News

[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....

[caption id="attachment_12845" align="alignnone" width="200"] Ordinary Seaman San Le speaks at the Asian Heritage Month event held at the Pacific Fleet Club May 19. Photos by MCpl Chris Ward, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~ When Able Seaman San Le, a Naval Communicator of three years, was just 13, he and his family were forced to emigrate from their home in Saigon, Vietnam, to Ottawa when Communists occupied the south part of their home country.It was the story of this journey, taken at such a young age, that AB Le shared with a room of supporters at the Asian Heritage Month event on May 19, at the Pacific Fleet Club.“I was honoured and felt so privileged to speak in front of rows of full bar military members,” says AB Le.He was also touched to find Second World War veterans of Asian descent present at the meeting.“The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) employs personnel from all walks of life, many from different religious, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds – but we are all connected.”Once AB Le, his little sister, and his parents arrived in Ottawa in 1998, he says his mother and father worked labour-intensive jobs as dishwashers and bakers. The family also relied on social assistance to help make ends meet. By the age of 16, AB Le had taken his first job delivering newspapers around his neighborhood.Slowly, he says, the family worked towards financial stability. His parents were able to attend college, his sister became a registered nurse, and AB Le graduated with a degree in chemistry.“Their dedication and self-improvement inspired me to always keep looking forward,” he says. “With steadfast strength of mind and a dedication to physical fitness, I learned from my family’s journey that life is always challenging, but not insurmountable.”He later joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)...

[caption id="attachment_12855" align="alignnone" width="300"] HMCS Ojibwa is towed into Port Burwell Nov. 20, 2012, on the north shore of Lake Erie prior to making its way to the Elgin Military Museum.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~ This summer if you are anywhere near Port Burwell, Ontario, seek out the sleek, cylindrical body of a former Royal Canadian Navy submarine.HMCS Ojibwa (S72) was an Oberon class submarine that served the navy from 1965 to 1998 when it was decommissioned. It was saved from destruction in 2010 by the Elgin Military Museum, who saw its potential as a land-based submarine exhibit.The 88-metre long and five story high submarine now rests on dry land just a stone’s throw from Lake Erie as a key exhibit for the Museum. Though its days as an RCN asset have long since passed, Ojibwa remains a technological marvel and constant attention grabber, says the museum’s executive director, Ian Raven.“When you stick a vessel that measures close to 300 feet and weighs 2.8 million pounds, hundreds of miles from the ocean and in a tiny community like this one, it certainly stands out and catches people’s attention,” he says. “It’s amazing how many people that look and point to it when they drive through town and stop by to ask us ‘is that really a submarine?’ then pose for pictures beside it.”Ojibwa spent most of her career on the East Coast with Maritime Forces Atlantic, but had two short deployments at CFB Esquimalt in 1977 and 1997. The boat was acquired by the museum in 2012 and towed by tug boat to the rural southwestern Ontario harbour town – population 7,000, located 72 kilometres southeast of London.Raven said the exhibit, which cost approximately $8.5 million to refurbish for guided tours, is part of a larger effort by the museum...

[caption id="attachment_12835" align="alignnone" width="300"] Boomer’s Legacy team members approach the finish point at the Legislature Building, June 12. Photo by Cpl Brent Kenny,MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A $20,000 donation by the Boomer’s Legacy Foundation to HeroWork will elevate Esquimalt-based Rainbow Kitchen’s ability to help those in need.The donation was presented to the Victoria-based charity by Maureen Eykelenboom, Boomer’s Legacy Foundation founder, and Capt(N) Steve Waddell, Base Commander, at the Legislature following the conclusion of  the ninth annual Boomers Legacy B.C. Bike Ride on June 12.HeroWork will now use the funds to mobilize the community to make repairs and upgrades to the Esquimalt United Church that houses Rainbow Kitchen.“It was a profound and heart-felt moment when all the Boomer’s cyclists arrived on the Legislature lawn, and it was a great honour to receive their support,” said Paul Latour, HeroWork founder and executive director. “Despite a long day in the saddle, the cyclists were all smiling and cheerful because they knew they were riding on behalf of their fallen comrades and their community.”The bike ride pulled together over 100 military and civilian riders and support personnel in a two-day, 240 kilometre ride from 19 Wing CFB Comox to the Legislature grounds in Victoria.Boomer’s Legacy Foundation was founded by Maureen Eykelenboom, mother of Cpl Andrew ‘Boomer’ Eykelenboom, a medic with 1 Field Ambulance killed in Afghanistan in 2006.The foundation is operated by the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) through the Support Our Troops Program, and distributes funds to people in need, both domestically and abroad.Lt(N) Colin Dudeck, a marine systems engineer with the Halifax Class Modernization Project, joined HeroWork  last year and said the $500,000 renovation project at the church will include a new roof, electrical upgrades, kitchen and bathroom upgrades, new flooring, landscaping, and repainting.Rainbow Kitchen provides lunches...

[caption id="attachment_12850" align="alignnone" width="300"] Westshore Navy Day. For an indepth look at Navy Day photos, click on above preview. Photos by Leading Seaman David Gariépy[/caption]On Saturday, June 11, CFB Esquimalt welcomed nearly 1,200 visitors to Westshore Navy Day held at the Colwood facilities. As a result of the hard work of the men and women of Maritime Forces Pacific, 39 Canadian Brigade Group and the Royal Canadian Air Force, visitors were able to take in a wide variety of displays and demonstrations that showcased what the members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Defence Team do on a daily basis. This was the first time in 10 years the base has hosted an Open House, and this unique location gave visitors a peek at a part of the base that many people didn’t even know existed.Thank you View Royal Casino, Royal Roads, BC Transit, Westshore Parks and Recreation, and Bell Media.

[caption id="attachment_12820" align="alignnone" width="200"] Leading Seaman (Retired) Harry Marshall died June 16 after a battle with cancer.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Hundreds of Royal Canadian Navy sailors rallied alongside the longest serving member of HMCS Protecteur in his fight against terminal cancer.Leading Seaman (Ret’d) Harry Marshall spent 13 years aboard the now decommissioned supply ship and according to all accounts the lovable boatswain was no “ordinary” Ordinary Seaman.Perhaps it is the proud Newfoundlander’s unwavering positivity about life that explained why Marshall amassed so much support in his unwinnable fight against stomach and esophageal cancer.“I don’t believe in bad days,” said Marshall during an over-the-phone interview from his hospital bed in St. John’s, NFLD, weeks before his ship sailed to his final port of call. “For me bad days don’t happen and I try to instill that belief in every person I meet.”But there were tough days for the sailor when his suffering heightened from the relentless and intense throat pain, persistent cough, and loss of feeling in his legs. He was given up to six shots of Morphine a day to cope.He was first diagnosed in August 2014 and although doctors thought they had stopped the cancer’s spread through surgery, it was re-discovered Jan. 20, 2016. He was admitted to hospital for a final time on April 10 after the stomach cramps and vomiting returned.As word of his condition spread, there was an overwhelming show of support for Marshall from the naval community. A Facebook page called ‘Friends of Harry’ generated more than 400 followers who wrote daily messages of support to Marshall, while dozens of family and friends travelled from afar to be at his side.“He wasn’t the type of guy that would go out drinking or partying, but was the one who would be there to drive you home...

[caption id="attachment_12729" align="alignnone" width="300"] RAdm Gilles Couturier, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific/Joint Task Force (Pacific), presented replica medals of Capt Frederick Peters to the Esquimalt Wardroom. Attending the presentation at the wardroom were: Commander Brigitte Boutin, President of the Wardroom; CPO1 Mike Feltham, Formation Chief Petty Officer; RAdm Couturier; Capt(N) Steve Waddell, Base Commander; and CPO1 Gino Spinelli, Base Chief. Photo by LS Ogle Henry, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Rachel Lallouz , Staff Writer ~ One of the most impressive rack of medals from a long ago Canadian naval hero is on display at the Esquimalt Wardroom.Thirteen medals, replicas of the originals, are encased in a shadow box along with a photo and biography of Captain Frederick Thornton Peters, who fought in two world wars before perishing in a plane crash just days after his release in 1942.Touted as Canada’s most decorated naval hero, Peters was revered June 3 at a small gathering in the Wardroom.Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier presented the memento to Wardroom President, Commander Brigitte Boutin and Base Commander, Captain (Navy) Steve Waddell.Among the collection of medals is the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross with Bar, the 1914 Star, the Victory Medal, the 1939-1945 Star, the Atlantic Star, the Africa Star, the Defense Medal, the War Medal, the Italian Messina Earthquake Medal, and the U.S. Distinguished Service Cross.“Capt Peters is Canada’s most decorated naval hero, and has the rare distinction of receiving multiple awards for valour in each of the world wars,” said RAdm Couturier in his address. “It is amazing that we have the honour of having these medals here.”The medals were given to RAdm Couturier during a Battle of the Atlantic Mess Dinner at HMCS Discovery in April, by Dr. John Blatherwick – an Honorary Colonel of 12 Vancouver Field Ambulance who served in the military for 39 years.[caption id="attachment_12730" align="alignnone" width="200"] Captain Frederick Thornton Peters[/caption]Captain Frederick Thornton PetersDuring the First World War, a young Peters was decorated with the Distinguished Service Order in January 1915, the first ever...

SLt R. Bailey, Contributer ~The Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War was one of the largest fleets in the world. The hours were long, the environment unforgiving, and looming danger threatened at all times.Yet in these inhospitable circumstances a tradition was born: a tradition of naval gun shield art. The pride in one’s unit, the cohesiveness of the entire ship’s team, and the overall creativity of the individuals were on display in the chosen gun art.Each was unique; each had its own story.HMCS Ottawa is proud to continue this tradition on its new Bofors Mk III 57mm Gun Weapon System.The art work was designed by Chief Petty Officer Second Class Chris Fraser while serving onboard Ottawa, and applied by Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton. It features a red griffin holding a 57mm high explosive round. Above the griffin is a banner commemorating the 20th anniversary of HMCS Ottawa, which is being celebrated this year.CPO2 Fraser drew his inspiration for the design from the three past HMC ships that bore the name Ottawa, particularly the G-class destroyer that served in the Second World War and had been named HMS Griffin prior to being transferred to Canada.When asked what led him to spearhead this project, CPO2 Fraser says he felt something was missing as he watched the gun was being lowered onto the fo’c’sle after Ottawa’s midlife refit. It lacked the uniqueness that helps define the spirit of the ship and its crew, he added. Having painted gun art on HMCS Whitehorse in the past, CPO2 Fraser once again felt it was time to rekindle this prized naval tradition.The entire HMCS Ottawa team has shown a level of professionalism and pride in accomplishing the mission through a busy trial period. This gun art symbolizes that effort and displays to the...

[caption id="attachment_12743" align="alignnone" width="200"] Tracy Voorthuyzen, winner of the Senior Women’s Gold Medal for the Canadian Armed Forces Running Nationals marathon in Ottawa, poses with her medals.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Leading Seaman Tracy Voorthuyzen took the Senior Women’s Gold Medal this year at her first Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) National Marathon in Ottawa on May 29.The road to gold was not an easy one. Mother Nature dished out a scorching day with temperatures hot enough to cook an egg.LS Voorthuyzen says it took all her skill, training and determination not to stop and walk, while others peeled off the course to be attended for heat stroke.“This was probably the most mentally challenging marathon I’ve done so far, out of all 15 marathons I’ve done,” she says.She completed the prestigious Boston Marathon in April and the Fort Langley Marathon just a mere two weeks before flying to Ottawa.Seven years ago, after some nudging from her son, she laced up her runners for her first long distance run - the Royal Victoria Marathon. Since then, she has worn through several pairs of runners.“I usually run five or six days a week, with two of those runs being shorter – maybe six km and then I’ll do a medium distance run between nine and 18 kilometres. The weekend is for my longer run, up to 36 kilometres,” she says.She says running clears her mind, and keeps her mentally fit.“I just love the feeling. I sort out the world’s issues when I’m on the road. It’s my meditation.”Like all competitive runners, she had a goal in mind for the 42.2 km Ottawa run.“My goal was to complete it in four hours and 15 minutes,” says LS Voorthuyzen. “But once the sun came out a couple hours into the run, things got nasty.”Every three kilometres...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Petty Officer First Class  (Ret’d) Jean Pierre Fournier is the man behind this year’s Saint-Jean Baptiste Day Super Party in Victoria, The Quebec City native says the evening of music and entertainment at Victoria’s Edelweiss Club on June 24 at 8 p.m. can best be described as a celebration of Francophone World Beat.“This event is to celebrate the music of Francophones, not only from Canada but all around the world, and there will be something for everyone,” says Fournier. “We are going to mix all of the genres of music and bring them together on one stage.”Fournier, 56, served 19 years in the Royal Canadian Navy before helping found Victoria’s first French-language community radio station, 107.9 CILS FM in 1998. He has since moved on to concert promotion while also hosting his own radio show on his webpage Production Radio Franco Pacifique (www.prfp.info).Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day is a national holiday in Quebec and observed by Francophones from coast to coast. Today’s feast day of the Nativity of John The Baptiste festivities have evolved into a celebration of French culture with large street parties, music festivals, barbeques and fireworks.While Fournier will deejay and provide video entertainment for the Friday-night event at the German Canadian Cultural Centre, it will also feature a performance by acclaimed Togo-born Afro-Jazz fusion musician Joe Amouzou and his band the Safari League.“I have never played a Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day event before,” said Amouzou. “Because of my French origins – being a Francophone from Togo – I am really quite thrilled and excited to do this.”Amouzou, 61, is a vocalist who also plays guitar, piano and percussion. He has cut three albums and has been featured on CBC radio on multiple occasions. Another member of the band is Edmonton-born lead guitarist Dennis Green who has played with...

[caption id="attachment_12734" align="alignnone" width="200"] Sailing vessel Surt, with skipper Ed Life and lots of happy kids.Photos by PO Albert van Akker[/caption]PO2 Emily Agopsowicz, HMCS Malahat ~“Yo ho! Avast me hearties!” shouted an eye-patched captain aboard a colourful flag-festooned sailboat flying the Jolly Roger. A loud boom echoed, and a cannon blast of candy shot forward onto the jetty outside HMCS Malahat, much to the delight of the crowd of young “pirates” ashore.Malahat was once again transformed into a pirate’s paradise in support of Variety – The Children’s Charity’s annual “fun raising” event, Boat for Hope on Saturday June 4.This is the twelfth year Malahat has supported the event which gave over 300 children who have special needs and their families the opportunity to sail on an adventure in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Children donned their best pirate rigs and boarded festive ships to set out on a quest to various “Treasure Stations” where a bounty of toys awaited. Malahat, ideally situated in James Bay, provided a perfect starting point for the adventure.“The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) plays an important role in supporting our communities. Boat for Hope is a great example of the significant contribution our Naval Reserve sailors make across the Greater Victoria region,” said Lieutenant-Commander Michael Lawless, Commanding Officer, Malahat.The event kicked off at 10 a.m. where children and their families were greeted by Sonar, the RCN’s mascot. On the parade deck, Malahat sailors facilitated games supplied by the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre. Outside, a lineup of excited youth eagerly waited for their turn to take a ride on one of the festively decorated ships manned by skippers in the community who volunteered their time and vessels.Master Corporal Robert Stoodley, a member of 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, came with his wife and three children Carissa, Colten and Caydison....

[caption id="attachment_12753" align="alignnone" width="300"] RAdm Couturier, Glenn Cooper, a member of Real Property Operations, and Capt(N) David Mazur, Chief of Staff of Plans and Operations, observe members of the Urban Search and Rescue perform first aid on a mock casualty in Bamfield, B.C. during Exercise Staunch Maple. Photo by LS Ogle Henry, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~The very real threat of a major earthquake and tsunami looms in Vancouver Island’s future, and being ready to respond once the shaking stops is essential.Last week, the province and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) joined together to test every aspect of their emergency response plans.For Joint Task Force Pacific (JTF(P)) that exercise was Staunch Maple, which verified the military’s operational readiness to support the Province of British Columbia in the event of a disaster.Should they be called upon to assist, the military has the ability to provide humanitarian assistance in conjunction with partner agencies such as Emergency Management British Columbia and Public Safety Canada. These needs may range from housing displaced people in barracks, or sending urban search and rescue teams to dig citizens out of rubble.  “When the province is hit with an earthquake event, it will very quickly need federal assistance for public safety from all regions in Canada, and in real life it will be a national event,” says Lieutenant-Commander Steve Shute, Exercise Co-ordinator. “This exercise is significant because it puts the province in a good position to demonstrate to the general public that we are in a high risk area, and that we are serious about exercising a contingency plan.”The three-day exercise was part of the larger Exercise Coastal Response, the province’s first full-scale earthquake and tsunami response exercise. It brought together stakeholders from all levels of government, as well as Emergency Management B.C. staff, First Nations,...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A group of marine scientists has confirmed Second World War merchant marine vessel Coast Trader was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in the Strait of Juan de Fuca inside Canadian waters.Officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in partnership with the Vancouver Maritime Museum and Ocean Exploration Trust (OET), conducted a 10-hour dive June 2 in the waters off the coast of Vancouver Island, and located the 324-foot supply ship that was under charter by the United States Army 40 nautical miles to the southwest of Vancouver Island. “It certainly is a game-changer as far as Canadian history is concerned,” said Vancouver Maritime Museum Executive Director Ken Burton. “Up until this point we had operated under the belief this was a vessel under contract by the U.S. military that we believed was sunk in American waters.”The ship remained lost for 71 years until its discovery during a 2013 survey by the Canadian Hydrographic Service. The dive team, organized by Titanic discoverer Robert Ballard, used a remote-controlled robotic submarine dispatched from the deck of OET’s Nautilus research vessel to descend 138 metres to the wreck on the sea floor. The Remotely Operated Vehicle was controlled from URI’s Inner Space Center in Narragansett, RI, and captured images, measured water conditions, and conducted visual inspection of the sunken freighter and its contents.Burton noted that not only does the positive identity of the Coast Trader “completely alter our understanding of World War Two history” it also gives us a better understanding of the threat posed to Canada’s Pacific Coast by Japan at that time. Burton noted the dive also add credence to the theory that the Estevan Point lighthouse, a communications beacon for the Canadian Armed Forces at the time, was also likely shelled by the submarine a few...

[caption id="attachment_12696" align="alignnone" width="300"] Peter Mallett, LookoutMilitary historian Bart Armstrong conducts research in his Saanich home.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~For the past 16 years, Bart Armstrong, 67, a former military reservist, has spent his days pouring over historical records, microfilm and Internet sources to dig deep into our nation’s military past in order to right many historical wrongs. Armstrong says his research has uncovered 109 recipients of the Victoria Cross with connections to Canada as opposed to the previously accepted number of 94, and determined there are 109 Medal of Honor recipients with connections to Canada who served for the United States as opposed to the recorded 69. He is also big on pointing out that 50,000 Canadians served in the U.S. during the Civil War, something most Canadians are “completely oblivious to.” “I am just scratching the surface with my work; there is so much out there about Canada’s military history, and, as a prominent genealogist recently claimed, an estimated 95 per cent of that information has yet to be revealed,” he says.His most recent work resulted in the proper grave marker for U.S. Medal of Honor recipient Joseph Noil, an African-Canadian who travelled from his Nova Scotia home to join the U.S. Navy during the Civil War.A series of unfortunate errors led to the sailor being buried without the prestigious head stone.  On the home front he worked with others to have a more prominent marker placed in honour of former HMCS Malahat Commander Rowland R.L. Bourke, the only known holder of the Victoria Cross and  France’s Legion of Honour Medal from the First World War. Cdr Bourke received his medals for saving the lives of 41 servicemen during the 1918 spring raids at the Belgium ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge.The history buff doesn’t mince words in his...

[caption id="attachment_12693" align="alignnone" width="300"] Robert “Scratch” Mitchell, a retired Lieutenant-Colonel who served for 20 years in Canada’s Air Force, looks on during a first aid demonstration by the 848 Royal Roads Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron during their 39th annual Ceremonial Review at Belmont Secondary School in Langford.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Former Snowbird and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilot Robert “Scratch” Mitchell inspected a squadron of Westshore air cadets last Tuesday, and encouraged them to seize the moment in their journey through life.Mitchell, a retired Lieutenant-Colonel with 20 years in Canada’s air force, was the Reviewing Officer for the 848 Royal Roads Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron during their 39th annual Ceremonial Review Ceremony at Belmont Secondary School in Langford on May 31. After inspecting the youth the Victoria native took to the microphone and recalled some exhilarating moments of his career, including piloting CF-18s and commanding Canada’s famed aerobatics team.“When you are going through this kinetic experience called life try to find those moments, whether you are flying air planes, becoming doctors or the next internet sensation, find those magical moments because I think that is one of the gifts in life that we are given.”He recalled one such moment when he led his Snowbirds in a tight diamond formation down the northern glacial slope of Mount Baker as they flew towards Abottsford, B.C. As Mitchell and the Snowbirds “tobogganed” down the slope, a beautiful sunset turned the sky a hue of purple and pink and Mitchell described the memory as both unforgettable and surreal.“This was one of those ‘moments’, not only because of the incredible setting, but because there was such a perfect connection amongst all of the pilots; it felt like we were all in the same plane,” he said.Mitchell acquired the nickname Scratch during a midair...

[caption id="attachment_12684" align="alignnone" width="300"] The Battle of the Atlantic memorial receives a constant flow of visitors. Many are veterans with mobility issues which makes access difficult or limited.[/caption]David Lewis, Naval Association of Canada (London) ~The Battle of the Atlantic Memorial is a tribute to the ships and men of the Royal Canadian Navy, lost in the longest running battle of the Second World War. It is a stunning and moving memorial, created with extreme gratitude for those who made the supreme sacrifice and whose final resting places cannot be marked by graves.The memorial is built into the grass hillside at HMCS Prevost.A series of 25 blue granite stones traverse the hillside. Each stone is engraved with the name, the image, the hull number and the date the ship lost during the Battle of the Atlantic.There is also a stone honouring the sacrifice of the Merchant Navy.The memorial rests in central Canada as the sailors represented here, who were lost with their ships, came from small towns and large cities, from every province across this great country.As much as we remember the ships and the gallant names of Valleyfield, Alberni, Louisburg and others, it is not the steel and iron we commemorate.It is the sons and fathers, the brothers and friends, the grandsons loved and lost. It is their service, their sacrifice that permeates this memorial.The memorial remembers the 18-year-old sailor bundled heavily against the bitter cold.He’s standing watch on the open bridge of an RCN Corvette.Around him is the freezing North Atlantic and in the moonlight are the many plodding hulls of the convoy he’s protecting.It remembers the blinding flash, being hurled into the air, and slamming down into the icy water.It remembers the struggle to surface and the weight of the black Arctic water slowly over-whelming. It also remembers...

[caption id="attachment_12690" align="alignnone" width="300"] The Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy performs at last year’s Memorial Park Music Festival in Esquimalt.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy will ring in the first day of summer by headlining opening night at the Township of Esquimalt’s Memorial Park Music Festival.The naval band will help kick off the township’s annual series of six Tuesday night concerts with a free performance on June 21 between 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the historic park located at 1212 Esquimalt Rd. The Esquimalt High School Band will open with a performance at 5 p.m.Flutist PO1 Marie-Perle Broadley and Assistant Director of Music CPO2 Brayden Wise will program and conduct part of the Naden Band’s performance. “We love playing for the public, it’s one of our greatest joys and some of our biggest fans live right here in Esquimalt,” says PO1 Broadley.“The venue has a very laid back atmosphere in a park setting, and many people bring their families and are normally equipped with blankets, lawn chairs and food.”PO1 Broadley says some of the compositions the band will perform include The Vanished Army by Kenneth J. Alford; Scottish Rhapsody in a tribute to legendary Canadian composer Howard Cable who died on March 30; and an undecided piece of music celebrating Quebec holiday Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, which falls on June 24.  “It’s a very family-oriented event so we try to cater to everyone and play a little bit of everything,” says PO1 Broadley.The music festival will also feature headline acts The Soul Shakers (June 28), Bobby Dazzler (July 5), Deb Thomson Band (July 12), Virtual Elvis (July 19) and Bijou du Bayou (July 26).

[caption id="attachment_12678" align="alignnone" width="300"] Wildlife Technician Lorraine Crinkley documents the number of eggs addled for reporting to Environment Canada.[/caption]Lorraine Crinkley, Formation Environment ~CFB Esquimalt has a large population of non-native, non-migratory Canada geese.These geese were introduced locally approximately 50 years ago for hunting purposes, but changes in hunting regulations and a lack of natural predators have allowed their populations to increase exponentially.  Geese can live and breed for up to 20 years, and each year a nesting pair can produce an average clutch of five eggs. Due to their population growth, a long-term population control program has been developed through the Capital Regional District’s Canada Goose Management Strategy.This strategy aims to reduce impacts of non-migratory resident Canada geese to prevent conflict between geese and human activities.Suggested mitigation techniques include habitat modification that makes an area less desirable to geese; water management, which addresses the location and characteristics of water features such as irrigation ponds that attract geese; hazing, which scares geese away from conflict areas; temporary relocation; and population control such as egg addling and strategic hunting. CFB Esquimalt has participated in egg addling since 2008.Egg addling involves removing eggs from the nest and shaking them, which disrupts the membrane and stops embryo development.The eggs are marked and put back into the nest so the female goose will continue to sit on the eggs.At the end of the season the eggs will simply not hatch. Eggs cannot be removed or destroyed as the female will just produce another clutch. Both migratory and non-migratory Canada geese are protected under Environment Canada’s Migratory Bird Act, and all addling activities at CFB Esquimalt are conducted under Federal permit and require annual reporting. I managed the 2016 addling season within Formation Safety and Environment (FSE). I am a Wildlife Technician and co-op student.The 2016...

Rachel Lallouz, Staff writer ~ The Canadian Armed Forces will cooperate with 27 other nations this year for Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016, the largest maritime exercise in the world. Taking place in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California from June 30 to Aug. 4, this year’s exercise will mark Canada’s 25th time participating in the biannual exercise. Canada’s maritime component will be HMCS Calgary, HMCS Vancouver, HMCS Saskatoon, and HMCS Yellowknife, along with a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) dive team and Forward Logistics team. “Having our ships and divers train with other countries fosters multinational cooperation, trust, enhances operability and naval professional engagement, and achieves our national objectives while building capable coalition partners in the Pacific Rim and beyond,” says Lieutenant-Commander Matthew Arthur, Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Deputy Lead Planner for RIMPAC. The 1,500 Canadian sailors, soldiers, and airmen and airwomen participating will work alongside multiple allies during the exercise, such as Australia, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore. “Our ability to be leaders in this exercise is deeply important for Canada,” says LCdr Arthur. “Fundamentally, we play a role organizing an exercise that is vast in scope of training, with 45 ships participating, five submarines, 17 different land force groups, over 200 aircraft, and over 25,000 people.” Participants will be challenged to complete training across a wide range of military capabilities, including humanitarian assistance, disaster response, dynamic maritime security, and complex warfighting operations. In Hawaii, RIMPAC will begin with a harbour phase of briefings with all docked ships to ensure participating navies have the same level of knowledge. Training will then focus on practicing joint live fire exercises, carrying out a simulated maritime theatre missile defence, amphibious operations, counter piracy, anti-submarine warfare, and an assessment of satellite networking in degraded environments. Hawaii will also be...

[caption id="attachment_12671" align="alignnone" width="300"] Photo by MCpl Pat Blanchard, Canadian Forces Combat CameraThe Positron Emission Tomography – functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PETfMRI) machine to be used in mental health research.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A new investment in cutting-edge technology is poised to assist the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in mental health research and better military member support.DND and the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre announced May 16 a four-year $2.65 million agreement for DND to access their brain imaging scanning equipment.The Centre recently installed a PET/fMRI scanner, the only one of its kind in Canada devoted entirely to brain and mental health research.“I see this as a key investment in helping our Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans who are fighting to overcome mental health issues,” said General Jonathan Vance, Chief of Defence Staff.“This partnership will see experts at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and our military mental health professionals working together towards a common goal of developing a new understanding of the effects of mental illness on brain functions.”The cutting edge technology will allow clinicians and scientists from Canadian Forces Health Services and Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre to examine the effects of various drugs used to treat depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses on brain functions.The CAF’s Director of Mental Health, Col Andrew Downes says the introduction of the scanner is a breakthrough for researchers because it combines two widely used pieces of technology into one device, offering a more accurate measurement or snapshot of a patient’s brain.The PET, or Positron Emission Tomography, identifies parts of the brain that are metabolically active using specially labeled molecules; while fMRI is a technique for measuring brain activity by detecting changes in blood oxygenation that occur in response to neural activity.“For researchers across the globe mental illness is currently...

[caption id="attachment_12654" align="alignnone" width="300"] LS Andrée Noye encourages students to do push ups as part of the LEAD program.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~ Grade Four students gathered around Leading Seaman Andrée Noye at École John Stubbs Memorial School March 25, as the military police officer briefed them on teamwork and positive communication. LS Noye, school liaison officer, discussed the WITS LEADS program, which teaches children in Grade 4 and above five problem solving strategies to deal with conflict.Over and above the WITS program that provides strategies to deal with bullies - Walk away, Ignore, Talk it out, or Seek help -, the LEADS program involves Look and listen, Explore points of view, Act, Did it work? and Seek help. “My role at the school allows me to have a positive presence in the community with the children,” she says.“It really adds to the prevention aspect of our job, and that’s part of policing. If, from the beginning, we can help kids develop a positive outlook, they may be less inclined to resort to using violence to resolve their issues.” “I think that having an actual officer in the class to talk about these issues allows the messages to resonate better,” she adds.Other topics she covered include drug use, cyber safety and anti-bullying.To start this particular LEADS class, LS Noye warmed students up on the school’s field with exercises.The class was then separated into two teams.Each group was given a large stuffed lion and was challenged to pass the lion around their circle without using their hands. “I tried to emphasize developing their problem solving skills,” says LS Noye.“And I went for a kinesiology based approach that allowed the kids to be active outdoors.” The class was then split into groups of three, with each group given a plastic Hawaiian lei.Teams...

[caption id="attachment_12651" align="alignnone" width="300"] The Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy performs at the Con Brio Festival in Whistler, BC.[/caption]PO2 Katrina Bligh, Naden Band ~On the evening of April 23, the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy performed two concerts for over 3,000 music students and teachers at the Whistler Conference Center, hosted by the Con Brio Festival.The festival, now in its 17th year, features three days of non-competitive performing, grading and masterclasses for Wind Band, Orchestra and Choir students from all over Canada and the United States. During the festival, the Commanding Officer of the Naden Band, Lt(N) Matthew Clark, adjudicated multiple wind ensemble performances and instructed several masterclasses and workshops.The concerts on Saturday night were the highlight for the visiting students.Due to the venue being unable to accommodate over 3,000 attendees, the same concert was given twice two hours apart for approximately 1,500 students and teachers. Once the opening acts The Delisle Vocal Project and trombonist Christopher Bill finished their sets, the Naden Band took the stage.  Special guests University of Victoria Wind Ensemble conductor Dr. Gerald King; Con Brio Director Douglas Macaulay; Director of Bands at Pacific University, Oregon, and the former United States Navy senior bandmaster Dr. Michael Burch-Pesses; saxophone soloist Dr. Julia Nolan; singer Marcus Mosely; and Canadian composer Robert Buckley joined the Band. In addition, the Band was augmented by musicians of the Royal Canadian Artillery Band from Edmonton and La Musique du Royal 22e Régiment from Quebec City.“This concert is a wonderful opportunity to connect with students and educators in order to spread the good word of the Navy,” said Lt(N) Clark.“I would also like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the fine musicians on stage, who give their all each and every time they put on the uniform....

[caption id="attachment_12647" align="alignnone" width="115"] Lieutenant (Navy) Regina Campbell.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Lieutenant (Navy) Regina Campbell isn’t your typical Maritime Forces Pacific submariner.She hails from the warm, and much saltier waters off the western coast of Australia as a member of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) based in Perth. She is on an exchange program with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), and in the summer will join HMCS Chicoutimi. “Submarines are a fascinating field because the aim of a defence force, in my understanding, is to train to such a level that you are a deterrent force – you prevent attacks and therefore maintain peace.But submarines are a strategic weapon,” she says. “It’s a completely different ballgame and a very challenging environment.” She joined the RAN at age 27, in 2007, and officially became a submariner a few years later.The journey to her Dolphin badge was no easy feat, she says. “You start off with your basic medical and psychological assessments, and then submarine basics, all the while officers keep a constant eye on you to make sure you fit in well in a small environment.Then there’s six months of school on submarine engineering and operational background.” From there, Lt(N) Campbell says she had to complete four information-filled task books and deploy before gaining her “dolphins” and be deemed certified as a safe submariner.She later worked her way to the position of Sonar Officer on board Australian submarine HMAS Dechaineux.Her first time deployed on a submarine was a day tour in 2010 off Sydney. “I remember the first day setting foot on a submarine. I’ll never forget it.I entered this very small microcosm where everyone seemed to know exactly what they were doing. It was exciting and intimidating.” Initially educated as a journalist, Lt(N) Campbell never anticipated she would one day end...

[caption id="attachment_12644" align="alignnone" width="265"] Peter Mallett, LookoutMembers of MARPAC’s Nijmegen marching team at Roache Cove in Sooke.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Step by step, over hill and over dale, military members hoping for a spot on the MARPAC Nijmegen team are kicking up plenty of dust as they master long marches on the trail. Last Friday, 18 members dressed in CADPAT and boots with a 12-kilogram rucksack on their back tackled 40 kilometres.They started just after dawn from Roache Cove in Sooke, marching along the Galloping Goose Regional Trail to their final destination of Work Point.“This is the gravy of being in the military,” said team leader, Lt(N) Marianne Knai.“When you are lucky enough to be given the opportunity by the chain of command to come out here and spend the day marching with like-minded people, it’s an amazing experience.”Those lucky enough to make the team will join a long legacy of marchers in Holland July 19 to 22 for the Nijmegen Four Days International Marches.Over 42,000 participants will march 40km over four days – for the MARPAC team, they will join 14 other Canadian military teams.  The most gruelling part of the marching is the toll it takes on the mind and body. From muscle strains to blisters to dehydration and boredom, those tough enough to traverse the Dutch countryside must train well. MARPAC’s team potentials have been at it since February, and won’t know their fate until early June.  Joining Lt(N) Knai is second-in-command WO Kevin Legg, who has once before endured the training and Nijmegen marches. “Having Kevin as our 2IC again this year is incredible,” said Lt(N) Knai. “Many of the marchers on this year’s team don’t know about his inspirational story of strength and courage because Kevin is such private and humble individual, but they should...

[caption id="attachment_12640" align="alignnone" width="300"] Navy and RCM-SAR work together to save sailing vessel.[/caption]SLt Sully Heraud, HMCS Yellowknife ~Three weeks ago, on May 14, HMCS Yellowknife was conducting operations for intermediate multi-ship readiness training when a call was made by Victoria Coast Guard looking for information on a sailing vessel, Trinity 1.The vessel was adrift with a bent mast in the vicinity of Darcy Island.The decision was made by Yellowknife Captain, LCdr Jeffrey Hopkins, to render assistance to the vessel.Once on scene, Yellowknife established communications with the vessel’s two crew members and was informed that its engine was broken and the crew had no way of manoeuvering it out of danger.Trinity 1 was drifting towards the rocks at Kelp Reef, southeast of Sidney Island, and sunset was approaching.As proximity to dangers increased, Yellowknife decided to tow the sailing vessel with it rigid hulled boat.Once the sailing vessel was safely in tow, LCdr Hopkins requested assistance from the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Unit (RCM-SAR) located close by in Oak Bay.A RCM-SAR rescue boat was sent to the Ten Mile Point area to affect a turnover of Trinity 1 and tow it back to Cadboro Bay, where the vessel originated.The quick reaction of the crew of Yellowknife, as well as an eagerness to respond by the RCM-SAR potentially saved two lives that day.“It is a good thing when the cooperative effort of different organizations results in the successful rescue of people in distress,” said LCdr Hopkins.“The events of that day show us that in order to keep our coastal waters safe, everyone has to work together.”

[caption id="attachment_12637" align="alignnone" width="300"] Photo by Lt(N) Joel CormierLeading Seaman Hector Ladron de Guevara from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) recently deployed on Operation Open Spirit 2016 in Lithuania.[/caption]Captain Kirk Sullivan, CJOC Headquarters ~A Clearance Diver from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) recently deployed to Lithuania to help improve the safety of seafarers in the Baltic Sea. Leading Seaman Hector Ladron de Guevara participated in Operation Open Spirit 2016 in Klaipeda, Lithuania, from May 13-27.He and his fellow divers worked with their counterparts from 12 nations to remove unexploded ordnance left from the First and Second World Wars.During the operation, LS Ladron de Guevara placed explosives on a recently discovered mine.When the area around the mine was secured, the Canadian dive team conducted a controlled detonation. “It’s a challenging task and we need to be careful when approaching objects that could be mines,” he said.“When objects are identified as mines, we use our well-rehearsed procedures to ensure we conduct the detonation safely. We practice regularly to make sure we’re ready for these real-life situations.”Originally from Villahermosa, Mexico, LS Ladron de Guevara came to Canada in 1996 and joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2001 as Boatswain.He became a Clearance Diver in 2012 and has deployed on Exercise Dugong and Operation Nanook. “I love training for operations and appreciate the opportunities to deploy and work alongside divers from around the world,” he said.During Operation Open Spirit 2016, he and the Canadian dive team exchanged tactics, techniques, and procedures with allies in order to refine explosive ordnance disposal capabilities.“It’s always interesting to work with divers from other countries,” he said.“During this operation, we shared practices that work well for us and picked up some good tips that may help us in the future. It was a great experience.”Operation Open Spirit is an annual multinational...

[caption id="attachment_12631" align="alignnone" width="249"] Westshore Navy Day takes place June 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the military facilities off Rosebank Road.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Residents of Greater Victoria can discover the unique world of the Royal Canadian Navy when CFB Esquimalt cracks open its Colwood property for a visitor open house in two weeks.Westshore Navy Day takes place June 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the military facilities off Rosebank Road.“Navy Day is our opportunity to invite the community within which we reside to come visit us,” says Captain (Navy) Steve Waddell, Base Commander.“Our goal is to eliminate the mystery of the Base by showcasing our capabilities, which are developed and sustained for the missions we are tasked to do.A naval presence has been here for 150 years; as the third-largest employer in the region the Base and its workforce, both military and civilian, are inextricably linked to all of the area’s municipalities.”Organizers have mixed fun and informative in the daylong outing.Major highlights are the up-close tours of Patrol Craft Training Vessel Orca, HMCS (Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship) Winnipeg, just back from a nine-month deployment in the Mediterranean, and HMCS Saskatoon, which returned last month after conducting anti-drug smuggling operations in the Caribbean.Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the crew and ask questions about these international missions, as well as take guided walks through the ships. For the more adventurous there are rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) rides around the harbour.Organizers want parents to be aware there is a height requirement, so to avoid disappointment those 50 inches or more are eligible.From the vantage of the dock, visitors can watch the adeptness of the base’s Glen class tugboats, which are entrusted to move the warships in and out of the jetties.These Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessels will perform a tugboat ballet for onlookers.Lowering from a Cormorant search and rescue helicopter over the harbour will be search and rescue technicians. In their bright orange jumpsuits they...

[caption id="attachment_12625" align="alignnone" width="300"] Former co-op student Katelyn Moores (centre) poses with current co-op students (from left to right) Sonya Chwyl, Lindsey Hardcastle, Cameron Carswell and Amanda Lichon, to celebrate Moores recent acceptance of a full-time position with Maritime Forces Pacific Public Affairs.[/caption] Amanda Lichon and Valerie Froud, MARPAC PA Office ~Facing an aging workforce expected to retire in the next decade, Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) is actively scouting new talent for Public Service positions.Students who have completed cooperative work terms at CFB Esquimalt are the ideal candidates, having gained some corporate knowledge and experience during their employment.“Student bridging is another hiring option available to federal government managers to help rejuvenate the workforce with the brightest and most talented individuals,” explains Helen Bates, Acting Human Resource Programs and Planning Manager.This hiring strategy aligns with the organization’s succession planning.“Students have showcased their abilities and already have knowledge about working within the Federal Government,” says Bates. “It makes sense to access this pool of potential employees and hire them.”MARPAC has a very prolific co-op employment program. Between 2013 and 2015, 109 co-op students worked at MARPAC, with several successfully bridged into full time employment.Ashley Milburn, who completed her co-op January to April term in 2009, was hired five months later - one of the first at MARPAC to be hired under student bridging program. She is now the Manager of International Engagement at MARPAC.“As a new graduate, the student bridging program provided an excellent avenue for me to be able to translate my education and work experience into meaningful employment,” said Milburn.Meghan Lawlor recently completed two consecutive co-op work terms at MARPAC with the Civilian Human Resource Service Centre (Pacific) (CHRSC (P)).“The Co-op Program at the University of Victoria gives students the skills and abilities to venture out into the workforce,” says Lawlor....

[caption id="attachment_12618" align="alignnone" width="201"] Photo courtesy of 3 CFFTSThe infamous “Rivers Bell”, a bell that once sat in the Officers’ Mess at RCAF Station Rivers, now resides in the Officers’ Mess at Portage La Prairie, as seen in 2008.[/caption]Bruce Forsyth, militarybruce.com ~A ship’s bell is an essential component of any ship. Usually made of brass with the ship’s name engraved on it, the ship’s bell is used to indicate time on board a ship, and regulate the duty watches.They are also rung in foggy conditions, and are often the only conclusive means of identifying shipwrecks.The “Rivers Bell” has its own unique place in the history of ship’s bells. A strictly land-based bell, the Rivers bell was a gift from the Royal Canadian Navy to the Canadian Joint Air Training Centre at RCAF Station Rivers in November 1951.Year after year, the bell hung in the corner of the Officers’ Mess, cheerfully rung to signal a promotion with “drinks all around” for mess mates.However, like most ship’s bells that travel from port to port along with their respective ships, the Rivers Bell was not one to be tied down to one location.As the story goes, one night in 1955, personnel from RCAF Station Moose Jaw took it upon themselves to “liberate” the Rivers Bell, transporting it across the prairie to their mess back in Moose Jaw and installing it on a “theft proof” steel beam mount.The Base Commander at Rivers, Group Captain Jack Sproule, was none too happy about this turn of events. To rectify the situation G/C Sproule led a “rescue party” to retrieve their bell one weekend in September 1955.Mingling with the Sunday morning church crowd, the rescuers succeeded in penetrating the Officers’ Mess, disabled the phones and secured the mess occupants, including the orderly officer.With hack saws and a...

[caption id="attachment_12622" align="alignnone" width="200"] Team Canada captain LS (Ret’d) Bruno Guevremont (left) is all smiles at the Invictus Games Opening Ceremonies.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Days before heading to the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida, retired Master Corporal (Retired) Adam Cyr said he wasn’t shooting for the podium.Being there with fellow wounded warriors, many working their way back to health and life, was fulfilling enough.But shoot for the podium he did, in the archery competition, earning a silver medal.The 37-year-old amputee, and teammates Sgt (Ret’d) Nicolas Meunier of Montreal and Cpl (Ret’d) Sarah Dentry-Travis of Winnipeg shot their way to a second place finish in the Team Novice Recurve.“It was a great moment and we are so proud of Adam winning and representing the west coast athletes at the Game so well,” said Team Canada’s captain, LS (Ret’d) Bruno Guévremont.MCpl (Ret’d) Cyr served with 2PPCLI Shilo, Manitoba, and lost his right leg and suffered shoulder and hearing injuries during a Taliban rocket attack in 2008. The silver medal was added to Canada’s 28-member team’s final tally of 22 medals – 10 gold medals, eight silver, and four bronze.That total outshined the two silver medals Canada won at the inaugural 2014 Invictus Games in London where 12 Canadian military athletes participated. At the closing ceremony LS (Ret’d) Guévremont was centre stage when the Invictus Games flag was lowered, and then handed to him and Michael Burns, CEO of the 2017 Invictus Games, which will be held in Toronto. “It was only a few years back that I was suffering from PTSD and in a pretty dark place,” said LS (Ret’d) Guévremont.“To be on the stage accepting the Invictus Games flag for Canada for the next Games was a fantastic feeling.This year’s Games changed the lives of so many of 28 current...