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[caption id="attachment_16264" align="alignnone" width="450"] Carol and Scott Lee and their children Kristen and Graham with a historical survey marker that will be transformed into a headstone for a distant relative. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout. Bottom right: Colonel Josiah Greenwood Holmes (right) with Major James Peters at Work Point in 1909.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A 19th Century granite survey marker, placed by Dominion of Canada surveyors to establish the bounds of Work Point Barracks in 1887, will become a tombstone for the Deputy Adjutant General of Military District # 11 appointed in 1883.Descendants of Colonel Josiah Greenwood Holmes were at the Work Point Barracks site June 6 as workers from Mortimer’s Monumental Works dislodged the massive granite marker from the ground and hauled it on to a flatbed truck with a mechanical arm.The marker had been cast aside following the demolition of the Work Point’s Officers’ Mess in 2006.“It’s terrific to see this stone finally being pulled from the ground,” said Carol Lee, great-granddaughter of Col Holmes. “This process is helping myself and other family members rediscover our military heritage, and someone who played such an important role in the history of Victoria and Canada.”Col Holmes was born May 28, 1845, in St. Catharines (Upper Canada). A graduate of Royal Military College, he worked as an adjutant (administrator to a senior officer) of A Battery in Ontario from 1872 until his promotion to the Commander of Military District # 11, including ‘C Battery” and the Canadian School of Artillery in Victoria -Esquimalt. He had previously served in the Fenian Raids in 1866 and 1870. He eventually retired in 1909 and passed away at his home in Victoris in 1928.C Battery was gazetted in 1883, and arrived in Victoria in 1887, established to shore up coastal defences to protect Victoria and...

[caption id="attachment_16261" align="alignnone" width="450"] In front of the Arctic display outside the Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic’s (MARLANT) office, Cdr Corey Gleason, Commanding Officer HMCS Harry DeWolf; RAdm John Newton, MARLANT; CPO2 Rick Bungay, Sea Training Atlantic; and CPO1 Gerry Doucet, Coxswain HMCS Harry DeWolf, display the Polar Flag. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption]CPO2 Richard Bungay, Sea Training Atlantic ~When HMCS Labrador undertook its maiden deployment in 1954, it was the first warship to travel the Northwest Passage and circumnavigate North America.Throughout its operational history with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) the ship was unique, as it had created its own unofficial ship’s flag.The Polar bear, a universal symbol of the Arctic and unofficial ship’s mascot, was hoisted while at anchor and entering and leaving harbor, signifying an end of a voyage. The crew called it the Polar Flag and it was a source of pride and cohesion.Fast forward 64 years later, being an enthusiastic student of RCN history and proponent of RCN Arctic deployments, I wanted to link the past with the future of the RCN in the Arctic.I wanted to recreate the flag, and so I proposed the idea to the Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic who is also interested in the Arctic and its history.The flag has now been recreated and is displayed outside the Admiral’s office as a cornerstone of the Arctic display recently erected.When HMCS Harry DeWolf is commissioned, it will fly this flag as the ship’s company of Labrador once did.To be successful in the Arctic we must look to the past as well as the future, and I believe the reconstituted Polar Flag will serve as a tangible link between our shipmates of the past and a source of pride of Harry DeWolf’s crews of the future.

[caption id="attachment_16258" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo by Will Chaster, MARPAC PA[/caption]Will Chaster, MARPAC Public Affairs Office ~A crowd of shouting protestors march towards a barricade guarded by a security force wearing dark Kevlar vests. Most of the protestors stop a few feet from the guards, but two walk up to the barricade, screaming with arms waving. In the midst of this chaos, the Kevlar-clad guards remain immovable; calmly they defuse the situation and do not react to the provocation of the activists. After a while the crowd disperses and the guards fall out.A protest scenario was one of many exercised last week by the Naval Security Team (NST) as part of their Validation Readiness Training in order to deploy. The training was implemented by Sea Training Pacific.“We’re making these exercises as close to the real thing as possible so they are prepared for any eventuality,” said Commander Christopher Peschke, Commanding Officer of Sea Training Pacific. The week-long exercise took place on land and at sea, and included everything from low-key activities such as searching bags and checking identification, to high pressure situations such as confronting a crowd of angry protestors or dealing with a car bomb.The 78 NST reservists from across the country underwent weeks of individual training in first aid and weapons drill before arriving at CFB Esquimalt.“There’s such a wide variety of people here; we have everyone from newly graduated university students to school teachers to a dentist. It’s a really interesting crowd,” said Cdr Peschke.Their training involved inter-agency participation from B.C. Ambulance, 11 Field Ambulance, Military Police Unit Esquimalt, Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific), HMCS Vancouver crew, and Sea Training staff.Members of the NST are selected from a pool of reservists who must sign a reserve contract and go through intensive training before being allowed to deploy overseas.Their job...

Will Chaster, MARPAC PA Office ~Animal handling isn’t a skill most firefighters expect to develop, but some members of the CFB Esquimalt Base Fire Hall can put that on their resumes following their actions on  June 7.Around 6:30 p.m. a call came in from a couple out for a walk near Work Point who had found a fawn stuck in a water catch basin.Four members of the Base Fire Hall responded to the call.When they arrived they realized the drain was too deep to simply reach down and get the baby.With the mother deer watching from a nearby field, Firefighter Tyler Werbowski shimmied down into the hole.“I stroked the fawn’s head a bit and then picked it up. It was pretty docile and didn’t struggle or anything which was good,” said Werbowski.He then passed it up to Firefighter Ben Josephson who lowered it to the ground. As soon as its hooves hit the soil the fawn bounded off into the bushes, evidently none the worse for the wear.“We were just happy the little guy was okay,” said Firefighter Josh Peterson.While the mother deer didn’t say thank you, the situation drew praise from their supervisor.“I’m really proud of these guys, they handled the situation very well,” said Geordie Douglas, Deputy Fire Chief.While this isn’t quite in their job description, it’s quite the “en-deer-ing” story that the firefighters will remember for some time.  

[caption id="attachment_16211" align="alignnone" width="450"] Base Commander Capt(N) Steve Waddell, center, signs the change of command certificates that officialises passing command of Port Operations and Emergency Services from outgoing Cdr Andrew Muir to incoming Cdr Greg Walker. Photos by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~With Fisgard Lighthouse as backdrop and a brilliant blue sky overhead, Port Operations and Emergency Services Branch (POESB) held its Change of Command ceremony aboard CFAV Glendale.Base Commander Capt(N) Steve Waddell presided over the on-the-water ceremony held May 29 on the rear-deck of the 95-foot Glen-class tug signing the official Change of Command certificates between outgoing POESB Commanding Officer, Cdr Andy Muir and the incoming Cdr Greg Walker.Cdr Muir, 53, has spent 32 years in the Royal Canadian Navy. With this Change of Command he will retire to become the Superintendent of both Hydrographic Services Offices in Halifax and Esquimalt. He says the new job offer was too good not to accept.“I have had a lifelong love of charts and maps, coupled with my navigation experience and my educational background. It was the perfect change of career opportunity for me,” said Cdr Muir.Cdr Walker, 56, has 22 years as a naval officer, and was previously the Executive Officer for reserve unit HMCS Malahat. He assumes command of a unit that provides coordinated operational and emergency services to the fleet and base, and oversees the management of Esquimalt and Nanoose Harbours for the Department as the Queen’s Harbour Master.POESB consists of three sections: Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessels (CFAV), the CFB Esquimalt Fire Service, and a small headquarter staff.This is his first command position, but, like Cdr Muir, he also noted the job opportunity was “too good to turn down.” He said he will now focus on providing operational support and guidance to the civilian employees in...

[caption id="attachment_16208" align="alignnone" width="450"] The traditional keel-laying for the future HMCS Margaret Brooke was held at Irving’s Halifax Shipyard in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where a coin was placed on the ship’s keel by Olivia Strowbridge, the first woman in a trade supervisory role in the shipyard and its first female certified ship spray painter. In shipbuilding tradition, the coin will remain within the ship’s structure for its entire life and will invite good luck to the vessel and crew throughout its service. Photos by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident ~The second of the planned Harry DeWolf class Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) recently passed an important date in a ship’s life, with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Irving Shipbuilding holding a keel-laying ceremony for the future HMCS Margaret Brooke. The small gathering took place at Irving’s Halifax Shipyard Assembly Hall on May 29.The ceremony involves placing a coin on the keel of the ship, which will remain in place throughout its years in service, and is meant to bring good luck to all those who sail in it. The coin placed on the future Margaret Brooke may bring extra good luck, thanks to the four-leaf clover depicted on it.The ship is named after LCdr Margaret Brooke, an RCN Nursing Sister decorated for gallantry during the Second World War, who was known to carry two four-leaf clovers in a silver locket for good luck following her survival of the sinking of the ferry SS Caribou off the coast of Newfoundland in 1942.LCdr Brooke was named a Member (Military Division) of the Order of the British Empire for her bravery and attempts to help others during that deadly wreck.She died in early 2016 in Victoria, and it was recently announced that her niece, Margaret Elizabeth Brooke, will be the sponsor...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Cool wet conditions didn’t deter military and civilian personnel who took to their two wheel rides for the inaugural Navy Bike Ride in Esquimalt on June 2.More than 300 cyclists took part in the 10-kilometre non-competitive, family-friendly ride organized by Personnel Support Programs (PSP).Riders set off from the Naden Drill Shed and wound their way through two loops of the course that stretched through both Dockyard and Naden. Most riders took between 30 to 45 minutes to complete the course.Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, Commander Royal Canadian Navy, took part in the race. VAdm Lloyd is an avid cyclist who makes the 50 kilometre round-trip commute from his home in Orleans, ON, to his office in Ottawa. He gave the cyclists a pre-ride pep talk in the Naden Drill Shed, joking about his cycling gear and that “sailors and spandex normally don’t mix.”“I can’t be more pleased how the navy has embraced this event,” he said after completing the ride. “There was energy and excitement in this event and everyone seemed to have completed the course with smiles on their faces.”On May 20, he was one of approximately 700 cyclists who participated in a similar ride in the National Capital Region.Matt Carlson, CFB Esquimalt Navy Bike Ride organizer and PSP fitness coordinator, said this year’s inaugural bike ride was an overwhelming success.“Despite the less than ideal weather conditions we had an excellent response,” said Carlson. “One can clearly see our employees and military personnel embrace the concept of a healthy lifestyle with regular physical activity and fun such as this ride.”Carlson noted that several steep inclines on the course, wet conditions, and morning traffic caused some safety concerns. He said PSP will look to make alterations to the race course for next year’s event.Special thanks to Babcock Canada and BMO who come on board as event sponsors.

[caption id="attachment_16200" align="alignnone" width="450"] HMCS Calgary crewmembers practice evacuating a casualty under the supervision of a CFB Esquimalt USAR team instructor.[/caption]Will Chaster, MARPAC PA Office ~Urban search and rescue has now expanded to include Royal Canadian Navy sailors through the launch of a new training program.The HMC Ship Disaster Response Course trains sailors on light urban rescue to enable them to assist in a disaster, such as the 2016 New Zealand earthquake.The first to trial the program was 110 crewmembers from HMCS Calgary, which is currently in refit. They spent three days at Work Point’s search and rescue training area from May 23 to 26.Under the guidance of 12 trainers from the CFB Esquimalt Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, sailors worked through multiple stations that simulated a disaster zone. This involved working together in teams in order to shore up structures and extract casualties from under debris.“This course is designed around the equipment that all ships embark while on deployment,” says Petty Officer First Class Chance Sheffield, Operations Chief of CFB Esquimalt’s USAR team. “Medium and heavy USAR teams require specialized gear and training, so we’re drilling the crew in non-structural ‘light’ USAR techniques based on the equipment they will have at their disposal.”Ships carry rappelling gear, medical equipment such as spine boards, and basic tools, but lack the specialized kit of dedicated heavy and medium USAR teams. These include heavy duty saws for cutting through thick concrete blocks and advanced lifting equipment such as air bag systems for raising heavy pieces of debris.“The first part of the training focused on recognizing damage to structures and advanced first aid techniques, while further training concentrated on working together as a team in disaster situations. This had a special eye towards interoperability with other nations in the event of an incident...

[caption id="attachment_16197" align="alignnone" width="450"] CPO1 Daniel Mercier, Fleet Chief Canadian Fleet Atlantic, lifts PO2 William Duff as part of the Give A Lift campaign. Replacing the Ice Bucket Challenge, this is the new fundraiser for ALS awareness. Photo by Mona Ghiz, Marlant Pa[/caption]Virginia Beaton, Trident ~Receiving a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) can change a life in a minute.So can a decision to participate in the Give A Lift for ALS campaign. This fundraiser, a follow-on to the wildly successful Ice Bucket Challenge two years ago, is a grassroots campaign to raise awareness of ALS. All money raised goes to fund research into the disease through the Adaptive Canuck ALS Foundation, a charitable foundation managed by Canadian ALS patients and their families. Tax receipts are provided.The Give A Lift challenge is asking for people to accept this challenge, especially between now and Father’s Day, June 17. The idea is to lift someone up, in as creative a way as possible, take a photo, and share it on social media. Nominate three friends to do the same, using #ALSlift and including alslift.org in the post.CPO1 Daniel Mercier recently took up this challenge. He chose to lift PO2 William Duff who was recently diagnosed with ALS. His wife is also military and the couple has two young children.

[caption id="attachment_16194" align="alignnone" width="450"] Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs, meets with Military Family Resource Centre social worker Kaitlyn Ross during his visit to the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre May 30. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Last week, the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre played host to a Member of Parliament.Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs, held a briefing at the centre to highlight the new role Military Family Resource Centres (MFRC) across the country will play in assisting medically-releasing veterans and their families.“The Military Family Resource Centres are the cornerstone of Canada’s military communities and it is the group of people in this room today that make the magic happen,” said Hehr. “By opening up Military Family Resource Centres across the country to veterans and their families we are emphasizing they always were, and still are a part of the military family.”The 2017 budget spells out additional resources for those who served in the Canadian Armed Forces, in particular, a Veteran Family Program for medically-releasing veterans. It was piloted at eight MFRCs, including Esquimalt, and will now be available at all 32 Centres.“We have participated in the pilot program for the past year-and-a-half,” said Kaitlyn Ross, a social worker who coordinates the MFRC Esquimalt’s Veteran Family Program. “As an organization, we will continue to provide transition support services for military families that need assistance.”Hehr, who also serves as Canada’s Associate Minister of National Defence, made note of the re-opening of nine regional Veteran Affairs Offices and the hiring of 400 support staff. He also outlined the government’s new financial commitment to veterans, families, and caregivers with the rollout of multiple new programs and supports that include: The introduction of the Family Caregiver Relief Benefit that offers in-home caregivers a $1,000 per month, tax-free benefit to those caring...

[caption id="attachment_16191" align="alignnone" width="450"] Sculptor Illarion Gallant speaks during the unveiling and dedication of the Hospital Hill Memorial Sculpture he designed called “Lost Airmen of the Empire” at the Victoria International Airport June 1. Photo by MCpl Chris Ward, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Captain Peter Ryan, 12 Wing PAO ~Several hundred people attended a dedication June 1 on the north side of the Victoria International Airport, overlooking 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, for those posted to the Royal Canadian Air Force Station Patricia Bay, and who died during the Second World War.The memorial consists of 25, 12-foot high, Corten steel, Cooper’s Hawk feathers with the names and ages of each fallen member cut into the feathers.The memorial is located on Hospital Hill, named for the base hospital at the time.Over 5,000 personnel trained as pilots, navigators, armourers and mechanics as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. This was the third largest training centre of its kind in Canada at the time.A total of 179 people perished while posted to, or working at, RCAF Station Patricia Bay, or were aboard aircraft from that base.The occasion was marked by a Trooping of Colours by 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, remarks from dignitaries, and a flypast featuring a variety of RCAF aircraft.“It was an honour for 443 Squadron to be part of this event and to participate in the planning sessions leading up to the memorial dedication to the Lost Airmen of the Empire,” said LCol Shawn Williamson, 443 MH Squadron commanding officer. “This memorial overlooks 443 Squadron at Victoria International Airport and serves as a reminder of past sacrifices, and the important role our RCAF members in the maritime helicopter community carried out in the defence of Canada aboard Royal Canadian ships deployed on missions around the world. We are proud members of this...

DND ~Recognizing the commitment and sacrifice that Canadian Armed Forces members - and their families - make for Canada when a member deploys abroad, Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan, Finance Minister Bill Morneau, and Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale have announced the Government’s intention to exempt the military salaries of all Canadian Armed Forces personnel deployed on named international operations from federal income taxes, up to and including the pay level of Lieutenant-Colonel.This tax relief would also apply to police officers deployed on international operational missions.This measure is part of a broader package of administrative changes and new measures included in Canada’s new Defence Policy, which will be made public on June 7, 2017.These changes ensure that Canadian Armed Forces personnel and police officers deployed on designated international missions are recognized for their sacrifice and that of their family.While the number of CAF personnel on deployed operations changes from day-to-day, there are currently approximately 1,450 Canadian Armed Forces personnel deployed on international military operations.The Government intends to make this measure retroactive to Jan. 1, 2017. These changes will not affect the assessment and awarding of existing hardship and risk allowances earned by Canadian Armed Forces personnel deployed abroad.

[caption id="attachment_16149" align="alignnone" width="450"] A preview of a 3D virtual reality program was unveiled during a Canada 150 celebration at St. Peter and Paul’s Anglican Parish May 5. Photo by Scott Johnson[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The authors of a 3D virtual reality program are working to transport viewers back in time to Esquimalt in the 19th Century.Local optometrist Victor Flett is part of a community group developing a three dimensional snapshot of what Esquimalt’s Songhees Nation and Britain’s Royal Navy base looked like in the 1860s.A sneak peak of their project was offered to those attending the St. Peter and St. Paul’s Anglican Parish Canada 150 event on May 5. Strapping on a pair of Google Cardboard viewing glasses, people could see what both the church and some of the structures in Dockyard looked like during that period.Flett says the project is an excellent method to document and celebrate the shared histories of both First Nations people and Esquimalt’s military community.“The histories of both these communities are permanently connected in an amazing way, from the first contact and the establishment of the Royal Navy base and colonization, through the Esquimalt Village and Fort Victoria, which led to the Confederation of Canada 150 years ago.”Technical assistance is being provided by The Fireflight Group, a consulting organization for indigenous and local communities, and Gord Holden, Director of the Immersive Technology Department at the Kelowna-based Heritage Christian Online School.Holden and Flett began work on the software in December 2016. In the past, Holden has developed graphic software to show students famous historical sites such as Rome’s Coliseum and Egypt’s pyramids using Active Worlds Software.He says this latest project is a change for him as an educator because First Nations students will become a crucial part of the project, helping them to write their...

[caption id="attachment_16146" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo by A/SLt Robyn Hawco, HMCS Ottawa[/caption]A/SLt Robyn Hawco, HMCS Ottawa ~The officers and crew onboard HMCS Ottawa kept the stationary bike wheels spinning for a full 12 hours May 20 during their shadow Navy Bike Ride.This is the inaugural year for the Navy Bike Ride and the officers and crew didn’t want to miss out, even though the ship is currently deployed on Poseidon Cutlass 17.With a total of 90 participants, Ottawa kept going all day, despite the heat and the humidity. From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. riders cycled on stationary bikes in the flight hangar for 30 minute blocks at a time – with up to four riders participating at a time.Some riders chose to do multiple blocks throughout the day, scheduling their rides around watch times and operational requirements. Participants were encouraged by shipmates and there was a steady stream of spectators throughout the day.Chief Petty Officer Second Class Kevin Jones, Logistics Chief, spent time on and off the bike – encouraging riders and keeping spirits high. Chief Jones believes that engaging and participating in ship-wide activities at sea is a driving force for a ship’s morale.“The Navy Bike Ride was a great way to promote fitness, raise funds for those who are less fortunate and to get that valuable face time with as many other sailors as possible. Fun activities and events at sea bring a ship’s company together and ensures that morale can thrive,” he says.The Navy Bike Ride was an opportunity to raise funds for the ship’s official charity, the Perley Rideau Veterans Health Centre located in Ottawa’s namesake city. Money was raised by assigning drills, either sprints or hill climbs, to the Command Team, Heads of Department and Chief Heads of Department. Drills could be assigned for a...

[caption id="attachment_16143" align="alignnone" width="450"] Simon Fraser University NATO Field School students are welcomed on board HMCS Brandon.[/caption]Will Chaster, MARPAC PA ~Students from Simon Fraser University (SFU) got an inside look at one of the largest Canadian Forces Bases in Canada with an aim to better understand the military’s role in NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).Thirty-one students, all part of the university’s NATO Field School, toured CFB Esquimalt and HMCS Brandon May 16.The NATO Field School introduces students to Canada’s role within NATO and the Canadian Armed Force’s responsibilities, both domestically and internationally.After a walking tour of dockyard, the group headed to the Wardroom for a special briefing on Operation Reassurance and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) efforts to support NATO activities. The presentation was given by Lieutenant-Commander James Brun and Chief Petty Officer First Class Michel Vincelette.Last year the base sent three military members to the university for their Global Model NATO Summit, and then hosted a group of 70 international students on a tour of the base.“This was an amazing opportunity for students to get real exposure to the navy and understand the vital functions they perform,” said Jazlyn Melnychuk, Student Leader of the SFU NATO Field School and Vice President and Founder of the SFU Model NATO Club.Students also visited 19 Wing Comox and CAF training facilities in Chilliwack before departing to Europe to visit NATO Headquarters in Brussels, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, and the NATO Defense College in Rome.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) is making baby boxes available to new and expecting military parents, free-of-charge, beginning May 29.Designed for infants under the age of six months, the baby boxes contain a custom-made mattress that can be used with the box as a bassinet, a onesie, diapers, wipes, nursing pads, baby lotion, plus an assortment of discount coupons.“This latest program we are offering is another great way the MFRC is connecting and supporting military families with new children,” said Scott Branch, MFRC Children’s Service Coordinator. “The boxes are essentially a starter kit for new parents.”MFRC staff have also added reading materials on breastfeeding, raising a military child, and information on family care support programs available in the community.The baby boxes are inspired by an initiative that began over 75 years ago by the government of Finland and their efforts to address alarming infant mortality rates. The self-contained boxes distributed to mothers served as a care package and also as a bassinet, and in the end helped greatly contribute to a downward trend in the infant mortality rate.The boxes meet Health Canada Standards and are manufactured by the Baby Box Co. They normally retail for approximately $150. Branch said there are currently 60 baby boxes in stock and the company will supply more as needed.To obtain a baby box, military families must first register for the program through a link on the MFRC website at www.esquimaltmfrc.com/welcoming-baby-box/. It is recommended that families pick up their box in advance of their due date or in the first three months after the birth of the child.

SLt Sully Heraud, HMCS Ottawa ~Two months into Poseidon Cutlass 17, Her Majesty's Canadian Ships Winnipeg and Ottawa left Port Klang, Malaysia, to go their separate ways.Winnipeg sailed west for India, while Ottawa went south towards international waters for a multinational exercise led by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSS) in celebration of their service’s 50th anniversary.As the sun began to rise, Ottawa, accompanied by French Marine Nationale ship Prairial, met eight more warships from Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Philippines and the United States of America. This made for an impressive sight as the Canadian frigate joined one of the area’s largest naval gatherings in recent years.The 6th Western Pacific Naval Symposium Multilateral Sea Exercise (WSMX) was a multi-ship, multi-nation exercise led by the Formidable-class Singapore ship RSS Stalwart.The ships were divided into two groups, with Ottawa commanding South Korean, Filipino, French and American ships. The second group was commanded by RSS Stalwart.Lt(N) Ryan Stanley, weapons officer, was pleased to see how Ottawa’s participation fulfilled Poseidon Cutlass' main objectives.“This exercise was an outstanding opportunity for HMCS Ottawa to act as Surface Action Group (SAG) Commander for a multinational exercise, thereby increasing the Royal Canadian Navy’s reputation for professionalism on the international stage, as well as displaying Canada’s engagement in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region,” he said.The main focus of the exercise was communication and procedural interoperability between countries that speak different languages and rarely operate together. Serials included manoeuvres, screen exercises, flag hoisting competitions, flashing light competitions, and other activities designed to promote cooperation at sea over the two day program, culminating in a large group photo with ships in close formation.Leading Seaman Madeline Kuiper, naval communicator, tells of the difficulties of coordinating with so many different navies at one time.“Establishing communications with another nation is a different challenge every time, let...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A sculptural monument paying tribute to the 179 Allied airmen who lost their lives while working at Patricia Bay Air Station during the Second World War will be unveiled this week in Sidney.The Lost Airmen of the Empire was created by Victoria sculptor and landscape architect Illarion Gallant, and commissioned by a Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) working group that included local citizens, politicians and VAA staff.Gallant says the intent of his sculpture and memorial site is to remember the pilots, navigators, armourers and mechanics from around the world who began working at the air base in 1939.“These people came from all walks of life, surviving the depression with an optimistic outlook as to the challenges before them,” said Gallant of Rusnak Gallant Ltd. “Upon completion of their training, these service personnel went on to serve in various theatres of war where they were confronted with the harsh realities of survival.”Gallant, 60, is the son of Second World War British Army Private (Retired) Harry Gallant. He was made aware from a very young age about the horrors of war through stories told by his father and other members of his hometown of Scarborough, ON, who had lived through the war in Europe.He was commissioned for the $160,000 project in April 2016.The main feature is 25 Cooper’s Hawk feathers measuring 14 feet high, chronologically inscribed with the names of the deceased pilots and airport workers. It also features approximately 1,000 bricks salvaged from an original military administration, which forms a seating area. Gallant says he is still seeking additional submissions to a yet-to-be-sealed time capsule or “memory capsule” he is placing at the site.The ceremony gets underway June 1 at 10 a.m. at the memorial site located at the north end of Victoria International Airport. Keynote speakers include...

[caption id="attachment_16118" align="alignnone" width="450"] Lieutenant (Navy) Tom Eagle[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Reporter ~Lieutenant (Navy) Tom Eagle is one of 20 crew members posted to HMCS Oriole, the 31-metre ambassadorial sailing ketch heading to Charlottetown, P.E.I., for this summer’s Canada 150 celebrations.He is Oriole’s Watch Captain, Navigating Officer and the Executive Officer.With the stormy harrowing seas of the Pacific Northwest well behind them, the calm seas of the Oaxaca coastline provided Lt(N) Eagle an opportunity to respond to questions about the voyage.Q: What were the conditions like during the first part of your voyage through the Pacific Northwest and how rough were the seas?A: The Oregon coast was rather rough, but not record setting and certainly not the “perfect storm” as some may call it. We had high winds and large waves on our first attempt at rounding Cape Flattery [off Washington’s Olympic Peninsula], which ended in an anchorage in Port Renfrew overnight. For all involved – save myself, the commanding officer, buffer and a Leading Seaman with some civilian open ocean sailing experience - this was a first chance to see what life on a sailboat feels like offshore.Q: What have been the biggest challenges and adjustments to life at sea?A: Oriole doesn’t have a lot of the creature comforts the rest of the navy is accustomed to. Not getting a hot shower for a few days on Algonquin was par for the course, but not having onboard showers in Oriole is a little daunting because the deck starts to heat up and the ambient temperature listed on the thermometer above my rack is above 35c, [which starts the sweat rolling]. It’s just another thing you need to get used to rather quickly.Q: What are your living quarters like? Closer confines than in a frigate or a submarine? A: I live...

Every day the men and women onboard HMCS Ottawa are served delicious and nutritious meals. The logistical preparation that is involved in feeding over 200 people per day, every day, is staggering.Each day a new menu is prepared that takes into consideration different dietary needs, the operational tempo for the day, and the ingredients the ship was able to procure at its last port of call.The menu includes breakfast, dinner, supper, and of course soup!Despite the difficulty of the task, everyday cooks, with the support of stewards, supply technicians and logistical officers, manage to provide the sailors onboard Ottawa with the next best thing to a home cooked meal—a meal shared with shipmates. The following recipe is an example of one such meal—a delicious Chilled Asian Shrimp Salad courtesy of the Petty Officer First Class John Cross, Chief Cook HMCS Ottawa.Poseidon Cutlass 17 RecipeChilled Asian Shrimp SaladIngredients20 each     Medium Shrimp – Peeled, Deveined & Cooked 5 cups       Mixed GreensMarinade for Shrimp2 each      Fresh Mango – Small Diced½ each     Red Onion – Small Diced½ each     Green Pepper – Small Diced1 cup       Fresh Cilantro1 tbsp      Chili FlakesTo Taste   Salt & PepperDressing1 each    Pineapple – Pureed1 can      Mandarin Oranges – Pureed1 ½  cups  Peanut Oil (May use salad oil if nut allergy)1 cup   Shrimp Marinade             DirectionsCombine marinade ingredients in a medium size bowl. Add cooked shrimp, cover and let sit in refrigerator overnight.Next day, remove shrimp and set aside. Strain marinade through a colander, separating the liquid and salsa mixture for later use.Make dressing by emulsifying dressing ingredients in a food processor.To serve the salad, place a generous amount of mixed greens in the center of the plate. Place several shrimp on top of the greens. Sprinkle the salsa mix liberally over the shrimp and drizzle with the dressing.

[caption id="attachment_16105" align="alignnone" width="450"] Trevor Ashwell competes in the Mobility Cup, a regatta hosting competitors from all across Canada and the United States. This regatta was hosted in Victoria in 2015, and Montreal, QC, in 2016.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Disabled Sailing Association of Victoria [DSABC, Victoria Branch] is looking to military personnel to help supplement volunteers for its upcoming summertime program.DSA Victoria is one of 14 Disabled Sailing Associations across Canada and has a mandate to provide sailing opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the Greater Victoria area through the non-profit organization Recreation Integration Victoria. It operates out of the Canadian Forces Sailing Association location.Last year, four military volunteers from CFB Esquimalt donated their time to assist with boat operations, lift assistance, rigging, and general maintenance duties. However, three of them were posted this year, leaving a big hole in their volunteer staffing. “We are really sorry to see it when our military members move on to other bases, so there is real need to replace them because they are invaluable to our operation,” says Amie Renaud, from Recreation Integration Victoria, Coordinator of Services.Military members can use their “Special Leave for Community Affairs” allowance to help out.“What it means for Canadian Armed Forces members is they can contribute a small amount of their time and make a big difference in their community,” says Renaud. “In the past, many of our military members have been extremely dedicated to this program because they can see the impact our program is having on people’s lives.”She is hoping to increase those volunteer positions from four to seven this year.The specialty sailing program is offered in June, July and August.  Last year it had 197 registered sailors in its inclusive program, which gets people with a wide range of disabilities out on the water.Renaud, who...

[caption id="attachment_16101" align="alignnone" width="230"] Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro. Photo courtesy Wikipedia[/caption]Bart Armstrong | www.canadianmedalofhonor.com ~The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) have commissioned a second ship in honour of Vancouver-born, Second World War hero Douglas Munro.The USCG Cutter Munro (WMDL 755) was commissioned March 31.As a member of the American Medal of Honor Society I was privileged and honoured to travel to Seattle to meet with the new captain and crew. At the ceremony I give a short presentation and then attended the actual commissioning ceremony the following day.The USCG also posthumously dedicated their headquarters building in Washington, D.C. to Munro in November 2013.Why all the fuss for Munro?Munro was born Oct. 11, 1919, in Vancouver. The family moved to Kittitas County, Washington in 1922, where his father, a U.S.-born citizen, worked as an electrician for the Warren Company. After attending Central Washington College, Munro enlisted in the USCG in 1939 and rose rapidly through the ranks.  In 1942 Signalman First Class Douglas Munro volunteered to lead a small crew and flotilla of Higgins landing craft to Gaudalcanal to land 500 U.S. Marines. However, the enemy were able to drive the marines into the ocean.Munro and his crew returned to save them. But in placing his craft between heavy machine gun fire and the last vessel, Munro was killed. Eight months later, on Sept. 27, 1942, President Roosevelt presented the posthumous Medal of Honor to his parents.To recognize Monroe’s heroism, the U.S. Navy commissioned a Destroyer Escort and named it the USS Douglas A Munro. It served throughout the Second World War and earned three Battle Stars for heroism in Korea, and was decommissioned in 1966.Five years later to the day Douglas lost his life, the USCG commissioned a Cutter and named it in honour of the hero of Guadalcanal. It...

[caption id="attachment_16095" align="alignnone" width="450"] A Royal Canadian Navy cutter, the Defender, from Canadian Forces Base Halifax is used to provide 1 Canadian Rangers Patrol Group with critical search and rescue and small craft training on Great Slave Lake near Yellowknife during Operation Nunakput 2016. Photo by PO2 Belinda Groves, Task Force Imagery Technician[/caption]RAdm John F. Newton,Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic ~As sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy, we take pride in our inheritance of skill in patrol of the North Atlantic and vast Pacific Ocean. Recent experiences in operations that ranged from the Black Sea, to the Gulf of Guinea, and deep into Indo-Asia-Pacific have reasserted our global “deployability”.In a new undertaking, 20 hand-picked sailors will gain experiential learning in a bold and completely new task. They will set sail on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage of Canada’s longest waterway, the Mackenzie River.In celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary, four force protection cutters will join Operation Nunakput 17. The flotilla will follow the waters that drain into a great watershed of northwestern Canada, from Great Slave Lake to the Beaufort Sea. On a voyage extending 4,000 kilometres to the sea and back, sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy will witness their land and peoples in a manner that very few have experienced.How to applyOver the next few weeks, the MARLANT Formation Chief, CPO1 Pierre Auger, will lead a selection process for the Nunakput boat crews. Personnel interested in obtaining more information should contact Chief Auger directly at Pierre.Auger@forces.gc.ca. Those wishing to participate are to make their interest known through their unit chain of command.Operation NunakputOperation Nunakput is a sovereignty operation conducted annually under the command of Joint Task Force North. The mission is undertaken jointly with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada, and Provincial Government partners in order...

[caption id="attachment_16092" align="alignnone" width="450"] Construction equipment is in place at Veterans Cemetery in preparation for the expansion of the military cemetery operated by Veterans Affairs Canada. The project is expected to be completed in late summer and make room for 1,500 new graves through granite columbariums. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A construction project at Veterans Cemetery, also known as God’s Acre Cemetery, will provide approximately 1,500 additional burial spaces at the National Historic.The cemetery, shaded by tall trees and nestled between the 12th and 17th holes of Esquimalt’s Gorge Vale Golf Club, was established in 1868 by the Royal Navy and is one of two cemeteries operated by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). The other is Fort Massey Cemetery in Halifax.The site occupies 2.7 acres and houses 2,500 military graves, but is close to capacity.Emile Gallant, VAC’s Manager of Funeral, Burial and Cemetery Maintenance, says the recent expansion of the site and related construction project will lead to the construction of 21 columbariums, where cinerary urns will be stored.“VAC has been working very closely with community groups and the local community to make this project happen,” says Gallant. “People will be very happy to learn that the cemetery will continue to be a resting spot for those who served in the military.”To address the cemetery’s ­current space shortfall, VAC purchased a .62 acre parcel of land from Gorge Vale Golf Club in March 2016 to allow room for the columbariums. Public Services and Procurement Canada then awarded a construction contract to Western Watershed to design the cemetery, and Lees and Associates to manage the worksite.The columbariums are elevated granite structures used to store urns containing ashes of the dead.  They will measure approximately 1.8 metres in height and 90 cm in width and are made of...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~This year’s candlelight vigil at Veterans Cemetery in Esquimalt will honour Canadian soldiers who served at Vimy Ridge 100 years ago.Also known to locals as God’s Acre, the cemetery will host the event May 25 at 6:45 p.m.The vigil is traditionally highlighted by the symbolic gesture of current and past-serving military members passing candles to the younger generation, including cadets, girl guides and scouts who then place the candles on gravestones in the cemetery.This year’s event, which will also recognize Canada’s 150th anniversary, will see musical performances by the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and a bag piper from The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s).Candlelight Vigil Chairperson, PO (Retired) Bob Haldane says the event is one of the most popular on Esquimalt resident’s social calendar, and typically attracts 1,000 or more people. Haldane, a former stoker and marine engineer who retired from the Royal Canadian Navy in 1979, says assistance from CFB Esquimalt, along with other community partners, has been key to the success and popularity of the event.“Rear-Admirals and Base Commanders with the RCN have been marvelous to us over the years, and have done wonders to help boost the spectre of the event,” says Haldane, who has chaired the event for the past 11 years and been a vigil volunteer for over 20.He said the RCN provides tents, chairs, a public address system, the services of the Naden Band and work parties to assist in event setup and teardown. The support of community partner Thrifty Foods grocery stores provides cake, hot dogs and refreshments.The vigil receives financial support from Veterans Affairs Canada and is managed by the Township of Esquimalt.

[caption id="attachment_16051" align="alignnone" width="450"] Ho Mai Linh’s “Uncle 15” (Sky Raider pilot) kneels in the front row, second from the right.[/caption]Ho Mai Linh, BIS ~On April 13, 2015, an Act titled the Journey to Freedom Day was passed in the House of Commons and given Royal Assent on April 30, 2015. It recognizes the plight of the Vietnamese people and their efforts to be settled in Canada following the Vietnam conflict of 1959-1975. Upwards of six million people were displaced with the creation of a Communist state, the merging of North and South Vietnam, and the implementation of Vietnamese Communist policies and international economic sanctions.This act identifies every April 30 as the Journey to Freedom Day of the 60,000 people who sought refuge from war and oppression, and were accepted by Canada and Canadians. It is the start of Asian Heritage Month of May.My family and I are some of those “Boat People” and this is my story.This is an expression of my appreciation to the Act that recognized our struggles, and the compassion Canada showed to thousands of migrants seeking freedom and hope for a better life, escaping war and prosecution.Prior to April 30, 1975 - the official end of the Vietnam WarOur family lived a comfortable life despite the ongoing conflict with the likes of the Tet offensive in 1968, occasional grenade attacks at the market square, the mortar showers, and light AK gunfire at the check points emanating from the Viet Cong (Communist Forces) who wanted to create one Vietnam.Thinking back to Saigon, my paternal grandparents had a successful business that provided us all the comforts of life, which included living in a four-story 3,000 square meter building in district one, in downtown Saigon, where we lived with my grandparents and my aunts and uncles. It had a huge second floor open-air terrace that we all enjoyed. It was here that I heard the sound of the squadrons of Hughes helicopters flying overhead, the repeated thud-thud song...

DND ~On May 10, the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS) charged a member of the Canadian Armed Forces with sexual assault, voyeurism and related offences under the Criminal Code of Canada.The charges stem from the discovery in January 2017 of a recording device at the private residence of a Canadian Armed Forces member near Washington, D.C.The accused, at that time, was a resource management support clerk with Canadian Defence Liaison Staff (Washington).CFNIS investigators, with the assistance of local police, searched the home of the accused and seized several electronic devices. Recordings found on these devices included a video of a sexual assault against a Canadian Armed Forces member at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in 2011.  Corporal Colin McGregor, now based at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, New Brunswick, faces multiple charges under the Criminal Code of Canada, punishable under section 130 of the National Defence Act.Charges include sexual assault, voyeurism, interception, and breaking and entering, as well as possession of property obtained by crime, theft, transmission of intimate image, possession of a device for surreptitious interception, and possession of child pornography.The matter is now proceeding in accordance with the military justice system for possible court martial at a date and location still to be determined.Anyone who has knowledge related to this investigation is asked to contact the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service at: 1-888-812-3647.

[caption id="attachment_16042" align="alignnone" width="450"] Caribbean divers cut ropes while executing a bottom cleanup during Exercise Tradewinds 16 in Discovery Bay, Jamaica.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Two diving personnel from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) are heading to the Caribbean later this month to take part in international military diving exercises off the waters of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.Divers will deploy May 27 for this year’s edition of Exercise Tradewinds. They will rendezvous with 10 personnel from Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) and administration staff for the exercise that runs June 6 to 11 in Barbados, and then moves to the island of Trinidad and Tobago June 12 to 17.Divers and instructors will offer dive skills related to search and rescue, counter terrorism and ways to disrupt drug smugglers, to military divers from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago defence forces.Lt(N) Greg Richards, Training Officer at FDU(A), who has been planning and coordinating the exercise for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), says Exercise Tradewinds is designed to promote regional security and cooperation in the Caribbean.“Participation in this training mission provides an excellent opportunity to foster interoperability amongst international dive teams while enhancing their capability,” he adds.The team of RCN divers, dive instructors and medical support staff will be joined by personnel from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Southern Command.Military divers from the host countries will be trained in sunken vessel assessment, evidence and human remains recovery, search patterns, jetty and hull searches, and identifying foreign objects such as mines and explosives.Exercise Tradewinds is an annual event and has been held yearly following the creation of the Canadian-U.S. Caribbean Defence Cooperation framework in June 2013, and an engagement strategy in July 2012.

[caption id="attachment_16038" align="alignnone" width="450"] Major Justin Olsen, Officer in Charge of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria, at his desk at CFB Esquimalt.[/caption]Will Chaster, MARPAC PA ~Search and rescue is unique in the sense that, unlike a business, it hopes to see as few customers as possible.With this goal in mind, prevention activities, an often underreported element of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria (JRCC) search and rescue team, takes place throughout the year.“Activities aimed at prevention really helps us in the long term by ensuring we have fewer ‘customers’ in the future,” says Major Justin Olsen, Officer in Charge of the JRCC.The prevention program is called Rust Removers.The name is representative of the potential erosion of skills that may develop with a pilot after a long winter spent mostly on the ground. Transport Canada mandates that all pilots undergo a certain amount of training in order to stay up-to-date on search and rescue techniques and technology each year.One way to get this refresher is to attend a Rust Removers event put on by the JRCC Search and Rescue team. They usually go directly to a flying club or flight school to update pilots on search and rescue techniques.“We inform people on how the Rescue Centre gets involved in search and rescue events, what technology we use, and how they can increase their chances of survival in the event of an accident,” explains Maj Olsen.The Rust Remover program reaches more than 200 people each year in the Western Region.Any flying or boating organization can request a training day by phoning the JRCC administrative number at 250-413-8927.

[caption id="attachment_16035" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo by Cpl Carbe Orellana, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]SLt Warren Bush, HMCS Winnipeg ~Sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy were proud to acknowledge and celebrate the legacy of their predecessors through Battle of the Atlantic Day, an annual day of remembrance held on the first Sunday in May.The ship’s company of HMCS Winnipeg commemorated the occasion through a ceremony that brought attention to the service and sacrifice of Canada’s sailors during the Second World War. Winnipeg itself is named after a Battle of the Atlantic veteran, a 990 tonne, 225 foot Algerine Class Minesweeper commissioned in 1943.The service commenced with opening remarks from Winnipeg’s Commanding Officer, followed by the National Anthem, an address by the ship’s Padre, Psalm 23, and the Naval Prayer. The sailors then heeded ‘Lament’ and ‘Reveille’ after a two minute silence, and reflected on a somber Battle of the Atlantic  Roll of Honour, which individually named the 26 Canadian warships lost during the War, as well as the seven Motor Torpedo Boats.The Commanding Officer then cast a ceremonial wreath into the sea.Canada paid dearly for the Battle of the Atlantic: 1,797 sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy and countless merchant seamen met their end in that ocean’s icy water.