger Beverage, a Canadian Ranger with the 100 Mile House patrol. “Also, it’s been a new experience working so closely with other agencies such as the RCMP and Regular Force.”Once...

[caption id="attachment_16660" align="alignnone" width="450"] Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superintendent (Retired) Robert Boyd receives an honorary membership to HMCS Regina’s wardroom by the ship’s Executive Officer, Lieutenant-Commander Andrew Graham and Base Commander, Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd.[/caption]James Vassallo, Base Public Affairs ~This is a story about connections: between a ship and a land-locked city, between those who protect us from threats at home and those who protect us from threats abroad, between a man and his uniform, between a father and son.Two weeks ago, a special donation was made to HMCS Regina that brought all those connections together into one shadow box to be displayed in the ship.On the ship’s flight deck, with members of the crew in attendance, Superintendent (Retired) Robert Boyd, a 41-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), bestowed his Red Serge uniform to the ship. It is to replace another one that went missing during the ship’s mid-life refit.Also on hand to witness the event was former Regina Commander, Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd, son of Superintendent Boyd.“The idea that a piece of my father will be immortalized with this ship for as long as she sails, it’s a feeling that’s hard to describe,” he says.The backstory of how this uniform came to the ship begins last year when Lieutenant-Commander Andrew Graham assumed the job as Regina’s Executive Officer.“I began to learn about this link between the City of Regina’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the ship,” he says.The RCMP Academy, Depot Division, which trains future Mounties, is located in Regina, the ship’s namesake city. Over time the ship has acquired Mountie memorabilia such as artwork of the iconic front-wise facing bison head. It has also added a little Mountie flavour to the ship with red-yellow-blue striping painted on doors, and two graphic plates of a mounted...

[caption id="attachment_16636" align="alignnone" width="450"] Rear-Admiral G. Couturier, Deputy Commander Royal Canadian Navy, watches Commander S. Belair, Commanding Officer, HMCS Ottawa, break open the sake casks at a reception onboard Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Ship Umigiri on July 11 during a port visit to Tokyo, Japan, on Poseidon Cutlass 17. Photo: Royal Canadian Navy Public Affairs[/caption]SLt Kassandra O’Rourke, HMCS Ottawa ~The skyline of Tokyo brimmed with skyscrapers as Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships Ottawa and Winnipeg came alongside Harumi Passenger Terminal July 11, in Tokyo, Japan. Welcoming them on the jetty were members of the Port Authority and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), including a band dressed in impeccable white uniforms.That evening members of the Royal Canadian Navy were hosted on board JMSDF Ship Umigiri.It was a reunion of friends as the Japanese and Canadian warships have been transiting together since early July, and had the pleasure of attending receptions together in Kure, Japan.The reception and hospitality was impressive as everyone enjoyed sushi, tempura and other Japanese delicacies while sharing stories of the last few weeks of naval exercises.Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier, Deputy Commander Royal Canadian Navy, was present for a reception onboard Ottawa July 13, co-hosted by the Canadian Ambassador to Japan, His Excellency Ian Burney.Members of the government, academics, business and diplomatic community came together to enjoy unique Canadian food and drink, and to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday and the ongoing relationship with Japan. The event further enhanced Canada’s diplomatic and military ties in Japan, including the mutual commitment to peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region, highlighted in many of the remarks offered during the official speeches.The following day a group of sailors from Ottawa and Winnipeg made their way to Onagawa in the north east of Japan. While there, they visited with the Mayor, His Worship Yoshiaki Suda,...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Calling home or catching up with friends on social media just got a whole lot easier on board surface warships thanks to a new policy by the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).New regulations greatly expand the areas ships’ companies can use their cell phones and other personal mobile devices.Chief Petty Officer Second Class Carl Dixon, Information and Security Systems officer for Joint Task Force Pacific N6, says the new policy takes effect immediately.“This is a time where the RCN emphasizes our motto that says: People First, Mission Always. This new policy is a progressive one that allows sailors to have a much better quality of life while they are away from their loved ones, all the while maintaining a high degree of security,” says CPO2 Dixon.Most high-tech gadgets including cell phones, tablets, E-Readers, game consoles, Blu-Ray players, wireless speakers, smart wear and virtually any device capable of wireless transmission, can now be used in almost every location on a surface vessel. Their use continues to be restricted in areas where classified processes is taking place, such as the bridge and Operations Room.The old policy limited the use of wireless technology to the flight deck, quarter decks and hangar of Halifax-Class Frigates, and similar areas on other RCN vessels. While RCN ships do not transmit a Wi-Fi signal, sailors will now be able to make personal phone calls and use data from bow to stern, when they are in range of their private carrier’s signal.MARPAC Information and Protection Officer, Robert Sayle says the policy change had been in the works for some time, and after a careful review of the policy by senior leadership, the thumbs up was given for the changes.“There has been a big push for this initiative and a risk analysis was recently done by DND...

[caption id="attachment_16630" align="alignnone" width="450"] LS Michael Hodgson shows off his Harley Davidson Road King at a parking lot in Dockyard. He will join 300 riders in the Military Police National Motorcycling Relay and will ride his bike from Victoria to Jasper, Alberta, the first leg of the coast-to-coast fundraiser for visually impaired children. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Leading Seaman Michael Hodgson is revving up for the Military Police National Motorcycle Relay (MPNMR).Straddling his 2017 Harley Davidson Road King, the sailor will join other motorcyclists July 30 as they venture from Victoria to St. John’s, NFLD. He won’t go the full distance across Canada, but rather tackle the first leg of the event that covers British Columbia up to Jasper, Alberta.In total, about 300 people will ride to raise funds for the Military Police For Blind Children.“While the relay is a lot of fun it’s also an inspirational experience because we are helping out a great cause,” said LS Hodgson. “We have fun, and stop in the towns along the way. Last year people shouted support out of their cars and lined the streets as we entered town.”The MPNMR is the world’s longest annual motorcycle relay, travelling more than 10,000 kilometres from coast to coast each year with stops at Canadian Armed Forces establishments and points of interest along the way.Founded as a way to build camaraderie between military police and motorcycle enthusiasts, the relay is now open to anyone who wishes to ride for a day, a province, or coast to coast. In 2016, the relay raised $60,000 for the charity and organizers are hoping to match and even surpass that goal.LS Hodgson has set a personal goal of $1,000 for this year’s ride, and says he believes the whole effort is for a more-than-worthy...

Kylee Mackay, Crowsnest ~The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has come up with an innovative way to identify and honour its Honorary Naval Captains (HCapt (N)).The HCapt(N) insignia pin is a new lapel pin designed to be worn on the HCapt(N) uniform. This pin uniquely represents the commitment to the RCN made by these leaders who have been appointed to act as a bridge between the RCN and their own sectors of influence.HCapts(N) are distinguished Canadians who have been appointed by the Minister of National Defence to take on the role of ambassador for the RCN to the Canadian people. They forge lasting relationships with RCN senior leadership and help the navy communicate its strategic direction and priorities through a variety of events and outreach opportunities.The new insignia pins were presented to a number of the HCapts(N) during a mess dinner onboard HMCS Montréal while the ship was docked in Montréal for the city’s 375th anniversary on May 17.HCapt(N) Mandy Farmer, from Victoria, was in attendance to receive her pin that night.“The HCapt(N) insignia pin is very important to me in this role. It is quite an honour to represent the Royal Canadian Navy and I know that it will provide a unique conversation starter when worn with my civilian clothing in my local and professional communities to speak about RCN personnel, programs, and opportunities,” she said.The insignia pins aim to enhance the esprit de corps within the RCN’s HCapt(N) community and provide them with a distinctive identifier they can wear on their military or civilian dress. Former HCapts(N) may also wear the pin in perpetuity.Depicting the RCN fouled anchor, the new insignia pin is similar to the Sea Service Insignia worn by all RCN officers and non-commissioned members to mark their days at sea. A red maple leaf added to...

DND ~The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have released a mobile application as a support tool for victims and survivors of sexual misconduct, and anyone who supports them.The “Respect in the CAF” app is focused on victims; it can be used by anyone as it provides valuable insight on victim trauma, resources available to deal with the impacts of an incident, and links to other educational materials.The new app’s architecture is designed to be highly flexible and expandable. Through routine updates the app will add new modules and eventually serve as a compendium of information and resources related to Operation Honour. The goal is to make accessing information simple and easy in order to enable CAF members to deal more confidently and knowledgeably with the prevention of, and response to and support of anyone dealing with incidents of sexual misconduct.The app is meant to complement and enhance existing sexual misconduct resources that span response and support to training and intervention. The app includes support for both those in crisis, as well as tools and educational information for anyone dealing with, or interested in learning more about addressing sexual misconduct. The resources are directly linked to the Operation Honour lines of operation – understanding, support, response and prevention.The app is part of the Operation Honour mission to eliminate harmful and inappropriate sexual behaviour in the Canadian Armed Forces and is one of many ways of enhancing support and response when an incident does occur.The Respect in the CAF mobile app has downloadable checklists, and procedures and interactive tools for those in a position to support victims and survivors of sexual misconduct.The Respect in the CAF app is a free download from app stores, for use with smartphones and tablets using iOS, Android, Windows phone, and Blackberry platforms.The app is geo-referenced, and can...

[caption id="attachment_16621" align="alignnone" width="450"] A member of the Canadian Armed Forces installs a new roof during a HeroWork Radical Renovation at the site of the former Prospect Lake Golf Club. Military and civilian volunteers built a campsite for Victoria-based non-profit Power To Be. Photo by JW Penner, John’s Photography[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Members of CFB Esquimalt’s workforce were an integral part of the crew that turned the recently closed Prospect Lake Golf Course into an inclusive recreational hub for people with physical, mental, or financial barriers.More than 60 base employees tightened their work belts laden with tools and worked alongside more than 300 HeroWork Society volunteers July 7 and 16, to turn former Honorary Captain (Navy) Cedric Steele’s 78-acre parcel of land into a summertime oasis.“My family and I made the decision not to subdivide our land for development but to put it to good use to help the community,” says Steele.The project was organized by the HeroWork Society for another Victoria-based charity Power To Be, who will run the property and provide participants access to nature-based adventures.Personnel from 19 Wing Comox and the Bay Street Armoury were also among the pool of volunteers who successfully completed the project, one that HeroWork Executive Director, Paul Latour dubs a “Radical Renovation.”A long list of upgrades and building projects were completed over the 10 days, including the construction of raised bed camping platforms, a full renovation of two existing structures and their conversion into an education centre and a storage building, a built-from-scratch storage facility for kayak and paddling equipment, two toilet enclosures, a kilometre of pathway and roadways, and extensive landscaping with tee boxes, sand traps, gardens, and fencing.Captain Joe Welsh, a Transportation Officer with Base Logistics, put in multiple full day’s work at the site.“Base Logistics is keen on supporting...

[caption id="attachment_16618" align="alignnone" width="550"] Left: Honorary Captain (Navy) David Labistour scopes out dockyard through the submarine’s periscope. Right: Honorary Captain (Navy) Mandy Farmer climbs down the ladder into a Victoria-Class submarine to check out the living and working space within the boat. Photos by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Clad in their naval combat dress, two West Coast-based Honorary Captains (Navy) climbed down the main access hatch of HMCS Chicoutimi July 13 to tour the living and working space of the long-range hunter-killer submarine.Once inside the boat, HCapt(N) Mandy Farmer and HCapt(N) David Labistour were able to see the internal workings within the black cigar-shaped hull.“The submarine was pretty mind blowing, and I can only imagine what life must be like on board for extended periods of time,” said HCapt(N) Farmer. “What also blew me away was the camaraderie and overwhelming sense of family amongst submariners. The passion and dedication they have for their boats and each other was inspirational.”Submariners Lt(N) David Hendry and CPO2 Jonathan Wright took the two guests through the boat, stopping at the control room to explain how the sonar, control console, and periscope work.The two were also shown the messes, living quarters, weapons storage, and engine rooms.“Having people come down in the submarine and see the work that we do gives them a different and unique perspective on what submarines can offer to Canada,” said Lt(N) Hendry. “They can see the capabilities we have, and the importance of the programme, and what life is like onboard a submarine. It is something that myself and the crew are passionate about, so we always love the opportunity to show off what we do, how we live, and the conditions that we work in.”Before they ventured down the hatch, the two Honorary Captains tried their hand...

[caption id="attachment_16606" align="alignnone" width="450"] HMCS Sackville, Canada’s Naval Memorial, is open for tours for the season, seven days a week from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on the Halifax Boardwalk. Photo by Ryan Melanson/Trident Staff[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident ~HMCS Sackville is one of the top destinations for tourists along the Halifax Waterfront and across the region, and they’ve got the certificate to prove it.The last of Canada’s Second World War Corvettes, now a museum ship under the care of the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust, recently received its 2017 Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor. These are awarded each year based on the attractions or businesses that get consistently strong reviews from the website’s users, and Sackville has been chosen a number of years in a row.“It shows that we’re still getting good reports from guests, and we’re pretty pleased to be included in the top 10 year after year, out of about 150 sites in the HRM,” said Doug Thomas, the executive director of the Memorial Trust, after the vessel’s first fully open day of the season on June 26.Every summer, Sackville crewmembers meet visitors or cruise ship passengers who have family naval or Second World War connections, who are military or history buffs, or who are simply moved by touring such an impressive piece of Canadian history and getting a small look at what life was like for sailors during the Battle of the Atlantic.“It’s a place that is often a destination for people when they get here. All of us have had people who come to the ship and describe it as being the main thing they want to see on their cruise or while they’re in Halifax,” Thomas said. “She’s the last one, there simply are no more corvettes of her type.”For those who aren’t planning on stepping...

LS A.M.C. Noye, Community Relations – MPU Esquimalt ~Summer is here, which means more of the defence team are commuting to and from the base on bicycles. School is also out, which means children are off for the sunny season, and a lot of them are riding their bikes in our neighborhood.Local residential housing unit residents in Belmont Park and Work Point,  and Military Police patrol personnel alike have observed children riding without a helmet or adult supervision, and a few near-miss incidents have occurred.MPs will proactively approach youth displaying good cycling habits, and address those requiring reminders about safety. For the last couple of years, MPs have issued “positive tickets” (a free entry to one of the CRD recreation centres), but will also step up prevention and enforcement of the BC Motor Vehicle Act (BCMVA).DO'sAlways come to a full stop at stop signs and red lights. Failure to stop is illegal under the BC Motor Vehicle Act. The fine is $167.Cycle in traffic safely and predictably. Signal before turning, and learn the skills needed to control your bike. Unsafe operation of a bicycle is subject to various parts of Section 144 of the BC Motor Vehicle Act, with fines ranging from $196 to $368.Yield to pedestrians crossing the street and to buses when they are leaving a stop. Failure to yield results in a minimum fine of $168.Take care when passing parked cars to leave enough space for drivers and passengers to open car doors.Helmets must be worn at all times when cycling. Failure to wear your helmet can result in a $29 fine. Safety vests or reflective clothing are also highly recommended.Lock your bike when on the Base. MP and Commissionaires are required to remove any unsecured bikes found on DND property and secure them at the MP...

[caption id="attachment_16597" align="alignnone" width="450"] Corporal Matthew Best, Military Police Unit Esquimalt poses with a Tour de Rock jersey.[/caption]Will Chaster, MARPAC Public Affairs ~Riding 1,100 kilometres from one end of Vancouver Island to the other isn’t relaxing, but it does generate plenty of goodwill.That’s what Corporal Matthew Best of the Military Police Unit Esquimalt and his 23 co-riders are preparing to do when they take part in the Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock bike ride from Sept. 23 to Oct. 6.Tour de Rock is a nation-wide event that raises awareness and money for cancer patients and cancer research, and has been taking place annually over the past 20 yearsThe Vancouver Island segment of the Tour de Rock raises millions of dollars every year, with most of the proceeds going towards helping children affected by cancer attend Camp Goodtimes, a camp that provides these children and their families with a fun, medically supervised experience.Snaking its way from Port Alice all the way down to Victoria, the ride seeks to reach as many communities as possible.“This is about getting all of Vancouver Island involved,” says Cpl Best.In an effort to visit as many communities as possible, Tour de Rock takes a winding route, with riders cycling between 40 to 140 kilometres in a day. This year’s riders are a diverse group. In addition to Cpl Best, there is another MP from CFB Comox on the ride, plus three Saanich police officers, one Victoria Reserve Constable, RCMP officers, media and corporate riders, and, new to this year, firefighters and paramedics.They have been training since March 5, but are aware there is still a lot more training to do.“There are three groups: a northern, a middle, and a southern Island group, which train separately three days a week. Here in Victoria Tuesdays...

[caption id="attachment_16594" align="alignnone" width="450"] LCdr Judith Harlock from Joint Personnel Support Unit addresses the audience during the town hall. Background from left: Jody Thomas, Senior Associate Deputy Minister and DND Mental Health Co-Champion, Jerry Ryan, Federal Government Dockyard and Trades and Labour Council (East), and Commodore Marta Mulkins, Commander Navy Reserves. Photo by Peter Mallet, Lookout[/caption]Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) hosted a town hall July 7 focussed on building a healthy, respectful, and supportive work environment.The forum, attended by approximately 350 Defence Team military and civilian members, was led by a five-person panel consisting of senior leadership and health care officials. They discussed the MARPAC Health and Wellness Strategy, and described both successes and challenges of program delivery.Keynote speaker Jody Thomas, Senior Associate Deputy Minister (SADM) and DND’s Mental Health Co-Champion, emphasized the importance of getting people the help they need, and the critical role all members of the Defence Team have in achieving this, regardless of rank.She added that communication and openness are critical in improving the delivery of Total Health and Wellness programs and support for the ill, which is a key component in Canada’s new Defence Policy.“Hopefully, many of us will come away from today’s discussion with an understanding that all of us must take a more robust role in raising the flag when someone in your department or unit is not well,” said Thomas.After a lively one-hour, open-microphone question and answer session, Thomas and the other panelists put pen to paper in signing a Mental Health Pledge as part of MARPAC’s Health and Wellness Strategy. Other panelists who signed the document were Commodore Marta Mulkins, Commander of Canada’s Navy Reserves; Commander Charles Cross, Canadian Forces Health Services Centre Pacific; Jerry Ryan, the Federal Government Dockyard and Trades and Labour Council (East) President and DND Mental Health Co-Champion;...

[caption id="attachment_16591" align="alignnone" width="450"] Ordinary Seaman Olivier Gingras uses binoculars with a decorative strap knotted by the Deck Department. Photo by Royal Canadian Navy Public Affairs[/caption]SLt S.M. Anderson, HMCS Ottawa ~The colourful yellow, blue and white lines hang from a hook on the deck head in the small room under the flight deck of HMCS Ottawa.The lines and the sailor working on them, Ordinary Seaman Olivier Gingras, sway slightly with the movements of the ship as  he creates a new binocular strap for the ship’s bridge. His fingers moving dexterously as he plaits the lines into a colourful, intricate whole, turning a simple binocular strap into a symbol of the history and tradition of the Royal Canadian Navy.Naval rope work is as much a symbol of the navy as an anchor or the naval crown. It is a mixture of unique knots and braids that form complex patterns and are used to cover items throughout the ship.Functional rope work can be used to reinforce hawsers or keep lines from chafing, and is a necessary skill when out at sea, far from replacement ropes.Decorative rope work with intricate patterns and colours that cover railings or bell pulls lends to the beauty and pride of a ship, and is an increasingly rare skill for modern sailors.“Rope work has to do with pride on an individual level,” says Chief Petty Officer Second Class John Kranz, Chief Boatswains Mate. “It identifies the ship’s colours as well as how skilled the Deck department is.”From the intricately patterned binocular straps on the bridge to the elaborate knot work on the ship’s paddles that hang in each of the messes, it is clear the art of rope work is alive and well in Ottawa.Ornamental rope work or “tiddly rope work” as the boatswains call it, is a...

[caption id="attachment_16588" align="alignnone" width="450"] Sailors from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, HMCS Ottawa, and HMCS Winnipeg after a baseball game. Photos by Royal Canadian Navy Public Affairs[/caption]SLt Matthew Golding, HMCS Ottawa ~While deployed on Exercise Poseidon Cutlass 17, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships Ottawa and Winnipeg became the first Canadian warships to visit Kure, Japan.Kure, located near Hiroshima in the southern part of Japan, is a major shipbuilding city and the second largest naval base of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).The Japanese military welcomed Ottawa and Winnipeg to Kure July 5 with a ceremony in the hangar of Japanese Ship (JS) Umigiri where traditional gifts of flowers were exchanged.Commodore J.B. Zwick, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, and the command teams of Ottawa and Winnipeg then met senior naval staff of the JMSDF at Kure Naval Base.The visit continued over the following days with sailors from JS Abukuma and Ottawa touring each other’s ship.“Touring JS Abukuma was really interesting,” said Sub-Lieutenant O’Rourke, a Maritime Surface and Sub-Surface Officer in Ottawa. “They use much of the same equipment as we do; there were far more similarities than differences in the two ships.”Continuing the relationship building, the JMSDF invited the Royal Canadian Navy to join them for a baseball game. A joint team from Ottawa and Winnipeg started the game strong, scoring 11 runs in the first inning. The JMSDF team played well but in the end the Canadian team managed to pull off the victory.“It was a great social sporting event,” said Petty Officer First Class Dagenais, a boatswain from Ottawa. “It was exciting to play baseball with the Japanese, laughing and having fun. After the game we all shook hands, bowed, and exchanged ship’s hats.”After hosting the Canadian reception onboard Winnipeg, the Japanese hosted the ship’s delegation with a reception on board...

[caption id="attachment_16584" align="alignnone" width="450"] Members of 19 Wing Comox secure a fire rescue truck after loading it onto a C-130 Hercules aircraft at CFB Comox in support of Operation Lentus, which is providing support in fighting the wildfires in B.C.’s interior. Photo by Cpl Jeffrey Clement, 19 Wing Imaging[/caption]Lt(N) Melissa Kia, MARPAC PAO ~In response to the threats posed by the wildfire situation in the interior of B.C, the provincial government requested federal assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) July 9.The CAF declared Operation Lentus active with its principal goal to assist with this provincial emergency.The CAF was well situated to quickly respond as there were already Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) aircraft pre-positioned in Kelowna and CFB Comox in anticipation of this situation growing worse.Two aircraft, a CC-130J Hercules and a CC-177 Globemaster, are presently operating out of CFB Comox. Additionally, three CH-146 Griffon helicopters and two CH-147F Chinook helicopters are supporting the wildfire operations out of Kamloops.The operation has already provided much needed help to the province. Flights from CFB Comox have delivered essential firefighting equipment to Bella Coola, including a Comox fire truck and water distribution systems to battle the flames.RCAF Griffon and Chinook helicopters stationed at Kamloops airport are providing air reconnaissance over Prince George and surrounding communities for provincial authorities, allowing them to better assess the needs of communities affected by the fires, and how best to fight the blazes. As of July 12, more than 14,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and over 33,000 hectares of land have been devastated by the wild fires in multiple regions in the Chilcotin Plateau and Cariboo regions of B.C.The Canadian Armed Forces will continue to assist B.C. on Operation Lentus for the duration of the provincial need for assistance, and will remain in close communication...

Major Grant Whittla, Acting Commanding Officer Base Information Services Esquimalt, and Captain Joshua Weissbock, Operations Officer Base Information Services Esquimalt, presented awards and promotions. [caption id="attachment_16556" align="alignnone" width="560"] MS Solomon Slazenger is promoted to his current rank by Maj Grant Whittla (left), Acting Commanding Officer BIS Esquimalt, and Captain Joshua Weissbock, Operations Officer BIS Esquimalt.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16557" align="alignnone" width="560"] MCpl Christopher Blake is promoted to his current rank by Maj Grant Whittla and Captain Joshua Weissbock.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16558" align="alignnone" width="560"] Sgt Philip Berresford is promoted to his current rank by Maj Grant Whittla, and his wife Kathy Berresford.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16560" align="alignnone" width="560"] MS Mikhail Joukov is promoted to his current rank by and Captain Joshua Weissbock and Maj Grant Whittla.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16561" align="alignnone" width="560"] MS Bryan Haugh is promoted to his current rank by and Captain Joshua Weissbock and Maj Grant Whittla.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16562" align="alignnone" width="560"] MS Timothy Shao receives the Bronze Level Sea Service Insignia from Maj Grant Whittla.[/caption]