News

[caption id="attachment_13169" align="alignnone" width="200"] Detail of the statue unveiled to commemorate Company Sergeant-Major Francis Pegahmagabow’s contribution to the Canadian Armed Forces. Photo by MCpl Precious Carandang[/caption] Capt Jonathan Link, 4th Canadian Division Public Affairs ~One hundred years after earning his first of three medals in the Great War, a life-sized bronze statue of Company Sergeant-Major (CSM) Francis Pegahmagabow was un-veiled at a ceremony in Parry Sound, Ontario, on June 21st, 2016, National Aboriginal Day.The event, attended by Lieutenant-General Marquis Hainse, Commander of the Canadian Army, representatives of the Government, First Nations, the Canadian Military as well as other dignitaries, honoured the incredible life of CSM Pegahmagabow both on and off the battlefields of France and Flanders.“Company Sergeant-Major (CSM) Francis Pegahmagabow is one among many indigenous people who chose to proudly serve their country. I was delighted to attend the unveiling and recognize such an important military and historical figure,” said LGen Hainse in a prepared statement for National Aboriginal Day.The monument was commissioned by the Ontario Native Education Counselling Association, which raised half of the $169,000 needed to realize it. The remaining half was provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage.Standing approximately three metres or 10 feet tall, the monument depicts CSM Pegahmagabow in his wartime uniform with an eagle above and a caribou at his side. The eagle represents the connection to the Creator while the caribou represents the Pegahmagabow family clan.“He stands for something more than just who he was,” said Tyler Fauvelle the Sudbury-based sculptor of the statue, noting CSM Pegahmagabow’s life as a warrior in peace and war. “His fight, both here for Native rights and on the Western Front, resonates with all Canadians.”It is difficult to overstate CSM Pegahmagabow’s accomplishments. When war broke out in 1914, Pegahmagabow, then a 24-year-old orphaned member of the Wasauksing...

[caption id="attachment_13166" align="alignnone" width="300"] CPO1 Mikaela MacMullin, HMCS Quadra. Photo by Rachel Lallouz, Lookout[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Eighteen-year-old Chief Petty Officer First Class Mikaela MacMullin will have more responsibility than most teenagers this summer as the newly-appointed Coxswain of HMCS Quadra, Cadet Training Centre, based in Comox.From June 29 until August 22, CPO1 MacMullin will oversee eight chiefs assisting her to manage 158 staff cadets and 855 course cadets being trained at HMCS Quadra in courses spanning rifle drill, marching and sailing.“Finding out I’d be Coxswain was a great blessing and amazing opportunity for me,” says CPO1 MacMullin, who was notified just prior to the beginning of summer. “I really enjoy watching the younger cadets grow and I love seeing them learn new skills, and then teach other cadets the new skills they’ve just learned.”Six years ago, CPO1 MacMullin joined Cadets in Edmonton, Alberta, when she was in Grade 7. She explains that she enjoyed learning how to march on her first night, and kept going back.“Since then, I’ve been attending HMCS Quadra every summer, where I trained as a Drill and Ceremonial Instructor and then eventually worked my way up to Senior Petty Officer for a drill course,” she says. “Last year I was Chief of Land Operations.”She says it was her early years in the Cadet Training Program where she learned the leadership skills so crucial to her current role: leading divisions and parades, learning how to teach activities and grow the skills of others and learning how to be the best possible team mate.“Apart from the skills I developed, I’m really patient, outgoing and I tell the truth – plus I try to be funny,” she laughs. “I try to promote the fun aspect of what we are doing while maintaining the professionalism of a training centre.”For...

[caption id="attachment_13163" align="alignnone" width="300"] Students enjoy lunch at Raven Culture Camp in Nanoose Bay. Photos by Rachel Lallouz[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~The RAVEN program’s Culture Camp Opening Ceremony took place on June 11 in Nanoose Bay, B.C., to mark the beginning of a three-and-a-half-day camp where the 29 RAVEN participants learned about a variety of Aboriginal spiritual practices and beliefs in a military-structured setting.The students gathered in a semi-circle in a field while Brent Edwards, Chief of the Nanoose First Nations, was gifted with sweet grass and flint by Ed Neveau, RAVEN Culture Camp coordinator from Wanipigow, Manitoba, and his wife Madelain Hardisty-Neveau.“I think Canada has diversified now and we’ve seen many First Nations with a rich history of serving in armed forces,” said Chief Edwards. “Culture Camp brings together youth from different backgrounds to learn from each other.”Culture Camp marks the initial portion of the six-week RAVEN program, in which Aboriginal youth are selected from Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) recruiting centres to complete basic military qualification at CFB Esquimalt before graduating in late August.“When the kids come here, whether from a reserve or the city, some have limited cultural knowledge,” explains Ed. “We will incorporate Aboriginal culture through the entire camp and all events here.”The students, ages 16 to 24, come from a wide range of Aboriginal nations across Canada, including Mohawk, Cree, Ojibwe, Metis and Inuit.“It’s been fast paced and I love the culture aspect of it so far,” says Julia Jacobs, a 24-year-old Mohawk youth from Montreal. She says that when the program has completed, she’ll begin studies at Concordia University in First People’s Studies, and also plans to join the Reserve Force at the same time.During the course of the Culture Camp, participants awoke at 4 a.m. and spent their days participating in Aboriginal ceremonies, bonding...

[caption id="attachment_13160" align="alignnone" width="300"] Dan Ouellette, group leader of Quality Engineering Test Establishment, Measurement Sciences in Ottawa, demonstrates the movement of an articulating arm Coordinate Measurement Machine, which is used for both contact (tactile probing/scanning with a stylus), and non-contact scanning using a laser accessory at the recent Open House. Photo by DND[/caption]DND ~The Quality Engineering Test Establishment (QETE) ensures the materials and equipment provided to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) meets the stringent requirements needed to meet the demands of the operational environment.Accident and failure investigation, test and evaluation, acting as the program and technical authority for the CAF calibration, Emission Security and Radio Frequency Safety programs are just a few of the unique services provided by QETE.QETE’s recent open house was an opportunity for their partners such as the National Research Council, Defence Research Department Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, and the University of Ottawa, to observe the capabilities of the QETE labs and their personnel.“Our biggest strength is our people, by far. Their passion and their commitment for serving the men and women of the CAF are remarkable,” says Serge Carignan, QETE Superintendent.One of the more interesting partners is the Museum of Nature, brought in recently to help with a project on the lethality of range on a new rifle that had to be able to kill a polar bear with one shot. By studying the skeleton of a polar bear, QETE personnel were able to simulate the hide, tissue and bone in a test environment to scientifically determine the lethality of various weapons and ammunition calibre.“This is an example of QETE’s science and engineering department reaching out to any type of organization to get the answers they need,” said Carignan.Performing accident and failure investigations is one of QETE’s most important roles. He emphasized that it is...

[caption id="attachment_13157" align="alignnone" width="300"] HMCS Fredericton arrives home in Halifax on July 5 after a six-month deployment on Operation Reassurance. Photo by DND[/caption]Royal Canadian Navy News ~The crew of HMCS Fredericton arrived home in Halifax on July 5, reuniting with family and friends after a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean and Black Seas on Operation Reassurance.“Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Fredericton has completed an outstanding NATO-led maritime Reassurance mission far from home and to the highest traditions of the Royal Canadian Navy,” said Commodore Craig Baines, Commander Canadian Fleet Atlantic. “The ship’s company and embarked helicopter air detachment achieved excellence in operations in all regards, highlighting their unity as a fighting force and ability to overcome serious obstacles and unforeseen circumstances. We are all very proud of our colleagues on HMCS Fredericton: they have earned a brief repose from the busy tempo of military duty and have earned some well-deserved time to enjoy a gorgeous Nova Scotia summer with their friends and family.”HMCS Fredericton deployed as the Maritime Component of Operation Reassurance, the Canadian Armed Forces contribution to support NATO assurance measures in Central and Eastern Europe.The ship departed Halifax on January 5 and began Operation Reassurance duties on January 8. It served with Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2), which engaged in maritime situational awareness operations to detect, deter and disrupt terrorism in the Mediterranean Sea. Standing NATO Maritime Groups are multinational, integrated maritime forces made up of vessels from various allied countries. SNMG2 units worked with Greek, Turkish and other authorities to monitor the migrant crisis in the Aegean Sea and report on smuggling activities.In total, HMCS Fredericton was deployed for a period of six months, spending 125 days at sea and travelling 20,770 nautical miles (38,500 kilometres). It led SNMG 2 Task Unit 02 in the Black Sea...

[caption id="attachment_13154" align="alignnone" width="300"] Canadian Ranger Master Corporal Adam Glover, of Gillam Patrol in Manitoba, pulls back on the bolt of his Lee Enfield .303 rifle during marksmanship training at Heals Range in Victoria, BC. Photo by Capt Chris Poulton, Public Affairs[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~They are the eyes and ears of remote Canada and a vital part of the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) domestic operations, but most people still don’t know they exist.With that in mind, the newly appointed commanding officer of the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (4 CRPG), Lt.-Col Russ Meades, says one of his key focuses will be educating both military personnel and the public about the approximately 5,000 part-time Canadian Rangers across our country who provide patrols for national-security and public-safety missions in difficult to access, sparsely settled regions as members of the Canadian Army Reserve.Lt.-Col Meades is now the man in charge of the 1,000 Canadian Rangers in the four western provinces and their immense area of 2.71-million square kilometers of rugged terrain and coastline in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba with 43 locations between the Pacific Coast and the Ontario border.“Part of my personal quest during my tenure will be to dispel some of the myths and standardize and build on our message of who we are and what we are about so we can garner greater public understanding,” said Lt.-Col Meades. “To command 4 CRPG is a great honour and a privilege and also a massive undertaking and responsibility, but above and beyond that it’s a wonderful opportunity.”After the Change of Command Ceremony held at Camp Albert Head on June 26, Lt.-Col Meades was quick to point out that his predecessor, outgoing commanding officer Lt.-Col Tim Byers, did “stellar work” in overseeing the transition of the unit after control of the Canadian...

[caption id="attachment_13151" align="alignnone" width="300"] LS Thibault poses with Major Steve Burgess, Senior Combatives Instructor/Tournament Director, at the Garrison Petawawa Combatives Grappling Championships which raised $2,500 to date for the Soldier On program. Photo courtesy of LS Thibault[/caption]Sonya Chwyl, MARPAC Public Affairs ~When Leading Seaman Lee Thibault learned that no one from the Pacific Navy had ever competed in the Canadian Armed Forces’ only grappling tournament, he knew he needed to represent the West Coast.With seventeen years of wrestling experience, LS Thibault is no stranger to combat sports and always tries to maintain a competitive level of fitness. At sea, he runs fitness classes on the flight deck of the ship; on land, he coaches and trains at his local gym, Crusher Combat Sports, and competes in a variety of local amateur tournaments.He first heard about the Garrison Petawawa Combatives Grappling Championships through a colleague, Petty Officer Second Class Timothy Rose, who also trains at Crusher Combat Sports and was interested in getting a team together to compete.The tournament takes place every year in Petawawa, Ontario, and is open to members of the CAF actively serving in the Regular or Reserve Force. All money raised by the competition goes to Soldier On, a program that helps serving CAF members and veterans overcome physical or mental health illness or injury through physical activity and sport. This year, the tournament raised nearly $2,500.Grappling is a form of submission wrestling that involves holds and take-downs, but no striking. That makes it a great sport for CAF members, says LS Thibault, because there’s less danger of injury than with other combat sports.Most teams competing in the championship come from the army or air force, and because the tournament was mostly unknown in the navy, LS Thibault and PO2 Rose had a hard time forming a team...

[caption id="attachment_13045" align="alignnone" width="300"] From left to right, SLt Leblanc, MCpl Edwards and PO2 Nilsson from MPU Esquimalt; Lt(N) Joiner; and Capt Harris of Canadian Forces National Investigation Service Pacific Region participate in the Victoria Law Enforcement Torch Run.[/caption]Sgt B.L. Oxford and SLt A.K. Leblanc, Military Police Unit Esquimalt ~On June 18, members of Canadian Forces National Investigation Service Pacific region and Military Police Unit Esquimalt participated in the 2016 Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics in Victoria, BC. The run consisted of a five-kilometre route along the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, beginning and ending at the Saanich Police Department.On June 25, it was the Military Police members of the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges Military Police Detachment turn to participate in the 2016 LETR for Special Olympics in Nanaimo, BC. The run consisted of a five-kilometre route beginning and ending at Maffeo Sutton Park in Nanaimo.The LETR is an innovative initiative powered by dedicated law enforcement personnel around the world who want to help Special Olympics athletes experience acceptance, achievement and admiration through sport. It’s an inspiring, joyful phenomenon that has raised approximately $3.4 million in B.C. since 1990 and each year brings in about $30 million U.S. worldwide, all in support of the Special Olympics.The British Columbia LETR is among the most successful and creative branches of the global campaign, and is run in partnership with law enforcement personnel from multiple agencies across the province.

[caption id="attachment_13041" align="alignnone" width="300"] 16 new officer cadets were enrolled at a ceremony at Royal Roads University in Victoria. Photo by MCpl Brent Kenny[/caption]Cpl Rebecca Major, CF Recruiting Group ~On June 23, the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre (CFRC) Detachment Victoria welcomed 16 new officer cadets into the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) at the Regular Officer Training Plan (ROTP) enrolment ceremony at Royal Roads University. On June 24, CFRC Vancouver followed suit and enrolled 47 new officer cadets at HMCS Discovery in Vancouver. Both of these ceremonies were presided over by Colonel Timothy J. Bishop, Commanding Officer of Canadian Forces Recruiting Group (CFRG).The ROTP entry program provides fully subsidized education for students to attend either the Royal Military College in St-Jean, QC, the Royal Military College of Canada (RMCC) in Kingston, ON, or an eligible Canadian civilian university of the applicants choosing. During the course of their education, students are provided leadership training and occupation specific courses to help them build towards the foundation of skills required to be an officer.Summer training will include Basic Military Officer Qualification and on the job training in various cities across Canada. On top of these experiences, students earn a salary during the course of their studies and will have already begun contributing towards their pension. Once they have completed their degrees, students are given full-time jobs in their field of study. These jobs are provided to the students in order for them to fulfill their military service, a small price to pay for a free education. This military service is calculated at a rate of two months of service for every one month of education provided.With all of these benefits, it is easy to understand why this program is very competitive. Over 600 Officer Cadets will be enrolled into the Canadian Armed Forces under...

[caption id="attachment_13032" align="alignnone" width="300"] Photo courtesy of John W. Penner, John’s Photography[/caption]Lt(N) Nicole Murillo, Base Public Affairs ~The Canucks Prospects were on fire on the ice at their training development camp, but off the ice they were learning to fight fires and floods at the Damage Control Training Facility (DCTF) Galiano.The camp is an opportunity for the athletes to be put through their paces on the ice each day, as well as take part in other team activities throughout the week, such as working with the kids at The Nanaimo Child Development Centre.On July 6, the 33 players from six different countries put their teamwork and communication skills to the test in a number of friendly competitions that tested their damage control and firefighting skills for the coveted DC School Challenge Cup. In one of the first competition, the players were timed as they controlled a flood in the simulator. Then  they headed outside to use the fire hose to knock down three logs before filling up a bucket until a water bottle that was inside floated up to the top and fell onto the ground.“Although we’re a little upset about our loss [of the DCTF Cup], we definitely had a lot of fun today,” said 24 year-old Justin Parizek, an invitee from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. “This correlates really well to hockey; we had to switch off and trust our team-mates to hit the log and fill up the bucket just like we have to trust them with the puck.”Jakob Stukel, a 19 year-old player originally from Surrey, B.C., who played three seasons for the Vancouver Giants, also didn’t win the DC Cup, but got the chance to fulfill his other childhood dream: being a firefighter.“This was a really great experience and a bit of a surprise,” said Stukel. “You have to work together as a team here, just like we have to on the ice and the level of communication is similar to what we have to do...

[caption id="attachment_13025" align="alignnone" width="300"] HMCS Calgary’s Directed On-the-job Training Program team. Photo by Kathryn Mussallem[/caption]Lt(N) J. Ryan Edgar, HMCS Calgary ~With the busy operational schedule of Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) warships, obtaining new sailor-specific qualifications can be a challenge. The RCN put the Directed On-The-Job Training Program (DOJT) in place a few years ago in order to allow sailors, who otherwise would not have the opportunity, to go to sea and progress their training. Participants are able to focus all their efforts on learning and completing their training packages, resulting in impressive progress towards new qualifications. During HMCS Calgary’s transit from Esquimalt, B.C., to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in support of Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2016, six marine engineers working towards their 2E Certification and six working towards their 3E Certification were able to participate in the program.During their time aboard, the trainees had the opportunity to participate in engineering drills and practice emergency responses in the event of equipment failures. Additionally, they were able to conduct system walkthroughs and take advantage of the ship’s on-board training system. Evenings were spent creating technical reports, drafting system drawings and presenting technical information.“It’s been a great experience,” said LS Tyler Jennings, a Cert 2E trainee. “I’ve been exposed to many different scenarios and have been able to participate in different evolutions that I wouldn’t have been exposed to back at my home unit. DOJT has allowed me to complete my training package, now I just need to challenge my qualification board.”At the end of the serial, trainees completed an average of 33 per cent of their packages, with some members completing as much as 57 per cent.“We’ve seen phenomenal progress over the past two weeks.” said Lt(N) Rowan Wilson, the Engineering Officer running the program. “The trainees have seamlessly integrated with the...

[caption id="attachment_13021" align="alignnone" width="300"] A Caribbean diver conducts a hull inspection as part of a counter-mine training scenario during Exercise Tradewinds 16 in Montego Bay, Jamaica on June 20. Photo by Sgt Yannick Bédard, CF Combat Camera[/caption]Capt Christopher Daniel, CF Combat Camera ~More than ten clearance divers from the Royal Canadian Navy’s Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) and Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) were operating out of Discovery Bay, Jamaica, for Exercise Tradewinds 2016 from May to June.The diving component of the exercise started with the Canadian divers teaching the Ship’s Team Diver Course to Caribbean trainees. After that, the trainees applied their new skills by conducting diving in support of fleet operations.“The training events that we’ve done have been ship’s diver-related scenarios, which include hull searches, jetty sweeps, bottom searches and minor salvage projects,” said Lieutenant(Navy) J.R. Gallant, Executive Officer of Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) and officer-in-charge of the Canadian dive contingent at Exercise Tradewinds 2016.These training scenarios help to enhance the diving skills of partner nations and increase their overall level of interoperability within the region through instruction in areas such as basic dive theory, diving physics and underwater navigation, and search and recovery techniques.“Everything we’ve taught our partner nation divers they could be called upon to do to protect the Caribbean region,” said Lt(N) Gallant.Leading Seaman Paul Paquette is a Canadian clearance diver from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) working as an assistant instructor during the exercise. “My job is to ensure all candidates learn diving to high standards so they can go out on their own and be safe and proficient in the water,” he said.According to Lance Corporal Ameal Douglas, a diver from the Jamaican Defence Force, the exercise has been “a wonderful experience.”“We’ve learned a lot from our Canadian counterparts as well as with our partner nations...

[caption id="attachment_13017" align="alignnone" width="300"] Sailors march past the Reviewing Officer, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific, Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier, during the Naval Personnel and Training Group Change of Command parade at Work Point, Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, on July 6. Photos by Cpl Stuart MacNeil, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Sonya Chwyl, MARPAC Public Affairs ~Last Wednesday, Maritime Forces Pacific’s finest was on full parade to mark the reconfiguration of the Naval Training Development Centre (Pacific) and Naval Fleet School (Pacific).The large-scale parade was accompanied by the Naden Band, and followed by a formal renaming and change of command, during which Commander S.E. Hooper took command of the Naval Training Development Center (Pacific), while Commander Todd Bonnar took command of the Naval Fleet School (Pacific).The ceremony signalled the next step in the RCN’s Future Naval Training System initiative, which will re-configure five training centres across Canada into three campuses in Halifax, Esquimalt and Quebec.“This is the inception of a new organizational structure,” said Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier in a speech following the parade. “Today, we’re celebrating the implementation of modern training aligned across three campuses.”The new structure – a “system of systems,” according to RAdm Couturier – will leverage emerging technology to generate efficiency and support operational excellence.In Esquimalt, the newly-named Naval Fleet School (Pacific) will deliver individual and career courses, while the Naval Training Development Center (Pacific) will be the RCN’s Center of Excellence for engineering, damage control, command, leadership and professional development curriculum and courseware development.The schools will allow Regular and Reserve Force sailors to train at home or at their own units in a shorter time span by completing coursework through a blend of traditional classroom learning, distance education, virtual tools and hands-on experience.“We’re seeking to train officers where they live,” said RAdm Couturier. “Through modernization, we believe we can reduce course length by thirty percent.”Innovative training methods, such as virtual ship models and bridge simulators, will help prepare sailors for work on board the RCN’s forthcoming Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships, Joint...

[caption id="attachment_13013" align="alignnone" width="300"] Major Nick Arakgi (left) and his brother, BC Lions linebacker Jason Arakgi. Photo courtesy of BC Lions[/caption]Matt Baker, BC Lions ~The BC Lions Football Club was proud to hold Canadian Armed Forces Night when the Toronto Argonauts came to town last Thursday. Tickets were given to servicemen and servicewomen who may not otherwise be able to attend a game.Hunter Steward and Jason Arakgi both have strong ties to the Canadian Armed Forces: Hunter’s Father Robin serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the army, and was on hand assisting in the coin toss with Rear Admiral Gilles Couturier of the Royal Canadian Navy, while Jason’s older brother Nick currently serves as an infantry officer in the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.Football is often referred to as a “battle in the trenches” or a “war of attrition.” Considering the great game involves big hits, banging pads and lots of excitement, most of the time such comments are not met with much resistance.“You compare it just because football is a match up of man against man and you have to physically dominate the other person,” Steward said. “It’s totally different than war absolutely. Lives aren’t at stake.”The elder Steward has quite a decorated record serving our country, including a tour in Afghanistan in the first couple of years following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.“He was pretty high up in the ranks, I think a major at the time,” Hunter Steward said. The Lions offensive lineman was barely into his teens when his father went overseas, and he admits it was pretty intense times for the family. “I knew he wasn’t directly out in the field, but you still have all those concerns. I am very proud of the work he’s done.”In addition to Afghanistan, Steward’s Father also did tours in Bosnia...

[caption id="attachment_12976" align="alignnone" width="300"] Naval Cadet Alek Robaczewski on the bridge wing of USS Stockdale in the Philippine Sea.[/caption]Sonya Chwyl, MARPAC PA Office ~Not many summer jobs give university students the chance to gain hands-on experience in their field, and even fewer provide the opportunity to travel while doing it.That’s what makes the Naval Personnel and Training Group’s (NPTG) On the Job Experience (OJE) program such a great opportunity.This summer, the OJE program has given a number of Royal Military College Naval Cadets the chance to live and work on board military ships for the first time. Twelve of them are spending the summer with the United States Navy on some of the most advanced warships in the world, including guided missile destroyers.“It’s hard not to be jealous of these cadets,” said Lieutenant(Navy) Charlotte Farish, the OJE Program Coordinator. “I think they’re going to have such an amazing summer.”Five Naval Cadets have joined the United States Ships (USS) Stockdale, Spruance, Chung-Hoon, and Mobile Bay. They’ll be on board for a month and a half, working alongside the American crew.Another group of seven have joined the USS San Diego, where they’ll stay for about a month and get to participate in RIMPAC, the world’s largest international maritime exercise.The cadets are already hard at work orienting themselves on the ship and learning the basics of damage control and firefighting. After that, they’ll be able to carry out basic officer tasks, such as standing watch on the bridge.For the cadets, it’s an opportunity to learn the traditions and practices of one of Canada’s greatest naval allies.“They’re working on major warships that are heavily armed—just phenomenal ships,” said Lt(N) Farish. “They’re going to have so much fun sailing on them.”The time they spend on the water will go towards their sea service insignia.While this...

[caption id="attachment_12972" align="alignnone" width="300"] The referee gets ready to drop the ball at the Pacific Regional Ball Hockey Qualifying Tournament June 21 at Wurtele Arena. Photo by: Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Esquimalt Mens Tritons earned a spot on the Canadian Armed Forces National Ball Hockey Championship roster in Ontario after a convincing regional qualifying victory over the Comox Flyers.Tritons swept the Totems to defeat in the best-of-three series at Wurtele Arena June 20 and 21.They outscored their Royal Canadian Air Force opposition by a total margin of 15-0. With the victory the Esquimalt team now moves on to the national play at CFB Borden, July 23 to 28.“Our game plan was fairly simple; we just wanted to take away their time and space. So as soon as they got possession we had a man on them trying to force them to cough it up,” said Tritons player-coach, MS John Helpard, of HMCS Ottawa.The Tritons registered an 8-0 victory in Game 1 followed by a 7-0 result in Game 2 and  outgunned their opponents in shots-on-goal by a 96-17 margin over two games, which consisted of two 20-minute periods each played on a defrosted concrete playing surface.Forward, LS Derek Cheetham, also with Ottawa, was named Game 2 Player of The Game for the Tritons; Defenceman LS Keelan Cook captured Game 1 Player of The Game honours and was also named the tournament’s overall MVP.“It’s great to be recognized but really I was just doing my usual job of getting the ball to our forwards so they can score goals,” said LS Cook, an instructor with Fleet School. “The opposition fought hard right until the final buzzer, and it really takes a lot of determination to do that when things aren’t going your way.”MS Helpard says the likelihood of...

[caption id="attachment_12969" align="alignnone" width="300"] Kevin McKoy, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Irving Shipbuilding, Carl Risser (46 years of service with Irving), Rear-Admiral Newton, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic, and CPO1 Pierre Auger, Formation Chief Petty Officer, at the coin placement ceremony.[/caption]In early June at Irving Shipbuilding’s facility in Halifax, Rear-Admiral John Newton, Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic and Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic, along with Kevin McCoy, President of Irving Shipbuilding, and Chief Petty Officer First Class Pierre Auger, Formation Chief, attended a coin placement ceremony for the future HMCS Harry DeWolf, the lead ship in the class.The coin placement is a shipbuilder and naval tradition where a newly minted coin is placed on the ship’s structure to bring luck to the vessel and crew for the life of the ship. The coin was placed by Carl Risser who, with 46 years of shipbuilding experience at Irving Shipbuilding, declared the keel as “well and truly laid.” The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) project office, as well as Irving Shipbuilding employees, and marks another milestone in the ongoing construction of Harry DeWolf.The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is anticipating the delivery of Harry DeWolf, the first of the Harry DeWolf-class AOPS, in 2018. The ship is named after Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf, a widely-respected officer who served with distinction in the Second World War and later rose to be Chief of the Naval Staff in the late 1950s.The Harry DeWolf Class will be capable of: • armed sea-borne surveillance of Canada’s waters, including the Arctic;• providing government situational awareness of activities and events in these regions; and• cooperating with other partners in the Canadian Armed Forces and other government departments to assert and enforce Canadian sovereignty, when and where necessary.The Harry DeWolf Class will provide the RCN with the ability to operate much...

[caption id="attachment_12966" align="alignnone" width="300"] Jeff Krieger, a Nuisance Wildlife Technician, with his dog Pixie, has been hired to help keep Canadian geese off the grass in Work Point.[/caption]Lorraine Crinkley, Formation Environment Office ~Impacts from non-migratory resident Canada geese can be observed all over CFB Esquimalt and include the degradation of lawn and sports fields, large amounts of fecal matter, and during breeding season goose aggression.Conflicts between geese and base activities are an ongoing issue at CFB Esquimalt’s Work Point property. Large goose numbers have caused training areas and playing fields to be unusable due to excessive pitting from grubbing. (eating down into the sand layer), and excessive fecal matter. Walkways, parking lots and stairs also become covered in feces which make them slippery and unsightly.The ocean side Work Point property is an ideal location for non-migratory resident Canada geese. It provides large open green spaces for geese to forage and rest. Work Point is also a fairly quiet site, especially outside of regular business hours – this means geese are not disturbed or feel pressured by the presence of people or dogs, and that creates a safe haven.In the fall of 2015 staff from the Naval Officer Training Centre (NOTC) began completing daily goose observations at Work Point and documented the location, number of geese, and their behaviour. These observations were collected to establish baseline data on the population. Formation Safety and Environment (FSE) subsequently hired EBB Consulting Inc. to complete an assessment of the population at Work Point and provide recommendations to mitigate impacts and reduce conflicts.Using the observational data collected, EBB Consulting was able to determine that during the winter months, daily goose numbers at Work Point was consistent with 30 to 40 individuals. EBB Consulting recommended trialing techniques such as dog hazing, installing barriers and fences, re-landscaping...

          Bart Armstrong, Contributor ~For years people across Britain complained about a burning issue that made celebrating their Victoria Cross recipients difficult.In many cases the statue or monument honouring their brave lads was not located locally, but rather in some far off city or land. So they let government know this was not good enough.Parliament agreed something should be done at the local level, but what was that something?Contests were held and a plan was developed that would see paving stones made that were inscribed with the hero’s name, regiment and date of the First World War deed that earned the Victoria Cross. They would be provided to local councils across the country, with public meetings held and decisions made about where they should be mounted.But the plan only called for stones dedicated to recipients born in Britain. What about those buried in Britain, but born elsewhere? Government then included these, made the paving stones, and circulated with instructions that local governments unveil them on the very day, 100 years after the deed in which the battle took place.But another flaw was soon realized. What about all the heroes neither born nor buried there, but as equally deserving of the same honour? What about heroes from around the world such as Canada’s Billy Bishop and Billy Mitchell, George Pearkes and Rowland Bourke.The missing “few” soon morphed into at least 175 men.Research showed that men from 11 different countries now needed this same recognition. So a Bronze plaque was designed and sent to each country listing their heroes.Then on June 21 of this year, Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth office unveiled the next part of the overall memorial to these Great War recipients. It is a searchable digital archive that lists most of the foreign born recipients by country. Clicking on links takes...

[caption id="attachment_12955" align="alignnone" width="300"] As part of training sailors douse the helicopter simulator at the Damage Control School at CF Fleet School Esquimalt.[/caption]Lt(N) Adam Drover, CF Naval Operations School ~Due to the diverse nature of the future fleet’s capabilities, tied with the complex nature of the future security environment, the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN’s) Naval Training System is in need of an overhaul.The Future Naval Training System Strategy, released in the summer of 2015, identifies where the RCN needs to focus in order to address the capabilities of the future fleet, which are being built at Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax, N.S., and Seaspan Shipyards in Vancouver, B.C. under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.This includes the re-configuration of training establishments in Halifax and Esquimalt into two campuses, Atlantic and Pacific, under the Naval Personnel and Training Group to meet the RCN’s training requirements.Campus Pacific will stand-up in a ceremony July 6. This means Canadian Forces Fleet School Esquimalt and the Naval Officers Training Centre will be re-configured into Naval Fleet School Pacific and Training Development Centre Pacific.Naval Fleet School Pacific will deliver individual training such as career courses and qualifications to sailors in Esquimalt.The Training Development Centre Pacific will be the RCN’s Centre of Excellence for engineering, damage control, command, leadership, and professional development.Likewise in Halifax, Campus Atlantic will stand-up with a ceremony on July 15 where the Canadian Forces Naval Operations School and Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School will become NFS(A) and TDC(A).NFS(A) will deliver individual training in Halifax, with the addition of submarine training, while TDC(A) will be the RCN’s Centre of Excellence for combat, operations, and seamanship training.Canadian Forces Fleet School Quebec, in the heart of Quebec City on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, was renamed Naval Fleet School Quebec during a ceremony on June 29....

[caption id="attachment_12936" align="alignnone" width="300"] Family, friends and VIPs bade farewell to HMCS Charlottetown as it pulled away from the jetty and headed overseas for a six-month deployment. Photo by: Master Seaman Peter Reed Formation Imaging Services Halifax[/caption]HMCS Charlottetown departed from Halifax June 27 as the designated forward deployed ship of the Royal Canadian Navy, replacing HMCS Fredericton in that role.Fredericton has been employed on Operation Reassurance since January 2016.Charlottetown will provide Canada the flexibility to execute a range of missions across a broad spectrum of operations in support of allied efforts in the region, including surveillance and monitoring, regional defence, diplomatic engagement, and capacity building.The ship’s mission will be the third to employ one of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Enhanced Naval Boarding Parties, a specialized team that is capable of executing a full range of maritime interdiction operations.Charlottetown’s last international deployment was in 2012, when the ship served on Operation Metric, Canada’s support to enhanced security in the eastern Mediterranean region, and Operation Artemis, Canada’s support to counterterrorism and maritime security in the Red  Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, and the Indian Ocean.

[caption id="attachment_12908" align="alignnone" width="200"] LCdr Steve Shute, Other Government Department Liaison Officer.[/caption]SLt MJ Cserhazi, MARPAC PAO ~British Columbia’s unique geography and tectonic positioning means it is not a question of if, but when the next major earthquake disaster will strike.Other Government Department Liaison Officer (OGD LO), LCdr Steve Shute, and 17 Regional Liaison Officer (RLO) counterparts, are the keys the province will use to unlock the military’s emergency tool box when it turns to Joint Task Force Pacific (JTF(P)) for help. LCdr Shute’s efforts help JTF(P) build stronger ties and relationships with B.C.’s provincial emergency organizations, which are ultimately responsible for any kind of response to natural or man-made disasters within the province.“My position creates a bridge between the province and the CAF that is designed to quickly respond to the need for assistance from the province,” says LCdr Shute.He helps provincial emergency managers understand the unique resources available from the CAF, and advises them on how those resources might be best suited to assist during an emergency response.His role, and the support role of JTF(P), was recently tested during Exercise Staunch Maple.From June 7-10, JTF(P) provided simulated emergency assistance to the Province of British Columbia during the exercise, which was nested within BC’s Exercise Coastal Response.“Being prepared to deal with the immediate aftermath of an earthquake is a shared responsibility. Everyone needs to be prepared, from the individual to the highest level of government. That is where the OGD LO plays a role,” he says.His timely advice to JTF(P)’s provincial partners allows civilian authorities to better understand and make requests through a formalized process known as a Request for Assistance (RFA).“An RFA is the formal document that requests a desired effect for assistance from the province to the federal family, which is where the CAF is often uniquely prepared...

[caption id="attachment_12905" align="alignnone" width="300"] D.A.R.E. participants act out a skit for the rest of the group.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~ Students from École John Stubbs Memorial School were given the tools to say no to drugs through a unique year-long program taught by Military Police Officer, Leading Seaman Andree Noye.The 75 students from Grades five and six graduated the D.A.R.E. anti-drug program in collaboration with Organic CBD Nugs  on June 14 in a special assembly held in the school’s auditorium. As the students filed into the room they high-fived the program’s mascot Daren, a life-sized lion.“It was an exciting year as a D.A.R.E. instructor, and as a leader of such an integral program to the children,” says LS Noye, who began teaching the program in October 2015. “Watching the kids graduate today was amazing.”D.A.R.E. stands for Define, Analyze, React, and Examine, which represents a series a decision-making for children to discourage the use of drugs and alcohol. The program is managed by the D.A.R.E. BC Society,  a Canadian charity that seeks to empower children with the critical thinking and life skills necessary to choose a drug-free life.Principal Stephanie Hedley-Smith congratulated the crowd of students and parents, before the students took to the stage, eager to show off what they had learned in the program. A handful of students read essays on their experience of the program, while others read poetry, presented skits, and one group of students played a rap video they acted in and produced.Subjects students explored ranged from peer pressure to refusing cigarettes and alcohol. Their performances reflected issues LS Noye explored with the students in their classrooms through the use of creative writing and drama.“We learned in D.A.R.E that drugs and alcohol affect thousands of people a year,” says Eddy Giusti-Tubbi, 11. “It just takes one bad decision...

[caption id="attachment_12902" align="alignnone" width="300"] Nijmegen marchers and their commanding officers complete their 10-kilometre march at Work Point, June 20.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Two officers joined the Nijmegen marching team to experience what it’s like to walk in full gear, even for a few kilometres.Lt(N) Greg Oickle, Executive Officer of Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific), marched alongside unit member LS Sara MacAleese for eight kilometres from Work Point to Saxe Point Park and back.“I haven’t marched like this since basic training, so my biggest challenge was not stepping on people’s toes, and staying in step with the group,” said Lt(N) Oickle. “This is a fantastic opportunity for her; she’s really committed to it and I’m more than happy to be supporting her on this march.”Team leader, Lt(N) Marianne Knai says it’s important to have superior officers see for themselves just what they are supporting when they authorize time away from the regular job.“We wouldn’t be able to participate in Nijmegen without the support of our chain of command,” she says.Experiencing a march makes it easier to explain the hardship, says LS MacAleese.“It’s hard to explain to your superiors about the event and what we actually do, so it’s nice to have someone from the unit come out and see the results of our training, and how we have been investing all this time away from work,” said Ls MacAleese.Capt Keil Monette-Saillant, Deputy Engineering Officer from Real Property Operations, paired up with the team’s second in charge WO Kevin Legg. He said the experience brought back some good memories. That’s because Capt Monette-Saillant is a former Nijmegen marcher and participated with the Royal Military College team six years ago.He said he had no hesitation granting WO Legg’s request to participate in the march for the second time.“It was really easy for me to...

[caption id="attachment_12899" align="alignnone" width="300"] Naden Athletic Centre[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff writer ~Three buildings at CFB Esquimalt will be part of a revamped Department of National Defence initiative designed to reduce energy consumption costs while using the savings to pay for upgrades.Officials from DND announced June 6 that the base will be one of seven across Canada chosen for the re-launch of its Energy Performance Contract Program.Nelles Block, Naden Recreation Centre and Wurtele Arena have been selected by the Assistant Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Environment (ADMIE) as initial sites for the program.Now it’s up to private energy service companies, who have solutions to substantially reduce heating costs, to come up with a plan and submit that proposal to ADMIE.“Greenhouse gas reduction is the main reason why we are doing this, and we really want to leave a mark,” says Sebastian Labelle, Director of Portfolio Innovation in ADMIE. “We are likely going to pick private companies who can offer us a bigger bang for our buck. It’s all about supporting the mission of the DND and reducing our energy costs will allow us to better spend the money in other areas.”DND spends more than $170 million annually on energy for infrastructure. Add to this, more than half the federal government’s greenhouse emissions come from military infrastructure, says Labelle. When the first seven contracts are awarded and then completed, ADMIE anticipates $7 million to $14 million in annual savings and a reduction target of 30,000 tonnes of greenhouse gasses over the life of the project.Once the proposals are approved in late 2016, the private firms and their contractors will carry out retrofit projects at no cost to the taxpayer and limited risk to the Crown. They are expected to invest between $5 million and $25 million per project, and will be repaid over...

[caption id="attachment_12896" align="alignnone" width="300"] “Flares of Grandeur” by MCpl Michael Bastien[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~ Images from a select few Canadian Armed Forces photographers’ cache of work is currently on display at the Canadian Forces Museum of Aerospace Defence at 22 Wing North Bay, Ontario.Included in the “Artists in CADPAT” exhibit is imagery from MARPAC Imaging Technicians Master Corporal Michael Bastien, Sergeant Angela Abbey, and Master Corporal Brent Kenny.“I was pretty excited when I found out one of my photographs was selected,” says MCpl Bastien. “It is a rewarding feeling to know this picture will hang in the museum with multiple people taking the time to look at it.MCpl Bastien’s “Flares of Grandeur,” taken two years ago while on board HMCS Regina, captures a Sea King helicopter setting off flares during a practice to deflect missiles. Enemy missiles will target objects giving off heat signature in the sky, such as aircraft. By deploying flares, the helicopter can successfully deflect an incoming missile, he explains.“The first time I captured the photograph, the setting wasn’t exactly right and the weather wasn’t appealing,” says MCpl Bastien. “On my third try I almost missed the shot, but by some stroke of luck the settings on the camera were just right and I took it with perfect timing.”He chose that photo for its contrast and clarity – difficult aspects to obtain in military photographs.“Things happen very fast in the military, so you only have a matter of seconds to capture what is going on,” he says. “No one will do it twice for you. It’s a hit or miss.”In Sgt Abbey’s 2002 photograph, “Take a load off,” a stone archway of a compound in Afghanistan frames a Canadian soldier providing rear security during a military operation. Similar to MCpl Bastien’s experience photographing the military, Sgt Abbey...

       The 10th Annual Navy Run, Sunday June 19, had over 700 participants including close to 120 members from the community and 68 children in the Kid’s Fun Run.Also participating this year were:• Able Seaman Stan Jones, 92 years of age, who is one of our recognized and surviving veterans.• John Edwards whose father PO Jack Edwards was a survivor of the HMCS Athabaskan.• Jim Silvester who was our oldest participant and 93 years of age took part in the 5K event.Thank you to our staff team, volunteers and sponsors: Ocean98.5/Kiss FM, SISIP, Muscle Mlk Absolute Therapy, Watch It, New Balance Victoria, Milestones, Sharkzcoins, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards, Babcock Canada and Lookout.

[caption id="attachment_12887" align="alignnone" width="300"] Vice-Admiral Mark Norman is rowed ashore by former members of the naval staff following the Royal Canadian Navy change of command ceremony at HMCS Carleton.[/caption]Darlene Blakeley, Navy PA Ottawa ~Vice-Admiral Mark Norman was “rowed ashore” by senior naval officers after he relinquished command of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) last Thursday.In a 27-foot whaler borrowed from Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps St. Lawrence in Kingston, Ont., VAdm Norman was afforded the customary courtesy extended to commanding officers leaving their ships (or shore establishments) for the last time.It was a fitting tribute to three years of service as Commander RCN when he was rowed along the shore of Dow’s Lake at HMCS Carleton, home of Ottawa’s Naval Reserve Division.“I have thoroughly enjoyed my three years in command of Canada’s navy,” VAdm Norman said. “During this time, we set an aggressive agenda to fundamentally reorient, reengineer, restructure and revitalize the RCN. Many of the headlines focused on modernizing our existing ships and preparing for the future fleet. However, at the end of the day, for me, it’s all about people. We’ve had the opportunity to modernize our culture, to reaffirm what ‘right looks like’ and to truly become ‘One Navy’, no longer defined by geography, rank, occupation or class of ship. Regular Force, Reserve Force and civilian, inside and outside the guardrails, we are now all pulling on the oars together.”VAdm Norman has been appointed Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff and will remain in Ottawa.Taking over as the new Commander RCN is Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd. He is the 35th Commander of the RCN and has served in a variety of command and staff roles throughout his career, most recently as Deputy Commander RCN.“It is a great honour to take command of the RCN, relieving VAdm Norman after three...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~For the past five years Lt(N) Matthew Clark and the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) have made beautiful music together. But now it’s time for the beloved conductor to make his exit from the band and head east.On July 19 the band’s commanding officer will end his posting in Esquimalt and take up a similar position with the Royal Canadian Air Force Band based out of 17 Wing, Winnipeg.“It’s really a bitter-sweet moment for me. I am looking forward to my new command, but I love this place, the musicians, and the band’s rich 75-year musical history,” says Lt (N) Clark. “There is a tendency to want to put my nails on the ground and go out kicking and screaming because it’s been such a perfect storm for me in Victoria and I’ve loved every minute of it.”He first learned of his transfer to Manitoba in December 2015. The move is part of a first-ever, nation-wide shakeup of Canadian Armed Forces band commanding officers, and is an effort to “bring something different and give a positive change” to all the bands across Canada, he explains.SLt Vincent Roy, who is currently posted to CFB Borden, will replace Lt(N) Clark as commanding officer.Of the incoming commanding officer, Lt(N) Clark says, “SLt Roy is an exceptional musician who is certain to do very well with his new job of commanding this ensemble of 35 full-time, professional musicians.”“I told him you’ve got a Lamborghini in the Naden Band and the only way it will work is if you drive it and love it,” he adds. “It may sound arrogant to say it, but he’s inheriting one of the finest wind bands in the country and I really mean that. When this band is on fire they’re untouchable...

[caption id="attachment_12834" align="alignnone" width="300"] Jan Nelms and LCdr (Retired) Bruce Nelms (right), sponsors of the Kaiyali family, helped bring the Syrian refugee family to Canada.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz , Staff Writer ~Writer’s note: This interview could not have been completed without the help of Hanadi Ponsford, translator. In light of the translation process, quotes have been edited for clarity.In mid-February Zaki and Muzna Kaiyali, along with their 10-year-old daughter Rama and five-year-old son Farouk, touched down at the Victoria International Airport. The Syrian family had made the long journey from Lebanon after fleeing Syria in 2011 and spending almost five years in limbo as refugees.The Kaiyali family spoke no English, only Arabic, and while they had left behind a familiar community they felt far from alone.As the Arrivals door opened, the family searched the crowd for familiar faces. Welcoming the them was a small throng of Syrian relatives, including Hanadi Ponsford, a close cousin of the Kaiyali’s who was instrumental in completing the family’s immigration documentation. Also waiting eagerly on the sidelines was LCdr (Retired) Bruce Nelms, now a civilian Formation Comptroller for Maritime Forces Pacific, and his wife Jan, a member of the Cowichan Intercultural Society (CIS) – the organization responsible for sponsoring a Syrian refugee resettlement program in the Nelms’ home town of Duncan.The Nelms are one of many families who agreed to sponsor a Syrian family. This has meant sharing the responsibility to ensure the housing, funding, and other transition assistance to the Kaiyali’s for one year.“The more I learned about the situation of refugees in Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, and Iraq, the more my eyes and sense of understanding was opened to the travesty of life that many people exist in,” says Jan, who studied cultural anthropology in university. “In contrast is the privilege we have been blessed with....