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[caption id="attachment_11408" align="alignnone" width="300"] A/SLt Matthew Heim of HMCS Malahat shows Sara Geday how to “drive” a 33-metre Orca-class vessel.[/caption]Ten women and men joined naval reservists from HMCS Malahat for a morning at sea and an afternoon of firefighting, experiencing for themselves a day in the life of a sailor.Participants were mostly University of Victoria students, which had its reading break Nov. 9 to 13. The Sailor for a Day event was for those who wanted to experience what the Naval Reserve offers as part-time employment.“Participants were very interested in the Naval Reserve’s educational reimbursement for post-secondary education, competitive wages and benefits, leadership and professional development opportunities – all as a part-time career,” said Petty Officer Second Class Class Beth-Anne Salzer, one of Malahat’s recruiters.The day kicked off at Malahat in James Bay, and then the 10 guests were off to Her Majesty’s Canadian Dockyard in Esquimalt to embark in PCT Wolf, a 33-metre Orca-class patrol vessel from the Patrol Craft Training Unit.The weather was co-operative, with calm seas and no precipitation. The guests saw for themselves how a trained crew manages typical shipboard emergencies such as a person overboard drill and a steering gear breakdown.One of the highlights was learning to throw a heaving line, which resulted in a friendly competition amongst the guests.They also enjoyed the opportunity to take the helm, and under close supervision experienced driving the ship through many helm orders and engine revolution changes.After returning to HMC Dockyard and brushing the newly-earned salt from their shoulders, the guests were then off to the Damage Control Training Facility Galiano in Colwood, where they spent the afternoon learning about firefighting onboard RCN vessels, handling firefighting equipment and experiencing a controlled fire.As a bonus, the group had the opportunity to witness an advanced team of sailors attack a...

[caption id="attachment_11405" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lt(N) Lucie Gijzen on board MV Besant.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer  -  Lieutenant(Navy) Lucie Gijzen, a physician working at Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific) isn’t your average doctor. On top of her duties as a Primary Care Physician, she travels the world to collaborate in submarine escape and rescue working groups in NATO countries, and participates in international submarine escape and rescue exercises.She is one of six physicians in the Canadian Armed Forces trained in the field of diving and submarine medicine.Her highly specialized medical training in hyperbaric and submarine medicine recently earned her a spot on a team of 25 medical personnel selected for Exercise Black Carillon 2015 (BC15). The submarine escape exercise took place Sept. 14 to Oct. 9 at the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) base HMAS Stirling in Perth, Western Australia.“The exercise was designed to provide massive casualties training to medical personnel trained in submarine medicine, to give submariners a chance to abandon a vessel in a real-life scenario, and to provide the RAN a chance to practice aero medical evacuations,” explained Lt(N) Gijzen. “All while using the RAN’s new intervention vessel for the first time, MV Besant.”She adds this type of exercise is important “because we need to be ready in the event that a submarine is in distress. We need to be able to keep our submariners safe.”The first few days of the exercise saw Australian submarine HMAS Rankin bottomed in 19 metres of seawater in Cockburn Sound, off the coast of Western Australia. Six James Fisher Defence instructors from the Submarine Escape Training Facility at HMAS Stirling were situated inside the submarine, ready to escape through the submarine’s single man escape tower in inflatable survival suits, buoying them to the surface.The scenarios for the exercise replicated a submarine collision with...

[caption id="attachment_11373" align="alignnone" width="300"] Hockey players from the Victoria Grizzlies complete their morning training session at Fleet DivingUnit Pacific by navigating a rope bridge.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff WriterPlayers from the Victoria Grizzlies Junior A hockey team in Colwood traded skates for wet suits Nov. 3 when they stepped into the world of Navy Clearance Divers. This annual event is offered to the BCHL hockey club as an outreach piece to show the young hockey players an aspect of military training, leadership and teamwork that exists just a short walk from the team’s home arena, the nearby Q Centre.Just like navy divers in training, the players suited up and plunged into Esquimalt Harbour for the daily fitness drill known as “The Morning Swim.”On the shore, Fleet Diving Unit Pacific Training Officer Lt(N) Walter Dubeau barked instructions and encouragement.More teamwork was tested when the players divided into two teams and climbed on to a rope bridge suspended above the water.  Balance and strength were assessed.From the vantage of the shore, Lt(N) Dubeau spoke to the correlation between teamwork used by his divers and that of a professional hockey team.“Teamwork is part of everything we do in the Fleet Diving Unit. We have to work together; our entire training manual speaks to this. If you don’t have teamwork then [clearance] tasks cannot be completed. It’s the same in hockey.”Those tasks are not simple ones; they require the full engagement of the team to ensure a diver’s safety, whether it is cutting and welding the bottom of a ship or rendering sea mines safe with underwater explosives.“Truth be told, they [navy divers] work much harder than us,” said Grizzlies’ Jake Stevens, 18, a defencemen from Chicago Illinois. “The only thing that keeps them going in their rigorous training is their will and desire.”He says what he...

[caption id="attachment_11370" align="alignnone" width="300"] A veteran prays during a No Stone Left Alone Ceremony at the Esquimalt Veterans Cemetery (God’s Acre).[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff WriterThey may be gone, but the supreme sacrifices of Canada’s war dead aren’t being forgotten by Canada’s next generation.This year’s Nov. 6 No Stone Left Alone event saw more than 60 Grade 6 students from Rockheights Middle School honoured and solemnly remember the selfless acts of heroism by Canadians in uniform, by placing poppies on over 2,000 gravesites at Esquimalt’s national historic site, God’s Acre Veterans Cemetery.“The goal of the No Stone Left Alone ceremony is to educate and engage youth in honouring every soldier who has fought for our Canadian freedoms, and to ensure their acts of bravery are remembered and never forgotten,” said Rockheights Middle School Principal, Maryanne Trofimuk.The annual campaign was launched in 2011 by Edmonton’s Maureen G. Bianchini in an effort to recognize the nation’s fallen by placing a poppy on the headstones at military fields of honor.This year’s commemorative event involved 3,400 students in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories, placing a total of 20,000 poppies on military gravesites.In Esquimalt, a gathering of over 250 people - students and current and former military members - remembered the cost of war during a ceremony at the Colville Road cemetery. The burial ground was originally built by Rear Admiral George Fowler-Hastings in 1868 as a place of rest for Royal Navy sailors, but has since expanded to encompass all members of the Canadian Armed Forces.“Ceremonies such as the one today remind us that freedom comes with a cost, while also providing the opportunity to thank the veterans past and present who put on the uniform of the Canadian Armed Forces and serve Canada proudly,” said LCdr Michael Erwin during...

[caption id="attachment_11367" align="alignnone" width="300"] The morning of November 10th was when the Lodge at Broadmead unveiled a new monument and many veterans came out to take part in the ceremony.[/caption] Rachel Lallouz, Staff WriterThe day before Remembrance Day, Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, accompanied by Maritime Forces Pacific Commander, Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier, unveiled a new monument at the Lodge at Broadmead in front of a crowd of Second World War and Korean War Veterans.The granite monument commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Lodge’s opening, and the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.A plaque on the monument’s polished front reads:“Dedicated to the Canada’s veterans, especially those cared for at the Lodge.”“I believe it is the responsibility of every Canadian to show great respect and to remember the men and women who served, and who continue to serve in uniform today,” said LGov Guichon in her address to the crowd. “I am humbled by their actions.” RAdm Couturier echoed the Lieutenant-Governor’s words, thanking and applauding the Lodge for serving the resident veterans with caring, respect, and integrity.“I want to say thank you, too, to the veterans who carried the flame so high, and who gave us the opportunity to follow in their footsteps,” he said. Second World War veteran, Major (retired) Murray Edwards, acting as a representative of all veterans at the Lodge, expressed his gratitude for the new monument.“We, the veterans and other residents here at the lodge wish to extend our thanks for the arrangements made today. Remembrance Day is a time for sober reflection,” said Edwards.“As we view this monument, we will never forget.” In keeping with the Lodge’s high number of veteran residents, Broadmead Care Board Chair Paul Morgan announced a name change for the Lodge following the unveiling.The Lodge at Broadmead will...

[caption id="attachment_11332" align="alignnone" width="300"] Nagasaki after the atomic bomb was dropped.Image by Cpl Lynn P. Walker, Jr. (Marine Corps) - DOD”War and Conflict” image collection (HD-SN-99-02900). Licensed under Public Domain via Commons.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_11333" align="alignnone" width="227"] Image by Peter Mallett, LookoutSecond World War veteran Rudi Hoenson goes through his photo album as he recalls his prisoner of war experience.[/caption]Each November, when prisoner of war survivor Rudi Hoenson pauses to reflect on the true meaning of Remembrance Day a long ago nightmare comes to the forefront.“I get so many sad feelings that well up inside of me and my thoughts instantly flash back to Nagasaki and the [Japanese] POW camp,” says the 92-year-old veteran. “I think of all the people who died needlessly right in front of my eyes, and what went on across Europe, and in Nazi concentration camps. It’s unbelievable, unimaginable to think that all of this could happen, but it did.”The final and most horrific chapter in Hoenson’s war life was as a Japanese POW on Aug. 9, 1945, when a United States B-29 bomber dropped “Fat Man” on Nagasaki.While it was a traumatic event for him, he says the use of the bomb was necessary and saved “countless untold” lives in the process.“If it wasn’t for the bomb, I would not be here today,” he says. “All of us POWs would have been killed if the Americans landed on Japanese soil [with ground troops]. Furthermore, the bomb itself saved millions of lives that would have been lost had the war dragged on.”The young soldier joined the Dutch army after the bombing on Pearl Harbor at age 17. While they valiantly worked to protect the Dutch East Indies from the Japanese in 1942, the island eventually fell into enemy hands. Hoenson was captured and became a POW, first at Singapore’s Changi Prison, and later to Camp Fukuoka 14 in Nagasaki.For more than three years, Hoenson and his fellow prisoners performed forced labour for the Mitsubishi Shipyard, helping the...

[caption id="attachment_11329" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ralph Thistle, centre, gathers with his family and their beloved Collie in Canada, early 1940s.[/caption]Sylvia Thistle-Miller pulls on a pair of tight white gloves, before carefully picking up a palm-sized journal of red, worn leather.“I was raised with the stories of my past told to me as I sat on my grandmother’s lap,” she says, while turning the yellowed pages. “But with many people who fought in the wars, they don’t share everything. There was a lot of quiet.”Three years ago, Thistle-Miller was cleaning out her mother’s house when she came across a box of tiny, pocket-sized diaries. As a child, she was given several of them by her grandmother, and upon rediscovering them she set about throwing them out.“But I noticed that one of them was so much more worn than the rest,” she says. “I don’t usually check these things, but I ended up opening it.”Written in barely legible cursive were the carefully pencilled notes of her grandfather’s experience fighting in France and Belgium during the First World War. Thistle-Miller was shocked to find detailed day-to-day accounts of his time spent in the trenches at Ypres, where he wrote of being gassed in what is known as the world’s first chemical warfare attack on April 22, 1915.Thistle-Miller was three-years-old when her grandfather died, and says the only knowledge she has of him lies in black-and-white photographs, stories passed down from family members, and the journal.Her grandfather, Ralph Thistle, was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, in 1889, to a family of ship builders and printers who had called the province home since the 1500s. “Prior to World War One breaking out, my grandfather had been a member of the 48th regiment of the Newfoundland Highlanders for seven years,” says Thistle-Miller. “He already knew how to shoot,...

[caption id="attachment_11325" align="alignnone" width="180"] Isabelle Ava-Pointon, 2015 Beaverbrook Vimy prize winner, scans the names of 580,000 men who died in northern France during the First Word war. The alphabetically engraved names reside on the Ring of Remembrance - Notre Dame de Lorette.[/caption]November 11th is coming. Once again we feel mildly uncomfortable at the thought of having to stand in silence and think of unpleasant things.We are in the midst of the centenary of the First World War, and there are no living veterans of that conflict.Now, more than ever, it is our duty to keep the flame of remembrance burning.That word, remembrance, is often heard this time of year. But why commemorate events that happened a century ago? Why must we honour lives that were cut short 100 years past?Some answers are easily apparent. Remembering the horrors of war will ensure that we do everything in our power to avoid armed conflict. Yet some reasons are not so evident, and thus for young people like myself, it can be hard to understand the importance of this day.Before I participated in the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize, I knew it was important to remember the World Wars, but I was not entirely sure why. A fortnight in Europe changed all that.There is another reason for remembrance equally as important as ensuring future peace, but much harder to grasp: it is our duty to remember and honour the lives of the tens of thousands who gave their all for their country. The suffering that these men and women had to endure is beyond the scope of most of our imaginations.This summer I walked across the battlefields of Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele. I ran across No Man’s Land on the Somme. I waded in the sea and marched through the sands of Juno beach. I...

MS Brandon Ensom sees no better way to understand military history than to sit with a veteran and hear their service stories.The Lodge at Broadmead, home to many aging veterans, is the stage for those oral recollections to unfold.  The sailor discovered the place two years ago when he accompanied Rear-Admiral Bill Truelove on a visit to the seniors home.“It’s important for veterans to know that today’s generations of members acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifices and what they went through,” he says.“And it’s important for us to hear their stories. You can read about historical events, or watch television shows depicting them, but to actually hear what Juno Beach was like at 8 a.m. on June 6, 1944, from a person who was present – there’s no comparison.”The sailor is hoping to lure other military members to join him on his third Thursday of each month visit  to the Lodge.He takes a maximum of 10 volunteers. People meet at 10 a.m. in front of the Pacific Fleet Club and climb aboard a bus to ease the transportation burden.People sign in with the front desk and proceed to the Lodge’s main lounge, The Oak Room.“It’s pretty informal after that,” says MS Ensom.“A volunteer sits down with a senior, introduces themselves, and usually gets a very enthusiastic reception.”The chats last about an hour before hopping on the bus back to the base.“It’s pretty humbling to know we all wear the same uniform,” he says.“I’ve talked to people who have escaped from prisoner-of-war camps multiple times, and we talk about having a bad day at sea or the office. It’s invaluable to hear what they have to say.”Sometimes there aren’t enough military members to pair up with the expectant storytellers.“We might arrive with only four or five members to a full house of...

Sixteen naval reservists from across Canada deployed on board HMCS Winnipeg June 15 to support Operation Reassurance, Canada’s contribution to NATO assurance measures in Europe.“Our reserve members are integrating seamlessly into the ship’s company,” says Commander Pascal Belhumeur, Commanding Officer of HMCS Winnipeg.“This deployment provides them with incredible exposure to unmatched training opportunities on board a modernized Halifax-class ship in real-time international operations.”These naval reservists represent a number of naval professions.Three are currently serving on the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) first Enhanced Naval Boarding Party, a team that specializes in maritime interdiction operations.For the past few years, the RCN has been transitioning into a “One Navy” concept that employs reserve and regular forces on operational missions.Naval Reserve members have been deploying on major operations since late 2013, but Winnipeg is the first ship to employ reserve members in almost every department.“As a naval combat information operator (NCIOP), I feel really lucky to serve in a warship that has the most modern warfare system,” says Leading Seaman Jefren Liu, originally from HMCS York.“Operating the updated Combat Management System is an experience that I may not have had without this deployment.”  Maritime surface and sub-surface officers in the Naval Reserve also tend to serve the majority of their careers in Kingston-class vessels.This deployment has provided Sub-Lieutenant Michael Van Vlaenderen from HMCS Chippawa with a unique opportunity to sail on board a ship named after his home town while putting his skills to the test on a major warship.“Every day and every evolution is a learning opportunity. The ships do things differently and it is important to always adapt,” says SLt Van Vlaenderen.“During my time in Winnipeg, I have had the opportunity to train for my Officer of the Day and Naval Officer Proficiency Qualifications [both Regular Force qualifications] and gain the experience...

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and the team at Project Resolve and Chantier Davie Canada Inc. are looking for naval and air force input into the conversion of the German container ship MV Asterix, which will provide interim at-sea support services to meet the RCN’s operational requirement for at-sea replenishment.An online survey has been created for sailors and air crew to choose the amenities that would best suit them when away on deployment and make any other suggestions they think would help the ship achieve its mission.“This has never been done in any navy in the world,” says Spencer Fraser, chief executive officer of Project Resolve Inc.“We want our sailors and air crew members to have input on designing their ship. These are young Canadians, why shouldn’t they have the right stuff to do the job?”To date, over 150 people have answered the 25-question survey that explores safety, comfort and productivity.Fraser says they are “listening very carefully and closely” to the all the feedback from Canadian Armed Forces members.The survey concludes at the end of November, so Fraser urges CAF members to get online and have a voice in the ship conversion process.Asterix has been delivered to Levis, Quebec, where Davie Shipbuilding will do the conversion.Pending the finalization of the agreement with the government, the converted vessel will be delivered to the navy for service in the summer of 2017.Fraser is very familiar with life aboard a ship.He retired as a Lieutenant Commander in 2003 and during his career spent extended time on multiple ships. He says it is the “little things” that can be a big deal and impact both morale and productivity.The survey can be accessed at https://theomx.com/surveys/2015/projectresolve.In the meantime, work continues to build two Queenston-Class Joint Support Ship (JSS) to be delivered to the navy in 2020. Peter MallettStaff Writer

Major Tom Batty, officer commanding of the Army Learning Support Centre (ALSC), 5th Division Support Group Gagetown, picks up Fredericton’s City Hall to show off the detail in the hands of the clock face in the tower, and then sets the building back in place on its foundation.Then he picks up the Justice Building across the street and slowly turns it on its side to show the level of detail in the brickwork over the front door.Next he lines up a convoy of Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) and Leopard 2 tanks.It is not superhuman strength that lets Maj Batty accomplish these feats – but rather feats of human ingenuity working in combination with modern technology.The entire model of downtown Fredericton was built in Gagetown using innovative 3D printers, and sits on a plywood board that is 2m x 3m square.This tiny town site plays an important role in helping Canadian soldiers learn about modern urban warfare, such as training in positioning troops and vehicles effectively in an urban core.Instead of the past practice of conducting training exercises in the actual downtown core, scenarios can now be replicated accurately using the model in a so-called “cloth model” exercise.A “cloth model” exercise is a war game event conducted on a table, on the ground, or on paper to practice particular maneuvers, battles or missions.The 3D models enhance those tactical discussions and have the added geometric advantage of being able to build accurate scale models of the environments in which soldiers train.These 3D printers are among the most innovative workhorses and are currently at work 24/7 to produce tiny replicas of vehicles, firearms and training aids on an “as-needed” basis, processing orders submitted from various schools, training centres and units within the Canadian Army.The manageable size of the tiny models allows soldiers to...

On a sunny California morning, HMCS Calgary joined its counterparts from the United States Navy and Coast Guard and sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge; lining the shore were thousands of people to see the spectacle.The frigate’s mission: to represent Canada and the Royal Canadian Navy in San Francisco for Fleet Week 2015, held Oct. 5 to 12.Fleet Week is celebrated annually across the United States, in cities such as New York, Portland, Seattle and San Francisco, with the aim of showcasing the navy to the public, and building and strengthening ties with the cities that host them.  Events include the parade of ships where the fleet enters the harbour in formation, aerial displays from the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, and the U.S. Navy’s Leap Frog parachute team, as well as the unique opportunity for the public to venture on board and tour warships from around the world.In San Francisco, the United States Navy showed off one of their newest warships: USS Somerset, the latest San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks, as well as the Cruiser USS Cape St. George, the Destroyer USS Stockdale, and the Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado.  Joining sailors in the Fleet Week kick off were members of the San Francisco 49ers.Calgary, berthed at Pier 15 between the famous San Francisco Ferry Terminal and tourist hotspot Pier 39, was a popular choice for tourists and locals who wanted to get a closer look at the men and women of the Royal Canadian Navy.The crew hosted tour groups, including displays from the ship’s boarding party and dive team, and strategically placed sailors at various positions on the upper decks to answer questions on a variety of subjects, from weaponry and equipment to the ship’s role in counter-piracy and peacekeeping around the world, to being a sailor and a Canadian.  Over 4,000 people came on board.  Other events in the week included a concert to the fallen put on by the U.S. Marine Band, an air show, a meet...

[caption id="attachment_11255" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Using kettle bells, Fleet School students do a farmer’s carry to build endurance and grip strength.[/caption]A class of 20 Fleet School Esquimalt students are the first to trial the new Periodization Program, a fitness training package designed to enhance job performance.This unique program was created by Esquimalt Personnel Support Program (PSP) fitness instructors, overseen by PSP fitness coordinator Matt Carlson.“The goal of the program is to prepare Fleet School students physically for what they will be doing upon graduation – such as lifting boxes, pulling ropes, and carrying heavy supplies,” says Carlson.The program began Oct. 15, and continues for one year with PSP fitness instructors leading students through classes twice a week with targeted exercises.PSP Fitness instructor Peter Gibson says the new exercises include deadlifts, which mimic the physical action of lifting and carrying boxes, and hamstring-driven weight and cardio exercises that will prepare students for constantly being on their feet.Sessions will also focus on plank-style exercises, which strengthen the core and reduce risk of work-related injury.Bent-over rows and rowing exercises will prep sailors for pulling heavy ropes.He even hopes to bring “props” from the ship into the training.The program was designed around feedback given from sailors on the physical demands of their jobs.“Our intention is to increase the fitness of our Fleet School students, ensuring that when they are assigned to a ship they won’t have any issues doing the jobs asked of them by their superiors,” says Gibson.“Hopefully this will contribute to our navy personnel’s efficiency and strength, and promote an injury-free workplace.”The training goal is to rid sailors of poor form when doing physical work says Gibson.The success of the program will be tracked over the year, starting with a base level of fitness at the start for each student, then bi-monthly testing,...

It’s that time year again when Canadian Armed Forces members all across the country participate in speaking engagements during Veteran’s Week. The program helps remind Canadians about the sacrifices made and continue to be made by Canada’s military members. Last year, CAF members gave more than 1,900 presentations across Canada, reaching more than 540,000 Canadians during Veterans’ Week.As part of the National Veterans’ Week Speakers Program, Maritime Forces Pacific Public Affairs is looking for volunteers to give presentations at schools and other organizations across the Capital Regional District and Lower Mainland.The key to the program’s success is the enthusiastic participation of Regular and Reserve Force members. Any CAF member can take part in the program; they just need the approval of their supervisor first. By volunteering to be a speaker, you can share your story of service with Canadians of all ages.  A website exists that provides prepared presentations for various age groups, useful information on preparing your own speeches, and guidance on using social media.Please contact Lt(N) Paul Trenholm and A/SLt Kyle Reed for the Remembrance Week speakers program and let them know when you are available. They can be reached through DWAN or by calling at 250-363-5789.

It was a podium triple-play as the Canadian Armed Forces team captured two bronze medals and silver medal at the recently completed 2015 Sixth CISM Military World Games.This year’s Games, held Oct. 2 to 11 in Mungyeong, South Korea, saw the CAF’s all-time medal count grow to 12 (three gold , one silver, six bronze) since our involvement in the quadrennial competition began in 1985.In triathlon, it was a happy 42nd birthday for Maj Martin Lamontagne-Lacasse of 35 Canadian Brigade Group when he won the third and final medal on the last day of the Games.He wrapped himself in the Canadian flag and celebrated after completing the 1.5 kilometres swim, 40 km of cycling and 10 km run in 2:01:57.“The race was a huge challenge for me and my victory wouldn’t have happened without some strong teamwork and team play,” said Maj Lamontagne-Lacasse.“Our strategy was to protect the two fastest runners to get us to the podium and it worked.”Cpl Hugues Boisvert-Simard of 22nd Régiment and Les Voltigeurs de Québec captured bronze in the fencing competition’s individual men’s épée on Oct. 5, defeating Germany’s Stephen Rein.It was Cpl Boisvelt-Simard’s second podium finish in three months after a third-place performance at the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games.Pte Angelica Bertucca, a reservist from 25 Field Ambulance in Toronto, celebrated a third place finish in Taekwondo, women’s Bantam category on Oct. 8.It was Pte Bertucca’s first ever appearance at a Military World Games.“To the athletes – you have made Canada proud,” said Cmdre Mark Watson, Director General CF Morale and Welfare Services.“Many of you competed against Olympians in your fields of athleticism and held your own…In all cases your displays of sportsmanship, fair play and pride in our country and military and what we stand for were omnipresent.”CFB Esquimalt athletes shine in South KoreaEight men and women from CFB Esquimalt were among 8,700 competitors from 110 countries that competed in the 6th CISM Military World Games.Here’s how our competitors did:-- Soccer --Midfielder LS...

The game plan was all about fun and fund-raising as Team Blue defeated Team White 9-5 in the Victoria Royals’ annual combined scrimmage with Canadian Armed Forces members Tuesday, Oct. 13.The 21 Royals players were joined by 22 military players, with the two mixed teams playing two 25-minute periods.The event was a fund raiser for the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC).“Everyone loves local hockey, so having the Victoria Royals on our home ice at the base is fantastic and gives hockey fans a chance to come out and see them and support the GCWCC,” said Base Commander, Capt(N) Steve Waddell.“That’s what both the game and campaign is all about, having a good time while supporting a great cause.”Royals centre Logan Fisher led Team Blue goal scoring with two, while Lt(N) Jeff Brooker led Team White with two apiece.Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, RAdm Gilles Couturier also scored for Team Blue.RAdm Couturier took a pass from Royals centre Matthew Phillips and slotted it past Royals goaltender Griffin Outhouse to give Team Blue a 6-2 lead.“For the record there were no ‘gimmies’ and the goal was not set up,” said RAdm Couturier who played varsity hockey for the University of Montreal for two seasons between 1984 and 1986.“The first step is to get in the open ice and the second step is to have the perfect pass, and I had the perfect pass. I was pleased to be able to deliver because I am more of a playmaker and finishing is not my strong suit.”After the game, Outhouse lauded RAdm Couturier for his goal and level of play. “He [RAdm Couturier] was a pretty good player, he burned me,” said Outhouse. “He’s got some serious moves, maybe even as good as some of the guys on our team.”Shortly after RAdm Couturier’s goal, game announcer Cliff LeQuesne of radio station 100.3 The Q, jokingly taunted Team White rookie assistant coach Joe Hicketts about his team’s misfiring power play.Hicketts, who normally plays as a...

[caption id="attachment_11161" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Left to right: Capt Pam Harris, LS Rod Carper, RAdm Gilles Courturier, Maj Michael Lemire, and Cpl Devin Fidler pose for a photograph during their stop at the base.[/caption]Tour de Rock riders were on the final day of their gruelling 1,100-kilometre journey across Vancouver Island Oct. 2 when they pulled into CFB Esquimalt. “This is the first time the tour has ever stopped at the base. We are greatly honoured and hope it is the first of many,” said Acting Base Commander, Cdr Byron Derby as he congratulated the riders.“This is truly a stunning achievement. The dedication you have shown here today in service of the community and this cause is fantastic and truly awe-inspiring.”The 20 police riders and one member of the media were in the final kilometres of their 13-day cross-island cycling odyssey.As they dismounted their bikes and the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy struck up its rendition of “1st Fanfare”, the team of two-wheeled voyageurs were greeted to wild cheers from over 100 well-wishers in the Lang Cove parking lot with ships in the background.Maj Michael Lemire, Commanding Officer of Military Police Unit Esquimalt was one of four MP riders who set off with the tour from Port Alice on Sept. 20.Along the way they stopped in 27 communities and over 46 schools.“The Tour de Rock is an annual event that raises funds for kids with cancer, Camp Good Times and pediatric cancer research, but it also brings together and unites the island as one team and is truly an event that people on Vancouver Island rally behind,” said Maj Lemire.“We’ve made friends and met people while we cycled down the island, and there were also the children and families who are dealing with cancer. It reminds us more that it [cancer] is something we just have to defeat.”Maj Lemire was joined by fellow MP Capt Pam Harris of CFNIS, LS Rod Carper of MPU Esquimalt, and Cpl Devon Fidler, a reservist...

HMCS Vancouver departed CFB Esquimalt today for the coast of Southern California, where it will join HMCS Calgary and HMCS Chicoutimi for a three-week Task Group Exercise (TGEX) with the United States Navy.The United States Navy’s 3rd Fleet is hosting the exercise, which aims to enhance combat readiness and improve interoperability.  “This training will strengthen our ability to work in a combined environment on a wide range of potential operations and missions, including anti-submarine warfare, boarding operations and replenishment at sea,” said Lieutenant Commander Jeff Anderson, Fleet Readiness Officer at Canadian Fleet Pacific Headquarters.“This year’s exercise will also give the Pacific Fleet exposure to amphibious operations, which could be a valuable tool for future joint missions.”Along with guided missile destroyer United States Ship (USS) Stockdale, United States Navy warships participating in the exercise are USS Boxer, USS New Orleans, and USS Harpers Ferry, all ships built for a variety of amphibious operations.“Exercises like TGEX offer valuable training opportunities for the Royal Canadian Navy and will help us maintain operational readiness throughout the fleet,” said Commodore Jeff Zwick, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific.“As like-minded allies, our close operational relationship with the United States is an asset to maintaining peace and security throughout the Pacific region.”That close operational relationship will also include Royal Canadian Air Force assets, including a CH-124 Sea King helicopter embarked in Vancouver and a CP-140 Aurora Long Range Patrol aircraft.  In the week leading up to TGEX, Calgary participated in San Francisco Fleet Week, an annual event that brings together civilian and military forces to develop and share best practices in humanitarian assistance and emergency disaster response.In addition to the working aspect of Fleet Week, there are numerous other celebrations and family-oriented events, including an air show, which consistently attracts millions of visitors to the area. A large number of...

[caption id="attachment_11153" align="aligncenter" width="199"] A member of the Enhanced Naval Boarding Party stands sentry as the ship transits the Thames River.[/caption] After almost three months of operations in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, HMCS Winnipeg took a break from operations to sail up the River Thames and sit centre stage at the Defence and Security Equipment international (DSEi) exhibition from Sept.15-18.DSEi is the largest defence industry trade show in the world and is held every second year in London, United Kingdom.Winnipeg was in attendance at this year’s event to support the Canadian Armed Forces’ defence industry partners by showcasing one of the final products of the Halifax Class Modernization project.“It was an honour to support the Canadian defence industry at DSEi. Operations would not be possible without the steadfast support we receive from the Canadian defence industry,” says Commander Pascal Belhumeur, Commanding Officer of Winnipeg.“We are proud to represent the Royal Canadian Navy at the show. Winnipeg celebrated its twentieth birthday on June 23 and it has never looked better.”The ship’s company provided tours of Winnipeg to event guests, defence industry representatives, foreign military and government officials, and trade representatives, as well as friends and family.The command team co-hosted two industry luncheons and the ship served as the venue for the Canadian defence industry networking reception attended by more than 250 guests.“Our Canadian defence industry participants, Government of Canada partners and DSEi event staff were extremely impressed by the hospitality and professionalism of the team on board Winnipeg,” said Daniel Salisbury, International Program Officer for the Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel).Upon completion of the event, Winnipeg sailed back out the River Thames to re-join Standing NATO Maritime Group One and put its enhanced capabilities to work in support of Operation Reassurance, Canada’s contribution to NATO assurance measures in Europe. SLt Jamie TobinHMCS Winnipeg

[caption id="attachment_11116" align="aligncenter" width="224"] A Fleet School student tests out the new outdoor fitness equipment at the opening on Sept. 29.[/caption] Surrounded by a squad of over 30 Fleet School students in their gym wear, Base Commander Capt(N) Steve Waddell cut the ribbon to officially open the new outdoor equipment outside the Naden Athletic Centre on Tuesday, Sept. 29.Also in attendance were Danielle Sutherland, Senior Manager Personnel Support Programs (PSP), and Base Chief Petty Officer, CPO1 Robert Spinelli.“We welcome this new equipment to the base for use by our members,” said Capt(N) Waddell, who also thanked the PSP fitness staff and Real Property Operations for their hard work organizing the delivery and implementation of the equipment.He and Chief Spinelli then tried the new equipment for the first time, testing their upper body strength on the incline push-ups, the multi-bars and the arm walk.Both tested their balance on the spring balance beams, and ended the tour with lifts on the body weight pull and press weight lifting equipment.  The Fleet School Students also tested the equipment, completing round after round of high-intensity cardio and strength training circuits, led by PSP fitness instructors Peter Gibson, Takato Tanaka, and Jessica MacDougall.“With the way fitness trends are going, we have a lot of demand for circuit style classes,” said Tom Campbell, Acting Manager PSP Fitness and Sports.“This will help alleviate that demand and provide our members with all-weather gear that can be used.”The new equipment is now officially available for use by CAF members, DND staff, and Naden Athletic Centre pass holders. Rachel Lallouz Staff Writer 

[caption id="attachment_11111" align="aligncenter" width="188"] LS Philippe Mercier-Provencher received his Assistant Commissioner’s Challenge Coin from the Assistant Commissioner Roger Girouard on Sept. 8.[/caption]Three people, including a naval reservist, were honoured by the Coast Guard earlier this month for their role rescuing the lone survivor of a capsized commercial fishing boat off Tofino.HMCS Radisson naval reservist LS Philippe Mercier-Provencher, Canadian Coast Guard Rescue Specialist Juan Burak-Yepez, and Coast Guard work experience student Adele Horbulyk were awarded the Challenge Coin of the Assistant Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard.The three embarked on their mission during the early hours of Sunday, Sept. 6 amidst three metre swells and 20 knot winds after MV Caledonian listed when the crew hauled in a net, and eventually sunk in the offshore waters.Three fishermen perished; one managed to climb aboard a life raft.At the time, LS Mercier-Provencher was enlisted in the Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) program at the Nootka Sound Coast Guard station, which provides rapid response to emergencies at sea.The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre received a message at 10 p.m. on Sept. 5 stating a fishing vessel was overdue; it was working more than 28 nautical miles north-west of Nootka Sound.With few vessels near the site and hours until a Coast Guard ship would arrive, LS Mercier-Provencher and his two colleagues were dispatched.“Before we left I told the crew about the weather conditions, and asked them if they felt comfortable going ahead with the mission,” says Burak-Yepez.“We agreed it needed to be done.”After radioing for a weather forecast, Burak-Yepez was informed there were no impending gale warnings, meaning they could safely continue the search without having to return to shore.The three boarded an in-shore rescue Zodiac, with an estimated time of arrival on scene of two hours; however, intense winds meant the rescuers had to cautiously navigate...

[caption id="attachment_11107" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Francis Langlands, Dereck Watson and Fay Jenkin .[/caption]Thompson Lake Park in Chilliwack swarmed with upwards of 600 guests on the rainy afternoon of Sept. 26, all looking to catch a glimpse of a new monument to commemorate 11 men who died on June 1, 1945, after crashing their B 24 Liberator Bomber KK-241 in a Second World War training mission.The Airplane Creek Memorial features three large slabs of granite positioned around the 14 cylinder engine captured from the bomber’s wreckage.Present at the ceremony were the families of victims who died in the crash, travelling from England, Norway, and New Zealand.Fay Jenkin, niece to Sergeant David Robertson Langlands, a 33-year-old volunteer Royal Air Force (RAF) member and police officer who died in the crash, found herself getting more emotional than anticipated as a formal fly-past was made.“It’s always been something we’ve known about in our family history,” says Jenkin, whose family lives in Scotland, home to Langlands family.“But there was never any memorial the family could visit, and no site to commemorate him.”Cadets, members of the Branch 280 Legion, and Guards of Honour stood in the downpour to watch the unveiling.“When the young cadets were asked by their commanding officers if they wanted to leave, they stood their ground,” says Jenkin.“We all found it hard to control the tears at some points.”On the rainy day of June 1, 1945, Jenkin’s uncle and 10 other RAF airmen training at the Abbotsford 5 Operational Training Unit climbed into their bomber and flew into thick clouds.Their last radio transmission was to the Abbotsford airfield querying their position – but Abbotsford’s response was not acknowledged, and the bomber failed to report in at its first checkpoint.Unbeknownst to officials in Abottsford, the plane had flown into the side of Mount Welch in Chilliwack, killing all on board.For the next 16 days, over 200 men and 50 planes searched desperately for the lost members.The wreckage was found near the summit of Mount Welch...

Personnel Support Programs Fitness Instructors normally spend their days keeping military members fit on dry land, but CFB Esquimalt’s Sylvan Verrier is spending six months keeping sailors fit at sea.Verrier has joined the crew of HMCS Winnipeg on Operation Reassurance, Canada’s contribution to NATO assurance measures in Europe.He was posted to Winnipeg in mid-July as the Fitness Sports and Recreation Coordinator with the task of helping the ship’s crew stay in top physical form until they return home in early 2016.“Improving the health and wellness of the crew is my goal,” says Verrier.“The majority of the crew wants to improve their overall fitness and some want more specific training to reach their goals.”Through personal fitness programs, group fitness classes, sports and recreational activities, and dissemination of health promotion material, Verrier is keeping the sailors active in their down time.“It’s easy to run a sedentary lifestyle on a ship, so I’m trying to keep people active and moving throughout their time at sea,” he says.He offers activities for all crew members and aims to provide a wide variety of activities.Currently, Verrier offers circuit training at varying intensity levels, boot camp, cardio and core classes, and yoga.“The ship’s company is constantly operational and active though,” says Verrier.“So finding time and space for physical fitness can be difficult at times. But with the motivation of the crew to stay healthy and active, my job is so enjoyable.”Due to limited open space on the ship, Verrier has had to be creative in the planning of his classes and activities.“Before boarding, I researched lots of fitness ideas and varieties of class styles,” he says.When the ship is at sea, he makes use of space-efficient kettlebells, dumbbells, boxing gear, and skipping ropes in his classes, depending on when members are available and what the weather is...

The Pacific Region women’s soccer team rebounded from two opening losses to win their first Canadian Armed Forces Women’s National Soccer Championship, defeating Quebec in a penalty kicks tiebreaker.“It took a couple of seconds for me to process the fact the game was over and we had won,” said Pacific Region coach Sgt Caleb Klimas.“I know some of the women said they felt like they were dreaming. At the beginning of the tournament if you had told anyone that Pacific Region was going to take home the trophy, I don’t think anyone would have believed you.”The two teams were deadlocked in a scoreless tie following two 15-minute overtime periods in the tournament final, held at CFB Borden on Sept. 15.The Pacific team prevailed, scoring two penalty goals to the Quebec team’s single goal.Midfielder, Capt Victoria Blakie and MBdr Kayla Ruiz, a striker, both converted their spot kicks while goalkeeper 2Lt Sam Behm made some outstanding saves throughout the match, said Sgt Klimas.Their efforts cemented their victory and they hoisted the Capt Nichola Goddard trophy.It wasn’t a smooth start to the tournament for the Pacific team.The women dropped their first two matches in round robin play to Quebec and Ontario, both by identical 2-0 scores.Shaking off the early losses, the team went undefeated over its final four matches including a 0-0 tie against the Atlantic team and a 2-1 win over the Prairie Region.The Pacific team then defeated Ontario in the semi-finals with striker LS Jackie Boskovic’s scoring the game’s only goal early in the match.“Our girls got better with every game,” said Sgt Klimas.“After losing our first two [games], the team was feeling a little low, but we had two more games left and we took that opportunity with two wins and moved onto the semi-finals.”Pacific’s 2Lt Behm was awarded...

Environmentally friendly updates to the lighting at the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre (CPAC) will save the facility nearly 30,000 kilowatt hours and thousands of dollars per year – enough to power three average B.C. homes.LED lights as well as and motion and daylight sensors were installed after Technical Specialist Derek Knudsen made recommendations to upgrade energy wasting aspects of the 16 year old building.Knudsen, who works for CFB Esquimalt Real Property Operations under a contract with Defence Construction Canada, assesses Department of National Defence buildings to find energy wasters and recommends ways to make them more efficient.He started the CPAC project just over three months ago and has since changed more than 50 per cent of the lighting at the centre.“Apart from saving energy for the building, the project will save the Department of National Defence in costs too. With the renovations, the centre will be able to save $4,300 a year,” says Knudsen.During a six-week construction period, a two person crew replaced the building’s metal halide gymnasium lights with energy-efficient LED lighting.Metal halide presents a safety risk due to its low light levels, and frequent burn-outs, Knudsen explains.“The new LED lights will provide users with better lighting colour and are hooked up to sensors to automatically turn off after detecting zero movement for 20 to 30 minutes,” says Knudsen.Exit signs in the gymnasium were also upgraded to LED lighting.In the hallways throughout the building, daylight sensors have been programmed to supplement the natural light with LED lighting.The sensor will scale light up and down to supply fill lighting automatically.Outdoors, the old metal halide and low pressure sodium lighting was creating personal security issues.Employees or guests of the centre were at risk while waiting for a pick-up in dark lighting conditions if one or more lights burned out.Similar to the...

[caption id="attachment_10818" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Dee Osmond and sailor Kevin Penny grin proudly after the final day of the Gold Fleet competition at the Mobility Cup.[/caption]When sailor Kevin Penny, 39, climbed into his sailboat at this year’s 2015 Mobility Cup, he sipped and puffed his way across the waves and into a personal best finish.Penny doesn’t have the use of his arms, legs or feet to sail the boat. Instead he uses sip ‘n’ puff technology to steer his specially-designed Martin 16 sailboat.He uses the power of his exhaling and inhaling to control the rudder and sails of his boat.  The experienced sailor from Halifax savoured every second of his time away from shore at this year’s Mobility Cup, held Sept. 7 to 11, with a personal best sixth place finish.Penny and his guide and coach Dee Osmand  celebrated on the dock at the Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA) after learning his overall score at the five-day international regatta for sailors with disabilities.Penny had not only broken a two-way tie with Haafsa Chaar of Montreal in the Gold Fleet competition, but also beat out the Mobility Cup’s three other sip ‘n’ puff sailors.“No way,” Penny exclaimed after getting news from Osmond, who ran back to the dock from the CFSA clubhouse to relay the news.“Now that we came in sixth, there’s a big reason to smile,” he said.“I reached my goals, I wanted to do a top 10 [finish] and beat my other sip ‘n’ puff competitors and I did that. It was a lot of hard work, I spent a lot of time in the boat this summer and there was a lot of great coaching from Dee.”Peter Eagar of Toronto was tops overall in the Gold Fleet competition while Pierre-Yves Lévesque of Montreal won the Silver Fleet competition for...

[caption id="attachment_10816" align="aligncenter" width="300"] At 91 years old, musician and former Naden Band member, Doug Howell still has the lungs to play the Euphonium, a baritone-voiced brass instrument. The senior musician practiced with the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy before joining them on stage Sept. 11 for a celebratory concert honouring 75 years of band music.[/caption]If you watched the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy’s 75th anniversary performance you most likely didn’t realize that furiously piping away in the on stage was a musician who was there from its early days.Doug Howell, 91, a Euphonium player from Comox, was one of the five original Nadan Band members who returned for the band’s four-day diamond anniversary celebration.He was also the oldest to perform at the Sept. 11 concert at The Royal Theatre.“The house was packed, sold out, it was just fantastic,” said Howell.“It was also like déjà vu for me. I was there at that same theatre 75 years ago playing concerts every second Sunday night during the war – it really was like stepping back into the past.”The band’s oldest surviving original member is 97-year-old John Tomczak of Victoria.While Tomczak didn’t play in the concert, he attended the anniversary performance and gave it a rave review.“This was the best concert I have ever heard,” said Tomczak, who played Clarinet with the band from 1940 to 1945.“It doesn’t get any better than this.”The other three original band members at the anniversary celebration were trumpet players Meredith ‘Rommy’ Rombough, 90, of Russell, Ont. (1944-1945), Don Scott, 87, of Victoria, (1949-1959), and trombonist Ed Rowley of Victoria (1944-45).According to the band’s director of music, Lt(N) Matthew Clark, the legacy of Howell, Tomczak and the other three originals has helped “push others in the band to do great things.”“Complete amazement and...

According to ride organizers, Captain Gary Levesque, Warrant Officer Duane Bailey and 2,087 other riders braved the most intense weather conditions this August in the Ride to Conquer Cancer’s seven-year history.The two cycled from Cloverdale, B.C., to the outskirts of Seattle from Aug. 29 to 30, enduring record breaking headwinds and rainfall, while navigating around fallen trees and downed electrical wires.“From the moment we set foot at the fairgrounds of the Cloverdale Agriplex for the opening pep rally, we experienced about 35 minutes of torrential downpour,” says Capt Levesque.“We couldn’t even see the stage.”By 8 a.m., riders present at the start line hopped on their bicycles to begin that day’s 125 kilometre ride to Washington State in wet gear, with Capt Levesque and WO Bailey wringing water from their gloves and pushing off in soaked shoes.“It was a bittersweet beginning and challenging right off the bat,” says Capt Levesque.“But we knew why we were there. We believe in the cause and what we were working towards.”The two military members worked together at the MARPAC headquarters, and are friends of four years.When WO Bailey was diagnosed with cancer in 2013, Capt Levesque couldn’t help but be affected.He says it hit him, especially since five members of his extended family have had cancer diagnoses.After getting the green light from doctors for being cancer free in 2014, WO Bailey decided he wanted do something to support the Canadian Cancer Foundation in Victoria, the agency that supported him after his surgery to remove a tumor in his colon, and who are direct recipients of funds raised through the ride.When co-worker Petty Officer First Class Pat King mentioned to WO Bailey she would be completing the 2015 ride, he proposed completing it as a group to Capt Levesque.“We looked at ourselves and we thought: ‘we’re...

One by one, the eight gold medals he won with Canada’s national dragon boat team began to weigh heavily on paddler Darryl Draper’s neck.The nine-year employee of Shop 141 at Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton, and his teammates from across the nation, made the triumphant climb to the top of the podium eight times at the International Dragon Boat Federation World Championships in Welland, Ont., Aug. 19 to 23.“We dominated. We had a great team and it was just an incredible experience to be part of that,” said Draper.This year’s international championships were held at the Niagara Peninsula’s legendary Welland International Flatwater Centre, world-famous for hosting high-profile rowing regatta’s and other competitive paddling events.Draper and his teammates had the benefit of expert guidance throughout the competition from Peter Buday, son of famed Hungarian paddling coach Tamás Buday.Tamás defected to Canada in 1987 and has since led several Canadian paddlers to international and Olympic glory.“Our coach Peter had so much knowledge and insight of paddling mechanics from his father (Tamás) and really demanded the complete attention and respect of our team,” said Draper. “Everything he did made us go faster.”Team Canada had a near-flawless performance in the Senior B Mixed and Open Crew Over-50 categories, competing against teams from Australia, Great Britain, Czech Republic and the United States.There was only one minor setback for the team in an otherwise perfect weekend.Canada failed to win all but one of their heats, losing out in a photo finish to the United States in the men’s Over-50 1,000 metre heat, but they still managed to win the overall competition.“It would have been the perfect sweep, we would have been flawless but the loss motivated us not to lose again and we didn’t,” said Draper.To add to his good fortune, Draper was also one of only two competitors at the event to win a commemorative Hornet Paddle in a random draw.Draper played high school football and slow pitch baseball while growing up in Aylmer, Que;...