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[caption id="attachment_11753" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of HMCS Winnipeg present clothing donations collected by the ship during its Holiday Clothing Drive to the Joe Nafuma Refugee Centre in Rome, Italy.[/caption]SLt Jamie Tobin, HMCS Winnipeg -Despite being deployed over the holiday season, the more than 250 sailors, soldiers and air force personnel on board HMCS Winnipeg spread holiday cheer to those less fortunate with some very successful community outreach endeavours.The most successful of the campaigns was the ship’s holiday toy drive where members of the crew purchased toys that were donated to a worthy cause in the ship’s holiday port of call of Rome.“It is incredibly overwhelming to see the ship’s company collaborate together and purchase a variety of children’s toys and donate clothing for those in need,” said Master Seaman Joan Emode, a reserve force Resource Management Support Clerk serving in Winnipeg. “I am also proud to be a member of the Master Seaman and Below mess that contributed so much of their time and effort to support this important cause.”Two days before Christmas representatives from the ship visited the Joe Nafuma Refugee Centre in Rome to drop off clothing and hygiene products donations that had been collected by the crew. The facility provides meals and daytime services to refugees living in the vicinity of Rome, and the team from the ship had a brief opportunity to meet with some of the centre’s staff and clientele to learn about the support programs and employment opportunities they provide.On Christmas Eve, a large group from the ship’s company visited the Community of Sant’Egidio School of Peace in Rome with toy donations that had been collected during the campaign. The donations consisted of store bought toys and games, as well as handcrafted wooden boats that were constructed by the ship’s hull technician section.The Community...

The B.C. Government, ICBC, and DND are supporting transitioning military personnel and retired veterans by transferring their truck driving credentials to commercial licences,  and by removing any requirement for additional testing.This will provide transitioning military personnel and recently retired veterans with a marketable qualification and new career opportunities in the commercial trucking industry.“Military members transitioning out of the Canadian Armed Forces into civilian life can face many challenges as they seek out new employment. The announcement by the B.C. government and ICBC eliminates one of those key hurdles for many of our current and former serving members,” said Rear Admiral Gilles Couturier, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific. “I thank the Province of British Columbia, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, and Helmets to Hardhats for working so closely with us to support the men and women who serve, by recognizing military driver’s license as a valid professional qualification in the province.”This agreement allows retired and active members with a DND driver’s licence to obtain an equivalent B.C. commercial licence (class 1, 2, 3 or 4). The streamlined approach allows applicants with prior DND credentials to drive semi-tractors, large trucks, buses and limousines. To further support military driver transition, B.C. will also issue class 5 or 7 passenger vehicle licences without additional testing to drivers with equivalent DND credentials.The newly signed agreement by the B.C. government, ICBC, and DND goes into effect Jan. 25.Removing this hurdle for military personnel and veterans in B.C. is part of an initiative spearheaded by the national non-profit group, Helmets to Hardhats Canada.Helmets to Hardhats Canada is focused on providing members of the Canadian Armed Forces with opportunities for apprenticeship training and/or careers, with good wages and benefits in Canada’s unionized building, construction and maintenance industries.“We are happy to help current and retired Canadian Forces members...

[caption id="attachment_11745" align="alignnone" width="300"] Rear Admiral Gilles Couturier, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific, presents Master Seaman Brandon McLeod with the NATO Article 5 medal for his contribution to NATO Operation Active Endeavour.[/caption]SLt Jamie Tobin, HMCS Winnipeg - The ship’s company of HMCS Winnipeg received the NATO Article 5 medal on Jan. 9 for their service in support of Operation Reassurance, Canada’s contribution to NATO assurance measures in Central and Eastern Europe.For approximately three months of the deployment Winnipeg’s service with the Standing NATO Maritime Group was in support of Operation Active Endeavour, NATO’s mission to build maritime situational awareness in order to detect, deter and disrupt terrorism in the Mediterranean Sea. The ship served on the operation with the German-led Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) this past July and August, and again with the Portuguese-led SNMG1 in November and December.The ship held the medal presentation ceremony on the flight deck during an operational port of call in Goa, India. The event was presided over by Rear Admiral Gilles Couturier, the Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific, and Chief Petty Officer First Class Michael Feltham, Formation Chief Petty Officer.  “It was great to get out and visit the crew of HMCS Winnipeg and it was an honour to present them with their medals,” said RAdm Couturier. “Winnipeg has been doing the business of the Royal Canadian Navy throughout their deployment and they serve as an example of excellence at sea.”Winnipeg and crew deployed from Esquimalt June 15, 2015, and have  been conducting operations and participating in multi-national exercises with the SNMGs since mid-July. The crew received their medals shortly before the seven month milestone of the deployment.“It was a momentous occasion for all of us,” said Commander Pascal Belhumeur, Commanding Officer of HMCS Winnipeg. “This is the best crew of sailors...

[caption id="attachment_11741" align="alignnone" width="300"] FDU divers PO1 Giles Pease (top) and LS Ryan Burrell (bottom) dive in the Pacific Canada Pavillion at the Vancouver Aquarium. PO1 Pease is diving with CABA (SCUBA) dive gear and LS Burrell is diving the CCDA rebreather.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz , Staff Writer -Five clearance divers plunged beneath the surface in an unusual environment a week ago.The members from Fleet Diving Unit Pacific (FDU(P)) donned wet suits and rebreathers over the Jan. 16 weekend and slipped into the Pacific Canada Pavilion tank at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre.Surrounded by halibut and sturgeon, and under the watch of visitors, the divers carried out demonstrations to showcase their navy work. Interactive displays were also set up inside the aquarium.“People don’t know what we do, typically,” said Lieutenant (Navy) Greg Oickle, FDU (P) Executive Officer. “So there was a lot of contact with the public and it gave us the opportunity to talk to others about our jobs doing clearance diving or port inspections.”Lt(N) Oickle and PO1 Giles Pease teamed up to give a special presentation on diving opportunities within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) on Saturday afternoon. More than 30 people listened raptly as they discussed training, career paths in military diving, and basic diving tasks.“They send divers down to diffuse explosives, risking their lives, and the extent of what they do is amazing,” said Nerina Black, a seminar audience member. “I had no idea they do so much. They truly save lives.”The Aquarian’s annual Divers’ Weekend, now in its 17th year, focused on the Arctic, with seminar topics ranging from the impacts of climate change to exploring shipwrecks in the waters off Cambridge Bay, NU.During the clearance diver presentation, Lt(N) Oickle talked about diving under the Arctic ice last spring following the discovery of the HMS Erebus...

[caption id="attachment_11724" align="alignnone" width="199"] Commander Pascal Belhumeur, Commanding Officer of HMCS Winnipeg, participates in the ship’s Spin-a-Thon fitness challenge during Operation Reassurance in the Mediterranean Sea.[/caption]HMCS Winnipeg -While physical fitness is a component of operational success, it can be difficult for sailors to maintain when at sea on deployment. However, on board HMCS Winnipeg the command team is setting the example of what is achievable.To keep fit, Commander Pascal Belhumeur, the ship’s Commanding Officer, has equipped his cabin with a stationary bicycle trainer and a heavy bag set-up.“Being fit keeps us in control of our physical and mental well-being,” says Cdr Belhumeur.The command team has also brought on board a fitness specialist from Personnel Support Programs.“Canadian Armed Forces members are fortunate to have the support of Personnel Support Programs and the personal trainer has been a great asset to the crew,” says Lieutenant-Commander Kevin Whiteside, the ship’s Executive Officer.Sylvain Verrier holds four fitness classes per day while at sea and provides the crew with daily workout programs and nutrition advice. LCdr Whiteside remains fit by faithfully attending the 6 a.m. class and frequenting the 4 p.m. class.“I am proud to be a part of a command team that is so focused on fitness,” says Chief Petty Officer First Class Michel Vincelette, Winnipeg’s Coxswain. “The crew sees it and is inspired; we have the most actively fit crew that I have ever seen.”With Verrier’s assistance, the Coxswain has been doing a cardio and weight intensive program that is tailored to help his golf game; his handicap, however, remains a mystery.Not only does Verrier have an effect on life at sea, but also alongside by organizing multi-national sporting events with our NATO allies, and the monthly five kilometre fleet runs in port at which the ship’s company continues to clock some amazing...

[caption id="attachment_11721" align="alignnone" width="300"] Team CFB Esquimalt Tritions[/caption]Peter Mallett , Staff Writer - The CFB Esquimalt Tritons have advanced to the CAF Men’s National Hockey Championship following a 2-0 series sweep over the CFB Comox Flyers at Wurtele Arena on Jan. 13.Capt Aaron Lee scored a goal and tallied two assists as the Tritons defeated the Flyers 5-1 in the Pacific Regionals best-of-three series opening game last Wednesday morning. Capt Lee, a forward who works for the dental unit, was named Player of the Game following game one, and Tournament MVP of the series.Tritons goaltender PO2 Randy Collens of CF Fleet School was named Player of the Game following game 2 after turning aside 30 shots in his team’s 6-2 victory. The result cemented the CFB Esquimalt Tritons in place to represent the Pacific Region at the CAF National Hockey Championships, which takes place at CFB Borden, March 5 to 10.The Tritons are now looking to improve on their 5th place finish last year at the annual championship tournament as they face their opponents from Quebec, Prairie, Ontario, and Atlantic Regions.

[caption id="attachment_11718" align="alignnone" width="300"] Cadets from 5 Rainbow Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps, along with their coach Paul Hillsden and the North Vancouver Island Area Cadet Instructor Cadre Officer, LCdr Don Irwin, show off the ceremonial paddle they created, and trophy they won at the Zone Inter-Divisional Seamanship Competition held in Comox Jan. 9-10.[/caption]Cadets from 5 Rainbow Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (RCSCC) in Victoria will be competing this spring in the Regional Interdivisional Seamanship Competition after winning the zone competition held Jan.  9 and 10 at HMCS Quadra in Comox.The 10-person team, along with 109 other cadets from Vancouver Island competed in a variety of seamanship skills: coiling and heaving heavy lines at targets, navigation, semaphore (communication with flags), whipping and splicing rope, knot work, naval trivia, creating a ceremonial paddle with decorative knot work and constructing sheer legs (a mechanical boom to lift a load onto a ship’s deck).The aim of the event is to encourage cadets to increase their knowledge of seamanship and to provide friendly competition.The 5 Rainbow RCSCC team was led by team captain CPO2 Alex Hillsden. The winning team was presented with a championship trophy.They practiced between two and four hours each week to prepare for the event, and plan to continue meeting each week until the regional competition in March.5 Rainbow RCSCC recently moved from Esquimalt to the James Bay area at HMCS Malahat.Also participating were Cadets from 54 Admiral DeWolf RCSCC in Campbell River, 64 Malaspina RCSCC in Powell River, 100 Admiral Mainguy RCSCC in Duncan, 109 Alberni RCSCC in Port Alberni, 136 Amphion RCSCC in Nanaimo, 189 Port Augusta RCSCC in Comox, 220 Admiral Budge RCSCC in Sidney, 263 Beacon Hill RCSCC in Langford, 296 Esquimalt RCSCC in Parksville, and 325 Admiral Waller RCSCC in Sooke.

[caption id="attachment_11714" align="alignnone" width="300"] Image from the DFIT website[/caption]Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services -New changes to the DFIT.ca website have greatly improved usability and broadened who can use the website.This unique fitness planning and training tool launched by Personnel Support Programs (PSP) in 2012 is now more responsive to mobile devices. Plus it has a more intuitive website design that ensures faster response times.Military families can take advantage of the online tool used by military members.With the aim of expanding its audience of users beyond serving military personnel, DFIT.ca for Families is a new online resource featuring general fitness and a more family-friendly, total lifestyle approach to active living.Special features include parenting tips focused on active living, online personal trainers, program discounts and coupons, diet and weight loss guides, and much more.The DFIT.ca mobile web platform now offers customizable fitness training plans, video demonstrations of hundreds of exercises, tips for injury prevention, nutritional information, and online training journals.DFIT.ca also features an online forum moderated by PSP fitness professionals who can provide helpful training advice and feedback.Using their CFOne card number, military family members, veterans and their families can access the DFIT.ca module available for free until January 2017. Access to DFIT.ca is also available to all other categories of CFOne members, such as NPF employees, DND public servants, RCMP officers, pensioners, and their families, on a paid subscription basis.

[caption id="attachment_11706" align="alignnone" width="600"] PO2 Bertrand Larocque and his daughters Casandra and Milla show off a Cantharellus cibarius, commonly known as the chanterelle, that they picked during a recent trip to a forest near Port Renfrew.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff writerNot long after the first rainy days at the end of summer, a vast cornucopia of colorful mushrooms pop up at the base of trees and the duff of forest floors of the Pacific Northwest. Along with them comes an army of mushroom pickers.One-by-one, armed with specially designed harvesting knives, they hike into the lush forests of Vancouver Island in search of the fruits of fungus.For outdoor enthusiasts, mushroom picking not only provides a healthy outdoor activity, but also brings a greater understanding of the Island’s diverse and sensitive ecosystem. With the right safety precautions, their harvest also provides them an unparalleled culinary delight.“After a day of hiking and bushwhacking you begin to get the aroma of those Chanterelle mushrooms on your fingers,” says CPO2 Yvan Vallières an instructor at Fleet School. “There is nothing like it, being outdoors and cooking a fresh batch of Chanterelle mushrooms that you have just picked.”The mushroom season is a short-lived one and typically runs from late August until mid to late November when the first hard frost arrives.CPO2 Vallières and other mushroom seekers use specially designed Opinel mushroom knives and other similar blades to carefully separate the mushrooms from their stems in order to harvest their crops. A life-long outdoor enthusiast originally from Gatineau, Que., CPO2 Vallières began mushroom picking 10 years ago and says he was “instantly hooked.”On fall weekends, he and his girlfriend Claudette Poirier hop in their camper van and “get away from it all.”  The pair travel to remote locations on Vancouver Island, set up camp, and spend their weekend hiking...

Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is resolving an issue with quality assurance measures of a small portion of welds performed in its West Coast surface and sub-surface fleet.In the fall of 2014, during a routine quality control inspection carried out by contractor Victoria Shipyards, an anomaly was identified in a small number of welds in Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ottawa.After identifying that the issue was a quality assurance matter, Victoria Shipyards articulated their findings to Babcock Canada Inc., since they were completing HMCS Chicoutimi’s Extended Docking Work Period during the same period, and alerted the RCN to their findings.A collective investigation by the RCN, Babcock Canada Inc. and Victoria Shipyards ensued to determine whether or not the weld quality assurance issues were isolated to HMCS Ottawa.“As the senior engineer of the Formation, I was notified, and immediately began working in partnership with the other organizations to determine the extent of the problem,” said Captain (Navy) Christopher Earl, Assistant Chief of Staff for Naval Engineering and Maintenance. “Given the importance of the safety and security of our sailors, and any potential impact on operations, concerns such as these are taken very seriously and always investigated.”The review and subsequent investigations identified that the quality assurance checks conducted on welds inside frigates, and on the air and hydraulic pipes in submarines did not meet the high integrity standards of the RCN. Findings ultimately revealed that the welding quality assurance issues also affected HMC Ships Vancouver and Winnipeg, as well as Maritime Forces Pacific’s two submarines, Chicoutimi and Victoria.A total of 684 welds were re-examined in the three frigates; as a result, 16 welds (2% of the total) were identified as requiring repairs.The number of welds requiring re-inspection is relatively small in comparison to the total number of welds present...

[caption id="attachment_11709" align="alignnone" width="300"] Military Family Resource Centre Instructor Tracy Beck looks on as her students (left) Avery, 7, Jordyn, 5, Sarah, 6, and Conrad, 5, hold up pictures of themselves during a deployment workshop at the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff WriterDiscovering they’re not the only ones missing a parent on the home front is a giant step forward for young children coping with the deployment of a mother or father.“Realizing this is half the battle for my students, especially the younger ones,” says Tracy Beck, Children’s Deployment Workshops Facilitator with the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC). Through shared experiences and a number of interactive activities, Beck says how students attending the weekly workshops at the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre are able to “relate” and thereby “validate” their wide-ranging emotions and feelings when their parents leave home.“When they go to school the children quickly realize most of their classmates moms and dads aren’t away from home, but theirs are,” says Beck. “But when they come in here and see eight others in the same situation they quickly realize these feelings are a shared experience.”Several of those attending the current workshops are children of parents deployed in Operation Reassurance aboard HMCS Winnipeg. On June 15, 2015, children and families of the crew gave their heart-felt, teary farewells to the crew before they headed to the Mediterranean for an eight-month, NATO-led mission.Erin Goetz’s husband MS Jeffrey Snook is an engineer aboard Winnipeg. Her three daughters, Hayley, 3, Jordyn, 5, and Avery, 7, started attending the sessions last June. She says that although they miss activities such as camping and bike riding with their father, the workshops allow them to still feel connected.“My youngest daughter Hayley initially felt anxious about participating in social activities while Jeffrey was away, but now she...

[caption id="attachment_11685" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photos from the June 2014, Help Fill A Dream Foundation contribution. Matteo Salehi, whose father is in the Canadian Navy, went for a trip to Mexico with his family.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff WriterHelp Fill A Dream Foundation, a Vancouver Island charity that makes the dreams of sick children come true, is mid-way through their seasonal fundraising campaign and is looking for community assistance.“We are an immediate responsive charity that steps in to provide resources and financial support to families who have a child with a life-threatening illness,” says Craig Smith, Executive Director.Established in 1986, Help Fill A Dream has been supporting civilian and military families on the Island for the past 30 years by offering three types of programming to families in need: the Dreams Program, Family Assistance Program, and Quality of Life Program.Their most publicized program, explains Smith, is the Dreams Program, which fulfills a single dream of a child, no matter how wildly imaginative the dream is.“The idea is that when a child is sick, or when they are in their recovery period, they can look forward to their dream coming true,” says Smith. “Having that one thing to look forward to is very powerful incentive to get better, and having hope and happiness is so beneficial in the healing process.”  For this particular program, someone who knows the ill child, be it a medical practitioner, family member, or neighbour, fills out an online application on behalf of the child. The child must meet the organization’s requirements, meaning they must reside on the island or on the Gulf Islands, be under 19 years of age, and have a life threatening condition.Once approved by the organization’s board, Smith and his team work on making the dream come true.“We’ve done everything from having families meet celebrities such...

[caption id="attachment_11680" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photograph collector Chris Nixon discusses one of his many photos from his collection that lines the walls of Shop 172 in Dockyard.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer Chris Nixon, a marine industrial labourer with Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton shop 171, has an unusual hobby that has been on display to passerby in building 215 for over three years.Lining the walls of the building’s first floor north end are over 300 meticulously dated photographs of Dockyard.“As a kid, I grew up in the Work Point area and always had a fascination with military bases,” says Nixon, who recalls visiting Dockyard as a little boy for Armed Forces Day. On that special day every year, Nixon and his friends would tour warships, fire blanks out of guns, and talk to the sailors.His love of the military turned into a hobby in 2013 when he was researching photographs of the Dockyard’s dry dock online. He printed off two four-by-eight black and white photos of the dock under construction in 1887 and fastened them to the shop wall.“The next thing I knew, people were stopping and looking at the photographs with amazement,” says Nixon.As his collection grew, so did his knowledge of Dockyard’s history. He began to print off “before and after” copies of photographs to more clearly reveal the historical development of the base to onlookers.One before and after set shows a photograph of St. Paul’s Church just outside the dockyard front gate in the late 1800s, before it was moved to its present location at the corner of Esquimalt and Grafton Street in 1902. The main gate area has a dirt road and more pines are visible in the fairly undeveloped area. The photograph next to it is of the familiar, present day Dockyard main gate.His ever growing collection of...

[caption id="attachment_11677" align="alignnone" width="600"] A warm embrace as a sailor says farewell to a young loved one.[/caption] Ryan Melanson, TridentAs HMCS Fredericton prepared to depart Dockyard Jan. 5 to join Operation Reassurance, the ship’s new command team and young crop of sailors received words of advice from RAdm John Newton, Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic and Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT).“I want every sailor aboard Fredericton to know there is somebody beside you and somebody more junior who has not had the same level of CAF or RCN experience. I want you to put your arm around that person and give them the best deployment in the CAF they’ll ever have.”RAdm Newton said the tempo and importance of the mission, with the goal of promoting security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe, will make for exciting and demanding work, and will likely be one of the fastest deployments of a sailor’s career.“So make sure they get access to their training, all the welfare and morale services, sports, all the mess privileges, and make sure they come home having had the best experience possible.”Fredericton and its ship’s company will spend six months in the Mediterranean Sea working with NATO allies in support of surveillance and monitoring, regional defence, capacity building and diplomatic engagement.The ship itself returned from an initial seven-month deployment to Op Reassurance in July of 2015, where it became the first ship to deploy following completion of the Halifax-class Modernization/Frigate Life Extension program.This time around, with a largely new crew, some sailors leaving the jetty on the frigid afternoon were doing so as their first major deployment. One of those was MS Kristian Fitzgibbons, who waved from the flight deck as daughters Madison and Chloe held up signs with goodbye messages.“This is his very first deployment, so it will be...

DND >> A more modern pay system is rolling out for public servants and civilians across the Department of Defence (DND).As a part of the Blueprint 2020 action plan, the government has been working towards the implementation of Phoenix, a modern, commercial and industry-standard pay system for federal employees, replacing the current 40-year-old regional system.One part of the Transformation of Pay Administration Initiative is the introduction of Phoenix to users.The Pay Modernization project has been ongoing gradually since having been announced in August 2010. The second part of this initiative is to move a total of 184,000 pay accounts from 46 government organizations to the new Public Service Pay Centre in Miramichi, New Brunswick.By spring 2016, Phoenix will be implemented in 102 federal departments and agencies, with the implementation for DND taking place in February 2016. As of this date, all civilian pay services will be provided through the Pay Centre.Training courses for Phoenix will be available soon and civilian employees and managers are encouraged to participate to better understand how to navigate through the new system. The training course consists of an hour-long session and can be accomplished at ones own pace from any network, including those outside the government. For military managers of civilian employees, ADM(HR-Civ) will provide additional direction about myKEY and MyAccount alternatives in the near future.Signing up for myKey and MyAccount now and taking the training will have users out ahead of the pack to lead off 2016 on the right foot. For questions regarding Phoenix or details regarding the training sessions, visit the Pay Transformation page (http://hrciv-rhciv.mil.ca/en/e-compensation-pay-transformation.page).The Phoenix system reduces process time and paperwork and has increased self-service features that allow users to access and manage their pay information from their computer.There are three things civilian employees and managers need to do to get...

[caption id="attachment_11635" align="alignnone" width="600"] Members of Joint Task Force Forward, operate the bioscan systems for processing refugees in Beirut, Lebanon, during Operation Provision.[/caption]Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs >> As the first Syrian refugees arrive in Canada, Army Reservists are on the ground and eager to help keep them safe and comfortable while they await permanent resettlement in their new home.The reservists have volunteered to be part of Operation Provision, the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) contribution to the resettlement initiative, which is being led by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).Most are serving in auxiliary security roles or augmenting staff on the various CAF bases where refugees may be temporarily housed should the need arise. Several say they feel a personal connection to the mission.“I signed up for Op Provision because I wanted to welcome the Syrian refugees to Canada,” said Gunner Markus Hale, a member of 56 Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA), based in Brantford, Ontario. “As an immigrant and a Canadian soldier, I felt it was my duty to volunteer.”“I joined Op Provision because my parents were refugees to Canada and had a better life,” added Corporal Dardal Malushaj, with the Toronto Scottish Regiment. “I want to give back and help the Syrian refugees have a better life as well.”Canada’s resettlement plan will continue to evolve as it moves forward. CAF members have both the training and high level of readiness needed to evolve with it.The multi-faceted resettlement plan starts with the identification and processing of the approximately 25,000 displaced Syrians that IRCC estimates Canada will be taking in. A contingent of CAF members are deployed in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey to assist.According to IRCC, the 25,000 were to be identified by Dec. 31 and the expectation was that 10,000 of those would be welcomed to Canada by...

RCAF Public Affairs >> The Royal Canadian Mint has launched a new $20 silver coin commemorating the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP).The Plan, as it came to be known, arose from Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King’s desire to see Canada contribute meaningfully to the Allied war effort while, hopefully, maintaining control of Canadian personnel rather than seeing them absorbed into British units, and avoiding the terribly high casualty rates of the First World War. The BCTAP agreement was signed in late 1939, and ran until 1945.It was a simple plan, on the surface. Once Commonwealth nations around the world had determined through their own Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS) that enrollees did, indeed, have “the right stuff”, candidates arrived at BCATP schools throughout Canada for advanced flying training, and air gunnery, wireless operator and air observer instruction. Upon graduation, aircrew travelled to England where they formed units and entered the fray under their own nations’ banners.Beneath this ordered surface was one of the most demanding efforts undertaken by Canada during the Second World War.Airfields and schools were repurposed or constructed throughout Canada. These facilities and their supporting infrastructure would employ some 33,000 military personnel and about 6,000 civilians, and require about 5,000 aircraft – at a staggering cost of more than $607 million.By war’s end, BCATP schools had trained 131,553 Allied aircrew, and Canada had become known as “the aerodrome of democracy”. The Plan was one of the most successful efforts undertaken by Canada during the Second World War. A legacy of the BCATP is visible in the many airfields and regional airports that dot our nation today.The Royal Canadian Mint’s new British Commonwealth Air Training Plan commemorative $20 silver coin is a fitting tribute to The Plan and to the Canadians who brought it to life.With thanks...

[caption id="attachment_11601" align="alignnone" width="600"] Left to right: CPO2 Don Reid greets his wife PO1 Allison Reid as she disembarks from HMCS Whitehorse at the completion of Operation Caribbe last Thursday. She holds her son Jackson as daughter Madeleine stands close by.[/caption]DND – The last Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) assets, HMC Ships Brandon and Whitehorse arrived home last Thursday, concluding a successful year for the CAF on Operation Caribbe. Canada’s 2015 annual contribution to the multinational campaign against illicit trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean – Operation Martillo – saw CAF assets and personnel directly contribute to the seizure or disruption of approximately 18.5 metric tons of cocaine and three metric tons of marijuana, more than any other year since the CAF’s contribution began in 2006. As part of Operation Caribbe 2015, the CAF contributed four CP-140 Aurora surveillance aircraft, five Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (HMC Ships Brandon, Goose Bay, Nanaimo, Shawinigan and Whitehorse), two Halifax-class frigate with their embarked CH-124 Sea King helicopter (HMC Ships Winnipeg and Vancouver), and one Iroquois-class destroyer (HMCS Athabaskan) with its two embarked CH-124 Sea King helicopters.Royal Canadian Navy ships deployed a total of 10 times (HMC Ships Whitehorse and Winnipeg deployed twice each) and sailed for a total of 344 days. Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Auroras flew 321 hours, and CH-124 Sea Kings flew 150 hours, providing surveillance, detection, and disruption capabilities during the operation.HMC Ships Brandon and Whitehorse seized and disrupted more narcotics during a 44-day deployment this fall than any other duo of Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels during the operation’s history, with a combined total of approximately 9,800kg. The previous record of 5,934 kg was held by HMC Ships Whitehorse and Nanaimo, obtained earlier this year while deployed in the Eastern Pacific.“I have seen the terrible damage inflicted...

[caption id="attachment_11598" align="alignnone" width="600"] A group photo of the Pacific Region Women’s Soccer team from Esquimalt who won the Championship for the Women’s Soccer Nationals hosted by CFB Borden, Ontario.[/caption]Peter Mallet, Staff Writer – 2015 was a year of firsts for the Pacific Region Women’s Soccer team.They won their first Canadian Armed Forces National Championship trophy, and collected their first-ever award at the annual sports awards luncheon in Esquimalt, where they were crowned Breakthrough Team of the Year.But the real kicker is they couldn’t have achieved it without the guidance of first-time, rookie coach Sgt Caleb Klimas.“We were complete underdogs heading into the national tournament,” says Sgt Klimas, a medical technician at the base clinic in CFB Esquimalt. “We lost our first two games but just kept getting stronger every game after that point, and then won four games in a row.”The Pacific Region team hoisted the Nichola Goddard Trophy at CFB Borden on Sept. 13 after defeating Quebec 2-1 on penalty kicks. Midfielder Lt(N) Tien Nguyen represented the Pacific Region’s team at the tournament for the third time, and said the victory over Quebec “came as a complete surprise” to her and her teammates. It’s always been an uphill battle for the Pacific team because of the constant deployments, she says, and sailings at the base coupled with a smaller pool of players to draw from makes it difficult to field a competitive team.“Sgt Klimas was a communicator, a motivator, but also had an easy-going and relaxed style of coaching that was a perfect fit for this team,” says Lt(N) Nguyen, a combat systems engineering officer with HCM West. Sgt Klimas played youth soccer on the lower mainland in Surrey and served as a defender for Kwantlen Polytechnic Institute soccer team. But he admits it really wasn’t his experience...

[caption id="attachment_11594" align="alignnone" width="600"] HMCS Winnipeg’s cover band, “The Zeroes”.[/caption]MS Bevin Gordichuk, HMCS Winnipeg – “When musicians get together and combine their efforts to produce a single sound, it’s some of the most symbiotic team work one can imagine. If you want to observe team work that approaches perfection, check out a well-rehearsed band.” PO2 Pete Fraser, November 2015.HMCS Winnipeg’s cover band - ‘The Zeroes’ were ready to perform their first shore gig in Toulon, France, Nov. 19, but the terrorist attacks in Paris interrupted their plan. It was a shocking reminder of the importance of the ship’s mission during their nine-month deployment on Operation Reassurance. The band has a strong following and has participated in morale-raising events throughout the deployment.  Their crowning achievement to date was the visit from Team Canada, which included the Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), RCN Command Chief, former hockey and football stars, and Honorary Captain (Navy) Arlene Dickenson. They met in Belfast, Ireland on Oct. 10 where the Zeroes played a six-song set followed by an encore with two-time Juno Award nominated musician Kira Isabella Wilkie to sustained applause from their appreciative ship mates.The band members - lead singer and rhythm guitar Lt(N) Justin Dunn, lead guitar LS Brian Bourassa, acoustic guitar LS Joseph Chisling, keyboardist MS Bevin Gordichuk, bassist PO2 Pete Fraser, and drummer LS Dan Camellato (a.k.a. Animal) - formed the group after Lt(N) Dunn and LS Bourassa began jamming in Cabin zero as a way to decompress and share their love of playing music during the deployment. They recruited PO2 Fraser for bass, and LS Chisling for guitar.“I had only been playing guitar for a few years as a hobby and didn’t really give it enough attention,” said LS Chisling. “Working with the guys over the course of the...

[caption id="attachment_11561" align="alignnone" width="600"] LS Jose Villano, LS Andrew Drake and AS Matthew White from HMCS Winnipeg help with renovations at the Résidence solidaire les Favières in Toulon, France, during a break from Operation Reassurance Nov. 18.[/caption]SLt Jamie Tobin, HMCS Winnipeg – Eight members of HMCS Winnipeg assisted a local not-for-profit organization in Toulon, France, Nov. 19.The team went to Résidence solidaire les Favières, a local rehabilitation centre that provides a stable living environment for people in Toulon that require support. While they were there, the team painted living areas and took on landscaping jobs that provided the grounds with a much needed facelift.“The group did a lot of great work out there,” said PO1 Timothy Hobson, one of the team leads. “We were able to accomplish as much in one day that their one maintenance employee could have accomplished in several weeks, and he was very pleased with the result.” The work party took on this community relations initiative during the ship`s rest and maintenance period, a time that is set aside from major deployments to conduct maintenance on the ship and give the crew a brief reprieve from operations. Those involved in the event were more than willing to take time away from this period to lend a hand in support of the community.“We really appreciated the team’s work, willing spirit and openness to help out,” said Tim Rawls, the Director of Résidence solidaire les Favières.One team took on two painting projects in rooms inside the facility, while the other leveled ground for a functional clothes line and cleared brush, weeds and shrubs out of the facility`s large hillside property.“It felt really good to get out into the community and get my hands dirty,” said LS Jose Villano, a Combat Systems Engineering Technician. “Volunteer opportunities are certainly deployment...

[caption id="attachment_11558" align="alignnone" width="600"] HMC Ships Whitehorse (back left) and Brandon (back right) follow United States Coast Guard Cutter Stratton during a Joint Operations photo op.[/caption]Lt(N) Greg Menzies, MARPAC Public Affairs – When HMC Ships Brandon and Whitehorse reached their area of responsibility during Operation Caribbe, they were ready to work with partners and make a difference in the fight against illicit narcotics in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. During the long transit south, both ships conducted sea training that was necessary to familiarize every sailor about ship procedures, routines and emergency drills. This training confirmed the ships’ ability to conduct a wide range of operations at sea, and achieve the standard readiness needed on Operation Caribbe.Operation Caribbe is Canada’s contribution to Operation Martillo, a U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force South-led interagency and multinational effort among Western Hemisphere and European nations, designed to improve regional security and deter criminal activity.“Weather and sea states during mission workups were rough, but despite this every member overcame adversity and persevered as they knew they had to complete their assigned duties,” said Lieutenant-Commander Landon Creasy, Brandon’s Commanding Officer. “Sailors on both ships were well trained and qualified in everything they did to prepare them for this deployment.”The operation began as the ships left San Diego, California, with embarked United States Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) teams. The mission for Brandon and Whitehorse was to support the LEDET teams, who conduct the boarding and seizures of suspect vessels in accordance with bilateral agreements signed between the United States and Central American nations.During the deployment, the ships also conducted two passenger exchanges (PASSEX) that were organized between Brandon, Whitehorse, the USCG, United States Navy (USN) and the Mexican Navy. The Royal Canadian Navy has a long standing tradition of conducting PASSEXs with its allied partners....

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer – Base firefighters continued the holiday legacy of a fallen comrade this year by entering Pumper No. 450 into this year’s annual Esquimalt Celebration of Lights parade.The backup pumper for CFB Esquimalt’s Fire and Rescue Services was adorned with over 1,000 Christmas lights and took home top prize for Best Decorated Vehicle at the Dec. 6 holiday event hosted by the Township of Esquimalt.“Winning the prize was very much a team effort,” said fire department chief, Steve Mullen. “But the whole reason behind our involvement is to do something festive within the community. It makes the guys and girls in this unit feel good and they always make a big effort to do it up right.”A big part of the unit’s past success was the enthusiastic involvement of veteran firefighter Dave Hill. Mullen says Hill took it upon himself to spearhead the annual tradition of lighting up the truck for the holidays throughout his 22 years at the station.But on Nov. 19, 2011, 54-year-old Hill was diagnosed with terminal lung and esophageal cancer after a routine trip to the family doctor. His co-workers rallied around Hill and his family, raising enough money for them to visit Hawaii in January 2012. Hill died seven months later and was honoured at the 11th annual Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial in August 2014.Mullen says Hill’s legacy lives on each year when they flick the switch and the fire truck is set aglow.“Decorating the fire truck was a labour of love for Dave, I know he’d be smiling if he found out we kept his winning tradition alive,” said Mullen. “He was always at the epicentre of taking the bull by the horns and ensuring our truck would shine brightly. He would dress up as Santa Claus and buy candy...

[caption id="attachment_11507" align="alignnone" width="600"] MCpl Michael Bastien was honoured Nov. 25 for his outstanding photography with the Military Photographers Achievement Award, part of the Canadian Armed Forces Photo Contest. Pictured here: BGen Marc Theriault; BMO representative, Rick Campagna; MCpl Bastien; and Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, LGen Guy Thibault, at the Canadian War Museum.[/caption]DND – Bravo Zulu to Master Corporal Michael Bastien, who goes above and beyond as an Imagery Technician at Maritime Forces Pacific.Thanks to his outstanding imagery and dedication to his trade, MCpl Bastien has won the inaugural Military Photographers Achievement Award in the Canadian Armed Forces Photo Contest.This new award recognizes the technical quality of an individual photographer or videographer’s work, and highlights the personal qualities – the hard work and dedication behind the scenes that go into consistently producing evocative imagery for the CAF.MCpl Bastien is seasoned in the art of acquiring and using still and motion imagery to support operational planning, public affairs, and countless other requirements during crises, contingencies and exercises.He has deployed on operations several times as an image tech, including on Operation Reassurance in 2014 on board HMCS Regina. He used his time at sea to compose some amazing operational shots, a number of which won awards – both at previous CAF Photo Contests and in the 2015 Canadian Community Newspaper Awards.His skill and artistry in telling a story through the camera lens has led to his images regularly appearing in newspapers across the country.Called a natural leader by his unit, MCpl Bastien consistently takes the opportunity to mentor and coach less experienced colleagues about new equipment and techniques, while continuing to work on his own professional development.Thanks to his extensive experience and talent at capturing the commitment of the men and women who serve Canada, he’s proven to be an...

A/SLt Kyle Reed, MARPAC PA Office – As soon as HMC Ships Ottawa and Edmonton discovered their namesake city teams, the Ottawa RedBlacks and the Edmonton Eskimos, would be opponents for the 103rd Grey Cup, the rivalry erupted between the ships. In the days leading up to the big game, there was the expected banter and bickering as the ships’ crews expressed support for their teams.To make the rivalry official, the ships’ Commanding Officers exchanged messages predicting each other’s demise and agreeing to terms on a bet. The bet demanded the losing team hoist the winning team’s flag for a 24-hour period after the game. If that weren’t enough, on the Friday before the game, Edmonton sailed closely past Ottawa with the Edmonton Eskimos flag flying proudly, while Ottawa crew members had their own RedBlacks flag on display.If such a relationship between two ships and their respective CFL teams is surprising, it shouldn’t be. The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and their respective namesake city’s CFL teams have shared a close relationship for decades, and the hoisting of the opposing team’s flag is a common tradition.The RCN even won a Grey Cup back in 1944 when HMCS Donnacona defeated the Hamilton Wildcats 7-6. Last year, sailors from HMCS Vancouver sailed the Grey Cup into Vancouver harbour, prompting then-CFL commissioner Mark Cohon to exclaim, “I get to do a lot of cool things in my job. I get to present the Grey Cup and take the Grey Cup to Afghanistan. I get to call the guys who are in the Hall of Fame and tell them they are going into the Hall of Fame. But I’ve got to say, coming in with the Cup with Vancouver, the ship, behind me – it was spectacular!”With the teams taking to the field for the Grey...

November 30, 2015OTTAWA – Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan today wrapped up a successful visit to Kuwait where he met with Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel currently deployed in the region as part of Canada’s contribution to the multinational Coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Minister Sajjan used the occasion to pay tribute to the troops, thanking them for their dedication and service. While in Kuwait, Minister Sajjan also met with his counterpart, His Excellency, Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, and other senior officials. During their discussions, the Minister underscored Canada’s ongoing commitment to working with allies and partners to counter global terrorism, and expressed his appreciation to Kuwait for hosting Canadian Armed Forces personnel engaged in the campaign. This support is vital to the mission. Quotes “Over the past few days, I have had the pleasure of meeting with allies and partners in both Jordan and Kuwait to discuss cooperation on a number of pressing global security and humanitarian issues. I was pleased with the positive exchange of ideas and expressed Canada’s on-going commitment to working with coalition partners to counter the ISIS threat, as well as Canada’s efforts to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees from the region as quickly as possible.” Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence “It is an honour and privilege to represent Canada on the world stage and to have an opportunity to meet with coalition counterparts and members of the Canadian Armed Forces. I want to express my deep appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to Canadian soldiers, sailors and airmen and airwomen for their hard work, professionalism and dedication.” Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence Quick Facts Canada joined the multinational Coalition against ISIS in 2014 in an effort to help bring security and stability to Iraq and the region. Canada has been and continues to be an important contributor to this international effort.  Canada currently has approximately 600 CAF personnel deployed to the region as part of Joint Task Force-Iraq (JTF-I), which supports coalition efforts to degrade ISIS....

[caption id="attachment_11442" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) and volunteers gathered Nov. 21 for the annual turkey run/spin at Millstream Village, Langford, to raise money for the Goldstream Food Bank’s Christmas Hamper Program.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer – The Goldstream Food Bank got an early Christmas gift this year thanks to clearance divers from CFB Esquimalt.More than $21,000 was raised for the food bank’s Christmas hamper program at the sixth annual Navy Diver Turkey  Fundraiser at Millstream Village on Saturday Nov. 21.Lt(N) Walter Dubeau, lead organizer of the event, says crowds gathered at the Village to watch divers complete underwater demonstrations in a 3,000 gallon dive tank loaned to them by the B.C. College of Divers.Alongside the divers was an equipment display set up by the Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) bomb disposal unit. One diver wore full bomb disposal gear for the entire day while walking on a treadmill. Stationed a few steps away were divers on nine stationary bicycles riding for hours, eventually covering the distance between Victoria and Calgary, roughly 1,500 kilometres.“People who line up to receive a hamper each year don’t have a whole lot,” says Lt(N) Dubeau. “The fact that more than half the dive unit – roughly 50 of us – came out and pulled together to raise the funds is a great achievement.”He credits the strength of the diving unit for pulling off such a feat.“It takes a whole unit to make this happen. The true thanks must go to the men and women of the Fleet Diving Unit and their friends and families who work hard to get every penny to put those turkeys on the tables.”Lt(N) Dubeau has been volunteering with the Goldstream Food Bank for over six years, and says that more than 700 recipients from Langford, Colwood, Highlands, Metchosin, and View Royal visit the food bank for a hamper every Christmas.To equip hampers with a meat product, the food bank relies on donations, which usually amounts to about 25...

[caption id="attachment_11439" align="alignnone" width="300"] It was a tense journey for sailors in Orca 55 as the training vessel encountered fierce winds and four metre swells.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff writer – A few weeks ago most of south Vancouver Island was slammed with 90 kilometre an hour winds and heavy rain leaving thousands without power and a major cleanup of debris.Out on the water Mother Nature was even more dangerous.For those sailing to Vancouver in the 33-metre Orca 55 on Nov. 17, the storm was so fierce the swells reached epic heights – more than four metres or the height of a one story building.LCdr Preston McIntosh, Patrol Craft Training Unit Commanding Officer, says the storm’s fury was much worse than predicted by weather forecasters.He is hailing his crew for battling the elements and getting the vessel to safe harbour.“It was the quick action of my crew members that allowed us to make it safely into Holmes Harbour, Washington,” said LCdr McIntosh, noting it wasn’t the vessel’s intended destination. “It gives me a high level of confidence in my team and the ability of them to deal with any situation that might arise with the Orcas.”The training vessel was en route to the mainland for a community day sail when they encountered 83 kmh winds and two to three metre swells, causing Orca 55 to take very hard portside rolls near Discovery Island.LCdr McIntosh then made the decision to avoid a “perilous” northward turn into the Haro Strait where the ship would face even larger swells. He ordered the vessel change course to a southeasterly direction towards Puget Sound. But the unpredictable weather worsened. Winds increased to 160 km/h and the vessel and crew were forced to contend with four-metre swells.Despite the onslaught of sea sickness, MS Roger Robicheau made it to...

[caption id="attachment_11436" align="alignnone" width="300"] Base Chief, CPO1 Robert Spinelli (left) receives a flu shot from Cpl Justin Lalonde, Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific), at the Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters flu vaccine clinic on Nov. 23.[/caption]Capt Laura Guevremont, CFHSC(P) – With flu season in full swing, Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific) has been offering the flu shot to its members to help them stay healthy this winter. It’s important when deciding whether or not to get the flu shot that you have the right information about the flu and the vaccine. There are many misconceptions about influenza and the flu vaccine, and these misconceptions can lead to a decrease in the number of people who are vaccinated.Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by the Influenza A and B viruses. This virus usually appears in the late fall and early winter when cold temperatures allow the virus to spread more easily. The flu most commonly causes a sudden high fever, chills, sore throat and cough.The flu can lead to more severe respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia. This is particularly dangerous in the very young and very old, the chronically sick, and pregnant women as their immune systems are not as good at protecting them from disease even after they have been vaccinated.Approximately 10 to 20 per cent of Canadians will get the flu each season, about 12,200 will be hospitalized and 3,500 will die.The influenza virus is constantly mutating which means people need to be vaccinated each year. The flu vaccine is formulated using data on flu viruses that circulated around the world in the previous year. The flu vaccine formulation for the 2015/16 season was chosen in February of this year. It protects against two A strains including H1N1, and one or two B strains.Last year the flu vaccine...

[caption id="attachment_11411" align="alignnone" width="300"] Peter Mallett, LookoutFrom left: Cdr Wes Golden, CANEX vice president Mack McMillan, Cdr Brigitte Boutin, and CANEX Express Mart manager Iris Shiplack cut the ribbon during the grand opening ceremony of a Tim Horton’s express at their Colwood outlet.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer - The operators of Colwood’s CANEX Express Mart hope the $120,000 investment in a Tim Hortons Express franchise will get business percolating in the Belmont Park location.As a fierce autumn storm raged outside on Nov. 17, employees, customers and base officials gathered around the giant automated coffee dispensary unit and raised their complimentary cup of java to cheerily toast the arrival of Tim Hortons.CANEX Express Mart manager Iris Shiplack says the new coffee kiosk is a more convenient location for Belmont Park residents, Colwood Pacific Activity Centre users, Fleet Diving Unit staff, and employees at Colwood Building 66.And while they won’t be selling Tim Hortons’ sweet treats, they will have fresh baked goods for sale from the Six Mile Bakery.The franchise bill was split between CANEX and the Base Fund, with the aim of driving up profits, with a percentage turned back to the Base Fund to be used for morale and welfare activities.This year, CANEX and SISIP donated a combined $166,092 to the Base Fund.Irene Woodruff, who resides close to the Express Mart, said the location is great for her and the neighbors.“I use a walker to get around and this location is easier for me, especially on stormy days like this one,” Woodruff said. “Word and excitement about this location seems to be spreading with my neighbours and others in the community that Tim Hortons is open for business.”