News

[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...

[caption id="attachment_13818" align="alignnone" width="400"] A display of E.J Hughes sketches and the finished painting entitled Armoured Car, painted in 1946, are on display at the Ashton Armoury Museum. Hughes was a Second World War artist and the painting pictured above shows an armoured car receiving maintenance by a Royal Canadian Dragoons’ member. Photos by Jazz Campbell[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Sketches from renowned Canadian artist E.J. Hughes have returned home to the Ashton Armoury Museum in Victoria after being on display in July and August at Frameworks art gallery in Duncan.While Hughes was best known for his land and seascapes, these 20 sketches are from his brief career as a military artist during the Second World War.Hughes’ conceptual sketches, which he envisioned in Kiska, Alaska, the site of the Battle of Kiska, were a popular attraction in Duncan says Museum Director Ted Leaker.“People were astonished because they never thought they would see something like this,” he says. “One attendee said they never really understood how Hughes got to his final product, so these sketches reveal how he developed his concept on canvas.”Born in 1913, Hughes was a gunner with the Royal Canadian Artillery during the first years of the Second World War. He then served as one of Canada’s official war artists between 1943 and 1946, sharing with Canadians the sacrifices made by the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces.After the war, Hughes became better known for his non-military paintings, including his painting of Lake Okanagan that fetched over $402,000 at an auction in 2007.“Many visitors to the museum were surprised to learn he also did military paintings, but this work is well known in Canada’s military communities,” says Leaker.The collection was donated by HCol (Ret’d) F. Roseborough of 11 Field Ambulance Victoria. The museum is open to the...

[caption id="attachment_13814" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photos by Shelley Fox, Lookout[/caption]There was much to see at the Industrial Supplier Trade Show Sept. 15 at the Naden Drill Shed. For example, a Titan boat, 10 metres in length, with the entire cockpit suspended on high speed wave impact technology produced by Shockwave was a huge draw. Not to mention the virtual reality demo from Racerocks 3D and so many other examples of modern technology on display. Show-goers also enjoyed Serious Coffee, and a free lunch from two food trucks. Attendance was high, with more than 900 DND employees making it out to the event.Click here for more photos of the event!

[caption id="attachment_13810" align="alignnone" width="400"] Photo taken for a Naval Security Team recruitment poster, Sept. 7 on HMCS Edmonton. Photo by Cpl Andre Maillet, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Darlene Blakeley, Navy Public Affairs Ottawa ~In an effort to enhance the safety and security of its ships and personnel while on deployment, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is developing a new capability called the Naval Security Team (NST), designed to support specific missions.The NST will be composed primarily of naval reservists and will include a full-time command team to ensure personnel, training, and equipment are available for deployment.“The NST starts with a command and support cell, and then has other teams attached, like Lego blocks, as the mission dictates,” explains Commander Jeffrey White, Officer-in-Charge of the NST concept. “These attached layers will include a security or force protection section, a tactical boat section, a mobile repair team and intelligence support.”The team’s task will include port force protection and host nation liaison, along with support and intelligence requirements in foreign ports.After selection, the team of approximately 30 to 50 personnel will be trained to meet specific mission requirements. For most force protection missions, this will include use of force, rules of engagement training, more advanced weapons training, small boat tactics, communications, deployed logistics and liaison skills.Cdr White says the force protection burden placed on a ship’s company when deployed can be challenging to maintain over time and reduces the availability of personnel to support other tasks, such as maintenance.“NST seeks to support and help address this deficiency by providing an extra layer of force protection,” he says. “This capability requires short-term commitments that fit well into the lifestyle of part-time reservists, allowing our Naval Reserve to fulfill another role in the defence of Canada.”During the recent Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, a small group...

[caption id="attachment_13804" align="alignnone" width="400"] After two years at Maritime Forces Pacific, CPO1 Mike Feltham (right) has handed over his post to CPO1 Gilles Grégoire (left), with Rear-Admiral Art McDonald (centre) presiding over the event. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~CPO1 Gilles Grégoire had one reaction back in July when he learned he was heading to Victoria to become the new Formation Chief.“I was ecstatic,” he says. “I never had a vision of ascending this far. I am a man whose big goal in life when I joined the navy was to become a Petty Officer in a warship. I feel extremely fortunate to have this opportunity.”Like his predecessor CPO1 Feltham, Chief Grégoire always knew from a young age the navy was for him. He enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1986 at the age of 17, serving as a Naval Weapons Technician.During his 30-year career he served aboard HMC Ships Terra Nova, Yukon, Mackenzie, Annapolis, Fraser, Halifax, Ville de Quebec, St. Johns and Toronto.  In shore postings the native of Campbellton, N.B., served extensively at the Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School with duties including Halifax-Class equipment instructor and senior instructor, and Naval Weapons Training Chief.He graduated from the Non-Commissioned Officer Executive Professional Development Program at Royal Military College of Canada in 2013, earning a certificate of Military Studies.  In 2014, CPO1 Grégoire was appointed Coxswain of  HMCS Toronto where he carried out his duties in support of our NATO allies as part of Operation Reassurance.For the past 13 months CPO1 Grégoire served as Chief Warrant Officer for the Chief of Force Development organization in Halifax, a unit responsible for developing future capabilities required to produce strategically relevant, operationally responsive, and tactically decisive military forces.He hopes his extensive experience will serve the Formation well.“Having that breadth of...

[caption id="attachment_13770" align="alignnone" width="400"] Ab Renaud (left), Ted Hibberd and Reg Schroeter strike a pose for their 1948 RCAF Flyers players card photograph. Photos Courtesy of Tim Schofield[/caption]Alexandra Baillie-David, Air Force PA Office ~There are many things that Alzheimer’s disease has taken away from former Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Flyer Ted Hibberd, such as the once-familiar faces of his family and friends, and memories going back to his young adulthood. But there’s one thing the 90-year-old Ottawa native has always remembered: his gold-medal win at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland.Hibberd was recruited as one of only two players without previous military experience. Hibberd and Pete Leichnitz had been too young to enlist during the Second World War, but were selected because the Flyers needed talented amateur players. They were enrolled in the RCAF and became instant Aircraftmen First Class.Before their time with the RCAF, Hibberd and Leichnitz played with the New Edinburgh Burghs of the Ottawa Senior League. Two players who were former members of the air force and one who was a former army member also came from the Burghs.Hibberd was a forward and, standing at 5’5”, was speedy and agile – just the kind of player the Flyers needed.The Flyers’ legacyInitially, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) was not going to send a hockey team to the Olympics, a decision some felt was “anti-Canadian.” At the time, changes to the International Olympic Committee’s rules had placed strict limitations on who was considered amateur enough to compete, and CAHA did not have a team that qualified. That was until Squadron Leader Sandy Watson, a senior RCAF medical officer and hockey fanatic, made a strong case for the Flyers. He managed to persuade the CAHA that the team, the Allen Cup winner in 1942, was a capable alternative.However, many Canadians were unsure of this last-minute team of RCAF airmen. It was clear from a number of devastating losses in December 1947 that, despite the individual skill...

[caption id="attachment_13762" align="alignnone" width="400"] Members of the Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia and the Royal Canadian Air Force Association visited 12 Wing Shearwater Aug. 10 to learn more about the Block 1.0 and 1.1 phases of the CH148 Cyclone helicopter at 12 Air Maintenance Squadron. Photo by Cpl Felicia Ogunniya, 12 Wing Imaging Services[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident ~After recently celebrating a number of milestones surrounding the Maritime Helicopter Project and transition to the CH-148 Cyclone, officials at 12 Wing Shearwater, Nova Scotia, invited an outside group for a progress briefing and static tour of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF’s) newest aircraft on Aug. 10.Personnel from the Helicopter Test and Evaluation Facility (HOTEF) hosted members of the RCAF Association and the Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia for the briefing, which was delivered at the wing’s Maritime Helicopter Training Centre by Captain Bryan Langille.Visitors were given an overview of maritime helicopter roles in the modern era, the advanced capabilities of the Cyclone, including its upgraded engines, night-vision compatibility, and advanced sensors and radar, and were briefed on the transition progress thus far.They viewed a number of photographs and video clips of the aircraft flying at sea during trials with Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Montreal, and then went out to the hangars to see the Cyclones and tour the interior of the helicopter.Four Cyclones are currently housed at 12 Wing, with two of those being the upgraded 1.1 Block version of the helicopter. Two more of the original six Cyclones delivered are currently with Sikorsky, receiving the Block 1.1 upgrade.In terms of testing the helicopter, Major Travis Chapman, HOTEF commanding officer, said his crew has made significant progress in evaluating shore-based and shipborne operations.After a break from flying for a new training course, the crew will be back out...

[caption id="attachment_13758" align="alignnone" width="400"] Stock photo[/caption]Military Family Services ~Voilà Learning, in partnership with Military Family Services, is offering free online homework support to military children needing assistance with their French homework.Registration is required when enrolling children to validate that they are from a military family. Once registration is complete, a code is emailed to parents allowing children access to the Voilà Learning Virtual Immersion Campus. Children find the customizable avatar-led virtual support of the campus appealing, as the world they work in resembles a typical école.Further, their questions are answered in real-time by professional teachers in a virtual group setting.The homework help is available to children of military families between ages five and 18. Support is available in a variety of subjects on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 11 p.m. EST.Voilà is a not-for-profit organization that unites hundreds of certified French teachers from school boards across Canada and the United States. The organization also unites hundreds of members, teachers, educators and school principals with a common goal: to encourage students in their acquisition of the French language, and to help parents meet the needs of their children studying in a French program.To view a video detailing how the service can be of benefit to your military family and/or to register in the Virtual Immersion Campus visit the Voilà Learning website:http://voilalearning.com/en/

[caption id="attachment_13755" align="alignnone" width="400"] Members of the Aquarius Dive Club gather off Tyee Cove in preparation for their participation in the Gorge Cleanup.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Aquarius Dive Club is calling on experienced divers and general volunteers to assist in its annual cleanup of the Gorge Waterway.The community-driven waste-removal project is an effort to preserve wildlife habitats and the beauty of the scenic waterway that stretches from Admirals road to its source, an inlet of Victoria Harbour near Tillicum Road.This year’s cleanup takes place Sept. 17 and volunteers are asked to assemble at Waterfront Crescent beside Selkirk Green Park no later than 10 a.m.The cleanup is in its 16th year and organized by the Burnside Gorge Community Centre.The base’s dive club is entering its fourth year of involvement in the cleanup and the man overseeing it, MWO Mario Robillard, says the cleanup is all part of a larger effort called the Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up to rid shorelines across the country of harmful waste.“For over 16 years, thousands of Victoria-based volunteers have removed tonnes of waste from local marine areas and shorelines while preserving wildlife habitats and restoring the beauty of the inner Gorge Waterway,” said MWO Robillard. “You don’t have to be a diver to partake in the effort, anyone who is interested in making a difference is encouraged to get involved.”General volunteers are  to bring rubber boots and gloves as only a limited number will be supplied by organizers.Divers participating in the cleanup will be required to report the type and amount of debris on an online survey map, part of the Aquarius Dive Club’s role in Project Aware, a global initiative by divers to protect underwater environments from harmful refuse.“Members of Aquarius and divers around the world are seeking a permanent reduction of refuse in sensitive...

[caption id="attachment_13751" align="alignnone" width="400"] CFB Esquimalt and CFB Comox Urban Search and Rescue teams conduct training with the Whitehorse Fire Department, Watson Lake Fire Department and Yukon Government Community Services. Photo by MCpl HJL MacRae, 4 Wing Imaging[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~As last month’s deadly earthquake in Italy unfolded, participants in Operation Nanook in Canada’s far north were once again reminded why their earthquake preparedness drill was so important.While the recovery operation was unfolding in Southern Europe following the magnitude 6.2 earthquake that flattened three medieval towns in central Italy in the early morning hours of Aug. 24, 8,200 kilometres away in Whitehorse, Glenn Cooper, CFB Esquimalt’s Urban Search and Rescue Team Lead, was in the midst of training Yukon government officials about what to do in their community if an earthquake stuck.“The real earthquake happened on day three of our training and one of the first things we did as instructors was put up video clips during our instruction to show the importance of being properly prepared,” said Cooper. “It was significant for us both in terms of having properly trained rescuers, but also for the average citizen of being informed and having a properly stocked family emergency kit.”This is the first time Op Nanook focused on a seismic event, with the entire exercise involving 850 federal, territorial and municipal government employees and officials. Cooper’s team of seven personnel from Esquimalt were tasked with responding to a simulated earthquake situation in Haines Junction, Yukon, located 130 kilometres west of Whitehorse.Here on base, Cooper’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) unit, part of Real Property Operations, are not first responders during an earthquake, but rather experts on the safe rescue of victims trapped inside buildings that have collapsed.USAR draws their expertise from members across the Formation, “from supply techs to electricians”...

[caption id="attachment_13748" align="alignnone" width="300"] The main component of the JBF Machine Company of Germany’s shredding machine in Dockyard’s Base Logistics Building. The 2,425lbs machine is capable of shredding non-operational military uniforms in seconds. Photo by Peter Mallet, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Base Clothing Stores is counting on a monster-sized shredding machine from Germany to cut costs, free up storage space, and improve efficiency.For now the machine and its mechanical teeth are lying in wait on the ground floor of Dockyard’s Base Logistics building. When the machine becomes operational on Sept. 12 it will be able to quickly shred military CADPAT clothing deemed beyond economical use.Manufactured by the JBF Machine Company of Rahden, Germany, the 2,425-lbs textile shredding machine stands approximately six feet high and four feet wide.“I call it the Behemoth,” says Clothing Stores interim supervisor Paul Lavallee. “In the end there will be significant savings for the department in the operational movement of scrap clothing at the base.”Lavallee said the new shredder will vastly improve the speed at which staff process tattered non-re-issuable CADPAT clothing for disposal.The two-level machine has a giant hopper at the top where the clothing is fed, with the engine and grinders located below. After the unwanted material goes through the shredding process it is placed in a large dumpster and then disposed of by waste contractors.Base Clothing Stores supplies all dress and work-related operational clothing for military personnel at the base. Their first-floor reception room is normally bustling with clients looking for quick solutions to their uniform requirements, so providing prompt service is of utmost importance says Lavallee.“Since the majority of our time is spent engaging customers over the counter, it’s going to be a great time saver for our staff to have the shredder,” said Lavallee.But shredding clothing wasn’t always the way. In...

Darlene Blakeley, Navy Public Affairs Ottawa ~A 91-year-old naval veteran who had a treasured coin stolen from his car during a recent move in Cornwall, Ont., received an unexpected visit from the Deputy-Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on Sept. 2 at the Cornwall Legion.Six years ago, Edgar Hughes received the coin from the commanding officer of HMCS Fredericton in honour of his service on D-Day. On the day the allies stormed the beaches of Normandy, Hughes, just 19 at the time, was a gunner aboard St. Croix, one of the Royal Navy’s merchant ships. After the Germans launched three shells at the convoy St. Croix was sailing with, the young Hughes set up a smoke screen that saved the lives of hundreds of sailors.The story of the veteran’s stolen coin came to the attention of the RCN after media reports on the crime. RCN Deputy-Commander, Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier, decided to personally travel to Cornwall to present Hughes with a replacement coin, as well as other gifts including navy books and ball caps. The items all came from the ship’s company of HMCS Fredericton, of which RAdm Couturier was once a commanding officer.“We saw the article about Edgar Hughes and read about how much the coin meant to him, so we thought it would be a great opportunity to replace it for him,” said RAdm Couturier. “It’s important to recognize the hard work of our veterans and express how much gratitude we have for them.”Hughes knew the RCN was coming to the Cornwall Legion to pay him a visit, but was surprised by the fact they were coming to replace the coin, and that an admiral had come from Ottawa to present it to him.“I’m so happy,” he said. “It’s so wonderful for you to have come down. I’m...

[caption id="attachment_13706" align="alignnone" width="400"] The Vancouver Aquarium dive research team takes an underwater look at HMCS Annapolis. Photo courtesy of Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The search is on for a few marine biologists and scientists from B.C.’s academic institutions to take a seat in a submersible and survey two vessels and one airplane deliberately sunken to create artificial reefs off the B.C. coastline.The Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia (ARSBC) plans to recruit and send researchers to the murky depths of Halkett Bay, Princess Margaret Marine Park near Sidney, and Stuart Channel off Chemainus to validate their efforts in regenerating marine life with these unique habitats.Researchers will climb into a Stingray 500 submersible provided by Vancouver firm Aquatica Submarines and Subsea Technologies. The submersible seats three and provides astonishing underwater visibility through its acrylic spherical hull.“It will give us a chance to deliver undisputed evidence to confirm the net gain man-made reefs provide in the areas of limited natural complex marine habitat,” says Howard Robins, President of ARSBC. “There are still those who claim reefing ships are nothing less than dumping garbage in the ocean, but this mission will demonstrate that the repurposing of surplus ships, derelict vessels and aircraft does provide benefits for successive generations of marine life.”British coastal freighter, G.B. Church was ARSBC’s first man-made reef, sunk in 1991 off Sidney. It was built in Goole, England, in 1943, and served in the Second World War as a supply ship for the allies in Europe.A Boeing 737 donated to the Reef Society by Qwest Air Parts Inc. was sent to the bottom of Stuart Channel off Chemainus in 2006. The plane was mounted on 11-foot-high cradle support system and lowered by crane into the Georgia Strait.Seventeen months ago the former Royal Canadian Navy...

[caption id="attachment_13703" align="alignnone" width="300"] Kyle Webster with Big Brother Joshua Buck at his high school graduation.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Ten years ago Joshua Buck watched a movie that stirred his desire to mentor a young person in need of guidance.The movie was “Good Will Hunting.” The scene that set him in motion was a hug between Robin Williams’ character and the troubled young man played by Matt Damon. The connection between the characters spoke to him.That day, he resolved to become a Big Brother for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria.“I believe that all children need a fatherly or motherly figure in their lives,” says Buck, who works for Lookout newspaper. “Being a Big Brother is an important role; many times the Big Brother may be the only male influence in a young man’s life that he can rely upon and trust.”The non-profit organization has been working in Victoria for 39 years to support vulnerable children in the community through their In-school Mentoring Program, Community Mentoring, Teen Mentoring and Go Girls program.“Many of the families that receive our support are single parent families, some have experienced the death of a partner and others separation or divorce,” says Executive Director Rhonda Brown. “Other families are challenged by issues related to poverty, mental health, addiction, chronic health, or isolation. These families seek the support of a mentor, a role model to spend quality time with their child.”Before Buck was paired up with his Little Brother to provide that quality time, he went through an online application and screening process designed to train and educate him as a volunteer.Once he was approved and prepared, he, like all volunteers, was asked to make a one year commitment to mentoring.“We hope and often find that this commitment extends well beyond a single year,” says...

[caption id="attachment_13700" align="alignnone" width="400"] CPO1 Tom Riefesel, left, outgoing Command Chief Petty Officer; Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, centre, Commander RCN; and CPO1 Michel Vigneault, newly appointed Command Chief Petty Officer; sit together after signing the Change of Appointment certificate. Photo by Corporal (Cpl) Michael MacIsaac[/caption]Darlene Blakeley, Navy Public Affairs Ottawa ~The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has a new Command Chief Petty Officer.Chief Petty Officer First Class Michel Vigneault took over the position from CPO1 Tom Riefesel during a Change of Appointment ceremony in Ottawa on Aug. 17.The Command Chief Petty Officer is the RCN’s senior non-commissioned sailor. His primary role is to provide the Commander of the RCN with the non-commissioned member’s (NCM) perspective on behalf of all NCMs.In addition, the Command Chief is the senior NCM advisor on dress, discipline, professional development, administration, morale, training, welfare, conditions of service and quality of life.Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, Commander RCN, was quick to praise the outgoing Command Chief. “CPO1 Riefesel has managed to provide yeoman’s service to not one, not two, but now three RCN Commanders – all of whom have benefited from his insight and his leadership abilities,” he said.Following the ceremony CPO1 Riefesel was promoted to lieutenant-commander and will continue working with the RCN at the Personnel Coordination Centre.As he handed over his position, CPO1 Riefesel was eloquent in his comments on leadership: “The most powerful way to cultivate and nurture a positive culture is by what our leaders do – our actions create and define it. That strong and healthy end-state is founded in trust, respect and dignity for one another, without exception.”VAdm Lloyd also praised CPO1 Vigneault, noting that “he is an exceptional leader whose experiences across the RCN over his career have made him an ideal Command Chief Petty Officer. I am very much looking forward to energizing...

[caption id="attachment_13697" align="alignnone" width="400"] Tritons men’s player LS Alex Blackburn winds up a throw during the Canadian Armed Forces Mens Slow Pitch Nationals round robin at CFB Borden. Photo by OS Callum Rutherford, Base Borden Imagery[/caption]Peter Mallett, Lookout ~They didn’t add any hardware to the trophy case at Naden, but coaches for the Tritons men’s and women’s Slo-Pitch teams say the players returned from national play in good spirits none-the-less.Both teams were at CFB Borden from Aug. 21 to 28 for the national Canadian Armed Forces Slo-Pitch Championships.The women’s team started strong in their first of four games (Aug. 21-23) with a 6-2 win over CFB Valcartier, who ­represented the Quebec Region. However, they were unsuccessful in the next three games losing to the Prairies (CFB Edmonton) 23-7, and Ontario (CFB Kingston) 10-7, before a closer loss of 6-4 in their final game to eventual champions from CFB Gagetown who represented the Atlantic Region.Despite failing to qualify for the semi-final round, women’s coach PO2 Corey O’Neil said he was impressed with his team’s performance. Unlike their opponents from Canada’s other four regions, Esquimalt didn’t have the benefit of playing in a regional qualifying tournament since CFB Comox was unable to field a team this year.“When we hit the nationals we were playing against top teams from each region that had defeated their opposition over multiple games,” he said. “We didn’t have those games to improve and get to know each other, but I was proud of our ladies. They did a good job and held the other teams to low scores because our defence was right on. Unfortunately our bats weren’t working very well at the tournament.”In a show of support, Tritons Men’s slo-pitch assistant player-coach PO1 Scott Crouse texted messages of support to PO2 O’Neil and the rest of...

[caption id="attachment_13694" align="alignnone" width="400"] A mountain of toys were delivered to the Victoria General Hospital from money raised at 18th annual Dave Barber Golf event. Pictured from left to right: Tarraneh Bouchard, Megan Schulz, Amanda Blanchard, Kaydra Blanchard, PO2 Dave Blanchard, Theresa Low and Diane Edwards.[/caption]HMCS Regina’s 18th annual Dave Barber golf tournament held June 8 at Metchosen Golf Course pulled in more than 125 players in a show of support for sick children. More than $5,000 was raised to purchase items for the Victoria General Hospital Pediatrics ward.Dave Barber, a Master Seaman Electronics Technician who sailed in Regina, lost his battle with Leukemia in 1997. He was very passionate about golf and also cared deeply about the well-being of children. Every year since, Regina organizes an annual golf tournament to raise funds in his name for charity.This year, Regina crew managed to purchase toys and a rocking chair for the ward. The hospital appreciated the support from the ship, with staff saying they rely on this assistance to get them through the lean months of summer where donations are not as forthcoming as the holidays.“I gave one of the Play-Doh Can Heads Superhero (Spiderman and Goblin) to one of our oncology kids. He was having so much fun with parents and staff playing and role playing,” said Theresa Low, a child life specialist at Victoria General Hospital. “This was our three-and-a-half-year-old’s last cancer treatment. So thank you for helping to put a smile on his face. Having your generous donation of toys made matching the right toy for a child or teen in the moment so rewarding. The large variety of toys and gifts for all ages has been so incredible and we are so awed by the supporters of the Friends of Dave Barber.”The event was organized and run...

[caption id="attachment_13691" align="alignnone" width="400"] LS Mitchel Holden (left) and PO2 Nathan Kuffner riding Creampuff (right).[/caption]Lt(N) Bill King, HMCS Charlottetown ~It was still pleasantly cool when HMCS Charlottetown picked up the pilot at 0630 in the harbour approaches of Alexandria, the second largest city in Egypt.At last count, we had already passed 34 ships at anchor, waiting to enter the harbour.Alexandria stretches 32 kilometres along the Mediterranean coast at the western edge of the 240 km-wide Nile delta. The word delta originates from the Greek letter delta, which looks like the triangular area at the mouth of the Nile.During the five kilometre transit from the harbour entrance to the cruise ship terminal, the ship passed neighbourhoods of high density apartments separated by commercial port facilities in an interesting mix of old and new.Oil refineries were flaring off waste gas in producing fuels for export, while sea container and bulk cargo handlers conducted a brisk business at the 55 slips.Once alongside sailors were able to enjoy a port visit.Day-long bus tours arranged by the ship provided the means for crewmembers to visit the Giza Pyramid complex and the Egyptian Museum over two hours away in Cairo. Highlights of the day were viewing King Tutankhamun’s 3,300-year-old funeral mask, and a horse or camel ride around the pyramids. Virtually everyone took advantage of this opportunity with the exception of those few on board who had visited Egypt before.The most recent visit by an HMC Ship was Fredericton in 2010. Many of the tour operators and guides fondly remember that visit, as there have been few cruise ships since the revolution in 2011. A passenger ship last docked at the cruise ship terminal some two years ago.Our Egyptian hosts could not have done more for us during this port visit - repeatedly asking our assurance...

[caption id="attachment_13653" align="alignnone" width="300"] The 40mm Bofors gun, used in a wide range of roles on Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels, are being replaced during upgrades. Photo by Sandy McClearn, smcclearn.smugmug.com[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~After its most recent upgrade is completed, HMCS Nanaimo will donate its decommissioned 40 mm Bofors gun to the Vancouver Island Military Museum in Nanaimo.Director General Maritime Equipment Program Management (DGMEPM) and Director of Surplus Acquisitions and Loans (DDSAL) in Ottawa have been working since 2007 to donate surplus or unneeded equipment and weapons to museums across Canada as naval memorabilia.“This is in keeping with our theme at MEPM to preserve as much naval history as possible, and continue the close relationship and ties between the home cities and their warships,” says Wayne Yetman, Naval Ordnance.Life Cycle Material Manager with Director Naval Combat Systems. “It allows the RCN to preserve a valuable piece of naval history in each namesake home city with their ship’s 40mm gun for display,” he adds.Navy staff contacted city councillors in Nanaimo several months ago to see if the city would be interested in keeping the gun for historical purposes. Shortly after, the city contacted the museum. All parties unanimously agreed the gun would make an excellent addition to the artefacts, weaponry, and memorabilia already housed at the museum, and serve to honour veterans of the first HMCS Nanaimo and serving members of the current HMCS Nanaimo.“These guns have been in operation for a very long time and have certainly proved their worth,” says Petty Officer (Retired) Brian McFadden, who served in the Royal Canadian Navy for nine years, and is Vice President of the museum. “I am especially happy because a number of ships I worked on had this particular type of gun.”McFadden says once the gun has been stripped, sandblasted, and...

[caption id="attachment_13649" align="alignnone" width="270"] Bill Stewart and Saanich Fusion team captain Jeevan Manhas celebrate their victory, earning the 2016 Tony Grover Masters’ Cup for the Over 35 A Division of the Vancouver Island Soccer League and the Alec Hylan Player of The Game Trophy. Photo submitted by Saanich Fusion[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The way former Royal Canadian Navy sailor Bill Stewart sees it, the oranges he cuts up and serves at halftime to the players on the Saanich Fusion men’s soccer team are a metaphor for life.“Some days are sweet while some are sour,” says Pte (Ret’d) Stewart as he prepares refreshing citrus bites for the Vancouver Island Soccer League’s Over-35 team.His sweetest day was back in 1975 when he led CFB Esquimalt to a Canadian Armed Forces National Soccer Championship by scoring a hat trick in the deciding game against CFB Cold Lake.The former navy cook recalls the storybook ending of scoring the winning goal on the final play of the game.“The ball came across the midfield and I back-heeled it and then did my patented toe-poke shot,” he says of the moment. “I saw an opening in the goal; I hit it with the front of my foot to score on the final play of the game and we won the nationals.”The entire team and coaching staff piled on top of him. That moment is rooted in his memory like a still photo.During his two-year military career between 1974 and 1976, Stewart worked the mess in HMCS Terra Nova, HMCS Qu’Appelle and HMCS Kootenay. While he was quite proficient at his trade in the kitchen, the navy thought so highly of his soccer skills they sent a helicopter out to the Qu’Appelle, which was a couple of days into its voyage to Hawaii, to fly him back to...

[caption id="attachment_13683" align="alignnone" width="400"] The crew of HMCS Ottawa watch from the deck as two men aboard a burning fishing boat Sherry C are rescued by personnel in a rigged-hulled inflatible boat.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Lookout Writer ~Two men stranded on a burning fishing vessel are now on dry land thanks to the crew of HMCS Ottawa.The 12-metre fishing ­vessel Sherry C was towing the disabled fishing ­vessel Tryon to Tofino on Aug. 25 when a fire broke out in the engine room. It was 9:25 p.m. and the vessel was 13 nautical miles west of Ucluelet Sound when they sent out a distress call. Ottawa responded to the May Day call and proceeded at best speed to both disabled vessels.In less than half an hour Ottawa was on scene. The fire and smoke had engulfed the interior of Sherry C, and the panicked crew were about to abandon the vessel. Smoke could be seen billowing from the vessel, and though Ottawa’s infrared cameras, a significant heat source was radiating from its engine room.Ottawa immediately deployed its rigid inflated boat and extracted the fishermen from their ­vessel. They were assessed as uninjured, transferred to a Canadian Coast Guard rescue boat, and later transported to Tofino.“We approached the fishing boat carefully from the stern,” said LS Christopher Henrion, Ottawa’s boat coxswain. “Both fishermen were extremely happy to see us. Both had been hanging on for as long as they could off the back of their boat before needing to abandon it. We transferred them to our RHIB, confirmed they had no injuries, and provided them with blankets to keep warm until the Coast Guard arrived.”With both individuals safe, Ottawa turned its attention to the disabled fishing vessel Tryon. An assessment team was quickly dispatched, and based on their evaluation, Tryon’s transmission and alternator were beyond repair and the vessel would require a tow back to port.“LS Otte and I assessed the Tryon, whose transmission had suffered salt water contamination due to salt water...

Lorraine Crinkley, FSE ~A creek that runs through DND property is receiving much-needed restoration.Tod Creek is a salmon-bearing stream located in Saanich, B.C., that flows north from Prospect Lake to Tod Inlet where it enters the ocean.The District of Saanich has undertaken various restoration projects on Tod Creek and recently approached DND about restoring the portion of the creek that run through Heals Range.The District of Saanich completed an assessment of Tod Creek, both upstream and downstream from Heals Range, and confirmed that old beaver bafflers were impeding water flow and fish passage.Beaver bafflers are corrugated pipes installed through the base of a beaver dam that allows water to pass through the dam silently. Because the beavers can’t hear the running water they are unable to stop the flow and become discouraged and move on to another area. Although the beaver bafflers were successful in deterring beavers from Tod Creek, they were never maintained and have since clogged up with debris.Reduced water flow through the creek due to unmaintained beaver bafflers and sedimentation causes an increase in water temperature and produces anoxic, turbid conditions that can be detrimental to salmonid species.DND and the District of Saanich partnered to complete multiple improvements to the creek including the creation of terraced banks, the planting of riparian vegetation, the grading of the stream bottom, the installation of sediment controls, and removal of old beaver bafflers.Once the beaver bafflers were removed, the banks were terraced. Riparian vegetation is scheduled to be planted in the fall to improve slope stability around the stream.Originally the stream banks were steep and bank material was sloughing into the stream, which also impeded water flow and fish passage. Grading the stream bottom also helped provide consistent flow year round and reduced the opportunity for pooling water.DND and the District of Saanich are hopeful the stream improvements made to Tod Creek will enhance salmon habitat and are assessing the feasibility of making further improvements to the section of the creek...

[caption id="attachment_13639" align="alignnone" width="300"] SLt Connor Duke gets in shooting practice at the Naden Athletic Centre. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A good year just got better for SLt Connor Duke, a talented guard with the Tritons basketball team.The 24-year-old, 6’3 shooting guard is set to take his A-game to Warendorf, Germany Sept. 2 to 4, for the CISM (Counseil International du Sport Militaire) Basketball Championship.This will be his second CISM tournament; last year he represented the Canadian military in South Korea.“Being able to represent Canada feels pretty great, especially since I never expected to be good enough to play any sport at the international level, let alone basketball,” says SLt Duke who played two seasons for the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont., before graduating in 2014.SLt Duke received another morale boost when it was announced he is the RCN’s command nominee for the annual Canadian Armed Forces sports awards to be held in Ottawa in October.“For me it definitely feels good to be recognized for what I’ve accomplished and the work I’ve put in on the court playing basketball, but I’m not speaking about this with the intention of looking like a star or something” he says. “Receiving the award and being honoured came as a complete surprise to me. I just want CAF members to know that sports opportunities are out there and all you have to do is ask around.”His coach Joshua Buck think he’s worthy of the award. He says SLt Duke has a basketball IQ and energy “unparalleled” to other players as soon as he sets foot on the court.“Connor has the ability to turn his natural competitive spirit into overdrive once the shot clock starts to wind down,” says Buck. “He’s not only an intense competitor but he’s also...

[caption id="attachment_13636" align="alignnone" width="540"] The Working Group of the North American Maritime Security Initiative (NAMSI) gathered at CFB Esquimalt for their biannual meeting Aug. 16 to 19. Photo by MCpl Brent Kenny[/caption]SLt MJ Cserhazi, MARPAC PAO ~The Working Group of the North American Maritime Security Initiative (NAMSI) gathered at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt for their biannual meeting from Aug. 16 to 19.NAMSI is the only tri-lateral maritime security forum between Canada, Mexico and the United States. It was established to improve maritime security along the coast from Alaska to the southern tip of Mexico. In Esquimalt, the main focus of the Working Group was to refine communications and legal considerations.Delegations from the Royal Canadian Navy, the Mexican Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC), and Joint Interagency Task Force South share a common goal: to strengthen their relationships and increase interoperability by sharing information, best practices and developing tri-lateral exercises.“NAMSI exists to formalize our efforts and to share our best maritime practices and protocols,” says Major Donald Senft who represented MARPAC at the discussions.While the nations have a strong nautical alliance and regularly collaborate with each other, NAMSI seeks to streamline their practices. This effort represents a large amount of ongoing work.“NAMSI is a marathon not a sprint,” says Commander Alex Kooiman of CJOC. “It will take time to come up with answers to larger issues such as communications and legal considerations so we can better prosecute offenders across international borders. By understanding the legal parameters and how to employ that knowledge throughout our respective forces, we will be able to work more closely to support each other.”Canada, Mexico and the U.S. regularly conduct operations and exercises together in the areas of maritime interdiction, humanitarian assistance, search and rescue, and counter narcotics. Enforcing maritime...

[caption id="attachment_13633" align="alignnone" width="233"] HeroWork founder Paul Latour (left), HeroWork Project Manager Peter Smither and CPO2 (Ret’d) Roxanne ‘Rocket’ Ogden get their shovels and wheelbarrel ready ahead of a massive renovation project of the Esquimalt United Church Rainbow Kitchen. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Military members past and present are being sought to join other volunteers in renovating Esquimalt United Church’s Rainbow Kitchen.The $500,000 renovation project on Admirals Road, managed by Victoria-based non-profit organization HeroWork, starts the weekend of Sept. 16 and continues for the following two weekends.The 4,600 square foot community wing of the Esquimalt United Church is home for several community groups and the non-denominational Rainbow Kitchen, which serves approximately 36,000 hot meals a year to people in need in Esquimalt.HeroWork Founder and executive director Paul Latour says his group has carried out over $1.3 million in “radical renovations” since he founded the non-profit organization in 2010. He has relied on military personnel to volunteer in past projects and is counting on them to deliver again.“Participating in something positive for the community and in a team atmosphere will give our volunteers from CFB Esquimalt an amazing experience, but also help them showcase to the public the difference the military makes in their communities, both at home and abroad,” says Latour.HeroWork recently received a $20,000 donation from Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services Boomer’s Legacy Foundation.As part of the reno kickoff volunteers will meet at the Canteen Road parking lot at 4 p.m. Friday Sept. 16 and march to the church with some musical accompaniment provided by the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy.After the opening ceremonies, volunteers will start demolition work, including landscaping, excavating and removing decaying cedar shingles from the roof, replacing windows and doors, and painting.Renovations on the inside of the building include a complete kitchen refit, the creation of an additional bathroom, fixture and appliance upgrades, flooring, wall and ceiling replacement, electrical work, furniture repair, painting, the construction of a new...

[caption id="attachment_13623" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lewis Bartholomew, Founder and Director of HMCS Alberni Museum and Alberni Project, stands proudly next to a model of HMCS Alberni.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Founder and Director of the HMCS Alberni Museum and Alberni Project Lewis Bartholomew is searching for a new location for his beloved museum, which was served with a notice to vacate its three-year-old home at the Comox Centre Mall in June, due to the mall’s overhaul planned by its most recent owners.The museum has been given until the end of September to secure a new location that their tight rental budget of $800 per month can afford.The mall’s previous owners, explains Bartholomew, were supportive of the museum’s project to share pivotal moments in Canadian history with visitors, and charged a reduced fee of $500 per month rent.“We now are in the position where we need to find a space large enough to house our current exhibits on First World War, Second World War, HMCS Alberni’s crew and history, and any potential visiting exhibits that we may take on in the future,” says Bartholomew, who adds he hopes that the new location can remain in Comox to maintain its deep ties to HMCS Quadra and CFB Comox.Bartholomew, who is originally from Seattle, quit his job in grocery management a few years ago to start the museum after hearing about the 1944 sinking of HMCS Alberni during the Second World War. He was deeply touched by the loss of 59 lives.“I grew up with the heartbeat of the Second World War as my father served in the U.S. military during that time. It was his stories I heard continually as a child. But a lot of young people nowadays don’t have grandparents or living history to explain what transpired back then,” says Bartholomew. “For...

 Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A well-intentioned Mer­ritt, B.C. resident thought he was doing the right thing when he walked into his local RCMP detachment on July 21 to return an artillery shell he had found.The man told front desk staff at the police station that he had discovered a 106 mm round of artillery while cleaning his parent’s house and was surrendering the item. The front desk staff were alarmed at the appearance of a very unfamiliar military weapon, said Merritt’s RCMP Detachment Staff Sergeant Sheila White.“Let’s just say we don’t deal with situations like this very often and we didn’t know whether the shell was live or not,” said Sgt White. “From our identification of the ordnance and the fact that the primer of the shell was still intact, we were operating on the premise that it was live.”The item was placed in a secure area and Sgt White called the RCMP’s Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU) in Vancouver.Vancouver EDU examined the photographs that were sent to them, and observed the shell’s condition and appearance, which led them to contact the Regional Joint Operations Centre (RJOC) at CFB Esquimalt. RJOC staff relayed the information to Fleet Diving Unit (FDU) Pacific who dispatched two personnel from FDU’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (EOD).CPO2 Rene St-Pierre and PO1 Andre Gauthier were immediately deployed to identify and safely recover the Unexploded Ordnance.After more than seven hours driving the two sailors arrived in Merritt early on the morning of July 22, and Sgt White noted despite their lengthy journey the sailors wasted no time getting to work.“They talked us through what they were doing and you could tell immediately they were the utmost professionals - knowledgeable, articulate, and knew what they were doing,” said Sgt White.The pair determined the ordnance was a 106 mm HEP T round, a Cold-War era ordnance originally designed as an anti-tank weapon for the Korean War and widely used by NATO forces in the 1950s and 1960s.They inspected the warhead...

[caption id="attachment_13573" align="alignnone" width="300"] Author and Emeritus professor of History at Wilfrid Laurier University, Barry Gough at work in his office.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~For Victoria native Barry Gough, author and Emeritus professor of History at Wilfrid Laurier University, his newly written book, “Britannia’s Navy on the West Coast of North America, 1812-1914” represents the culmination of a lifetime spent researching the naval history of Esquimalt.Gough’s book spans several turns in the history of CFB Esquimalt, from the burgeoning infrastructure of the base to the development of changing naval technology.“I think the material is engaging,” he says. “It speaks to me about a time we have lost, and I regard history as a bit of a salvage operation to try to recover the past. I see my role as a historian as the interlocutor between the past and the present.”The book details the requirements needed to build a naval base in Esquimalt by the British Imperial forces, while showing the political will needed to bring it into existence. Gough fleshed out three-dimensional characters of historical figures in the book who sought to make Esquimalt the British watchtower of the North Pacific.“I included the characteristics and personalities of the admirals and captains, and crafted the nature of who these people were and why they saw, in our part of the world, so much importance here,” he says. “These British naval officers had a global reach – Britannia ruled the waves.”But writing a book of history with such detail and precision, spanning a large time frame, required him to spend at least a decade researching, and another three years revising the manuscript.Gough says his initial work on the book began during his PhD and was completed under the mentorship of famous naval historian Gerald Graham in London, England.“I had to develop a...

[caption id="attachment_13567" align="alignnone" width="300"] PO2 Joe Baldwin and Commander Julian Elbourne flash their Calbucks at the 2nd Annual Calsino.[/caption]PO2 Brian Hill, HMCS Calgary ~All ships participating in RIMPAC 2016 enjoyed a day of rest July 26, 16 days after the commencement of the multinational naval exercise.HMCS Calgary sailors cooled off with a dip in the Pacific Ocean’s turquoise waters near the Island of Ni’ihau.Later that evening, Calgary’s Combat Systems Engineering Department hosted its 2nd Annual Calsino.The ship’s company and command staff took part in the charitable event, raising over $1,200.The event featured many games including an original 335 Command Roulette Wheel, Morale-bag Toss, Blackjack, and Hockey Shoot-out Challenge. The Wardroom’s officers also pitched in by throwing a barbecue for the righteous gamblers, co-hosted by their friends doing an online poker in PA event at the time.After the event, victorious members spent their ‘Calbucks’ as PO2 Brian Hill auctioned off prizes such as “A night off the watches,” dinner in the Commanding Officer’s cabin, and a ship’s assigned parking spot. ““It’s quite rewarding to see the morale boost throughout the crew, especially on the longer transits. It’s a great way to get everyone together and let loose,” says PO2 Hill.Calgary routinely holds charitable events for which all proceeds benefit the Fire Fighter’s Burn Treatment Centre at Calgary’s Foothill’s Hospital. Calgary returned to Esquimalt and held a Change of Command Ceremony Aug. 18.[caption id="attachment_13568" align="alignnone" width="450"] LS Chantelle Chidley wins big on the Morale-bag Toss, just one of many games at the Calsino.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_13564" align="alignnone" width="300"] LS Andrée Noye (right) and one of her Junior Riders, Desiree Young, are all smiles at a Tour de Rock hang out.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~For the past six months, Military Police member Leading Seaman Andrée Noye has suited up in her bicycling apparel, placed her foot in the pedal stirrup, and kicked off for a routine 100 kilometre ride.As she heads up the many steep inclines in the Victoria roadways, at the fore of her mind are those afflicted with cancer. It’s what gets her through the burn in her thighs.The military police member’s training regime is all for a good cause.In just a few weeks she will join 13 other police officers, one media personality and two special guest riders from the Victoria area for the 1,000 kilometre 14-day journey – the  2016 Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock from Port Alice to Victoria.“I’m doing this because I’ve been impacted by cancer on various levels, and it has impacted the people I love,” she says. “This is me just trying to make a small difference.”Three days a week she cycles with four other police and RCMP cyclists, plus one guest cyclist, to help prepare for the journey in September.On Tuesdays they climb hills. So far, they have surmounted the road to the Dominion Astrophysical Obser­vatory in Saanich, the 19-kilometre climb up Mount Washington, Ross Durrance Road and Wallis Point Road.What goes up must come down, and LS Noye has learned to brave the velocity that comes from cruising downhill.“I used to have major issues going downhill. I don’t like speed and my impulse was to hit the brake, but now I’m comfortable going fast.”Thursdays are speed day, and as LS Noye explains, they find a loop-like route in Victoria such the...