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[caption id="attachment_14422" align="alignnone" width="400"] Lieutenant-Commander Mike Baker, legal advisor to HMCS Charlottetown command team.[/caption]Lt(N) Benoit Plante, Maritime Task Force Public Affairs Officer ~As HMCS Charlottetown prepares to transit the Strait of Gibraltar, the Bridge is getting crowded. There are the usual personnel on the Bridge, such as the Helmsman, the Naval Communicator and the Officer of the Watch.More surprisingly, there is the legal advisor to the Operation Reassurance Maritime Task Force, Lieutenant-Commander Mike Baker.The legal advisor is a Canadian Armed Forces Legal Officer deployed with the ship during Operation Reassurance. He provides legal advice on operational, international, and administrative law, military justice, and all other legal matters of particular interest to the Commander.“When we are transiting the Strait of Gibraltar, for example, the ship is passing through either Spanish or Moroccan territorial waters,” explains LCdr Baker. “So part of my job is to provide advice to the Commanding Officer on the implications of passing in those waters, and to help him determine what types of activities Charlottetown can and cannot do at any given time.”As Charlottetown is transiting back into the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic to continue with Operation Reassurance, LCdr Baker says “from a law of the sea perspective, the Mediterranean Sea is a complex legal environment, in part due to its long history and the many different states that surround it.”Therefore, he needs to advise the Commanding Officer on the general provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is the primary reference for understanding maritime law. Moreover, ships operating in the Mediterranean Sea need to understand that passage between it and the Black Sea is governed by the Montreux Convention, that the Strait of Messina represents an exception to the rules about international straits, and that the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea...

[caption id="attachment_14419" align="alignnone" width="400"] CH148 Cyclone crews conduct an Operational Test and Evaluation with HMCS Montréal, the first ship to support a Helicopter Test and Evaluation Facility Detachment.[/caption]Captain Peter Ryan, 12 Wing Shearwater ~A CH148 Cyclone helicopter from 12 Wing Shearwater, N.S., recently conducted its first anti-submarine warfare (ASW) event with submarine HMCS Windsor off the coast of Nova Scotia.The exercise was linked to an ongoing Operational Test and Evaluation being conducted by the Helicopter Test and Evaluation Facility (HOTEF) at 12 Wing Shearwater.Anti-submarine warfare is a component of underwater warfare that employs surface warships, aircraft and other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines.This was the first time a Cyclone has engaged in such activity, representing an important milestone in the evolution of this new aircraft that provides wings for the fleet, and state-of-the-art air power for the Royal Canadian Air Force.According to Major Erik Weigelin, a pilot with Helicopter Test and Evaluation Facility, the Cyclone’s sonobuoy processing system was tested to detect and track Windsor using passive sonobuoys.“This system allows us to track submarines without making any active noise, thereby denying the submarine knowledge of the helicopter’s location or potentially even the fact that they are being tracked at all. Anti-submarine warfare by use of sonobuoys can be very challenging, but having Windsor as a target allowed the crews to hone our equipment and develop a solid baseline of performance for the tracking of real submarine targets,” said Maj Weigelin.When Windsor was otherwise tasked, CH148 crews employed Expendable Mobile Anti-submarine Warfare Training Targets to simulate submarine movements and noise patterns, which allowed Helicopter Test and Evaluation Facility crews to further develop those tactical procedures that will be used by operational crews following CH148 release to service.“Accurate and effective initial equipment settings, in combination with...

[caption id="attachment_14416" align="alignnone" width="400"] Cmdre Marta Mulkins[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~When the Commander of Canada’s Naval Reserves, Commodore Marta Mulkins and her colleagues gathered for an informal breakfast on Persons Day in Ottawa last month, they reflected on the accomplishments of women in the Canadian Armed Forces.Joining her at the table were several high-ranking female military officers, including Lieutenant-General Christine Whitecross, Major General Tammy Harris, Brigadier General Lise Bourgon, as well as Commissioner Jody Thomas of the Canadian Coast Guard.Patricia Hadju, Canada’s Federal Minster for the Status of Women, also dropped by to join them.“We decided to have an informal gathering, so it was very inspiring that she dropped by to recognize the success of women in the military,” says Cmdre Mulkins. “We are constantly looking forward, but it is nice for a moment to recognize where we have been and our accomplishments.”One such accomplishment is Persons Day - Oct. 18, 1929, the day when Lord Sankey, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, announced the decision of the five lords that women were persons. The decision forced the Canadian federal government to allow women to be appointed to the Senate or to any public office in the land. This decision paved the way for women, including those at the breakfast table.Thirty-one years ago Cmdre Mulkins joined the Naval Reserves; as the years passed by the thought of reaching one of the highest ranks was not in her sites. But like her male counterparts, good, hard work paid off with promotion after promotion.“I would say the military and the Canadian government have been ahead of the curve in both pay equity and opening opportunities to women many years ago, and helped set the tone for advancement in the rest of society,” she says. “The entire process has taught us a valuable lesson,...

[caption id="attachment_14413" align="alignnone" width="400"] Lieutenant-Commander Corey Gleason, Rear-Admiral John Newton and Captain (Navy) Michael Davie in Norway during staff talks.[/caption]Darlene Blakeley, Navy Public Affairs Ottawa ~The commanding officer of the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) first Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessel has already been chosen, and work has begun to ensure everything is ready when HMCS Harry DeWolf is delivered in 2018.Lieutenant-Commander Corey Gleason, along with a small preliminary crew, are preparing for the new vessel, one of six ice-capable offshore patrol ships that will conduct sovereignty and surveillance operations in Canada’s ocean areas of interest, including in the Arctic.“It’s truly exciting to have this role as first commanding officer,” says LCdr Gleason. “The first ship in its class is always a lot of work and there’s a long road ahead – about five years between shore office work and the first operational cruise for the lead ship. We get the opportunity to pave the way for everyone else.”This is essential work as the navy prepares for a busy future in Canada’s North, says Rear-Admiral John Newton, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic.“We take note of the significant changes being felt in the environment, industry, commerce, tourism, society and culture. It is a timely development that the RCN will soon take delivery of the first Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessel.”He adds that the pending arrival of these vessels inspires the RCN to undertake bolder activities in all of Canada’s ocean areas. This past summer, maritime coastal defence vessel HMCS Moncton patrolled in Hudson Bay, while its sister ship HMCS Shawinigan was far west along the Northwest Passage, creating new learning experiences for sailors in the fleet.“For several years now our crews have been increasingly busy familiarizing themselves with Arctic waterways and the communities that struggle with shifting economies, climate, and human activities,” says RAdm Newton. “We...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The crew of HMCS Yellowknife will be heading to B.C.’s north coast later this month to investigate reports of submerged Cold-War era ordnance.The ordnance is believed to be part of a B4 weapon jettisoned by a U.S. B-36 aircraft that crashed in the vicinity of Prince Rupert on Feb. 13, 1950.  The object was recently discovered by a diver who had been searching for sea cucumbers off the shores of Pitt Island, located approximately 80 kilometres south of Prince Rupert. The diver reported the details of his find to the RCMP and the Canadian Armed Forces.“Discussions with our NORTHCOM Liaison Officer have provided us with information on the disposition of the weapon at the time of the jettison and crash, including verifying that there was no radioactive material in the weapon during the failed test flight in February 1950,” said Commander Michele Tessier, Commander Coastal Forces, who indicated the object’s core likely contained lead.According to accounts by author Dirk Septer in his book Lost Nuke: The Last Flight of Bomber 075, five crew members were killed in the crash of the B-36 and 12 were rescued after an engine fire, believed to be caused by ice buildup on the wings, erupted on the plane. The crew dumped the ordnance in the ocean and then the pilot set the plane on auto pilot targeting it to crash into a remote area near Mount Kologe before he and the crew bailed out of the plane. The decision by the pilot to drop the ordnance in the ocean was made because the crew were uncertain of their proximity to populated areas and how far the plane could travel being weighted down.During their upcoming sailing program, Yellowknife will embark the civilian diver who made the find and proceed to the...

[caption id="attachment_14406" align="alignnone" width="400"] A Marine Engineering Systems Operator cleans an oil filter from a diesel alternator.[/caption]Capt Graeme Kaine, 39 CBG Public Affairs ~The Government of British Columbia announced Oct. 27 that they have expanded job-protected leave for Canadian military reserve forces in B.C. to cover leave for military training.The leave expansion was announced by Premier Christy Clark at Canadian Forces Base Comox on Vancouver Island, and by Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, and Minister Responsible for Labour at HMCS Discovery, the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve base on Deadman’s Island in Stanley Park, Vancouver.Bond was joined in Vancouver by Brigadier Genernal Rob Roy MacKenzie, Chief of Staff Reserves, Canadian Forces; Colonel Dave Awalt, Commander 39 Canadian Brigade Group; Lyall Knott, QC, B.C. Chair, Canadian Forces Liaison Council, Department of National Defence; and other military reserve forces representatives.“I can’t emphasize enough how important employer support is to our Reservists,” said BGen MacKenzie. “It directly contributes to the operational readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces by helping ensure we have skilled members always available for duty.”This change will allow reservists unpaid leave from their civilian jobs for up to 20 days per year for training activities.A reservist must provide at least four weeks of notice to his/her employer. This matches the general notice requirement that already applies to reservists going on leave for active duty.The up to 20 days for training leave is per calendar year, and does not have to be consecutive.This change to expand leave for military training activities for reservists is effective immediately.“The extension of job protection for reservists, for necessary training, is a significant step in strengthening the Reserves and will contribute greatly to the operational readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve,” said Col Awalt. “As the Brigade commander for the Army Reserve in...

[caption id="attachment_14403" align="alignnone" width="400"] Fourteen bales of cocaine weighing an estimated 700 kilograms rest on the sweep deck of HMCS Brandon after being jettisoned by a suspected smuggling vessel, a small fishing boat known as a panga, off the Pacific coast of Central America during Operation Caribbe on Nov. 5. Photo by U.S. Coast Guard[/caption]DND ~HMCS Brandon, in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), seized an estimated 700 kilograms of cocaine in international waters off the Pacific Coast of Central America on Nov. 5.The cocaine, worth an estimated $28 million (USD), was recovered from the ocean after being jettisoned by suspected smugglers in a panga-style fishing vessel that had been spotted by a USCG HC-130J aircraft patrolling the region.Brandon launched two rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) with USCG law enforcement teams onboard to pursue the vessel and secure the 14 jettisoned bales.“This latest seizure serves not only as a testament to the dedication and hard work by the crew of HMCS Brandon and the U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment, but to their ability to work in concert,” said Lieutenant-Commander Jolene Lisi, Brandon’s Commanding Officer. “Our efforts, both leading into this operation, and on the operation itself, have led to this interdiction, which ultimately means fewer drugs reaching our shores. I am incredibly proud of my team.”Brandon’s RHIB was unable to apprehend the suspected panga vessel.Since February 2016, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have seized or disrupted a total of approximately 3,630 kg of cocaine and 1,520 kg of marijuana.Operation Caribbe is Canada’s participation in the multinational campaign against illicit trafficking by transnational organized crime in the Caribbean Sea and the East Pacific Ocean.Joint Interagency Task Force South, a subordinate command of United States Southern Command, oversees the detection and monitoring of illicit traffickers and assists US and multinational law...

[caption id="attachment_14375" align="alignnone" width="400"] Master Seaman Brett Poulin enjoys a moment in Parliament.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~MS Brett Poulin was one of three sailors from CFB Esquimalt honoured with the Exceptional Sailor Award during Navy Day celebrations on Parliament Hill.Lt(N) Krisztina Rekeszki, the Operations Officer in Maritime Forces Pacific’s Joint Logistics Operation Centre, and CPO2 Andre Aubry,  Ship Service Officer with Fleet Maintenance Facility, also received scrolls from Senator Terry Mercer and were honoured for their service.MS Poulin, who works as a naval communicator, Lt(N) Rekeszki, and CPO2 Andre Aubry were among a larger group of seven Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) sailors and three Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) personnel from across Canada recognized in the Oct. 25 ceremony in the Red Chamber of the Senate of Canada.“It was an amazing experience, definitely the highlight of my career, and I am truly honoured to be selected for this special award,” said MS Poulin. “It feels great and gave me a sense of pride and appreciation for my hard work and dedication. There have been a lot of long hours and days to get me the point where I am.”With 12 years of service in the RCN, MS Poulin has worked as an IT (Internet Technology) support worker and was recognized for his efforts in trouble shooting computer issues aboard RCN vessels, his role as Unit Security Supervisor, helping oversee the largest removable media account in CFB Esquimalt, and participating in community outreach programs such as Yukon Sour Days in Whitehorse where he helped educate the public about the navy's role and responsibilities.“The whole team were thrilled that he was chosen as a recipient of the award and the office is now inundated by visitors wanting to congratulate him,” said Base Information Services (BIS) Commanding Officer, Cdr Byron Derby. “MS Poulin is...

[caption id="attachment_14371" align="alignnone" width="400"] Dr. James Boutilier, Special Advisor on Asia and the Pacific, MARPAC, has been named the 26th recipient of the Vimy Award.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Dr. James Boutilier, Maritime Forces Pacific’s (MARPAC) Special Advisor on Asia and the Pacific, has been named the 26th recipient of the Vimy Award for 2016.The annual award presented by the Conference of Defence Associations Institute in Ottawa recognizes one prominent Canadian who has made outstanding contributions toward the security and defence of Canada, and the preservation of democratic values.The award was presented to Dr. Boutilier at a gala reception dinner at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa on Nov. 4.“I was stunned, humbled and flattered to hear the news that it would be me,” said Dr. Boutilier.“The previous recipients were, and are, an illustrious band of brothers, and I hope I can live up to their high standards.”Former Prime Minister of Canada Joe Clark received the inaugural Vimy Ridge Award in 1991 and other winners have included former Governor General of Canada Adrienne Clarkson (2010), Major-General Jonathan Vance (2011), General Rick Hillier (2008), and Honorary Colonel Blake Goldring (2014), who dedicated the award to the memory of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo.A congratulatory letter from RAdm Art McDonald, Commander of MARPAC, spoke glowingly about Dr. Boutilier’s worthiness for the award, noting he was the “driving force behind the Canadian Armed Forces/Royal Canadian Navy's (CAF/RCN’s) Pacific awareness” and “the incredibly appropriate [person] to be recognized and celebrated.”Captain(N) Steve Jorgensen, MARPAC Chief of Staff for Operations and Planning, noted Dr. Boutilier’s expertise in the Asia Pacific region has been sought after for over a half a century. He describes him as an expert advisor for MARPAC, and the entire Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), and Canadian Armed Forces as a whole.“He has been a constant voice about our attention in the Pacific,” says Capt(N) Jorgensen. “If someone in Ottawa at the policy level has a question on Asia Pacific they will...

[caption id="attachment_14367" align="alignnone" width="500"] The Class of 1941 at Royal Roads Military College in Colwood included young Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Russell McConnell, who died in a German U-Boat attack in 1942 in the St. Lawrence River.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A new documentary created by Royal Roads University professor Geoffrey Bird explores the stories of those places across Canada related to the the Second World War.The newly released film, his second of a two-part series, War Memories across Canada: Sites of the Second World War made its debut in a one-time engagement at the Vic Theatre on Oct. 11.Funded by Heritage Canada, Parks Canada and Royal Roads University, the documentary comprises 27 short stories that explores both soldiers’ and civilians’ personal attachments to war monuments and historical sites across the nation.“We are at a point in time where the witnesses to the Second World War are passing on and we are trying to get their stories now,” says Bird. “Otherwise, we rely on others to recount the story of what happened, what we can call ‘guardians of remembrance’.”Raised in Victoria, the former naval reservist started his service with HMCS Malahat, and worked as a reservist between 1984 and 1992.He now heads Royal Roads’ Tourism Management graduate program as an Associate Professor. Bird first realized the power of standing in the footsteps of those who fought while he worked at Vimy Ridge in France as a tour guide in 1990.“Later in life, as a doctoral student working at battlefields in Normandy, I was interested in the relationship between tourism, remembrance, and the landscapes of war,” says Bird. “The experience people have when they stand at Vimy Ridge, Juno Beach, or the many sites of memory across our nation and the world trigger a strong connection to the past.”His latest war...

[caption id="attachment_14364" align="alignnone" width="400"] An artist’s rendering depicts the design for the Greater Victoria Afghanistan Memorial Project’s monument. Photo Credit GVAMP[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Efforts by a local citizens’ group to erect a highly visible downtown memorial honouring those Canadians that served in Afghanistan are moving forward.The Greater Victoria Afghanistan Memorial Project (GVAMP) was formed two years ago in an effort to recognize the 40,000 Canadians who served in Afghanistan between September 2001 and March 2014, and the 163 that lost their lives.The monument will be located in the downtown core close to Christ Church Cathedral and will be made from 20,000 lb. of granite slabs and measure 11 feet long, eight feet high. It will feature a Canadian soldier reaching out to the outstretched hand of an Afghan child. The cost estimate for the memorial is $177,000.Official fundraising efforts will begin in the New Year; however, the GVAMP had an encouraging sign after a Sept. 28 meeting at the Bay Street Armoury. Four donors from Victoria made significant donations towards the project.“Despite the initial donation there is still plenty of work to do, including working with all levels of government,” says Brigadier-General (Ret'd) Joseph Gollner, President of the GVAMP Society.He served 37 years in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) before his retirement in 1993. After his retirement, BGen Gollner, while Honorary Colonel of the Regiment Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), twice visited PPCLI battlegroups in Afghanistan in 2008 and 2010.“Our mission is to create a memorial that will recognize the contribution of all the 40,000 CAF members and public servants that served in Afghanistan and their families. The memorial will also recognize those Afghanistan campaign veterans that continue to suffer with physical and mental wounds. Finally, the memorial will recognize and honour those Canadians that paid the supreme...

[caption id="attachment_14359" align="alignnone" width="400"] SLt Vincent Roy, new Commanding Officer for the Naden Band, with his family.[/caption]SLt Vincent Roy speaks about his past, his new position as Commanding Officer of the Naden Band, and his hopes for the future.The musicians of the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy are preparing for the daily morning rehearsal at the band room by warming up and practicing.At nine on the dot the tuning ‘A’ is given; then all sound ceases.Immediately afterward, SLt Roy strides into the room and assumes his position on the podium.“Good morning!” he beams. “Let’s get into music!”On July 19, command of the Naden Band was passed from Lt(N) Matthew Clark to SLt Roy.  Accompanying him for this event was his wife, Marie-Lucie Mathieu and his children Alexia, Olivia, and Benjamin.Since taking command, SLt Roy has travelled with the band to Vancouver for the Pacific National Exhibition, Nanaimo for the Nanaimo Military Music Festival, and to Oliver, Osoyoos, Chemainus, and Sidney for public outdoor concerts. The highlight of his tenure so far has been conducting the band during the Royal Visit at the B.C. Legislature.There he had a chance to speak personally to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, when he came to inspect the band.Exuding infectious energy and quiet passion, SLt Roy is thrilled about his posting to beautiful Victoria. Adding to the excitement is the fact that this is his first appointment as Commanding Officer of a Regular Force band. His career path, from joining the reserves in his home province of Quebec to his latest posting to the West Coast, has been meteoric; he is currently the youngest commanding officer serving in the Band Branch.He was asked to reflect on what compelled him to join the Forces and his inspirations and thought process as a Director of...

[caption id="attachment_14355" align="alignnone" width="400"] Students from Rockheights Middle School prepare poppies for a No Stone Left Alone ceremony with Sgt (Ret'd) Jim MacMillan-Murphy, 1st Vice President, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 172. Photo credit: Rock Heights Middle School[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~In an effort to place themselves in the worn, muddy boots of First World War soldiers, Grade 8 students at Rockheights Middle School in Esquimalt have written letters from the trenches.The essay assignment had young teens imagining themselves on the frontline, living in the water-filled shabby battlefield trenches, longing to be home with their loved ones.“It is absolutely horrendous here,” writes one student as soldier Johnny. “I cannot believe the lies we were told. Nothing is the way they said it would be…We spend all day crouched in the mud and trench water. The smell is unbearable. Gunpowder, human feces, rotting food and dead bodies are a constant reminder that this isn’t a nightmare but surviving what war is like.”Another fictional soldier named Robert attempts to be positive about their plight in his letter home.“The calm deceased bodies of those who have fallen lie at our feet while we fight to stay from lying dead among them. I am here to serve my part and to keep a future for all that live. I am here to keep you safe; to fight for a future. Please know you two are my everything, you both are what is keeping me alive every moment.”The writing assignment was preparation for their participation in last Friday’s No Stone Left Alone ceremony at Esquimalt Veterans Cemetery, God’s Acre.Since mid-October, the 75 students have been learning everything they can about the bloodiest conflict in Canadian military history that claimed 60,000 lives in the brutality of trench warfare.“Social Studies teacher Todd Hallett starts the lesson by telling...

[caption id="attachment_14351" align="alignnone" width="400"] Salsbury House B&B owner James Derry places a ‘I will Remember’ sign on his lawn. Credit Lewis Batholomew/Alberni Project[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~They won’t help sell the family house or declare your support for a political candidate, but Remembrance Day lawn signs are one unique way Comox Valley residents are commemorating Nov. 11.The signs are a fundraising initiative by the HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial (HAMM) and boldly feature the words “I Will Remember” in English, or in French “Je Me Souviendrai”, below a field of poppies. The placards can be affixed to store-front or apartment windows, mounted to fences, or placed on lawns or in gardens, and come in two sizes, the standard 18" x 27", which cost $35, and the smaller store-front sign which measures 12” x 18”, which sell for $25.Lewis Bartholomew, Founder and Executive Director of the Alberni Project and HAMM, developed the idea for the lawns signs over four years ago. He says the signs hit the right note with a newer generation of Canadians who haven’t completely abandoned the past mantra “Lest we forget” but wanted to express their feelings in a different tone.“I wanted something that was progressive and proactive, yet still maintaining the dignity of what the poppy represents,” said Bartholomew. “So I decided that our slogan would be about commitment, a promise to remember.”His group uses proceeds from sales of merchandise, donations, and other fund-raising initiatives to help fund the non-profit society and its museum. The museum is dedicated to the memories of the sailors who served aboard the Royal Canadian Navy’s flower-class corvette, and the preservation of Canadian military history.Bartholomew said the idea for the sign design grew out of a 2011 idea he introduced for souvenirs such as coffee mugs, hats and shirts, which he...

[caption id="attachment_14314" align="alignnone" width="425"] Capt(N) James Cotter, Canadian Defence Attaché, signs the guestbook at the museum.[/caption]Capt Jenn Jackson, MARPAC PA Office ~It has been more than 60 years since the armistice was signed bringing an end to the Korean War in 1953. In all that time, the Royal Canadian Navy has not had the opportunity to train on the Korean Peninsula with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.That chance finally materialized Oct. 15-23 during Clear Horizon 16, a multi-national mine countermeasures exercise hosted by the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy in Chinhae, and Busan, Korea, and surrounding coastal waters.Clear Horizon 16 also provided an occasion for Captain (Navy) Michael Davie, Commander of Naval Force Readiness, to meet with senior ROK Navy Commanders to discuss future collaboration between the two navies.Capt(N) Davie and Capt(N) James Cotter, the Canadian Defence Attaché to ROK, observed demonstrations of the mine counter-warfare operations that formed the basis of Clear Horizon 16. Embarked on ROKN Chunwangbong, the naval captains were able to watch demonstrations of a U.S. Aerial Mine Countermeasure mine search, ROK mine sweepers sweeping for mines, an ROK mine hunting vessel detonation, explosive ordnance disposal dive team pouncer operations, which included divers from Canada, ROK, Philippines, Thailand and the U.S., and an EOD underwater detonation conducted by ROK and Pilipino divers.The demonstration day also included a press conference with members of all major Korean media outlets. Capt(N) Davie was able to address those gathered.“Today’s level of globalization means any crisis in this region would be felt not only militarily, but also by the civilian population—both here in Korea and around the world,” said Capt(N) Davie.“Canada’s goal in participating in Clear Horizon 16 is to help with the coordination of allied forces to ensure there is a capability available to counter that threat.”Being able to...

Darlene Blakeley, Navy Public Affairs Ottawa ~An historic part of Canada’s naval past has returned home after nearly 100 years.The ship’s wheel from HMCS Niobe, one of Canada’s first two warships, has been acquired by the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.Niobe saw active service in the First World War and its crew members played a significant role in responding to the 1917 Halifax Explosion.The Canadian War Museum purchased the wheel from the Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum in New Jersey with the support of the National Collection Fund, which was created to acquire and conserve artifacts of significance to Canada’s heritage.The acquisition came as the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) marked Niobe Day, celebrated annually on Oct. 21.“The process to acquire Niobe’s ship’s wheel took place over the past year after the museum in New Jersey approached us to see if we wanted it,” says Jeff Noakes, Second World War historian at the Canadian War Museum. “We are excited to have it back in Canada.”Noakes says the acquisition of the wheel is “one of those fascinating stories about how objects like this can go around the world and then come back to Canada.”The Canadian War Museum also has one of the ship’s wheels from HMCS Rainbow, the second of Canada’s first two warships.Niobe’s wheel requires conservation work before it can be displayed. At over 158 kilograms, with a diameter of two metres, the wheel also needs a custom-made stand.“This was the largest remaining artifact from Niobe,” Noakes says. “We had a rare opportunity to acquire something of importance to Canada’s naval history. We were in a position to take advantage of the opportunity and are thrilled that we will be able to preserve the wheel for present and future generations.”Launched in 1897, Niobe served with the Royal Navy until 1910. That...

[caption id="attachment_14305" align="alignnone" width="425"] Submariner LS Laura Allan checks some wiring aboard HMCS Victoria.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Just three months after HMCS Victoria was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy in December 2000, the ban on women becoming submariners was lifted.The small living space had kept them out of the Oberon class submarines because of privacy concerns, but the change in submarines brought a change in mindset, and so the hatch was opened to both genders wanting their Dolphins.Fast forward 16 years and one can find a handful of women, such as LS Laura Allan and PO2 Stephanie Wheaton, working in the 70 metre-long submarines.As the only female Electrical Technician onboard submarines, LS Allan works in a cramped engine room in the aft of the sub, ensuring the two diesel generators, and two 240-cell lead acid batteries are operating in top condition. Her job requires her to be physically fit, which she has developed from competitive powerlifting in her free time. The 31-year-old submariner can deadlift 355 lbs and lives by the mantra “nothing is impossible.”At the other end, in the control room, PO2 Wheaton, 34, supervises junior non-commissioned members in all external voice, radio teletype and data circuits, and provides real-time tactical information in support of operations to the command team, as the Senior Naval Communicator. Naval communicators are the IT department for the submarine and use hi-tech systems to encode and decode signals.The women are two of 10 out of 275 submariners in the Canadian Submarine Force across Canada, but neither feels they are ground breakers for their gender.“I don’t really see myself as a pioneer or someone for others to look up to. I am all about doing my job and doing it well,” says PO2 Wheaton.“I don’t see myself like that either,” adds LS Allan. “I don’t want to be the person who gets promoted or is deemed successful because I am a woman. I want to be the person that people respect for the work...

[caption id="attachment_14302" align="alignnone" width="425"] Members of Parliament Chandra Arya, Marwan Tabbara, Pierre Paul-Hus, and Cheryl Gallant suit up for their Canadian Leaders at Sea program at Canadian Forces Base Halifax on Oct. 11. Photo by MCpl Alexandre Pacquin[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident ~A 24-hour adventure under the waves in HMCS Windsor, one of Canada’s four Victoria-class submarines, was the highlight of a visit to the East Coast by four parliamentarians from Oct. 12 to 13.The politicians made the trip as part of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Canadian Leaders at Sea (CLaS) Program. For nearly a decade, CLaS has been embarking government officials, community and business leaders, and other strategic stakeholders on board HMC ships and submarines to showcase the skill sets and equipment the navy employs in defence of Canada.Guests included Liberal Members of Parliament Marwan Tabbara and Chandra Arya, as well as opposition Members Pierre Paul-Hus and Cheryl Gallant, both of whom sit on the House Standing Committee on National Defence. They were accompanied by Rear-Admiral John Newton, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic.The submarine with embarked guests submerged more than 100 metres under water, and guests dined in the boat’s small messes alongside personnel, and slept on metal racks alongside submarine trainees and Mark 48 heavy torpedoes.MPs also got a small taste of the slow-moving game of hide and seek that is submarine warfare, with Halifax-class frigate HMCS St. John’s and a CH-124 Sea King helicopter participating in a short exercise about 20 kilometres offshore.Windsor closed within 2,000 yards of the warship at periscope depth, giving everyone a chance to observe the “adversaries” from the search periscope, before the participants took turns listening to St. John’s acoustic signature through the boat’s newly advanced AN/BQQ10 sonar, the same system employed by the newest submarines in the U.S. fleet.Sitting at the fire control system,...

[caption id="attachment_14294" align="alignnone" width="465"] A rider performs a stunt during the making of the movie Moto8. Photo courtesy of Moto8 The Movie[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~MS Pierre Lacombe wants fellow motocross, BMX, and mountain bike enthusiasts to mark Nov. 18 on their calendars.On that day the Pacific Fleet Club will screen Moto8 The Movie. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at www.pitboard.ca or at the door.The movie features spectacular aerial footage of some of motocross’ top riders doing jaw dropping tricks, stunts and jumps on their mechanical rides.The screening will serve as a fundraiser for Canada’s Motocross of Nations (MXON) team, and an opportunity to bring the dirt bike community together.“I want to get all the MX, BMX and mountain bike community in Victoria together in one room for the first time,” says MS Lacombe, who owns Pit Board Industries / Pit Board Racing with his wife Isabelle. He also works as a naval electronic sensor operator aboard HMCS Calgary.He became engaged in MX racing four years ago in 2012 when his children Antoine, 12, and Leone, 16, started their involvement in the sport.He started out designing racing outfits for his children, but gradually expanded his uniform-making ability into a cottage industry.The hand-made racing gear was eventually sold to local BMX and motocross teams and clubs in Victoria, then on provincial teams, and now the national MX team.In the summer, Kourtney Lloyd, Team Canada MXON manager, contacted MS Lacombe for custom-made jackets and pit shirts for the team’s mechanics and pit crew. The items were for their Sept. 24 Moto Cross of Nations event in Maggiorra, Italy, one of the sport’s most important competitions.“They liked my designs so much they immediately ordered 40 jackets,” says MS Lacombe. “They even painted my design on the riders’ helmets. So my...

Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff ~ As current and former sailors, along with friends and family, gathered to say goodbye to HMCS Preserver after nearly five decades of service, RAdm John Newton made it clear Oct. 21 was not a day for sadness. “There’s no sadness in my mind today, only celebration of 46 years of world-class capability sailing the globe,” said the Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic to the crowd gathered on the jetty, Preserver in the background. The day marked the paying off ceremony of Preserver, the last of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Protecteur-class auxiliary oiler replenishment ships. When Preserver was commissioned in Saint John, New Brunswick, on Aug. 7, 1970, it and sister ship, HMCS Protecteur, were an example of cutting-edge technology and modern underway replenishment procedures. As RAdm Newton described it, “They allowed our navy to act big. These ships gave the navy global reach, sustainability, fast deployment when called to action by the government, and a great utility in coalition for food, stores and fuel, which were and are always in short supply.” Among the crowd were a few who made up the very first crews to board the ship.RAdm Newton mentioned retired sailor Gerry Curry, who made it a point to be there see the ship out, just as he saw it ‘in’ back in 1970. “I spoke to Gerry and what I took from his words is that Preserver inspired him from the first time he stepped aboard it in 1970, and it continued to inspire him throughout his career and into retirement, like it did for so many.” The ship deployed and supported Canadian and allied task groups on missions around the world through its life, beginning in the Cold War years and continuing well into the 21st century. Some of those were...

[caption id="attachment_14277" align="alignnone" width="425"] Duane Freeman, a senior environmental officer at CFB Esquimalt, displays a diver’s knife found during dredging operations in Esquimalt Harbour.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A massive cleanup of Esquimalt Harbour’s seabed continues to reveal a cache of historical artifacts.The multi-year $160-million Esquimalt Harbour Remediation Project began in late 2015 and involves removing contaminated silt from the seabed, created by over 150 years of commercial and naval operations within the harbour. The purpose of the remediation is to clean up the historical contamination from various areas of the harbour, with an end goal of improving the overall health of marine species in the area.As the massive dredging operation, covering 354 hectares, continues, employees from Formation Safety and Environment (FSE) have been taken aback by the diversity of items found locked in the thick layer muck.“We were completely caught by surprise and did not expect this,” said Duane Freeman, who is the Branch Head in charge of FSE.Two large display cases at FSE house service medals, uniform buttons, straight edge razors, rings, cigarette lighters, plates, cutlery, and several IDs.  Not on display were the remains of hundreds of boots. There is no exact count of the number of items recovered, but most date from the 1980s back to the turn of the century, says Freeman.One of the first discoveries was a coffee mug that belonged to VAdm (Ret’d) Gary Garnett almost 30 years ago when he was Commander of the Second Canadian Destroyer Squadron. His name and squadron of his ship were still visible on the mug.Freeman says the cold water temperatures and layers of accumulating silt have helped to preserve many of the found items. To expand on his point he displays a military identification card noting the card was likely from the mid-1950s and belonged to Norman John Boulton of HMCS Cornwallis, whose name and picture are still legible.The dredging operation was carried out by a giant crane barge. The large crane equipped with a bucket was...

[caption id="attachment_14246" align="alignnone" width="425"] MFRC volunteer Muriel Dunn receives the Valued Elder Recognition Award from (left) Lorie McLeod, Executive Director of the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation, and Scott Hofer, University of Victoria Director of the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health, at the Salvation Army Citadel. Photo credit University of Victoria[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~One of the Military Family Resource Centre’s (MFRC) top volunteers has been recognized by the University of Victoria for her outstanding community work.Muriel Dunn, 80, was honoured by the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health and the Elder Care Foundation with a Valued Elder Recognition Award at the Salvation Army Citadel on Sept. 30.The ceremony was in recognition of the Government of Canada’s National Seniors Day on Oct. 1, and Dunn was one of 16 Capital Regional District residents who, over their lifetime, have given exemplary service to helping others, in particular between 2000 to 2016.“I am very pleased and humbled to be receiving this recognition,” said Dunn. “I was shocked and surprised that I was receiving this reward because I don’t see volunteering as hard work, but more fun and something I truly look forward to doing.”The native of Smithers, B.C. has taken volunteer roles at the base since she and her late husband PO1 (Ret’d) Denis Dunn moved to Victoria in 1954. He was a medical assistant in Royal Canadian Navy vessels, and she was a student nurse at the time, graduating 1957.She retired from nursing 17 years ago and said she wanted to volunteer to stay active and engaged with people in the community.Her involvement with the MFRC began in 2003 when she first volunteered at the non-profit organization’s second hand store on Esquimalt Road. But after the facility closed a few years later she pitched in at other MFRC functions, such as...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~It is a prestigious but demanding job standing sentry at the corner of a war memorial. Only a select few Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members secure the honour.This Remembrance Day, local sailor LS Kyle Ruttan will stand guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial in Ottawa with other CAF members representing the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force, and one Royal Canadian Mounted Police member.“It’s a big honour,” says LS Ruttan. “I’m not a hard navy trade; I’m a support trade, so being selected was a complete surprise.”A sentry is required to stand solemnly, with head bowed and white-gloved hands on the butt of a ceremonial rifle, throughout a ceremony that stirs strong emotions among most people. Concentrating at the task at hand, and not becoming openly touched by the event, will be a challenge admits LS Ruttan.“Straight-faced with no emotion, that will be the hardest part because it is an event that always tears me up, especially when they play ‘The Last Post’,” he says.Remembrance Day will also evoke memories of his mother who died last April. The two would often watch the ceremony at the National War Memorial while he was growing up.“I’ll be part of the event this year, and she won’t be there to see it,” he says. “I know she would be so proud of me though.”His father Micheal Ruttan who lives in Verona, Ontario, will make the journey to see his son at the highly visible national event.As he stands vigil his thoughts will also stray to his great grandfather Clifford McInnis who served aboard HMCS Strathadam for four years ­during the Second World War. He will also remember fallen ­co‑­worker LS Brandon South, who died in Tanzania in April 2014 while...

[video width="580" height="326" mp4="https://www.lookoutnewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2016-09-16_jag-message-eng.mp4"][/video] The Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) is conducting consultations with Canadians as part of the Court Martial Comprehensive Review, to help shape our future military justice system.From Oct. 11 to Nov.7, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members can join the discussions with the Court Martial Comprehensive Review Team, as part of our collective effort to strengthen the court martial system.CAF members and the Canadian public can access the Court Martial Comprehensive Review website to find out more about the different topics for discussion, to provide their input, and to see what others have to say on the discussion board.Purpose of the Court Martial Comprehensive ReviewThe purpose of the review is to conduct a legal and policy analysis of the CAF’s court martial system. The Review Team is engaging with Canadian and international experts, CAF members, and the Canadian public, to help ensure the CAF’s court martial system is effective, efficient, and legitimate.Canada’s military justice system contributes significantly to the CAF’s ability to achieve its mission in Canada and around the world, and aligns with Canadian values and the rule of law, all the while serving the particular needs of the CAF.Ways to participate:Fill out the Comment Form: www.forces.gc.ca/en/about-reports-pubs-military-law-court-martial-comprehensive-review/index.pageSend an email: JAG-Consultations@forces.gc.caMail comments: Office of the Judge Advocate General – Court Martial Comprehensive Review Team, 101 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K2

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~It was a fight for its survival, but the HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial (HAMM) received an 11th hour reprieve and found a new home in Courtenay just in time for Remembrance Day.The museum, dedicated to the sailors who served aboard the Royal Canadian Navy’s flower-class corvettes during the Second World War, and the preservation of Canadian military history, found a new home six-kilometres down Comox Road is the Courtenay Mall.Prior to negotiating a new lease deal, HAMM Founder and Director Lewis Bartholomew said he truly believed it was the end for the 16-year-old Alberni Project and museum when, in June, they were served with notice to vacate the Comox Mall location. A developer looking to ­remodel the mall had served other occupants of the mall with similar notices.“Right before Labour Day weekend I came to the painful realization that we just don’t have a place to move and the future wasn’t good; I was really distraught,” said Bartholomew.“We were told to clear out our stuff. We had gotten to the point where we were already asking friends and volunteers of the museum to clear out spaces in their garages to store our exhibits.”However, on Sept. 25 Bartholomew announced they would be setting up the museum in its new centrally located spot in downtown Courtenay.“I am thrilled we were able to find a new place. Our new landlords made their approach to us at exactly the point when I was becoming extremely frustrated.”While all of its exhibits won’t be unpacked and ready, Bartholomew said the museum plans to open its doors at 9 a.m. on Nov. 11 with its Memorial Wall and some of its popular exhibits ready for display until 6 p.m.That will offer patrons a sneak peak of what its new digs have to...

[caption id="attachment_14227" align="alignnone" width="425"] HMCS Protecteur’s anchor, headed to the Naval Museum of Alberta.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The giant anchor that once rested on the ocean floor, securing HMCS Protecteur for the better part of five decades, has found a new home 1,045 metres above sea level in Alberta.It is being loaned by the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) to the Naval Museum of Alberta. Plans are underway to transport the 12,000 lb anchor and its 1,100 lb connector shackles to its temporary home.“To be able to send a piece of sea-going history, especially from a vessel as important to the navy as Protecteur, inland to our naval brothers and sisters in Alberta is a great opportunity for the RCN, and we were more than happy to facilitate,” said LCdr Justin Leger, Base Logistics Executive Officer. “Otherwise the anchor would have waited on our property for disposal; this way we get to share it with the public.”The Protecteur-Class replenishment oiler was commissioned Aug. 30, 1969, and prematurely decommissioned in May 2015 following a major shipboard fire. In February, the ship was towed via tugboat from Esquimalt Harbour, south through the Panama Canal to its final destination, a scrapyard in Liverpool, N.S. where it was broken up.However, its anchor remained in Base Logistics’ inventory at their warehouse in Colwood. An inquiry was made by Calgary museum staff to the office of the Base Commander to borrow the anchor. Their request was then relayed to the Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) who granted the request.Naval Museum of Alberta Project Manager, Brad Froggatt said he was delighted to learn their request was approved.“Our museum is dedicated to telling the story of the RCN and Protecteur, having served for more than 45 years, was an integral part of that story,” he says.The anchor will be on...

[caption id="attachment_14219" align="alignnone" width="425"] Divers from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) make preparations for a second mine countermeasures dive during Clear Horizon 16 in Chinhae, Korea.[/caption]PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES REMEMBER THE FALLENCapt Jenn Jackson, MARPAC PA Office ~Senior representatives from Australia, Canada, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States took part in a memorial ceremony in Busan, Korea, Oct. 15  at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea to honour United Nations fallen soldiers during the Korean War.The ceremony was part of the commencement events for Clear Horizon 16, a multi-national Mine Warfare Exercise led by the Republic of Korea Navy taking place in Busan and Chinhae, Korea, and the surrounding coastal waters from Oct. 15-23.Lt(N) Greg Oickle, Executive Officer of Maritime Forces Pacific’s Fleet Diving Unit, represented Canada at the ceremony.“It was an unforgettable opportunity to be part of this ceremony that honours more than 2,000 United Nations soldiers, more than 300 of which are Canadian, who fell during the Korean War,” he said. “I was really struck by how young many of the interred soldiers were when they fell. The average appeared to be around 19 years old.”The United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea is the only United Nations cemetery in the world. The Parliament of Korea, in order to honour the services and sacrifices made by the UN forces during the Korean War, volunteered the land for permanent use by the UN as a cemetery in August 1955.The General Assembly accepted the proposal and UN Resolution #977(X) to establish a United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea; it became effective in December 1955. This is a holy site where the fallen of 11 nations are interred.During the ceremony, Rear-Admiral Jong Sam Kim, Commander of Republic of Korea Navy Flotilla 5, led the parade of senior...

[caption id="attachment_14204" align="alignnone" width="425"] Commercial shipping traffic transits the Saigon River past HMCS Vancouver in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Oct. 20.[/caption]Lt(N) Paul Pendergast, MARPAC Public Affairs ~Since departing its home port of Esquimalt in June, HMCS Vancouver has operated extensively throughout the Pacific region, including participation in large-scale multi-national exercises RIMPAC, held in July in the Hawaii area, and Kakadu, hosted by Australia in September.Two weeks into October the ship arrived in Singapore for the first goodwill port visit of WestPloy 16 on Oct. 11. Vancouver’s deployment is aimed at building strong ties between the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and the navies of Asia-pacific countries, while also promoting peace and security in the region.After all the routine tasks such as hooking up shore power and landing gash were completed, the crew were able to explore the city. They were impressed by the modern, efficient, and prosperous city-state.With about the same area and population as greater Toronto, Singapore is the world’s second busiest port in terms of total shipping tonnage (Shanghai is the busiest). Located strategically in the Malacca Strait connecting the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, the booming metropolis is jam packed with gleaming glass and steel skyscrapers.The ship hosted a reception, welcoming business and government leaders to tour the newly modernized frigate and enjoy some Canadian hospitality.There was also time for unofficial efforts to make a positive difference in the community. Twenty members of the crew visited a school at the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore. They spent a morning with students playing games and singing songs.Petty Officer Second Class Stephen Rownd, coordinator of the activity, said, “I was surprised how quickly some crew members jumped into the games, even though they had never done this before. We were really touched by the experience.”Vancouver also hosted an academic roundtable of local security experts while in Singapore as part of the deployment outreach agenda.Attendee Dr. Jim Boutilier, Special Advisor to Maritime Forces Pacific on...

On Oct. 21, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services will hold the Sports Awards Ceremony in Ottawa. It is considered the highlight of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) sports year. Athletes, coaches and officials, serving and retired, are recognized for their outstanding athletic performances and remarkable contributions to sport. Selected members are also inducted into the Canadian Armed Forces Sports Hall of Fame and Honour Roll during the ceremony. Below are CFB Esquimalt’s nominees:2015 CFB Esquimalt Women’s Soccer TeamRoyal Canadian NavyBuilding a strong team bond can take months; however, the CFB Esquimalt Women’s Soccer Team pulled together a winning, determined and sportsmanlike team in mere days. Unable to field teams for a CAF Regional Championship, athletes from throughout the Pacific Region came together to practice only the day before the 2015 CAF National Championships. They worked hard through a difficult round-robin, barely made play-offs, and then surprised everyone by upsetting the reigning champions, the Ontario Region. The team’s final match against the Quebec Region was a nail-biting scoreless tie through two overtimes, but CFB Esquimalt at last claimed a 2-1 victory on penalty kicks.AB Marjolaine PlanteSwimming, CFB Esquimalt, Royal Canadian NavyIn just a few short years, AB Plante has burst onto the swimming scene in the CAF and has out-paced swimmers 18 years her junior. Her passion for the sport, quiet determination to succeed, and exceptional physical fitness were on display repeatedly in 2015. She reached the podium seven times in civilian regional competition, and won gold medals at the CAF National Championships in the 100 m, 200 m and 400 m freestyle, as well as the 100 m backstroke. AB Plante also competed for Canada at the CISM Military World Games in the 50m butterfly and backstroke, where she swam great races against Olympic-calibre athletes.SLt Connor DukeBasketball, CFB Esquimalt, Royal Canadian NavyIn just one year on the CFB Esquimalt Men’s Basketball Team, SLt Duke grew from a talented but reserved new player into one of the best basketball players in...

[caption id="attachment_14183" align="alignnone" width="425"] Commander Clive Butler (back row, third from left), Commanding Officer of HMCS Vancouver, hosted a round table of local security experts in Singapore on Oct. 12. HMCS Vancouver is in Singapore to conduct a goodwill port visit as part of WestPloy 16. The round table meetings are part of the outreach agenda aimed at building strong ties between the Royal Canadian Navy and the navies of the Asia-Pacific countries while promoting peace and security in the region. Photo by Lt(N) Paul Pendergast, MARPAC PA[/caption]DND ~HMCS Vancouver arrived in Singapore last week to conduct a goodwill visit as part of WestPloy 16.Vancouver’s deployment is aimed at building strong ties between the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and the navies of Asia-Pacific countries while also promoting peace and security in the region.The ship is engaging in a variety of training opportunities with foreign navies as well as visiting several countries in the Asia-Pacific region. WestPloy 16 provides a unique opportunity that allows the RCN to foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans.This deployment allows Vancouver, along with an embarked CH-124 Sea King helicopter and air detachment, to test and evolve the warfighting capabilities of the Halifax-Class warships after upgrades to equipment that were made as part of the Halifax-Class Modernization/Frigate Life Extension project.