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Base implements new smoking policyAs part of continual review of Base Standing Orders and in line with the MARPAC Health and Wellness Strategy, the new smoking policy (BSO 2-128) brings MARPAC into compliance with the Non-smokers Health Act. As of Dec. 1, smoking is prohibited on DND property with the exception of designated smoking areas.Why the change?CFB Esquimalt is federal property.As such, it must conform to the federal and provincial laws that govern its use.The Tobacco Act and the Non-Smokers’ Health Act regulate and restrict smoking beyond designated smoking areas.As a result, base policies will be in accordance with federal and provincial law.Do all Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) bases have the same rules and regulations?Canadian tobacco laws empower each province’s ministry of health to regulate legislation concerning smoking, including the boundaries and areas in which it is legal to smoke.Depending on a CAF base’s location, it is possible that the rules and regulations surrounding smoking can be different.If I smoke e-cigarettes do the regulations apply to me?Yes.According to Health Canada, all tobacco accessories are subject to the same laws as tobacco itself.That means that e-cigarettes may only be used within a designated smoking area.Where will I be allowed to smoke?All personnel who are on DND property must smoke only within a designated smoking area.This policy is inclusive to guests and invitees.In accordance with DAOD 5020-1, designated smoking areas will have neither sides, nor seating.Butt receptacles will be provided at each of the designated smoking areas. It is the users’ responsibility to keep the smoking areas clean.What happens on board ship?Smoking on board HMC Ships is regulated by Ships Standing Orders.If I live in barracks, where can I smoke?All members on TD or who live in fully furnished military accommodations or those members who rent mess accommodations for social events, such as gatherings and weddings, must smoke only within designated smoking areas.They are not permitted to smoke within their quarters.Residential Housing Units on DND property are exempt from the policy.   What will happen...

[caption id="attachment_8603" align="alignnone" width="300"] Join the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN)        Dec. 15-17 at the Royal Theatre[/caption]Join the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Dec. 15-17 at the Royal Theatre for some good old-fashioned holiday cheer during their Christmas Concert Series.The concert is an annual tradition for the Naden Band and one the musicians look forward to.This year they have prepared all new music, with several pieces arranged by band members.“We’re going to be debuting a piece called ‘The 12 Navy Days of Christmas’, as well as a few arrangements done by members of the band, so we’re very excited about that,” says Lt(N) Matthew Clark, Commanding Officer of the Naden Band.“We’ve put a lot of work into this year’s concert and we’re excited to share it with the community as members of the Royal Canadian Navy.”Joining the Naden Band once again are vocalists Ken Levigne and Stephanie Greaves, who will be performing both solo and duet pieces alongside the band.This year’s concerts also mark the premiere of a special piece composed for the Naden Band by Canadian composer Robert Buckley.Buckley, a Juno Award winning composer who has created scores for Disney, Cirque du Soleil and countless other productions, saw the Naden Band perform in Vancouver and met with Lt(N) Clark to discuss a possible collaboration.“Over the course of a few meetings we decided that we’d like to work together. We’re extremely excited to debut the piece. It’s just beautiful,” says Lt(N) Clark. “Any opportunity we have to get more quality Canadian music written by talented Canadian musicians out into the world is great.”Tickets to the concert are $10 plus a new, unwrapped toy.The toys go the Salvation Army for distribution this season.“It’s about family, it’s about the holiday season, it’s about giving back; basically all the things that make Christmas something we look forward to,” says Lt(N) Clark.Shawn O’HaraStaff Writer

[caption id="attachment_8536" align="alignnone" width="300"] Capt(N) Steve Waddell addresses the assembly of Chinese Canadian veterans at the William Head staff veterans’ cemetery.[/caption]Last week, Capt(N) Steve Waddell, CFB Esquimalt’s Base Commander, joined members of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society and William Head personnel for a dedication ceremony and  plaque unveiling at the William Head Institution.The plaque was dedicated to First World War Chinese Labour Corps personnel who died and were buried at William Head, which at that time was an immigration entry point.During the First World War, with thousands of casualties suffered by the Allies, 140,000 Chinese were brought to Canada and organized into Chinese Labour Corps to support the war effort.Over 80,000 Chinese Labour Corps members were transported from China to William Head, then dispersed across Canada for training, and then shipped from Halifax to La Harve, France, to join the war effort.“Neatly laid out here before us are 49 gravesites that have a hidden past,” said Capt(N) Waddell to those in attendance.“These all-but-forgotten graves tell a history unknown to many of us, despite being only a half hour from Victoria.”Thirty-five graves belong to Chinese labourers who succumbed to illness or mistreatment before being able to make the arduous journey across Canada by train, then embarking on ships to Europe.The Chinese Labour Corps dug trenches, provided ambulatory services, and fixed equipment.It’s estimated 20,000 Chinese did not survive the war. On the war’s completion, those that lived were returned to China.“They endured terrible conditions - building trenches, repairing roads and railways, working in factories, building warehouses, and performing other manual tasks, all for pennies a day. After the war, they stayed in Europe clearing the battlefields of corpses, removing ammunition, unexploded bombs and grenades,” said Capt(N) Waddell.The William Head Institution, CFB Esquimalt, and the Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society jointly supported this...

[caption id="attachment_8528" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ready, set, go! The Victoria Grizzlies line up to take the plunge into the waters at Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific).[/caption]They might be in shape for the ice, but on Nov. 4 the hockey players from the Victoria Grizzlies discovered a different kind of fitness – fit to fight.   Victoria’s Junior “A” British Columbia Hockey League team spent a day in a navy diver’s wet suit to see, hear, and feel what it’s like to work beneath the cold Pacific waters.       “We didn’t know what to expect,” says #17 Shawn McBride, Captain of the Grizzlies.“We didn’t really know what the Clearance Divers were all about, but we were excited to check it out, and we were all pretty surprised.”With the sun barely awake, the hockey players took part in the Clearance Diver morning swim, along with students in the current year-long Clearance Diver course.The one-and-a-half kilometre circuit tested their water skills and endurance.Seasoned divers showed the novices the sideways swimming technique that takes full advantage of the fins and leg extension.“Some on the team are good swimmers, but overall it was pretty tough,” McBride acknowledged.“I don’t think we realized how long it was going to be until we got out there.It was a new type of swimming too. It gives you a sense of respect for what they do.”After a half hour of water work out, everyone clambered to dry land for a little rope work – a 30 foot climb up a rope line on the training float’s confidence tower, and in water obstacle course.The Clearance Divers easily zipped up and down the course, while only defenseman #3 Zach Dixon and power forward #16 Dane Gibson of the young hockey players were able to make the feat, all to the rousing applause of their teammates.   With...

[caption id="attachment_8479" align="alignnone" width="200"] Being released on Remembrance Day. Written by Local Author Barry Gough[/caption]Local author Barry Gough’s new book on Victoria High School students and staff that fought in the First World War will be released just in time for Remembrance Day.The book launch for From Classroom to Battlefield: Victoria High School and the First World War takes place in the high school’s library Monday, Nov. 10 at 11:15 a.m. following a brief Remembrance Day ceremony in the school’s auditorium.Gough will also be holding signings on Tuesday, Nov.11, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in downtown Victoria’s Munro’s Books, and on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at Bolen Books in the Hillside Shopping Centre.  The book highlights the military experiences of 20 young men and women associated with the school. Several of them served at the front line in some of the war’s bloodiest battles, including the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, and Amiens.Drawing on the school’s extensive archives from the period, along with stories and photos provided by local families, the book offers a poignant examination of the First World War and its legacy for a school, a city, and an entire generation.“It is very important to write this account, as it is a part one of the greatest untold stories in Canadian history,” says Gough.“I am speaking of course about the generation of young Canadians who, in my opinion, were the greatest generation of patriots this country has ever known. They went selflessly to war without question, and the losses suffered by the youth during this period were extreme. By this measure they were also the ‘lost generation’. They left the shores of this nation for one of the most devastating conflicts in world history. In their wake was a national out pouring of grief when they did...

[caption id="attachment_8492" align="alignnone" width="216"] Pattie Ashbaugh,  Veteran of the Women’s Auxiliary Force (WAF),[/caption]For Pattie Ashbaugh, an 88-year-old London-born Victoria resident and veteran of the Women’s Auxiliary Force (WAF), life during the Second World War was spent mostly in secret office 60-feet below the surface.As a “plotter” for the WAF, Ashbaugh tracked aerial bombardments and engagements across the theatre of war from Fighter Command, located underneath Bentley Priory in London, England.“Every morning when we came into work we had to swear on the Bible that we would never reveal information about our work,” recalls Ashbaugh.“There were other offices that plotted much smaller parts of the theatre, but ours was the only one that covered it all. It was a very exciting job for a 17-year-old girl.”Ashbaugh’s job consisted of listening to radio transmissions from spotters across the country, and keeping track of V-1 flying bombs, called “buzz bombs”, and flights of both Allied and Axis aerial units.“We’d get information from anyone, from boy scouts on the roof with binoculars, to old men in their yards with a telescope,” says Ashbaugh.“Then we’d use different coloured figures to mark where they were on the map, which would be entered into the records and used by command, and when the clock turned over we’d wipe it off and start all over again. It was very hectic. Eventually it became automatic, but if you weren’t paying attention everything would happen so quickly you’d miss it.”The Flight Command was the central command for all Allied aerial units during the war, and as such was home to some influential figures.Among commanders from all Allied countries, then Prime Minister Winston Churchill kept an office at Flight Command, though a teenaged Ashbaugh wasn’t impressed.“He wasn’t very interesting to a teenage girl,” she says.“We would always be wearing his Siren Suit (a type of jumpsuit created by Churchill in the 30s, which became standard issue throughout the war), and he’d be up in the balcony where all the offices were....

[caption id="attachment_8469" align="alignnone" width="300"] Dr. Pedro Marquez of Royal Roads University presents RAdm Bill Truelove with historic photograph during a commemorative ceremony .[/caption]In a foyer lined with historic artifacts of Royal Roads University’s days as a military college, a small crowd gathered to mark the death of four young Canadian sailors who died 100 years ago.During the Battle of Coronel on Nov.1, 1914, four Canadian midshipmen Malcolm Cann, John Hatheway, William Palmer and Arthur Silver - all just 19 or 20 years old - were lost on boardHMS Good Hope, becoming Canada’s first casualties of First World War and the Royal Canadian Navy’s first ever losses.The four midshipmen were graduates of the first class of the Royal Naval College of Canada, selected to do their “big ship time” aboard the Royal Navy armoured cruiser Good Hope.Along with HMS Monmouth, Good Hope was lost with all hands during an engagement with German Kaiserliche Marine forces on the evening of Nov. 1. Almost 1,600 sailors and officers, including the four Canadian midshipmen, perished when the two ships slipped under the water that night.Dr. Geoffrey Bird of Royal Roads University acknowledged that “the navy faces a particular challenge when it comes to memorializing its battles:  the challenge of visiting the spot where the battle occurred, or physically marking the site for eternity.”Though the battle took place thousands of miles away off the coast of Coronel, Chile, Dr. Bird reflected that Royal Roads was a fitting place to commemorate the loss “here with these artifacts, on this site that celebrates [Royal Roads’] heritage as a naval and military college, and with the Royal Canadian Navy.”RAdm Bill Truelove, Commander MARPAC, was the guest speaker of the event. An alumnus of Royal Roads Military College himself, he spoke of the significance of the battle and the...

[caption id="attachment_8408" align="alignnone" width="300"] Pat Dunkley and Steve Cullimore take part in an exercise with the Firebrand firefighting vessel during the Great BC Shakeout.[/caption]Two week ago, base firefighters exercised with Firebrand, the Pacific Coast navy’s fireboat, to test its ability to become a portable water-side “hydrant.”When fighting a fire from the water, Firebrand can employ its three water cannons and  fire suppressant foam from its two 250 gallon tanks.But it can also be used to fight land fires by becoming a portable water main.“If we have to fight a fire in an engine room of a warship, then Firebrand can use its master streams to cool the hull from the outside. Lowering the temperature of the steel hull hinders heat transfer from the fire-involved space to adjacent compartments,” explains Steve Mullen, Fire Chief at CFB Esquimalt Fire Department. “If we have to fight a jetty fire, using Firebrand is more effective than hanging firefighters off the side of a ship or jetties. It just makes our job a lot safer in a lot of situations.”The exercise took place Oct. 16 on B jetty with Firebrand berthed alongside. The scenario tested was an emergency where land-based fire mains were damaged or destroyed and Firebrand was brought in to help firefighters combat a blaze.Should an earthquake occur, one of the first pieces of critical infrastructure to be destroyed could be the water distribution system. Firebrand’s 5,000 gallon-per-minute-pump can supply a high volume of pressurized sea water into a system of hoses, gated wyes, and portable hydrants. This provides the fire department with enough water to fight structural fires ashore.“It can mean the difference between having what you need to suppress or extinguish a blaze, and stretching your water supply to dangerous limits,” says Mullen. “There have been some historic fires around the...

[caption id="attachment_8401" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ships from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal Canadian Navy and U.S. Navy sail in formation during a Task Group Exercise off the coast of Southern California.[/caption]Last Friday, warships from Canada, the United States and Japan wrapped up the last day of 12 days training in the final task group exercise (TGEX) of the year.Representing Canada were HMC Ships Calgary, Winnipeg, Brandon, and Yellowknife, supported by two CH-124 Sea King helicopters from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron.The aim of task group exercises is to enhance combat readiness while improving interoperability and tactical excellence. This specific TGEX focused on interoperability between the Royal Canadian Navy, United States Navy, and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, and was hosted by the United States Navy’s 3rd Fleet. LCdr Jacob French, Calgary’s Executive Officer, said multi-navy work is the real strength of the exercise, as it gives sailors a look at how multinational situations might play out.“It always adds a dash of realism to any exercise, knowing that should there be an actual crisis requiring the cooperation of multiple navies, we would be able to operate in a coalition and joint environment,” he says. “The important thing is to adapt to the circumstances and work on ways of becoming more interoperable – something that navies have been doing for some time now.”This multinational interoperability, and the seamanship and communications skills that go along with it, are a vital part of naval experience, says LCdr French, adding the experiences gained during TGEX are skills that will stay with sailors the rest of their careers.“The collective training in the task group setting, and the individual training of each sailor are all important building blocks in maintaining the readiness of our fleet, and of our sailors,” he says. “There really is no substitute for quality sea...

[caption id="attachment_8404" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of HMCS Unicorn take a moment in the K158 Annex boatshed after a busy training exercise.[/caption]If you believe in sun gods, then they certainly smiled down on HMCS Unicorn Oct. 18 as members of the stone frigate took to the South Saskatchewan River for the final official boat exercise.The summer-like weather bolstered the spirits of Port and Starboard watch commanders, who responded to scenarios based on supporting other government departments at the direction of Domestic Operations. This training exercise had watch officers reacting to a HAZMAT spill, patrolling the river, assisting in search and rescue, and providing first aid as required. Watch officers had to make decisions while running the Operations Centre, which included managing the unfolding situation and giving orders to their sailors accordingly.The first task was to move to the boat launch by the Broadway Bridge to stand ready to assist after a briefing at Unicorn. The Operations Centre was stood up with boats and personnel launched, and at the ready to receive further instruction. In the first scenario, sailors located and assisted a casualty; this was accomplished by a small search party on the shoreline, and a water search that involved Unicorn’s hurricane and zodiac.“It is interesting to see how each person approaches problems,” said Lt(N) Nick Tien, Unicorn’s Training Officer. “They have to figure it out.”A Unicorn first happened; when the starboard watch relieved the port watch in the afternoon a second Operations Centre location was used in the exercise to test Unicorn’s readiness and reaction capabilities. The Operations Centre was quickly torn down and boats recovered to move to the new site – a boat launch north of the first site. This scenario had the search parties looking for a missing man.The exercise was well received as a valuable training day.“It...

[caption id="attachment_8366" align="alignnone" width="300"] A pilot climbs aboard his CF-188 Hornet aircraft to take off from CFB Bagotville to take part in Operation Impact on Oct. 23.[/caption]On Oct. 23 at 3 Wing Bagotville and  8 Wing Trenton, approximately 140 personnel from Canadian Forces Bases and Wings across Canada deployed on their mission to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Impact.In light of recent events, I am proud and thankful that our Canadian Armed Forces’ men and women stand courageously for peace and stability. Their resilience demonstrates our values internationally.Canadian Armed Forces contribution to coalition operations against  the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) includes approximately 600 personnel, including members already working with Americans in an advisory and assistance role by providing strategic and tactical advice to Iraqi security forces and aircrew support elements, such as command and control and logistics.Our contribution also includes, six CF-188 Hornet fighter aircraft, one CC-150T Polaris aerial refueller to support coalition air operations and two CP-140M Aurora surveillance aircraft to provide reconnaissance capabilities.We will not be intimidated.More than ever, we remain committed and determined to work with our allies and partners around the world to fight against the terrorist organizations to prevent the spread of terror and tyranny.Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of National Defence

[caption id="attachment_8363" align="alignnone" width="300"] Team Scrambled Eggs and Ham - LCdr Leung, Matt Campolongo and Colin Geddes - at the race finish with race directors Tex Geddes and Michael Templement.[/caption]Considered one of the most difficult ultramarathon on the planet, the Grand to Grand Ultramarathon (G2G) is gruelling says LCdr Francis Leung. It takes determined participants 273 kilometres, from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona to the Grand Staircase in Utah.The naval officer knows this firsthand, having recently completed the race over seven days across a distance similar to that of Victoria to Campbell River, through storms, sand dunes, caves, canyons, and rocky, mountainous terrain.A veteran runner who put the sport aside for work and family, LCdr Leung considered training for the G2G as a way of regaining his edge,“I was a competitive athlete most of my life, but after a series of injuries compounded by demanding work schedules, I got into a fairly sedentary lifestyle,” he says. “I needed something like this to get back into shape.”LCdr Leung, and fellow runners Michael Templeman and Matthew Campolongo formed team Scrambled Legs and Ham. They set out Sept. 23 from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, a legendary natural wonder.With a storm front on their heels, LCdr Leung and his team made good time for the first day, but with just 50 km under their belts, they knew there was still over 220 km of more punishing terrain ahead of them.“At one point on the first day, we could feel this cold front licking at our necks,” he says. “We later found out that the competitors behind us had to run through a flash flood with water up to their shins and chunky hailstones coming down on them. We were very lucky to miss that because it eventually...

[caption id="attachment_8356" align="alignnone" width="300"] Director of the Naval Museum of Halifax, Richard Sanderson, and RAdm John F. Newton, Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic and Maritime Force Atlantic, make a media announcement about the discovery of a historic anchor.[/caption]An anchor of a historic naval ship has been discovered.This anchor, believed to have belonged to HMCS Niobe, has been unearthed at HMC Dockyard in HalifaxNiobe was the first Canadian warship to enter Canada’s territorial waters, on Oct. 21, 1910, a landmark event in the beginnings of the Naval Service of Canada.As fate would have it, the discovery of the roughly 900-kilo (2000-pound) anchor was made just days before the commemoration of Niobe Day, which will from now on, be celebrated annually by the Royal Canadian Navy on the 21st day of October.An excavation crew working at HMC Dockyard recovered an anchor and chain buried beneath a demolition site on the morning of Oct. 14.The anchor was unearthed at former Jetty 4, where Building D-19, a Second World War dockside warehouse and one of the first structures at HMC Dockyard, once stood and is now being demolished. This work is part of the ongoing refurbishment of HMC Dockyard in preparation for the arrival of a new fleet of ships that will be delivered through the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy over the next decade and beyond.The dimensions of the roughly 900-kilo (2000-pound) anchor are, 4 metres (13 feet) from crown to head, 4.1 metres (13.5 feet) across the stock, and 3.35 metres (11 feet) from bill to bill of the flukes. Additionally, each link of the anchor’s chain is 51 centimetres (20 inches) by 28 centimetres (11 inches) and weighs approximately 34 kilos (75 pounds).While still in the process of officially confirming this historic find, Richard Sanderson, Director at the Naval Museum of Halifax,...

[caption id="attachment_8278" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ken Cawley practices his stealth, sneaking up on a decoy attached to a fishing line, as part of the First Responder Oiled Animal Capture Course held at D Jetty last week.[/caption]Rescuing oil-slicked animals and birds is now a skillset of a few base employees.To ensure they can do the job, 10 people from Port Operation and Emergency Services (POESB), Fleet Maintenance Facility, and the Coast Guard took the First Responder Oiled Animal Capture course with Focus Wildlife Canada last week.Standing in for the real thing was a remote controlled four-wheeled water fowl that zipped around the parking lot near D Jetty in Colwood and Esquimalt Harbour, as students took turns catching it with a net.  “It’s not as good as the real thing, but it’s a lot safer,” says Chris Battaglia, co-founder of Focus Wildlife Canada and course instructor.Battaglia and Focus Wildlife Canada provide professional spill response and training across Canada and the United States. Part of this training includes the capture or deterrence of animals in an environment affected by a spill.Students were educated on the responsibilities of a first responder in an oil spill situation. This includes how to evaluate a spill, the threat it may pose to wildlife, and how to intervene when it comes to oiled animals.“It’s about giving them the tools needed to deal with a situation before the specialists arrive,” says Battaglia. “Obviously they won’t be able to deal with a large volume of oiled birds on their own, but that first 24 to 48 hours can be critical, and it’s important to have people know what to do in those situations.”The course also included hands-on oiled animal capture training. Using both floating and rolling decoys, students scooped the models up in nets in the harbour and on the ground.“There...

[caption id="attachment_8275" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lt(N) Matthew Clark, Commanding Officer of the Naden Band, takes the musicians through a rehearsal.[/caption]In-between playing gigs at numerous events, the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy has been laying down tracks for a new CD.The album, titled “Snapshots of Excellence”, focuses on the Naden Band’s smaller ensembles.“Most people are used to seeing the band all together at events, or at Christmas time,” says Lt(N) Matthew Clark, the band’s Commanding Officer. “We have a lot of great talent, and a lot of smaller groups and soloists we wanted to shine the spotlight on. It’s very exciting for us.”The band is comprised of world-class musicians; this talent includes everything from trombone quartets to woodwind quintets, soloists of all kinds, and modern rock and jazz inspired groups.“There is a lot of variety in our performers,” says Lt(N) Clark. “We have a great respect for the classic style, but it’s nice to get to stretch our legs a little.”For the recording process, the band’s practice hall and headquarters at N33 have been converted into a recording studio, with microphones every few steps, and hundreds of feet of snaking wires and cords draping the room like vines. They are recording well into the evening, night after night.“We’ve had to turn the air conditioning off because the mics are so sensitive,” he says. “After eight hours of playing and recording, it becomes quite the oven. Playing music is a lot more exhausting than I think a lot of people understand.”Despite all the late nights, sore jaws, and boiling hot recording sessions, Lt(N) Clark says at the end of the day it’s a worthwhile experience.“Sometimes I’ll get home at 11:30 p.m. and think about how I might have gotten in over my head,” he says. “But when I wake up the...

[caption id="attachment_8272" align="alignnone" width="300"] The envelope of a letter sent to Bella from her brother Fred during the First World War. Inset: A portrait of Ed Grant in his service uniform.[/caption]Staff at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site is providing people a window into the lives and relationships of a Bella Coola family from a century ago.Each day, using social media, they have released letters sent by brothers Ed and Fred Grant to their sister Belle in Victoria during their service in the First World War.The online historical exhibit is called “Dearest Belle.”“It’s a very interesting look at how people thought back then,” says Dave King, Visitor Experience Manager at Fort Rodd Hill. “You get to see what they were doing, the new things they were seeing and experiencing, how they felt about it, and how much their family meant to them.”Fred, a member of the 2nd Mounted Rifles, and Ed of the 5th Artillery, were deployed separately to France and Belgium. King says the letters give an intimate look at how this journey affected these two humble farm boys.“They got swept up in something much larger than themselves,” he says. “This was a time of change, for Canada and Canadians.”The letters, along with photos of the family, were discovered in a second-hand bookstore in Victoria called Sorensen’s Books. When King and his team discovered the collection, they realized it’s potential.“We realized there was a potential for interpretation and presentation, to get a look at that part of Canadian history that is so close, but yet so far in the past,” he says.Fifty letters were chosen from the collection, and are being released through Fort Rodd Hill’s Facebook page and Twitter account, culminating with the final letter Nov. 11.King says the most illuminating part of the collection is that the...

[caption id="attachment_8232" align="alignnone" width="300"] The United State Coast Guard Cutter Active’s rigid hull inflatable boat approaches the suspect vessel while HMCS Calgary stands guard in the background.[/caption]Merely two hours after departing San Diego harbour to start an eight-day Operation Caribbe deployment with Joint Interagency Task Force South, HMCS Calgary was directed to investigate a small suspicious vessel (panga) in international waters.The panga was approximately 100 nautical miles southwest of the United States – Mexico border.Along with U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Active and Haddock, and a USCG C-130 Hercules on station, Calgary went in pursuit of the vessel. As this was a joint interagency operation, Calgary had the U.S. Coast Guard and a Law Enforcement Detachment embarked.A Hercules provided reports on the panga and tracked its position, while Calgary closed the location of the vessel at full speed. As Calgary was launching its Barracuda and dispatching the Law Enforcement Detachment team, the USCGC Active dispatched  its team to approach the vessel of interest.Calgary arrived on scene and sighted numerous bales floating in the water. As they approached the floating objects, they were discovered to be bales of what was suspected to be contraband.The Law Enforcement Detachment was quickly dispatched to recover the bales and investigate the contents. Twenty two bales were recovered, (with an additional 28 in the panga), and the contents were confirmed to be marijuana, totaling approximately 1,200 pounds.“Shortly after embarking the Law Enforcement Detachment crew, we were presented with an opportunity to conduct trans-national Maritime Interdiction Operations. I was impressed with the seamless interoperability between the two units. It was a true testament to the great cooperation with our partners to the south,” said Cdr John Wilson, Commanding Officer of Calgary. “It was a great day for the whole ship’s company to be a part of the frontline...

More than 500 sailors from HMC Ships Calgary, Winnipeg, Brandon and Yellowknife have departed Esquimalt harbour last week to take part in operations and exercises off the coast of Southern California.Supported by two CH-124 Sea King helicopters from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, the ships will participate in a Task Group Exercise (TGEX) with the United States Navy and Japanese Maritime Self–Defense Force from Oct. 20 to 31.  “The Canadian Pacific Fleet routinely conducts operations and exercises with partner nations. The high-tempo training builds strong bilateral and multilateral ties between the Royal Canadian Navy and the navies of other nations,” said Cmdre Bob Auchterlonie, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific.The aim of Task Group Exercises are to enhance combat readiness while improving interoperability and tactical excellence. This specific TGEX will focus on interoperability between the Royal Canadian Navy, United States Navy, and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. It is hosted by the United States Navy’s 3rd Fleet. Before the commencement of TGEX, HMC Ships Brandon, Yellowknife, and Calgary will participate in San Francisco Fleet Week - a tradition in which active navy ships dock in a major city for several days for military demonstrations, airshows, and guided tours of the ships.On completion of TGEX, Yellowknife and Brandon will join Operation Caribbe, 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. As part of Operation Caribbe, the Canadian Armed Forces support multinational efforts to address illicit trafficking by providing naval and air capabilities to detect and monitor suspect activities on the water off the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Central America. 

[caption id="attachment_8226" align="alignnone" width="300"] Firefighter Mark Walker takes in the sights during a high line exercise at the CFB Esquimalt Fire Department, Oct. 8.[/caption]The training tower of the recently constructed fire hall served as a platform for a unique training session last week.Firefighters from the CFB Esquimalt Fire Department took part in Confined Space and Rope Rescue certification course taught by Roco Rescue Canada. It included a high line rescue of a mock victim. During a high line rescue, a series of pulleys, lines, and anchors are used to create a line across a space. A crew can then haul a rescue technician across and over an obstacle to the victim. During a shipboard emergency, the high line can be used to haul a rescue technician over open water.“That way you can take someone who has been injured, and instead of going across gangways and up and down ladders you can get them straight to the jetty,” says Keith Shields of Roco Rescue, who helped take the firefighters through the course.Given the unique environment firefighters operate in, Shields says it’s important they be prepared for a variety of situations.“Working in maritime and military environments presents some unique challenges,” he says. “With these different techniques, they have the tools needed to respond to them.”The course culminated in a day-long written and practical exam, where firefighters were quizzed on proper operation, terminology, and theory, while also performing practical drills using the techniques learned in training.“It’s a timed exam, and they’re being held to a national standard, so it can be pretty tough,” says Shields.When it comes to the course itself, firefighter Lieutenant Keith Lee says the course goes a long way towards bridging the gap in experience.“Some of this is new knowledge for a lot of us, but it’s the right training to...

When it comes to sports, it’s always nice when a little glory makes its way to the sidelines. That’s just what happened when two dedicated and passionate people from CFB Esquimalt got a tip of the hat on a national scale.CPO2 (Ret’d) Dan Fogarty and MS (Ret’d) Jeffrey Green have both been recognized with a nomination for a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Sports Award. Fogarty netted a nomination as Male Coach of the Year, while Green is in the running for Official of the Year.“It’s thrilling to be recognized on a national level,” says Fogarty, who retired this year and now works for Fleet Maintenance Facility as a civilian contractor. “You know, you just do what you do, not for the recognition but for the love of it. To get acknowledged for what you love it pretty awesome.”Fogarty has coached the CFB Esquimalt ball hockey team since 2005; this year is the first year he did not coach in almost a decade. The team and its accomplishments saw significant growth under his leadership.“When I started there were players that could barely hold a stick,” he says. “They practiced, and I gave them a helping hand here and there, but over time they grew, and through word of mouth got more people out, and before long we had a real team on our hands.”That team took home the CAF Regional’s in 2013, and had a fourth place showing at the CAF Nationals.For Green, he began officiating hockey games following a life-long love of the sport. A player for many years, he made the transition to the lines to try something new.“It seemed interesting to see it from the other side, so I thought I’d give it a shot,” he says. “The interactions with the players and coaches really gave me a...

[caption id="attachment_8106" align="alignnone" width="300"] MWO Mike Tuohy (left) and LCol Patrick MacNamara kneel by the Wally Sweetman memorial plaque.[/caption]Five members of 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron paid tribute to one of their own in August - a fellow aviator who died in an accident two decades ago.While performing a mountain flying training exercise, the group flew their CH-124 Sea King helicopter to a mountain saddle southwest of Keremeos, B.C., that is perched at an altitude of 7,400 feet. The destination is a place known as “Wally’s Saddle”, named after Major Wally Sweetman, a Sea King pilot and former 443 (MH) Squadron member, whose sacrifice and heroism 20 years ago will not be forgotten. During the morning of April 28, 1994, a transfer of Sea King helicopters was taking place from 12 Wing in Shearwater, Nova Scotia, to 443 (MH) Squadron in Patricia Bay, British Columbia. Major Sweetman was the aircraft commander and Major Bob Henderson was the co-pilot.En-route over the Bay of Fundy near Saint John, New Brunswick, the crew experienced an aircraft emergency.  A fuel line broke, causing complete engine failure and a fire on board the aircraft at 6,000 feet.As the aircrew were preparing for a forced landing, burning fuel was entering the cabin from above causing blinding smoke to rapidly fill the cockpit. In spite of the chaos, the pilot performed an autorotation and managed to execute a survivable landing. The Navigator and Flight Engineer escaped, albeit with severe burns. Unfortunately, both Wally Sweetman and Bob Henderson were killed in the ensuing inferno.  Their actions, however, live on as an example of bravery, courage, and outstanding airmanship.In 1999, a memorial plaque was commissioned in Wally Sweetman’s honour. His friends and relatives thought there would be no better place to remember him than in the area he loved so much, located in...

[caption id="attachment_8109" align="alignnone" width="300"] The first of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships is named after Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf, who was decorated for outstanding service throughout his naval career.[/caption]Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Sept. 19 the name of the first Royal Canadian Navy’s Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS).Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Harry DeWolf is named in honour of the wartime Canadian naval hero.HMCS Harry DeWolf is the first of the AOPS designed to better enable the RCN to exercise sovereignty in Canadian waters, including in the Arctic.The AOPS will be known as the Harry DeWolf Class, with HMCS Harry DeWolf as the lead ship. Subsequent ships in the class will be named to honour other prominent Canadian naval heroes who served their country with the highest distinction.This is the first time in its 104-year history that the RCN is naming a class of ships after a prominent Canadian naval figure.A native of Bedford, Nova Scotia, Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf (RCN) was decorated for outstanding service throughout his naval career, which included wartime command of HMCS St. Laurent from 1939-40, and later, his 1943-44 command of HMCS Haida, known as the “Fightingest Ship in the RCN.”Canada defends more coastline than any other country, as it is bounded by three oceans. The AOPS will conduct sovereignty and surveillance operations in Canadian waters on all three coasts, including in the Arctic.The AOPS will also be used to support other units of the Canadian Armed Forces in the conduct of maritime-related operations and to support other government departments in carrying out their mandates, as required.The AOPS will be built by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. in Halifax, Nova Scotia.DND

[caption id="attachment_8015" align="alignnone" width="300"] John “Jack” Curry, youngest child of Beatrice and Charles Curry, speaks at the unveiling of “The Curry Contingent” exhibit.[/caption]A new display at the CFB Esquimalt Military and Naval Museum is shining a light on an oft-forgotten piece of military history.“The Curry Contingent: A Canadian Family’s 100+ Years of Service” chronicles the history of the Curry family. It began withCharles Curry who served Canada in the First World War; his nine children followed in his footsteps serving Canada in either military or civilian service.“This is the story of an ordinary family going to great lengths to serve their country,” said Base Commander, Capt(N) Steve Waddell on Sept. 22 at the display’s unveiling. “To have a single family be so devoted to their nation, and supporting its values, freedom, and citizens, is truly an inspiration.”Consisting of letters, interviews, and family photos, the display goes through each Curry’s service, and life before and after the military.John “Jack” Curry Senior, the youngest of Charles and Beatrice Curry’s nine children, and one of two surviving “Curry Contingent” siblings, came to the display’s opening from Regina, Saskatchewan, where he now lives. Too young to join his siblings during the Second World War, Jack enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1954. Serving in Germany, Chilliwack, and Egypt, he retired in the 1970s.“Those were great years,” he says. “It was a family tradition, and they were truly some of the best years of my life. I wouldn’t trade anything for them.”Jack says the display touched him deeply.“It’s a great thing to have our history join the history of the military,” he says. “It’s hard to believe anyone would go to this length just for our family, but it is a great thing to see.”The Curry legacy continued following the Second World War, with...

[caption id="attachment_8012" align="alignnone" width="300"] Clearance diver students learn how to use the hyperbaric chamber at Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific).[/caption]At first glance the Hyperbaric Chamber at Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) (FDU(P)) looks like a time machine or even a futuristic prison cell; but the students of the Clearance Diver Course quickly learned it’s the best way to save a diver’s life.Gathered around the many knobs, buttons, and valves rising from the consoles, they were instructed on the procedures for treating divers whose bodies have become acclimatized to various depths and pressures.The normal atmospheric condition experienced on dry land is called normobaric pressure. When divers go under the surface, the pressure of the water and air above them increases with depth. This additional pressure causes several changes in the way a human body processes blood gases such as oxygen and nitrogen. If a diver surfaces too quickly, the gases in the blood can convert to bubbles and cause a very dangerous situation called the bends, or decompression sickness. A hyperbaric chamber can return a diver to the same depth and pressure experienced during the actual dive. This procedure in the hyperbaric chamber allows the nitrogen in the bubbles to escape naturally, leaving only absorbable oxygen.“It can be a fairly complicated process, but it’s absolutely vital to get it right,” says LS Mathew Kyte, one of the instructors at FDU (P). “This is just one piece of the Clearance Diver Course, but it is a very important one, and we want to make sure everyone is prepared for anything.”When a diver surfaces and is considered to be at a risk of decompression related injuries, they’re moved to the hyperbaric chamber, which works by pumping pressurized air into the metal container. The diver remains in the chamber anywhere from four to eight hours, sometimes...

[caption id="attachment_8003" align="alignnone" width="300"] Janice Lang, DRDC photographerLeft: The Aphid Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) soars above the testing ground at Canadian Forces Station Alert. Used for scouting and surveillance, this small, remotely controlled helicopter is capable of flying 100km/h.[/caption]DND is currently using test drones and looking into the viability of using unmanned systems in the North.In August, 14 scientific and military personnel travelled to Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert, Nunavut, to test the viability of both ground and aerial unmanned vehicles—also called drones—in arctic environments.Conducting eight experiments over a 12 day period, the viability of these vehicles was tested in search and rescue, hazard mitigation, and communications simulations.“We were interested in the deployment of unmanned vehicles in terms of supporting DND operations,” says Dr. Simon Monckton, a scientist with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), and the lead Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) scientist on the Joint Arctic Experiment. “Unmanned vehicles have never been piloted this far north before, so we were unsure how they would operate in such an extreme environment. It was our biggest question setting out.”During the exercise, two types of unmanned vehicles were implemented. The first, the Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV), were used for up-close investigation. About the size of a two-person All-Terrain-Vehicle, they were outfitted with tracks instead of tires to navigate the rugged Arctic environment. One of the two UGVs also featured a large manipulator arm on the front bumper, which is capable of lifting 200lbs at full extension. Teams in a large tracked vehicle following the UGVs piloted them remotely.The UAVs were utilized for surveillance, mapping, and reconnaissance. Converted from commercially available helicopters, they are about six-metres long, and feature a variety of still and video equipment. They can fly 100km/h for an hour and half before refuelling. Teams situated in a fixed location...

[caption id="attachment_7917" align="alignnone" width="300"] Joan O. Thomas receives the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation for her work with the Royal United Service Institute, and her instrumental role in raising two plaques commemorating the service of all Nursing Sister servicewomen during the Second World War, of which Thomas served herself.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7918" align="alignnone" width="300"] James MacMillan-Murphy is honoured for his work as a Peacekeeper, and his dedicated involvement in various veterans programs including the Editor and Founder of the Blue Beret newsletter, founder of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association, and his work with the Royal Canadian Legion.[/caption]Julian Fantino, Minster of Veterans Affairs, visited CFB Esquimalt Sept. 12 to recognize 11 Vancouver Island veterans for their service to Canada.The veterans each received the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation, which honours veterans and civilians for exceptional work within the veteran community.“It’s a privilege to recognize the selfless efforts of these individuals who have generously given their time and energy to support and care for our veterans,” said Minister Fantino.“Their exemplary contributions are indicative of the enormous respect and gratitude shared by all Canadians for the men and women who have served in uniform.”The awards were handed out during a banquet in the Rainbow Room at the Chiefs’ and Petty Officers’ Mess.Among the recipients were two Victoria residents, James Patrick MacMillan-Murphy, and Joan O. Thomas.MacMillan-Murphy is a retired Peacekeeper who was recognized for his work as founder of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association, the founder and editor of The Blue Beret newsletter, and work with the Royal Canadian Legion and the Air Cadet League of Canada.Thomas served as a Nursing Sister in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp during the Second World War. Since then, she served as secretary-treasurer for the Royal United Services Institute in the 1970s, and was instrumental in the raising of two plaques commemorating all Nursing Sister servicewomen, which now stand in Langford’s Memorial Park. Shawn O’Hara, Staff Writer 

[caption id="attachment_7914" align="alignnone" width="300"] The Venture Class of 1964 raises a glass to new and old friends, and those who have died, during the 50th anniversary of their graduation.[/caption]Laughs were shared, glasses were raised, and more than a few tears were shed when 25 men gathered at Naval Office Training Centre (NOTC) Venture to mark 50 years since they had passed through its doors.Members of the Venture Class of ‘64 gathered in the Wellend Room at the Venture Accommodation Block to bid farewell after a three-day celebration of their momentous milestone.“It’s nice to see all these old faces, even after all this time,” said Cdr (Ret’d) Graeme Evans, a resident of Victoria and graduate of the 1964 Short Service Officer Plan, who came for the festivities. “We all stayed in relatively close contact during our careers, and even in our retired lives it’s still refreshing to see people again.”Get-togethers like this have happened every five years since 1974. Organized largely by Cdr (Ret’d) Matt Durnford, they began as a way to keep tabs on old friends, and maintain bonds made many years ago.“We all went through a lot together back in the day, and you don’t forget friends like these,” says Cdr Durnford, who now lives in Riverport, Nova Scotia. “We’ve all spread out over the last 50 years, so it’s nice to be able to get together, catch up, and remember the old times.”The celebrations included a meet and greet at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, dinner at the Union Club, and a lot of laughs.The class also raised a glass of 35-year-old port to those of their group that have passed on.“It’s been a long time, and we’ve lost more than a few,” says Cdr Durnford. “They are in our hearts and our minds, and we will never...

[caption id="attachment_7949" align="alignnone" width="300"] HMCS Protecteur is one of four Royal Canadian Navy ships being retired.[/caption]As the Royal Canadian Navy undergoes its most extensive peacetime modernization in history, Vice Admiral Mark Norman, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), announced on Friday the upcoming retirement of four ships that have reached the end of their operational lives.The ships are HMC Ships Protecteur and Preserver, two Protecteur-class auxiliary oil replenishment (AOR) ships; and HMC Ships Iroquois and Algonquin, two Iroquois-class guided missile destroyers (DDG). The retirement of these vessels has been anticipated for some time, and is a step towards the introduction of new ships and capabilities set to be delivered through the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS), as well as recognition of the RCN’s commitment to the responsible use of public funds while maintaining Canada’s naval readiness.From the Admiral:The summer has passed quickly and I hope that you each had an opportunity to take some vacation. It has been a busy summer across the Formation as we have continued to deliver on our core missions including ships to sea, SAR, Cadets as well as being prepared to respond as necessary within our JTFP construct.At the same time, the navy has continued its implementation of the executive plan as we prepare, with energy and excitement, to receive the future fleet of modernized frigates, Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, Joint Support Ships and, in due course, the Canadian Surface Combatant.Yesterday [Sept. 18], I was thrilled to hear the announcement of the name of the first AOPS – HMCS Harry DeWolf. Today [Sept 19], we took another important step in that journey with the Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy’s announcement of the plan to decommission HMC Ships Protecteur, Algonquin, Preserver and Iroquois. Each of these ships has served us well for decades...

[caption id="attachment_7740" align="alignnone" width="300"] PO1 Michael Mitchell (left) and Lt(N) Andrew James (right) stand with the family of Commander Rowland Bourke, a First World War hero, former Esquimalt resident, and recipient of the Victoria Cross. Commander Bourke was honoured with the unveiling of a historical display detailing his life, military service, and legacy.[/caption]Next time you’re in the Esquimalt Branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library, keep an eye out for a piece of local military history.A new display details the life and career of Commander Rowland Bourke, a First World War Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve Officer, one of four naval Victoria Cross recipients, and a resident of Esquimalt from 1932 until his death in 1958.Featuring images of Cdr Bourke, his former residence on 1253 Lyall Street, his medals, and his resting place in Royal Oak Burial Park, the display is a thorough and educational look at this local hero’s life.Born in London, England, in 1885, Commander Bourke immigrated to Canada in 1902. At the outbreak of the Great War, he volunteered for the Royal Canadian Navy, but was rejected due to his poor eyesight.Travelling at his own expense, the young Bourke made his way back to the United Kingdom and joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve.“He was a pretty incredible figure. His dedication to service was inspirational, and gained him quite a deal of recognition later in his career,” says Greg Evans, an archivist for the Township of Esquimalt, and one of the people instrumental in the creation of the Cdr Bourke display. “For such an influential figure, not many people know he lived right here in Esquimalt.We wanted to do something to change that.”Bourke is noted for having received both the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the Victoria Cross.During operations in the Zeebrugge raid in Belgium, April 1918, Bourke piloted a small boat to HMS Brilliant, which was under heavy fire, leading the rescue of 38 officers and enlisted men. For this he was awarded the DSO.In May of...