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[caption id="attachment_14178" align="alignnone" width="425"] Commodore Marta Mulkins, Commander Naval Reserve (centre), on a joint Canadian Coast Guard / RCMP rigid hulled inflatable boat during Exercise Erie Valour. Photo by Lt(N) David Lewis[/caption]Lt(N) David Lewis, HMCS Prevost PAO ~Seven Naval Reserve Divisions, four Army Reserve units, the Canadian Coast Guard, and the RCMP all came together on the first weekend of October for Exercise Erie Valour.The exercise is designed to simulate a joint task force and improve interoperability between government departments.The exercise ran from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 in Port Stanley, Ontario.“The main focus of the exercise is to develop and regenerate individual skills and knowledge of naval operations, seamanship, and specific trade skills in a dynamic and active training environment that promotes skill development and personnel retention,” said LCdr Sean Batte, Commanding Officer of HMCS Prevost, and Joint Task Force Commander for the exercise.Training centered on individual readiness and proficiency in small boat operations while working within a Joint Task Force command structure that oversees waterborne and land security.Also, in an effort to enhance the safety and security of its ships and personnel while on deployment, the Royal Canadian Navy’s developing capability – the Naval Security Team – was tested. In the future, Exercise Erie Valour will continue to support the concept of the Naval Security Team in its training.Commander of the Naval Reserve, Commodore Marta Mulkins visited Port Stanley during Erie Valour and said, “The professionalism and teamwork demonstrated during Ex Erie Valour is impressive. The skills these sailors hone during training exercises such as this will serve them, their home units, and the Royal Canadian Navy for years to come.”In an official tweet from the RCMP they referred to Erie Valour as “a great weekend training with our Maritime Security partners.”

SLt Duy Nguyen & Lt(N) Ellie AminaieHMCS Ottawa ~For the first time since its Halifax Class modernization, HMCS Ottawa and crew had the opportunity to operate in a multi-ship task group.Along with HMCS Winnipeg, Ottawa participated in a U.S.-led exercise involving numerous American ships, a Chilean submarine, and multitudes of U.S.-based aircraft off the coast of Southern California.Ottawa’s crew is working toward high readiness for their upcoming WestPloy 17 deployment; so, the ship’s company has undergone a month-long Intermediate Multi-Ship Readiness Training (IMSRT), also referred to as workups, in order to prepare the crew for the challenges of naval operations, damage control, and warfare.The U.S.-led exercise, called SWATTEX, also served to improve the Royal Canadian Navy’s interoperability with American counterparts.For many of the younger members of the crew, the workups program was a first taste of high tempo operations over an extended period at sea. Ottawa embarked a team from Sea Training Atlantic to train and mentor the crew, helping to establish core skills required at sea, and build team cohesion.SLt Bryan Carr, a Phase VI Combat Systems Engineering Officer and recent graduate from initial training ashore, joined the crew days before sailing from Esquimalt, and was quickly exposed to an array of new naval operations and seamanship evolutions.“There’s been a lot to learn since pretty much every evolution was practiced during IMSRT. It’s been a great opportunity to see the 57mm gun and Close-In Weapon System, both in action and taken apart for maintenance. For a while, we were doing a shoot every day,” he said.Although he found many concepts at sea difficult to grasp at first, SLt Carr was able to gain greater comfort and confidence as he experienced numerous emergency scenarios.Another young sailor who benefitted from Ottawa’s Force Generation program was Able Seaman Jean-Michel Derome, who is a Junior Weapons Engineer. In addition to the Sea Training mentorship he received in repairing equipment during battle damage scenarios, AB Derome’s experience with the Naval Boarding Party was the highlight...

[caption id="attachment_14171" align="alignnone" width="425"] Lieutenant Commander (Ret’d) John Nosotti[/caption]Deborah Morrow, Contributor ~Last week, Lieutenant Commander (Ret’d) John Nosotti celebrates the two-year anniversary of the near-impossible odds of surviving a cardiac arrest while on a remote island.Two years ago, Nosotti and four friends were enjoying a sail on a HMCS Discovery C22 vessel from Stanley Park to Bowen Island. Upon arrival, Nosotti stepped onto the jetty and immediately collapsed in full cardio-respiratory arrest, which means no breathing, no heartbeat, and no signs of life.Responding to shouts for help, a sailor from a nearby yacht dove into the water, swam to the jetty, and began chest compressions. Another member of the C22 crew who had years of E.R. experience as a nurse also helped; a bystander said she was an oncologist, and another person who came to help also knew CPR.Nosotti’s skin colour was deeply blue which meant he needed oxygen. While one person did mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, the others took turns doing chest compressions.The Bowen water taxi operator called on his radio for a paramedic helicopter, but knew the advanced life support help was 45 minutes away. Nosotti’s rescuers had to keep going until help arrived, or else lose him.CPR is exhausting, so turns had to be taken to avoid fatigue from interfering with effective CPR. The four capable and trained first aiders spelled each other off.Mouth-to-mouth ventilation was effective but lacked the high percentage of oxygen the blood needed to fully saturate his body.So Nosotti was still cyanotic (blue) when the Bowen Island Volunteer Firefighters came to help. They did not have full respiratory equipment, but they did have an oxygen tank and mask. The person doing mouth-to-mouth used the mask to breathe in a high concentration of oxygen into her own lungs and then breathe what she could into Nosetti.Shortly...

[caption id="attachment_14163" align="alignnone" width="425"] Dance instructor Victor Golubkov, owner of VGdance studio, and Captain Jenn Jackson move through their Rumba routine to “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten. The dance was performed at the Pacifica Ball in April 2016 in Victoria.[/caption]Capt Jenn Jackson, Contributor ~A cancer diagnosis is not necessarily a death sentence.In fact, I am living, breathing proof that with determination, perseverance and support, life doesn’t even have to stop for cancer treatments.In November 2014, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and Ductal Carcinoma In-Situ, two different types of breast cancer.I was 35, active, otherwise healthy, and had no family history of the disease. There was nothing to indicate that I was more likely than anyone else to be diagnosed, but yet there I was. I was the CFB Esquimalt Public Affairs Officer and I was also a competitive ballroom dancer.I can’t speak for the experience of others, but when I received my diagnosis it just seemed unreal. I didn’t feel sick. In fact, I had competed in dance just two weeks prior and won top pro/am student. I had just organized the Remembrance Week Speaker’s program for the Formation.But whether it felt real or not, reality in the form of six months of chemotherapy, six weeks of radiation, and multiple surgeries was rapidly coming my way. More than 18 months of my life was spent eradicating the cancer and reducing as much as possible the chance of it reoccurring.I realized early on that if I was going to make it through so many months of treatment, feeling sick, being off work, and unable to do many of the things I wanted, that I needed to find one thing as an ‘anchor’ to keep me grounded, positive, and looking ahead to the future. I needed to know there would be something in my life to give me joy. It quickly became obvious that dance was that one thing, and all of my health...

[caption id="attachment_14158" align="alignnone" width="425"] Rudi Hoenson meets with CPO1 Gilles Grégoire and RAdm Art McDonald during a war medals presentation ceremony for Hoenson at the Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead, Oct. 7. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Japanese POW Rudi Hoenson, 93, has finally received his well-earned war medals, seven decades after the Second World War ended.Netherlands Defence Attache in Canada, Lieutenant Colonel Christa Oppers-Beumer, on behalf of Netherlands Minister of Defence Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, honoured him with the Mobilization War Cross and the Medal for Order and Peace during an Oct. 7 ceremony at Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead.Despite seeing the worst horrors of war firsthand, including the Nagasaki atomic bomb, the upbeat Hoenson teased officials.“I would like to thank the Dutch government even though these medals are a little late in arriving. What took you so long? I have been waiting 71 years…You are not going to prick me with the medal are you?”The extended spell of spontaneous laughter broke much of the pre-ceremony tension in the auditorium, but after his ice-breaker the war veteran took a more serious tone.In his address to the audience, Hoenson said he was dedicating his medals to his fallen comrades who fought alongside him in the Dutch East Indies prior to his capture, and those at the POW camp in Nagasaki - where he spent three-and-a-half years - that didn’t survive.“They were entitled to the awards too, but sadly many of them did not receive it,” said Hoenson, who received a standing ovation.The atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945, and Hoenson’s POW camp was less than a mile from ground zero. In the aftermath of the blast much of the city was levelled and left in smouldering ruins; Hoenson and several other prisoners fled the...

[caption id="attachment_14128" align="alignnone" width="400"] Royal Canadian Navy sailor Leading Seaman Josh Adams, of Fleet Diving Unit Pacific, prepares to dispose of unexploded projectiles found underwater near White Beach in the Solomon Islands during Operation Render Safe.[/caption]Canadian Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialists in the Solomon IslandsCpl M. Doran and Capt A. Rosendahl, Australian Defence Forces ~Canadian clearance divers shared skills and knowledge with New Zealand sailors while they were attached to Her Majesty’s New Zealand Ship (HMNZS) Manawanui during Operation Render Safe in the Solomon Islands Sept. 7 to Oct. 7.The operation aimed to reduce the hazards of explosive remnants of war and enhance safety across the Southwest Pacific.Canadian Dive Team Lead, Petty Officer Second Class David Cheeseman of Fleet Diving Unit - Atlantic, said his team conducted explosive ordnance disposal with Australian and New Zealand military forces and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.“We’ve been very successful in discovering unexploded ordnance below the waterline while on HMNZS Manawanui and disposing of it,” he said. “Last week we found six 100-pound air-dropped bombs and another 50 unexploded projectiles. Some were just lying on the sea bed, which meant we could move them to a safer area to blow them, but a few were embedded so we blew them in location.”PO2 Cheeseman said Operation Render Safe was important because it gave the local communities a safer environment to live in.“It’s fantastic to get out and do our job as clearance divers and know we are making the areas around the Solomon Islands safer for the population,” he said. “Especially for the younger children who may not know what these remnants of war are and may injure or kill themselves.”There have been 12 islanders killed by explosive remnants of war in the past decade either by finding ordnance accidently or by trying to make...

[caption id="attachment_14123" align="alignnone" width="400"] Left to right: Chief Petty Officer First Class Goulding and Commander Matthews present a cheque for $5,011.10 on behalf of HMCS Regina to the Chris Knox Foundation. Photos by Brent Fisher[/caption]SLt Mike Harris, HMCS Regina ~Potato harvesting, veterans visit, and a home-opener hockey game, these are some of the activity highlights 15 HMCS Regina crew members took part in during their namesake city visit from Sept. 22 to 27.At the Club du Souvenir at École St Andrew, crew members attended a swearing-in ceremony and then surprised students with a visit from ship mascot Gunner the Gopher, as well as the unfurling of the world’s largest Saskatchewan Roughriders flag.The Roughriders also invited the ship’s representatives to be guests at one of their games, which included the crew marching onto the field prior to the national anthem.The Regina Pats, a Western Hockey League (WHL) team having a century-old affiliation with the military, also hosted the crew. Sailors attended the team’s home opener where Commander Colin Matthews, Regina’s Commanding Officer, dropped the puck to commence their first home game of the season.During a meet and greet at HMCS Queen with members of the unit and Friends of the Navy, Cdr Matthews presented a cheque for more than $5,000 to the Chris Knox Foundation as a sign of the ship’s commitment to the charity and their support of the sick children and youth in the city.Regina holds a strong connection to past military members who have given so much for this country; so crew members spent time getting to know some of the city’s distinguished veterans. They visited the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre to listen to vivid stories from seniors, and were given a lesson in crib by members of the veterans program.They were also given an exclusive tour of the...

[caption id="attachment_14119" align="alignnone" width="400"] Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd met with submariners, members of the Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton, and Babcock Canada during a town hall in dockyard’s Submarine Shore Office, Sept. 30. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd thanked submariners and support staff at Maritime Forces Pacific for their efforts getting HMCS Chicoutimi operationally ready during his visit to CFB Esquimalt.The 35th Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy addressed submariners and members of Fleet Maintenance Facility and Babcock Canada at the Submarine Shore Office in dockyard on the morning of Sept. 30.“I’m looking forward to Chicoutimi ramping up and deploying,” said VAdm Lloyd. “You and all Canadians should be very proud of what this submarine can do, and what a great job each and every one of you has been doing to get her operational again.”In his opening remarks VAdm Lloyd fondly recalled his days in Esquimalt, between March 2009 and July 2010, when he was Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific. He was promoted to his current rank as Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy June 23, replacing Vice-Admiral Mark Norman who moved on to become Vice Chief of Defence Staff.Following his address he held a mini town hall fielding questions from the audience.After his meeting with the submariners, VAdm Lloyd attended the Depart With Dignity Ceremony at the Wardroom for VAdm Robert Davidson.

Base Operations ~Get ready to “drop, cover and hold on” during the Great British Columbia Shakeout on Oct. 20.Everyone in Maritime Forces Pacific, whether civilian or military, will participate in Exercise Shakeout.At 10:20 a.m. people can expect to see flash messages, mass emails and hear the Mass Notification System (MNS) announcing the exercise start.Once the alarm is sent, everyone will drop, cover, and hold on as if there were a major earthquake occurring at that very moment, and stay in this position for at least 60 seconds.DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!),Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and;HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.Do not run to another room, just to get under a table. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, drop to the ground in an inside corner of the building and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms.Earthquakes occur without warning and may be so violent you cannot run or crawl; you will most likely be knocked to the ground, so protect yourself.After 60 seconds everyone will evacuate their workplace and muster at the designated muster area for each building, bringing their personal emergency kits with them. From there, the most senior leader will assume control, and lead all assembled personnel to the applicable Disaster Response Boxes (E-Boxes).Once at the E-Box you will be split into groups based on First Aid qualifications and whether you have taken the four-day Basic Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Course. The Base USAR Team will provide a brief on the roles and responsibilities and will have some minor tasks for you to perform specific to each E-Box location.“This is an excellent time to ask questions and find out how you can help during an emergency by performing activities...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Victoria Hyundai has chosen the Defence Team of CFB Esquimalt as the latest recipient of a car giveaway contest.DND employees – civilian and military – are able to enter the draw to win a new Hyundai Accent. The contest closes Sept. 9, 2017, so there is plenty of time for everyone to enter.Those entering need to have valid military or DND ID, be the age of majority at the time of legal entry, and be a legal resident of Victoria, B.C.Victoria Hyundai Manager Jeremy Truong said the excitement level around the contest has been growing in recent days. The car has been showcased at the Industrial Supplier Trade Show and Formation Fun Day in September. It is expected to be on site at the Oct. 21 CAF National 5K Sports Day run in the Naden Drill Shed.“Our customer base has a large military presence and this is our way of saying thank you to the men and women of the local defence community,” he says. “I recently had an opportunity to attend a day sail in HMCS Ottawa where I was able to gain a greater appreciation of what our Canadian Armed Forces do for us every day, both at home and when deployed abroad.”This is his company’s third car giveaway to Victoria-based DND members in the past four years. The idea for the giveaway was born in 2012 when former Victoria Hyundai owner Steve Munro, a retired artilleryman, decided he wanted to do something special for DND members.To register for the contest visit the special Victoria Hyundai contest website www.victoriahyundaidnd.com or watch for the specially wrapped car at base events.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Sixteen members of Fleet Diving Unit Pacific (FDU(P)) will represent the Canadian Armed Forces at Operation Clear Horizon 16 in the Republic of Korea this week.The Oct. 11 to 23 multi-national training mission is the first exercise of its kind led by South Korea, and is focussed on mine countermeasure operations. It also will highlight Canada’s ongoing efforts to contribute to peace and stability in Northeast Asia.Divers and ships from the United States, Philippines, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand will also participate.A key part of the Fleet Diving Unit team’s efforts will be to provide other participating nations with mine countermeasure training such as explosive ordnance disposal, underwater detonation and pouncer operations, which involves the deployment of divers from helicopters into the sea.“It’s really an opportunity to work jointly, and collaborate with other participating nations on what types of equipment and technology they use. It is also an opportunity to show them how we work with ours,” said CPO2 Alex MacNeish a clearance diver and FDU(P)’s Operations Chief.During the 12-day exercise, FDU (P) divers will employ the use of two made-in-Canada high tech gadgets: the Shark Marine and Canadian Clearance Diver Apparatus re-breather used specifically for mine countermeasure operations.“Essentially it’s an under-water breather designed for the military to work in an environment that may have underwater mines,” explained CPO2 MacNeish. “The idea behind the technology is for divers to move more silently and quietly through the water by reducing sound. It also gives off a low-magnetic acoustic signature that is safer for the diver in these situations.”The Shark Marine underwater navigator is a hand-held electronic device used by divers to detect objects on the seabed floor. It aids divers in an underwater environment with limited visibility.During the opening days of Clear Horizon 2016 three members of...

[caption id="attachment_14101" align="alignnone" width="400"] Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s Commanding Officer Bill Noon (left), and Parks Canada’s Ryan Harris (second from left), show the side-scan sonar image of the wreck to Marc-André Bernier (third from left), Jonathan Moore (fourth from left), and Chief Officer Rich Marriott (at far right). Photo by Theresa Nichols, Fisheries and Oceans Canada[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Four prominent players in the ground-breaking discovery of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition of 1846 are setting sail for the Victoria’s Maritime Museum this week to tell their story.Bill Noon, captain of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) Ship Sir Wilfred Laurier, under Parks Canada’s lead, played a key role in the August 2014 discovery of HMS Erebus, Sir John Franklin’s ship, and recently helped to identify Franklin’s second vessel HMS Terror off the coast of King William Island. He will be part of the presentation “Mysteries of HMS Erebus” at Victoria’s Maritime Museum, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m.Noon, a 35-year CCG veteran, describes himself as a life-long maritime history buff. He compared his involvement in the discoveries as “winning the history lotto.” He rates the initial Erebus discovery, the focus of the presentation, as incredible.“For me it was an exciting and defining moment in both my life and career,” said Noon, who recalls the moment in 2014 when he was informed by Parks Canada officials about the discovery of Erebus. “I’ll never forget the moment in my captain’s quarter’s when they showed me the side-scan sonar imagery from the ocean floor. It may just look like a computer enhanced image but for me it was a super-dramatic, ground breaking image because that was the moment we finally had actual proof of one of the lost vessels.”The presentation will be hosted by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Paul Watson.The evening also includes Parks Canada lead archeologist and diver Ryan Harris, and renowned author David C. Woodman who wrote “Unravelling the Franklin Mystery”.Noon says their discussion will shed much-needed light on the...

[caption id="attachment_14072" align="alignnone" width="400"] PO1 Jonathan Sorensen leads his team in the tug-of-war competition. Photos by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The soggy conditions didn’t seem to faze members of the new Naval Fleet School Pacific who cheered, high-fived and bonded during their unit’s annual Sports Day on Sept. 23.The cool temperatures and light showers persisted for most of the day as approximately 400 personnel took to “the great outdoors” to compete in golf, soccer, ball hockey, softball, basketball, beach volleyball, tug-of-war and wild play tree trekking (zip line) competitions at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre in Colwood.“The summer saw a lot of changes to the unit and it took a lot of hard work by many people, so this day was a much needed release for everyone and a way to come together as a big campus,” said Cdr Todd Bonnar, NFS(P) Commanding Officer.Cdr Bonnar was referring to the recent implementation of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Future Naval Training System (FNTS) that saw the reconfiguration of Fleet School Esquimalt and the Naval Officer Training Centre VENTURE into NFS(P). Despite the logistical challenges of the transformation, and the sports day’s weather, Cdr Bonnar said he was impressed with the turnout and that it was an indication of the “can-do” attitude of students and staff.OS Kendra Fitz-Gerald, a combat training student studying to become a sonar operator, said she was really looking forward to the event and getting out on the baseball field with her classmates.“It gets everyone together and out of the workplace setting for a day and is certainly a morale booster for us all,” she said.LS Josh Bear, who is studying to become a marine engineer, said the event was therapeutic and a good way to beat the stress of studying.“It gives you a complete...

[caption id="attachment_14069" align="alignnone" width="400"] Members of HMCS Winnipeg prepare to berth alongside Broadway Pier, San Diego, California, on Sept. 10, during the ship’s visit to the city for Fleet Week. Photo by LS Ogle Henry, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]SLt Christopher House, HMCS Winnipeg ~For six days this month, the crew of HMCS Winnipeg enjoyed the fun and festivities of Fleet Week San Diego.This celebration of the navy’s culture, history, and community is the city’s largest maritime event and provides a wonderful opportunity for the sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy to form new bonds and strengthen old ones with their American allies.The week alongside at the B Street Pier near downtown San Diego allowed the crew to take advantage of the city’s warm weather and many attractions, while also engaging in some community service work and attending Fleet Week ceremonial functions.Much of the crew took time to explore the city’s renowned Gas Lamp district, eating at many restaurants, and even going to see a Padres baseball game.While some ventured off to visit one or more of the famous beaches in the area, others enjoyed the live music, food trucks, and numerous shops that were on the street right beside the pier.The USS Midway Museum and San Diego Zoo were also popular attractions, and in the spirit of Fleet Week, were giving free admission to all RCN sailors in uniform. A few deserving enlisted personnel were also able to enjoy an appreciative luncheon at SeaWorld San Diego.Community service and volunteer work were also a large part of Fleet Week events. Not only did Winnipeg conduct tours of the ship for the public each day, some personnel went out into the greater San Diego area to help out around the city. Ten sailors took part in a Groundwork Project, creating a .25 acre...

[caption id="attachment_14066" align="alignnone" width="400"] One important lesson before sailing is knowing how to right an overturned sail boat. This was part of the Soldier On sail training experience.[/caption]WO M.Eric Venema, Soldier On ~Who the heck is Bob? What is he doing overboard?These were all thoughts going through the minds of eight serving or retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) from western Canada as they attempted their man overboard drills.Luckily “Bob” was a floating apparatus to simulate a person that had fallen overboard.Participants from Vancouver Island, the British Columbia interior, Alberta, and Manitoba earned a level 2 certification in sailboat operations during the five-day sailing camp held at Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA) in Esquimalt from Sept. 7 to 12.Soldier On is a Canadian Armed Forces program that supports serving members and veterans to overcome their physical or mental health illness or injury through physical activity and sport. The program is a highly visible and integral component of the Department of National Defence’s commitment and priority towards providing a comprehensive approach to care for ill and injured members.Soldier On supplies members with equipment and coaches to meet their needs.They also provide members with a safe environment to challenge themselves, and to get inspired in ways they may not have thought possible. This re-introduction to an active lifestyle provides the member with opportunities to develop new skills, build confidence in their abilities, and meet peers with similar challenges. Many ill and injured members credit Soldier On with helping them adapt to their new normal, and in realizing their full potential to “Soldier On” in their existing military career or in their new civilian life.Through the hard work of the CFSA in Esquimalt, and with the understanding of the association members, all of the attendees were put through their paces starting...

[caption id="attachment_14062" align="alignnone" width="400"] His Royal Highness Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, inspects the Guard of Honour at the B.C. Legislature Building on the first day of his tour of Western Canada. Photo by MCpl Chris Ward, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Sixteen military families from Victoria were guests of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for a children’s tea party at Government House on Sept. 29.The Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) facilitated the intimate hour-long late morning meeting with Prince William, Princess Catherine, and their children Prince George, 3, and one-year-old Princess Charlotte on the lawn of Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia’s residence.Tea and coffee was served along with sandwiches and Hors d’oeuvres, and an abundance of fun games for the children included balloon animals, bubble blowing and a puppet show.“It was a surreal experience for me and one I will remember and cherish forever, right up there with getting married and the birth of my children,” said Tracey Delisle who attended the event with her husband MS Denis Delisle, from HMCS Victoria, and their two children Addy, 3, and Parker, 4.“I’m a submariner and Prince William is the Commodore-In-Chief of the Royal Submarine Service. He made me realize that we actually had a lot in common and he was at ease during our discussion,” said MS Delisle.Meanwhile Nikki Berti and her husband LS Christopher Berti, a marine engineer with HMCS Whitehorse, had an intimate royal experience after their 19-month-old daughter Gabriella got into a brief quarrel with Prince George over a balloon animal they both had their eye on.“Gabriella went to grab the balloon and Prince George got upset, and then the Duke intervened and told him it was okay and they should share,” said Nikki Berti. “Then the Duke went and got the balloon maker...

[caption id="attachment_14055" align="alignnone" width="400"] Cmdre Buck Zwick addresses Vancouver crew members on the flight deck Sept. 14, prior to the ship sailing for Australia.[/caption]SLt Deason, HMCS Vancouver ~HMCS Vancouver has just concluded another leg of its journey across the Asia-Pacific region with Kakadu.Upon completion of RIMPAC, Vancouver continued on to Guam, meeting up with Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Ship (JMSDS) Fuyuzuki before continuing the transit west for Darwin, Australia, in order to participate in Kakadu.With 19 nations participating this year, Kakadu is Australia’s largest international maritime exercise.Vancouver and JMSDS Fuyuzuki arrived together off Darwin following a replenishment at sea exercise with Her Majesty’s Australian Ship Success, Australia’s battle tanker.After refuelling, Vancouver came alongside briefly to embark stores prior to proceeding to anchor as final plans and preparations for the exercise were made.While at anchor, liberty boats shuttled crew members into town to stretch their legs and enjoy the local tourist attractions. Notably, Vancouver participated in the Kakadu sports day event, winning the volleyball and squash titles.Kakadu is named after Australia’s vast northern national park, known internationally for its saltwater crocodiles and rugged terrain.The 12-day biennial exercise, which began in 1993, aims to build and strengthen mutual understanding and interoperability through a series of graduated training activities, live weapon firings, and structured tactical free play periods.Kakadu enables the Royal Australian Navy and regional maritime forces to engage in unique multinational maritime training activities, ranging from constabulary and surveillance scenarios to high-end maritime warfare in a combined environment.Participating ships and aircraft conducted training exercises including anti-submarine warfare, close quarters manoeuvres, flight operations, and main armament shoots along Australia’s northern shores.Upon completion of the exercise, Vancouver returned to Darwin for a rest and maintenance period, where members of the ship’s crew had the opportunity to repair, re-focus and prepare for the next phase of...

[caption id="attachment_14046" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of the Auxiliary Fleet gather for a group photo at Dockyard, Sept. 28, prior to their 70th Anniversary celebration. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Members of the Canadian Forces Auxiliary Fleet (Esquimalt) received congratulations, high praise and sweet birthday cake during their unit’s 70th anniversary celebration on Sept 28.Following a barbecue at the Work Point Gunroom, Rear-Admiral Art McDonald kicked off the lunchtime event’s awards ceremony by noting the vital importance of the Auxiliary Fleet in Maritime Forces Pacific’s day-to-day operations.“In my time in the navy I’ve had 10 years of operating out of this harbor, and I’ve had the chance to see the fantastic work you are doing day-in and day-out. What you have been doing collectively as a unit over 70 years is amazing; it has enabled RCN [Royal Canadian Navy] operations over that time.”The Auxiliary Fleet is an operational support branch of the navy that is responsible for port management, ship assist, coastal towing, fuelling operations, moorings, defence research, and environmental response and training.Incoming Port Operations and Emergency Services Branch Commanding Officer, Cdr Andy Muir said recognizing the Auxiliary Fleet for its work is something most sailors feel strongly about.  “This is a day for the entire base to celebrate the accomplishments and legacy of the Auxiliary Fleet,” said Cdr Muir. “They are the personnel who get our ships out to sea; they are the unsung heroes, the men and women who are there 24/7 to support RCN operations.”During his address, Doug Kimmett noted the 70th anniversary event should have taken place in 2015, but the unit was so busy with port operations the ceremony was put off until this year.  The Auxiliary Fleet was founded in 1945 and has seen sweeping changes since, both in its size and...

[caption id="attachment_14051" align="alignnone" width="400"] HCapt(N) Mandy Farmer inspects a member of Alpha Platoon during Base Divisions. Photo by LS Ogle Henry, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Eight months ago, Accent Inns President and CEO Mandy Farmer, 43, was aboard a Harbour Air flight high above CFB Esquimalt when she peered out of the plane’s starboard window and had a revelation.“I looked at the massive, amazing piece of property below and I was drawing a big blank,” says the Royal Canadian Navy’s newest Honorary Captain. “My family has been living in Victoria for three generations, I’m passionate about Victoria, but I’m looking down at this base and saying to myself this is really the heart of the city and I don’t know much about it.”About an hour later she received a phone call from the Commander Maritime Forces Pacific’s office asking if she was interested in the role of Honorary Captain where she would serve as an ambassador for the base in the community. The notion of being connected to the navy was of interest, and she readily said yes to the query. About six months later, during a summer camping trip in Powell River, came the phone call she had hoped for.  The navy informed her she had been selected to fill the role vacated by HCapt(N) (Ret’d) Cedric Steele.“I was thrilled, overjoyed and to be honest I was also very nervous because I want to do a good job,” she says.By all indications doing a good job is the norm for HCapt(N) Farmer. In 2008, she took the reins of the family-run business from her father. In 2015, Accent Inns and her company’s other holding, retro-themed Hotel Zed, employed a staff of over 200, had revenues of more than $20 million and saw a 34 per cent revenue...

[caption id="attachment_13999" align="alignnone" width="400"] Civilian ammunition technicians in training (Left) Ed Cawley, Michelle Chowns, Tervor Marcotte, Scott Mathieson, Alfred Nelson and Kala Chaulk display a 100 mm Shield Practice Rocket at Rocky Point Ammunition Depot. They are joined by Rocky Point Commanding Officer Maj Jean-Luc Rioux (fourth from right) and Material Processing Officer Makr Field (third from left). Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff writer ~A unique apprenticeship program at Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot Rocky Point will ensure there’s a cache of civilian ammunition technicians for the future.These highly specialized tradespeople are responsible for the maintenance, storage and cataloguing of an estimated 260 types of ammunition, plus the safe shipment to military units throughout British Columbia, and the loading of ammunition onto and off of Royal Canadian Navy warships.Currently, 53 civilian staff, including 30 ammunition technicians, two military Ammunition Technicians and two military Ammunition Technical Officers are employed at the depot.  Most of the civilian ammunition technicians work in the Ammunition Maintenance Facility or in the 23 long-term storage magazines, which are located on 500 acres on the southern tip of Vancouver Island.The earth-covered bunker-style magazines, which look like a series of small grassy hills, were built to ensure the force of any potential explosion would be directed upward, not outward. This means if one were to explode, the others would be safe.“There are two sides to storage; we have new ammunition arriving off contract and we have the ammunition we get back from ships and military units.  In either case, we are required to make sure they are in working order and can be stored safely,” explains Rocky Point Materiel Processing Officer Mark Field. “The other aspect is  periodic inspections, and scheduled maintenance.  It’s up to us to make sure nothing is going wrong with the material during...

[caption id="attachment_13996" align="alignnone" width="400"] Photo by MCpl Alexandre Paquin, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]DND ~The ongoing care, support and well-being of ill and injured Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, veterans and their families, is a high priority for the CAF, Department of National Defence (DND), Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and the Government of Canada. Whether our personnel are on the road to recovery, rehabilitation, returning to military duty, or transitioning to civilian life, the CAF is dedicated to assisting them through their challenging journey.All CAF members need to be aware of changes to VAC income support benefits that will take effect Oct. 1, 2016, as many personnel have questions about what this means for them and how they can apply to receive such benefits. This change will affect all veterans as well as ill and injured CAF members who may be medically released in the future.As announced in Budget 2016, funding for income support benefits for veterans in VAC’s Earnings Loss Benefit (ELB) program will be raised from 75 to 90 per cent of a veteran’s pre-release salary. Additionally, the benefit will be indexed so that it keeps pace with inflation. While VAC’s ELB income support benefits will increase, it is important to note that CAF Long Term Disability (LTD) benefits will not. It will remain at 75 per cent of a veteran’s pre-release salary and existing benefits will not be affected. Therefore, in order to be considered for the additional benefit, people must apply to VAC.Note that the Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) administers the CAF LTD policy on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Staff and Manulife is the insurer. As the employer sponsored group disability plan, CAF LTD is first payer for benefits and remains among the best LTD plans offered in the country.Veterans or those medically...

[caption id="attachment_13993" align="alignnone" width="400"] A view of the 1890s shell store houses located on Esquimalt Harbour’s Cole Island. Photo courtesy of Province of B.C. Heritage Branch[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A historical ammunition depot, located on the tiny, rocky outcrop in Esquimalt Harbour called Cole Island, is being restored.More than 150 years ago, the remote island was chosen to house ammo because of its distance from the naval hub, and was named after Edmond Picoti Cole, master of HMS Fisgard. By the end of the Second World War the depot was no longer required.The island has been undergoing a transformation since 2006 when it was recognized as a National Historic Site by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.Prior to that point, the 150-year-old buildings had fallen into a state of disrepair as the area was visited by partiers, vandals and those wanting to dump their refuse.The two brick and timber buildings at the heart of this phase of restoration were built around 1859 and once housed shells and other ammo.The Province of British Columbia, the custodian of the Cole Island,  and Parks Canada are pumping $200,000 into the renovation, with upgrades being carried out under the guidance of B.C.’s Ministry of Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations Heritage Branch.The branch is currently researching what the two buildings looked like by sifting through old navy correspondence, reviewing 1940s era RCAF aerial photographs, and hearing from residents and employees who frequented the site through the Friends of Cole Island network.“We want to find out how far the balconies, which were used to load ammunition, extended into the water and what the buildings looked like from the seaward side,” says Richard Linzey, Heritage Branch manager. “We have begun to mobilize and get on the island to do the work, so any new...

[caption id="attachment_13990" align="alignnone" width="400"] Members of HMCS Uganda and HMCS Quebec Veterans Association pose for a group shot during a tour of HMCS Ottawa, Sept. 16, 2016. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~They reminisced, raised a tot of rum and then said their heartfelt farewells as members of HMCS Uganda and HMCS Quebec Veterans’ Association held their final reunion at the Base from Sept. 16-18.Fourteen veterans and 16 of their family members travelled from across Canada for one last weekend to recall their days aboard the Colony-class light cruiser that was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in October 1944 as HMCS Uganda and then renamed HMCS Quebec during its recommissioning in 1952.Their weekend in Victoria included a tour of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum, lunch at the Esquimalt legion, a tour of HMCS Ottawa, dinner at the Wardroom, a church service at St. Andrew’s Chapel/Christ the Redeemer and then a traditional Up-Spirits where a toast was offered to each sailor.While aboard Ottawa the veterans marvelled at the evolution of naval warfare.“It’s surprising how far the level of technology for armaments has advanced,” remarked 91-year-old AB (Ret’d) Hugh Murray of London, Ont., who joined the RCN at the age of 17 and served as a gunner on Uganda from 1944 to 1945. “The 3.5 mm guns aboard Ottawa can fire 220 shells per minute while the guns we used could fire about 14. It’s quite a contrast.”Uganda was not only the RCN’s flagship but the only one to serve against Imperial Japan during the Second World War.  Murray said the ship took on enemy fire multiple times and was attacked by Kamikaze pilots on three separate occasions. Other moments that stood out for him included the vessel’s participation in the bombardment of Truk Island during...

[caption id="attachment_13987" align="alignnone" width="540"] Members of the then named Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency, now the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Service, pose outside their headquarters in Ottawa in 1996. The organization is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. Photo courtesy of CFMWS[/caption]CFMWS ~This year, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) is celebrating 20 years of unrelenting dedication to helping Canadian Armed Forces members and their families with services that are tailored to handle many unique aspects of the military lifestyle.It was on Sept. 3, 1996, that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Department of National Defence implemented a VCDS Instruction that launched the provision of Personnel Support Programs through a Non-Public Property (NPP) delivery model.Prior to Unification of the CAF, virtually all NPP activities were controlled and managed at the local level.  However, the idea of a common system of NPP control and administration was recommended back in 1966 in a study conducted by Rear Admiral C.J. Dillon. Years later, the concept of delivering morale and welfare programs through a combination of Public and NPP resources was introduced and approved. These defining actions opened the door to a concerted morale and welfare program delivery in the CAF and greatly impacted the direction that led to the birth of the present thriving model that is in place now.By merging PSP services with those offered by CANEX, SISIP Financial and NPP administration, the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency (CFPSA), the precursor to today’s CFMWS, was created. Later, administration of Military Family Services and Casualty Support Management were added to CFMWS’ mandate to become a unified organization and the service provider of choice for the military community.In the 20-year span of CFMWS’ existence, more than just the name has changed; however, its mandate has remained constant throughout. To echo the...

[caption id="attachment_13984" align="alignnone" width="400"] HeroWork volunteers swing their pick axe and shovels while performing landcaping work as part of their Radical Renovation of the Rainbow Kitchen on the grounds of the Esquimalt United Church. Photo by Tom Gore, HeroWork[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Military personnel and civilians worked side-by-side battling wet and muddy conditions during the opening weekend of a massive renovation project at Esquimalt’s Rainbow Kitchen.The $500,000 ‘Radical Renovation’ being carried out by local non-profit charity HeroWork, at the Esquimalt United Church facility on Admirals Road, kicked off on the evening of Sept. 16. The community-driven building project is similar to an old-fashioned barn-raising or the quick-turn-around home rebuilding work done by Habitat for Humanity. It uses large numbers of volunteers to get large-scale construction projects done quickly.The kick-off began with volunteers marching from the Canteen Road parking lot to the job site with a police escort and musical accompaniment provided by the Naden Band. After a warm welcome, some words of encouragement by organizers and stakeholders and a complimentary fully-catered barbeque, approximately 150 volunteers rolled up their sleeves and began work on the first phase of the project. Some of the initial work performed included a massive landscaping project on the church’s grounds, stripping the roof of its shingles and gutting portions of the inside of the building.“The level of assistance we received from CFB Esquimalt was amazing,” said HeroWork founder and executive director, Paul LaTour. “The fact that they all showed up on a Saturday morning with smiles on their faces when it was pouring rain, got soaked to the bone and covered in mud, but continued to work, helped us move the project forward without any major delays.”The project’s military liaison, Lt(N) Colin Dudeck, said the enthusiasm and encouragement from organizers and stakeholders made the unpleasant weather...

I remain very pleased to continue on in the role of Chair for your 2016 National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC).  It is inspiring to be part of such a dedicated team of volunteers and donors! Having had the opportunity to serve as your Chair for two full campaigns, I can tell you from experience that it is immensely rewarding to be part of such a worthy effort.Although we remain part of the overall Federal Government charitable campaign (GCWCC), DND has rebranded to National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC) to better identify with our very own National Defence community and the close ties we have with the charities we support in our local communities where we reside, volunteer and raise vital funds annually.Our primary goals for the 2016 NDWCC will continue to be all inclusive canvassing, ensuring that our defence community receives accurate and helpful information regarding our workplace campaign and increasing levels of participation through both volunteerism and donations.Of course we must also remember to celebrate our successes and share the stories of individuals who have been helped – many of whom are now giving back and nurturing that continuous circle of caring and philanthropy.  It is so important to take time to reflect on how each of us is touched, directly or indirectly, by charitable community, social, and health organizations.  Your participation, whether through the United Way of Greater Victoria, Healthpartners, or your individually chosen charities, continues to make substantial and fundamental improvements for so many lives on a daily basis.I encourage all of you to think about how you might support your charitable campaign. We hope to see you participate in some of the many fun events that will occur over the course of the next few months, such as Dress with a Difference Fridays, the DND/Royals...

[caption id="attachment_14022" align="alignnone" width="400"] HMCS Charlottetown’s Chiefs (from left to right) CPO2 Kent Ellerbeck, CPO2 Robert Embree, CPO2 Dave Skinner, ship’s Coxswain CPO1 Anthony Greig Bishop, CPO2 Mathew Boniface, CPO2 Kevin Reid and MWO Mike Windsor participate in the 22 Push-up Challenge on the flight deck during OP Reassurance in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo by Cpl Blaine Sewell, Formation Imagery Services[/caption]Lt(N) Bill King, HMCS Charlottetown ~On Aug. 19, our Defence Minister, the Honourable Harjit Sajjan, posted a video to his Facebook page showing him doing 22 pushups as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the high suicide rate among Canadian and American Armed Forces members, veterans and first responders.Statistics gathered in the United States in 2013, revealed that an average of 22 veterans committed suicide each day. Here in Canada, we lost 160 veterans to suicide between 2004 and 2014, more than the total number of Canadian Armed Forces members killed in Afghanistan.The challenge – film yourself doing 22 pushups a day for 22 days and nominate others to do the same.The Commanding Officer and crew members on board HMCS Charlottetown were challenged by friends and former shipmates to support the cause while deployed in the Mediterranean Sea. In a video of almost half the ship’s company doing pushups on the flight deck, Commander Andrew Hingsten said, “The 22 Pushup Challenge is intended to raise national awareness of the high number of veteran suicides, and the associated mental health issues. Unfortunately, these issues are all too real in our line of work. I looked for 21 friends to participate, but I found so many more.”

[caption id="attachment_13829" align="alignnone" width="240"] Tyrone Pile[/caption]Danielle Pope, Pearson College ~Tyrone Pile is accustomed to leading. He served Canada and the Royal Canadian Navy for more than 35 years in various capacities, from Commander of the naval frigate HMCS Regina, to Rear-Admiral and Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific.While the military lifestyle left Pile and his family used to moving locations rather than staying in one place (17 moves, to be exact), he finds a surprise twist in his new position at Pearson College as he will be working very close to home.Since marrying his Metchosin-raised wife, Debra in 1980, Pile and his family have bounced between various locations across Canada with the hope to someday settle down on Vancouver Island. Now, as Pearson’s Vice President of Operations and Administration, he’s set his anchor firmly in a most favoured location.His career started near Pearson back in 1975 when he left the small gold-mining town of Geraldton, ON, to attend Royal Roads Military College (now Royal Roads University) in Victoria. His interest in engineering was overtaken by a love of writing, history and the humanities, leading to an Honours Degree in English and graduation from Royal Military College in Kingston, ON, in 1979.He believed great lessons sat waiting in those history texts, but it would be a decade before Pile returned to school on a navy scholarship, earning his Master’s Degree in History at the University of Victoria.“A lot of wisdom can be gained in trying to learn from those who’ve learned before you,” he says. “Integrated learning includes learning from the past.”In his new role, Pile will report to the President and be responsible for finance, operations, human resources, revenue generation and legal matters at Pearson College.“What I see at Pearson is tremendous potential,” he says. “It’s a talented, committed and resourceful...

[caption id="attachment_13825" align="alignnone" width="400"] Ensign Yusuke Hara meets Commander Clive Butler during a CrossPol exercise while Vancouver transits in company of Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ship Fuyuzuki.[/caption]HMCS Vancouver arrived in Darwin, Australia, last week to take part in Exercise Kakadu 2016, Australia’s largest international maritime exercise.The ship began its transit to Australia last month following participation in RIMPAC off the coast of Hawaii. While en route they stopped for a port visit in Guam before completing the transit alongside Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Ship Fuyuzuki, participating in joint training along the way.Kakadu aims to strengthen mutual understanding and interoperability and will see Vancouver showcase advanced surface gunnery capabilities designed to better protect sailors and warships operating in littoral waters.There are 19 nations taking part in the exercise from Sept. 12-24: Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga, United States of America and Vietnam.Upon completion of Kakadu, Vancouver will embark on WestPloy 2016. This deployment will further allow the ship to engage in a variety of training opportunities with foreign navies while also visiting several countries in the Asia-Pacific region before returning to Esquimalt at the end of the year.

[caption id="attachment_13822" align="alignnone" width="400"] RCN Halifax-class frigate HMCS Calgary steams alongside Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis during RIMPAC 2016. Photo by U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sierra D. Langdon[/caption]Lt(N) Stuart MacDonald, SCC Battle Watch Officer ~RIMPAC 16 provided an opportunity for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) to achieve an historic first by assuming the role of Sea Combat Commander (SCC), embarked in HMCS Calgary with its integrated command suite, from July 11 to Aug. 2.During the world’s largest maritime exercise, the SCC led by Capt(N) Jason Boyd, Director New Capability Introduction, and supported primarily by Canadian Fleet Pacific staff was given the responsibility for defending the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis from surface and sub-surface opposed units, as well as planning and executing offensive strikes both on the surface and in the air.“It was an honour to fulfill the role of SCC and act in the capacity of Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One for USS John C. Stennis,” said Capt(N) Boyd.The SCC had the opportunity to assume the role of Commander Task Group 170.1 consisting of nine ships divided in two separate Surface Action Groups, from several countries including the U.S., Australia, Korea, Singapore, Chile and India.Over the course of the exercise French and Indonesian warships were also attached, along with other allied nations, swelling the number of ships to 15, all integrated into a single Carrier Strike Group supporting Stennis.Unlike Destroyer Squadron staff, which conduct their leadership from the Carrier, the smaller-in-numbers RCN staff would further be challenged by being separated from Stennis to execute its role as SCC from onboard Calgary.The command suite integrated into Calgary through the Halifax Class Modernization refit provided multi-function consoles and large screen tactical displays. They allowed SCC and the Battle Watch Officers and Chiefs to maintain full situational awareness...