News

[caption id="attachment_32018" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Sailor Second Class (S2) Isiah Laxamana, a Boatswain currently posted to HMCS Brandon, became the Pacific Fleet’s first recipient of a morale patch celebrating the Centennial of Canada’s Naval Reserve.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Sailor Second Class (S2) Isiah Laxamana, a Boatswain currently posted to HMCS Brandon, became the Pacific Fleet’s first recipient of a morale patch celebrating the Centennial of Canada’s Naval Reserve. Commodore (Cmdre) David Mazur personally presented the morale patch on Brandon’s forecastle on Feb. 21 to 12 crew members who hail from reserve divisions across the country. “We have one navy team that includes regular force and reservists, full and part-time,” Cmdre Mazur said. “Our [Kingston-class] vessels like Brandon were at one time 100 per cent crewed by reservists, so it was very important to recognize the reservists who do important jobs aboard the ship today and present them the first morale patches [in the Pacific Fleet].” The morale patch features silhouettes of a male sailor and a Woman’s Royal Canadian Naval Service member from the Second World War, and a male and female sailor of today’s Naval Reserve. It was designed by Sailor First Class (S1) Joseph Dimayuga, a former reservist with HMCS Discovery, who has since become a regular force member. The patch will be distributed to reservists in Esquimalt and further afield in the coming weeks. S2 Laxamana, of Calgary Naval Reserve Unit HMCS Tecumseh, said he was delighted to be the first recipient. “I have been a reservist for quite a while, so it feels nice to be part of a historic moment and honour and continue the Naval Reserve’s traditions,” he said. The Naval Reserve will celebrate its milestone with commemorative events throughout the year. On Sept. 23, Canadians will witness formal celebrations when 4,000 sailors will be on parade at its 24 Naval Reserve Divisions across the country. ******* The Government of Canada authorized the organization of a force to be called the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer...

CFMWS — Military Family Services is hosting a virtual career fair for military and veteran spouses and partners on Feb. 28 from 1-3 p.m. EST. The event will occur on the Military Spousal Employment Network (MSEN). “Given the current labour market, this is an ideal time for military spouses and partners to go after that dream job”, said Augustina Charles from the Military Family Services Employment Team. “As equal opportunity employers, our network partners are looking to connect military spouses and partners with opportunities – and not just in their communities, but with remote work options as well.” The Network hosts a permanent job bank with more than 190 positions in B.C. that Network recruiters are looking to fill. This is in addition to new opportunities added to the Network daily. Recruiters will be looking to fill many jobs in military communities across the country along with work-from-home opportunities. These national employers have agreed to offer military spouses equal and fair access to employment opportunities within their organizations. While the virtual career fair will have 13 employers participating, the Network is also pleased to announce three new employers recently joining the Military Spousal Employment Network. These new employers will bring additional diversity to the types of jobs available on the Network: NTT, a business, technology and learning development is looking to fill customer service roles in Ont., N.S., N.B., Que., and Alta. VON is a healthcare firm looking to fill administration, client service and fundraising positions in Ont and N.S. CATSA, a security agency, seeks to fill communications, HR, finance, legal, procurement, security, project development and IT positions in Ont., Alta., Man., Que., and N.S. Both NTT and CATSA have remote work opportunities. Growing steadily, the Military Spousal Employment Network has had more than 5,800 users since it launched in 2018....

Members of the Naval Reserve participate in a National Dive Exercise at HMCS Quadra in Comox, B.C. at the end of January. Check out these photos. Photos: Master Sailor Valerie LeClair, MARPAC Imaging Services.

Today’s navy is much the same as yesterday’s in that hungry sailors have to eat. Today, sailors eat a hearty bowl of soup at morning stand easy. In the days of sail, they might have had to rely on chewing a fatty piece of salt pork. Growlies is a nickname for any tasty food cooked by a navy chef. Also known as a good bit of scran, a hungry sailor might go around the buoy for a second helping if the meal is good. A voraciously hungry group of sailors can be called gannets, aptly referring to seabirds known for their notoriously insatiable appetites and ability to swallow a fish whole and have it visible as it settles in their gut. Gut wrenches is a nickname for cutlery, i.e., knife, fork, spoon. Sometimes a ship’s cook might go by the nickname gut robber, although the etymology of that term is vague. The term vittler describes the ship’s cook responsible for ordering and storing food, and is derived from the word victual, pronounced as ‘vit-l’. Victual became part of the English language around the 1300s and was derived from the old French word ‘vitaille’, which means food. The original spelling in English was ‘vitaylle’. ‘Vittles’ is a variant spelling of victuals, a word commonly heard as American slang. Other commonly used terms originally derived from the days of sail, when the dining fair was not as palatable as it is today. Chewing the fat is a term commonly used to describe people gossiping, making friendly small talk, or being involved in a lengthy informal conversation. Legend has it this term was first used to describe sailors who would chew on salt-pork fat while they relaxed and conversed. Although no reliable historical references are related to this practice, this explanation remains a...

Are you a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member or considering joining? Learn what the CAF has to offer in return for your service to Canada.  Explore the full range of benefits, services, and more available to you.  The CAF Offer web pages on Canada.ca can help you understand the following:  pay rates  allowances healthcare information leave options  pension plans benefits You can also explore information about benefits, such as: education professional development relocation family support and more! Aspiring CAF members may be surprised to discover everything the CAF offers. For example, you may be eligible for a complete, no-cost post-secondary education upon joining. The CAF recognizes the unique contributions made by military members and their families. To help you save time finding the information you need, The CAF Offer will remain a comprehensive, up-to-date resource on policies, programs and practices designed to support members and their families.  Bookmark The CAF Offer on Canada.ca today!The CAF Offer: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/campaigns/the-caf-offer.html

SLt Pierre-Charles Rousseau Harvey — When you think ‘Navy’, do you think frigates, Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships and Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels? Don’t forget submarines and the logistics team who supports them! To celebrate the Royal Canadian Logistics Service’s 55th anniversary on Feb. 1, the logisticians [...]

DND — Defence science and technology, led by Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), is helping the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) understand, monitor, reduce and mitigate its impact on the marine environment during operations. DRDC is taking a multi-disciplinary, multi-pronged approach working with partners in industry, academia [...]

[caption id="attachment_31959" align="aligncenter" width="596"] 102-year-old Cdr (ret’d) Peter Chance pilots a Cessna 172 Skyhawk single engine aircraft on Feb. 13. Photo: Paul Seguna.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Centenarian Commander (Cdr) (ret’d) Peter Chance is on ‘cloud nine’ after piloting over of Vancouver Island last week. The 102-year-old Second World War veteran spent approximately 45 minutes at the controls of a Cessna 172 Skyhawk on Feb. 13. “The entire experience was absolutely superb and the most exciting thing that has happened in my life in quite some time,” said Chance. “My heart was racing with excitement and anticipation, before, during and afterwards.” His time at the plane’s controls was conducted under the watchful eye of pilot and flight instructor Cdr (ret’d) Darren Rich. A former naval engineer, Rich agreed to donate his time as a flying instructor for Chance. The Victoria Flying Club, stepped forward to donate the aircraft and fuel. At an altitude of 2,500 feet, their flight path took them over Salt Spring Island and the Stuart Channel. Chance got the opportuinity to practice common flying maneuvers after takeoff from Sidney International Airport, including turns, climbs, and descents, Rich said. “It was such an honour to do this flight and Peter was so energetic and having the time of his life,” said Rich. “I got him to autograph my flight logbook and the experience is one I will cherish forever.” Peter’s dream Chance, who lives in Sidney, previously enjoyed a 30-year career in the Royal Canadian Navy, which included service during the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous military campaign of the Second World War. During the war, Chance served in various warships, including HMCS Skeena, HMCS Seacliffe and HMCS Gatineau. These were anti-submarine warships used to attack German submarines. On his 102nd birthday in November 2022, Chance had mentioned to his long-time friend Lieutenant-Commander (ret’d) Paul Seguna that he had loved piloting planes during his days as a naval officer. Chance had previously flown a Tiger Moth as...

[caption id="attachment_31954" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Edmonton. Photo supplied.[/caption] MARPAC — His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Edmonton deployed on Feb. 13 from its home port of Esquimalt, British Columbia, to conduct drug interdiction on Operation Caribbe. “We continue to strengthen our international relationships and demonstrate Canada’s commitment to address security challenges in the Americas. HMCS Edmonton is proud to be a part of Operation Caribbe along with our partners nations to enhance regional peace and security,” said Lieutenant-Commander Tyler Smith, Commanding Officer, HMCS Edmonton, in a statement. Friends and family were present to send off Royal Canadian Navy sailors on Canada’s 17th year of contributing to Operation Caribbe – supporting U.S.-led Enhanced Counter-narcotics Operations. Along with Canada’s partner nations, HMCS Edmonton will help disrupt drug trafficking and organized crime in South and Central America. As part of Canada’s broader commitment to engagement in the Americas, Operation Caribbe is one of the many activities undertaken by the Government of Canada and the Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). This annual operation directly supports the CAF mission to defend against security threats and security challenges to Canada, North America, and defence and security partners. Operation Caribbe is Canada’s contribution to U.S.-led enhanced counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Under this operation, CAF ships and aircraft deploy to the region on a rotational basis to support the U.S. mission to suppress drug trafficking in international waters.

[caption id="attachment_31936" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Team members from Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton talk to visitors at their booth during the RCN hiring fair at HMCS Discovery.[/caption] Ashley Evans, Strategic Communications Officer, FMF CB/CS — A small Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMF CB) team climbed aboard the Swartz Bay Ferry on Feb. 5 to share the story and purpose of FMF at HMCS Discovery. Ryan Solomon, Group Manager 5 at FMF CB, said the event was a great success. “Some of our displays are a direct representation of the quality workmanship present within our facility,” he said. As a mixed civilian and military workforce supporting the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), FMF CB showcased a few unique talents within the facility. The FMF booth at the RCN Job Fair displayed a 3D printer and a virtual welding machine. The team was all smiles as they welcomed attendees throughout the day, passionate about sharing the FMF story while watching a few brave individuals attempt the FORCE test. “There was such positive feedback about our display, which we’ve worked hard on,” Solomon said. Sharing the diverse work of the FMF were Elaine Yan, Electrical Engineer; Sailor First Class Sero Deo, MarTech; Master Sailor Jose Villano, WEng; Ryan Solomon, Group Manager 5; and Jaden Prigione, Electronics Apprentice. All were thrilled to share their career journeys thus far. Also in attendance was the Naval Pacific Training Group, showcasing developments and advances in the training available to recruits. Thank you to everyone who made the day a success and shared their own FMF story with pride! BZ! [caption id="attachment_31939" align="aligncenter" width="595"] RCN CH-148 Cyclone on display for visitors of the RCN career fair at HMCS Discovery on Feb. 5[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_31932" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Captain Nathalie Butler[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The gruelling physical challenge of traversing the length of Vancouver Island over eight consecutive days seems daunting. Captain (Capt) Nathalie Butler is up to the task. A Dental Officer from the Naden Dental Clinic, Capt Butler is one of two new fleet-footed volunteers on this year’s eight-member WWRBC. “I knew I would be a good fit for the team, given my love of running and passion for giving back to the military community,” she said. The team of five will embark on a relay-style run along the Trans-Canada Highway from Feb. 26-March 5 and will cover more than 600 km between Port Hardy and Victoria. WWRBC is now in its tenth year. Capt Butler said the team’s mission is to raise public awareness of mental health and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), along with providing financial support for programs that benefit affected military members and first responders. “PTSD and mental health issues affect everyone, so increasing awareness about their profound effects on military members and their loved ones will increase support and encourage others to seek help when they need it,” she said, adding that her work at the Base Dental Clinic gave her a fair degree of insight into the profound effects PTSD and operational stress injuries have on her patients. Capt Butler took up distance running seven years ago, has competed in the local race circuit, and routinely runs 50-60 km per week. She is fully aware her next challenge is much more significant because it involves covering distances of up to 20 km per day for a string of eight consecutive days with little recovery time. “I have been told by other participants this relay is truly an inspirational and challenging experience and there is no other running event like this anywhere,” she said. Capt Butler is still determining what to expect regarding the physical demands of her task but is excited about the challenge. Equally...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Three Esquimalt Tritons teams crushed all competition on the ice and hardwood on the way to Canada West regional titles. The women’s and senior men’s hockey and men’s basketball teams went undefeated in Canada West regional competitions while earning berths in upcoming Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) National Championship tournaments. [...]

[caption id="attachment_31917" align="aligncenter" width="595"] This photo has been digitally altered for operational security. Royal Canadian Navy members of HMCS Yellowknife work alongside members of a United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) during a search of a seized panga during Operation Caribbe, March 6 2022. Photo: MARPAC Imaging Services, Canadian Armed Forces photo.[/caption] Kate Bandura, Lookout Editor — What measures should a Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel (MCDV) crew put up to deter a potential attack from pirates? This is the type of simulated operations seven Naval Reservists from Quebec trained in during a specialized course using the Naval Bridge Simulator at HMCS Venture last December. “This course is teaching potential Operations Officers (OpsO) to react fast to an evolving situation,” said Lieutenant (Navy) Titus Villegas, course director and lead instructor. “It refreshes the core skills of an OpsO, which will set the students up for success when they assume the position on ship.” Titled ‘Coastal Operations Planning – Part II’ (COPS II), the course is designed for prospective Operations Officers on the Kingston-class vessels and explores equipment such as sensors and radars used during coastal operations. It caters towards Naval Warfare Officers (NWO) in the Primary Reserves who already have significant time at sea. MCDVs go to the Caribbean Basin for drug interdiction operations. They support the navies in the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa and train them in anti-piracy, and conduct training in countering illegal activities in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea. The platform was originally designed for Naval Reserve Sailors. Lt(N) Villegas said about a decade ago the MCDVs were amalgamated into the Regular Force fleet; combined with the pandemic, the COPS courses lost visibility. Reserve trainees come to Esquimalt because many resources are not organic locally. “We needed simulators such as the one in HMCS...

[caption id="attachment_31913" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Detail of RCNVR pendant and necklace from the collection of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum.[/caption] Clare Sharpe, CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum — There are few more potent symbols of wartime love, separation and affection than so-called ‘sweetheart jewellery’. These keepsakes reminded the wearer of a relative or sweetheart who served in the military. Such tokens of love and like, in the form of personal jewellery and adornments, were made to be given as gifts to family members and romantic partners. The givers were often men serving in the military who wanted to offer a small but significant present to a woman they loved or admired. The hope was that the gift would remind the recipient of them and their role in the armed forces. Women such as those serving in the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS) also purchased and gifted sweetheart jewellery to those they cherished and admired. The giving and wearing of sweetheart jewellery symbolized respect for service and personal affection. Sweetheart jewellery took the form of pins, brooches, necklaces and pendants, rings, bracelets, watches and sometimes earrings. Designs incorporated the badges and symbols of many military branches and reflected the donor’s allegiances. Patriotic symbols such as the iconic Canadian maple leaf were also depicted. Jewellery of this kind was widely advertised during the Second World War; it represented a form of morale building. Another purpose was to bridge the emotional gap between loved ones separated by war. Because these items were small, easy to buy and cheap to mail, they became trendy. The jewellery was often mass-produced and could be ordered from catalogues or bought in stores. Other items were hand-made by specialty jewellers and artisans, or created by the person giving them. Even metal military badges were sometimes incorporated into...

[caption id="attachment_31906" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Commodore David Mazur, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific and Reviewing Officer, Commander (Cdr) Meghan Coates, incoming Commanding officer His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Vancouver, and Cdr Kevin Whiteside, outgoing Commanding Officer, participate in the ceremonial signing at the Change of Command Ceremony Feb. 3. Photo: Sailor First Class Kendric C.W. Grasby.[/caption] HMCS Vancouver looks ahead to a summer deployment with a new leader. Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Commander (Cdr) Meghan Coates assumed command of her second Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) warship in less than a year. “My most important lesson so far is that I can learn so much from the ship’s team every day, and if I show up for them when they need me, they show up for me when I need them,” Cdr Coates said. Cdr Coates bid a fond farewell to HMCS Regina on Feb. 2, relinquishing her command to Cdr Tyson Bergmann. The following day, she hoisted her pennant on HMCS Vancouver as Cdr Kevin Whiteside turned over command of the ship. He is now  preparing for his next posting in Esquimalt. Cdr Coates said her first experience as the CO of an RCN frigate was an exciting learning experience. “It takes a lot of work and sacrifice to become a CO or any appointed position; everyone looks to you and is counting on you,” she said. In his farewell message, Cdr Whiteside thanked the ship’s company and the entire Defence community for their support. “Vancouver is getting a fantastic Commanding Officer in my good friend Cdr Meghan Coates who comes with a wealth of experience,” Cdr Whiteside said. “I could not think of a better person and leader to take the ship through the next phases of its operational journey.” Cdr Whiteside has no doubt Vancouver will succeed in their 2023 program. The Change of Command for HMCS Regina is a new beginning for Cdr Bergmann: he now gets his first chance to command a major Canadian warship. He agreed...

[caption id="attachment_31851" align="aligncenter" width="595"] A view of Canadian Pacific Railway Steamship Terminal on Belleville Street in Victoria. The building currently houses the Bateman Gallery but will soon become the new home of the Maritime Museum of B.C.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The Maritime Museum of British Columbia and the Bateman Gallery await approval for their planned house swap. The museum, currently in a retail space on Douglas Street, is looking to double its floor space by moving to the Canadian Pacific Railway Steamship Terminal (CPRST) on Belleville Street. Jamie Webb, Maritime Museum President and the Senior Protocol Officer at Maritime Forces Pacific, said the CPRST is an ideal spot for his organization to boost its profile as a more prominent tourist destination. “As a maritime centre, we need to be on the ocean and we had our eyes on the steamship building for more than a decade,” Webb said. While the museum looks for a new home, most of its collection is stored at its archive building in Saanich. Webb said a home at the CPRST would finally give the museum a chance to show more of its artifacts. The archive contains approximately 35,000 objects, including model ships; military and naval uniforms; navigation instruments; and one of North America’s largest nautical libraries. The museum also boasts three historic sailboats, which it plans to dock on the water next to its new home. The Tilikum was converted from a whaling canoe to a three-mast schooner in 1901; the Dorothy, a 30-foot yacht built in 1897, is the oldest sailboat on Canada’s West Coast; and the Trekka, which launched into Victoria Harbour in 1954 and five years later became the smallest vessel to circumnavigate the globe. The museum, which began in 1955, previously occupied the Lookout Newspaper’s current home on Signal Hill until...

[caption id="attachment_31848" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Dr. Clement Ligoure[/caption] Rene Gannon and Ashley Evans — Over 100 years since the Halifax Explosion, we are still learning about the people who made an indelible difference to those affected by the tragedy. One of those people is Dr. Clement Ligoure, a Queen’s University School of Medicine graduate and Halifax’s first Black doctor. After the explosion, he treated hundreds of patients, some with devastating injuries, and all for free. Dr. Ligoure was born in Trinidad and emigrated to Canada by way of New York to study medicine at Queen’s University. He graduated in 1916, just two years before the school enacted a ban on Black students that would endure until the mid-1960s. He then moved to Halifax, hoping to join the war effort, but was refused entry into the Canadian Armed Forces. He decided to stay in Halifax but needed help to obtain hospital privileges, so he set up a private clinic, the Amanda Hospital, in his home on North Street, not far from where the Angus L. MacDonald Bridge is today. Reports filed in the Halifax Disaster Record Office recount that immediately after the explosion, Dr. Ligoure’s hospital filled with patients, some of whom had been turned away from the city hospital despite being severely injured. Under threat of a second explosion, he worked steadily, assisted only by his housekeeper and a Pullman porter who boarded with him. That night, seven people slept on his floor. As the disaster response continued, Dr. Ligoure worked around the clock for days to help people in his community, sometimes getting only one or two hours of sleep each night. Eventually, after he appealed for a dressing station to be set up in the area, two nurses and some military personnel were dispatched to help him; their work continued until Dec....

Scuttlebutt is a commonly used term with a naval origin. As far back as the 17th century, a scuttled butt was the term for a barrel that had been breached to provide a source of fresh water for the crew. Much like a modern water cooler, rumours and gossip were often shared, and these tidbits of information were referred to as scuttlebutt. [...]

[caption id="attachment_31841" align="alignnone" width="595"] HMCS Thiepval[/caption] Clare Sharpe, CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum — HMCS Thiepval, a steadfast trawler that once travelled 10,000 miles in search of old-fashioned adventure as a support vessel for an epic round-the-world flight attempt, is now a shipwreck of national historical significance and a trendy site for recreational divers. Thiepval was launched in Montreal, Que., in 1917 and named for the First World War battle of Thiepval Ridge, in which many Canadian troops fought and died. It was designed initially as a fishery patrol vessel for the Dominion Government of Canada but was later modified as a minesweeper before its first commission in the RCN. During its short wartime career, the ship guarded convoys and hunted for U-boats off Newfoundland in response to the increasing threat to merchant ships in the Atlantic from German submarine activity. In peacetime, Thiepval was transferred to Esquimalt, and served as part of RCN life-saving winter patrols along the treacherous west coast of Vancouver Island, the so-called ‘graveyard of the Pacific’. Thiepval was damaged by rocks, once near Prince Rupert and later in Gunboat Passage near Bella Bella. On another occasion, it rescued its sister trawler, HMCS Armentieres, that was stuck on a rock in Barkley Sound. Thiepval also took part in northern patrols off Prince Rupert and worked as a fishery inspection vessel, sometimes stopping and seizing American fishing boats that had ventured too far into Canadian waters. Another duty was to intercept American rum runners engaged in smuggling alcohol to U.S. markets. In 1921, Thiepval used one of its shipboard guns to fire a warning shot across the bow of the Sylph, a fast U.S. boat that took off after being caught loading liquor from a Canadian supplier while just south of the border with Alaska. Thiepval’s most incredible...

Stephen Vallis, MARLANT Security Officer — Social Media is widely popular with Canadians and people worldwide, including Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and employees. It is a powerful communications tool but is not without risk. Within generally well-understood limits, DND/CAF members and employees are entitled to use [...]

[caption id="attachment_31828" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Ordinary Cadet Brody Williams and Cadet Chief Petty Officer Second Class Shelby Pauls try their hands at the controls of a bridge simulator at HMCS Venture. Photos: Peter Mallett/Lookout[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The Alpha Bridge simulator at Naval Personnel and Training Group’s (NPTG) HMCS Venture enticed many ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from young cadets this past week. Cadet Chief Petty Officer Second Class (C/CPO2) Shelby Pauls from Powell River called her hands-on training with one of Venture’s six Bridge simulators ‘terrific’. “Learning how to navigate a ship from a bridge simulator was super cool,” she said. “It was all about learning from mistakes, training to be better and working as a team to overcome obstacles,” she said. Pauls is the Coxswain of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (RCSCC) 64 Malaspina. She is one of twenty-six cadets from RCSCC Malaspina and RCSCC 54 Admiral de Wolf who descended on CFB Esquimalt Jan. 31-Feb. 1 to get an up-close look at life in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). The cadets, ages 12 to 18, and five adult staff members from 64 Malaspina were housed at Work Point barracks for their stay. On Day One, the group visited the Damage Control Division and Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) in Colwood and toured HMCS Ottawa and the Orca-Class training vessel Moose of the Patrol Craft Training Unit. The program concluded with Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) rides at Naval Fleet School’s Seamanship Division in Naden. Danny O’Regan, Navigation Bridge Simulator Manager, introduced the school’s Alpha Bridge on the second day. He said this was an excellent opportunity to showcase the RCN to an audience that has already demonstrated an interest in the maritime environment. Pauls said the Bridge simulators at Venture piqued her interest in the RCN. She also said the tour was a valuable experience for her and the rest of the cadets. C/CPO2 Aidan Parkin is also considering a career in the RCN after the Base visit. “I...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The same factors that dented the efforts of all charitable fundraising across the country did not stop HMCS Vancouver from going above and beyond for the Base’s charitable initiative. The 240-strong crew raised almost $8,000 for the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign while deployed on Operations Projection and Neon. [...]

[caption id="attachment_31798" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Commissionaire Bob Cosman[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Bob Cosman is a familiar friendly face at the Y-Jetty security booth who checks IDs and gives motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians access to Dockyard. But upon closer inspection of his credentials, there is much more to Commissionaire Cosman than meets the eye. He works for the Commissionaires, a national security provider and the largest employer of Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP veterans, with 22,000 employers coast-to-coast. Cosman’s time in Canada’s military was limited. A successful student and member of the local militia in his hometown of Sussex, N.B., Cosman enrolled in Royal Military College (RMC) Saint-Jean in 1963 after winning a scholarship. He was a member of the RMC track-and-field team until a severe knee injury resulted in five weeks in the hospital and cut his military career short. He continued his university studies at the University of Ottawa before launching a 25-year career as a parliamentary legal specialist. His work spanned over a decade at the Saskatchewan Legislature and five years at Parliament Hill. A personal crisis followed his exit from Parliament Hill in the late 1990s, when Cosman found himself unemployed, experiencing homelessness and living out of his van on the streets of downtown Toronto. 1. What contributed to you being able to overcome your experience of homelessness? If it wasn’t for my parents sending me enough money each month to keep my vehicle licensed and my son, who travelled to Toronto to save me, I could still be experiencing homelessness. I relied on eating scraps from food court trays at Union Station for several months to survive. With the help of my family, things began to change. I eventually attended a job fair downtown, and my recovery began. Working for Commissionaires has given me a new lease...

[caption id="attachment_31793" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Image: Marian S. Carson collection at the Library of Congress[/caption] To be over a barrel means to be in a tricky situation or at a disadvantage compared to another person. The phrase is commonly used today and has two derivations related to the maritime environment. The first alludes to an old practice of reviving a drowning victim by placing the casualty over a barrel and rolling it back and forth to empty the lungs of water. While the act describes the term, it does not explain being at a disadvantage as much as the second explanation. That one describes a sailor draped over a cannon barrel and ready to receive punishment, also known as kissing (or marrying) the gunner’s daughter. It was not a happy event as the gunner’s daughter was a gun barrel, and the marriage ceremony was a flogging. In today’s navy, a sailor might also be referred to as kissing the gunner’s daughter when he prepares to undergo a service tribunal. When the accused was said to have a date with the Captain’s daughter, it meant the sailor would receive corporal punishment such as flogging, usually with a cat o’ nine tails – a short, nine-tailed whip kept by the bosun’s mate. Loose folklore states the ‘cat’ was held in a baize bag, which is a possible origin for the phrase ‘let the cat out of the bag’, although this has been widely refuted. The phrase ‘not enough room to swing a cat’ may also have been derived from flogging as it describes the desire to punish transgressors on the upper deck since there was not enough room to swing a cat below the decks. Today, flogging is a generic term for a variety of military punishments, as (thankfully) corporal punishment is now...

[caption id="attachment_31786" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Grade 11 student Naomi Morrell and her family recently launched a fundraiser to pay for Naomi’s expenses for her participation in the 2023 Junior Roller Derby World Cup.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Lacing up her roller skates and putting on a Team Canada jersey is a huge deal to Naomi Morrell. The 16-year-old is preparing to represent Canada at the 2023 Roller Derby Junior World Cup in France this July. “The idea of representing Canada hasn’t quite set in yet, it feels too big to hold in my head,” Naomi said. “I try to think of it like my dad’s role in the military; when he’s in uniform he’s part of something bigger, and he holds a feeling of belonging to something with greater purpose.” Naomi found out in December 2022 she had been named to Team Canada’s 35-player roster. Her parents are glad to see she will soon take to the world stage in the sport she loves. “We’re incredibly excited and proud of Naomi for her achievements and can’t wait to cheer her on at the World Cup,” said Cindy MacDougal, Naomi’s mother. Her father, Master Sailor (MS) Clayton Morrell, works as an Electrician for Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific). He said Naomi is a natural at the sport and is glad she is shooting for something big. [caption id="attachment_31787" align="aligncenter" width="250"] Naomi Morrell, Roller Girl[/caption] “She’s worked hard to get where she is and is working even harder to prepare for the World Cup,” MS Morrell said. Naomi began playing ‘derby’ five years ago after reading a graphic novel Roller Girl featuring the sport. Her on-the-rink nickname ‘Scream Soda’ also derives from the book. She explains the sport’s rules so frequently that she has a script for it. “Most assume I play banked track derby which is very different in its rules and far more dangerous,” she said. Roller Derby has existed as a sport since the 1930s. The version Naomi plays is not to...

Kateryna Bandura, Lookout Editor — Master Sailor (MS) Kate Gouthro loves listening to podcasts, but remembers saying she could never start a podcast because she is an introvert. Now, as a host of a women-centric podcast, she loves what she does. “I hope younger women who are struggling to find a career path might listen to these episodes and consider the Canadian Armed Forces or their country’s military as a career choice,” she says. “Maybe they will also get some training or mindset tips for certain difficult military courses.” Shoot Like A Girl is a podcast featuring interviews with military women from around the world who push their limits on and off duty. MS Gouthro says she wanted the name to feel strong and catchy. It derives from an anecdote about a little girl playing a sport. “The girl was playing baseball, or maybe basketball, and someone said ‘you hit like a girl’, and she said ‘if you practice hard enough, you can too’,” MS Gouthro says. “I wanted to remove the negativity of ‘like a girl’ because the women on my podcast do some very amazing things that many men can’t do.” The women MS Gouthro interviews work in military trades all over the world. She has interviewed Canadian women, American women, and even a woman from the Irish Naval Service. She hopes to speak with women who push themselves outside of work in other endeavours too, such as athletics or adventuring, and dive into the mindset and physical training required. “I think some women don’t get the credit they deserve sometimes, so I hope to bring awareness to their achievements,” she says. MS Gouthro was born and raised in Halifax, N.S. She joined the Navy in 2008 as a Port Inspection Diver and has worked at the Naval Tactical Operations...

LCdr Paul Pendergast, Naval Reserve, Public Affairs — The Naval Reserve will celebrate a big milestone in 2023, marking 100 years of service to Canada. There will be commemorative events and activities throughout the year, most of them conducted locally by Canada’s 24 Naval Reserve Divisions, located in most major cities nation-wide. Some events will also be national in scope. “It has been an honour to work on this project to commemorate the contributions of our sailors to Canada over the last 100 years,” said Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) Patty Bouthat, the centennial’s Project Coordinator. “From helping to win the Battle of the Atlantic in the Second World War to coming to the aid of Canadians during natural disasters, to deploying with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) across the full spectrum of its operations, naval reservists continue to have a lasting impact on our nation.” Twelve Reserve divisions will celebrate their own centennials this year with local celebrations. Canadians across the country will be able to watch some of the biggest events take place on Sept. 23, when 4,000 sailors will be on parade in 24 cities across the nation. The Naval Reserve 50th Anniversary Monument in Ottawa will be restored and rededicated, and Navy Bike Ride and Nova Scotia International Tattoo will both have a Naval Reserve Centennial theme. Ottawa’s Canadian Tulip Festival will highlight the sacrifice of naval reservists, known as citizen-sailors, from the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) who served in the Second World War. The beginnings of a Naval Reserve force in Canada were due largely to the efforts of one man, Rear-Admiral (RAdm) Walter Hose, a Royal Navy officer who transferred to the RCN. He had served with Royal Navy reservists from Newfoundland during the First World War and was impressed with their seamanship...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Members of the Esquimalt Tritons broke into song moments after clinching a berth in next month’s Men’s Hockey National Championship tournament. After accepting their winner’s medals, the players retreated to their locker room belting out their best rendition of Juno Award winner Carly Rae Jepsen’s hit song Call Me Maybe, said Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Curtis Gillies, Triton’s Assistant Captain and Team Manager. “The team was really excited to win and meet all our goals so overall there was a true sense of accomplishment,” PO1 Gillies said. “The locker room was electric and we had an excellent championship sing-along to cap things off.” The Tritons overcame a slow start in the Canada West Regionals competition on Jan. 15-20 at CFB Edmonton. The blue and gold overcame two losses in the round-robin phase with the sweet reward of a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory over the host team on Jan. 20. A/SLt Darcy McHugh scored the winning goal. He converted his wrist shot from the left face-off circle midway through the first sudden-death overtime period to give Esquimalt the tournament title. The Tritons also defeated CFB Winnipeg in their opening game before falling to Edmonton and Comox in the round-robin. They defeated Comox 8-3 in the tournament semi-final on Jan. 19. Master Corporal (MCpl) Colin Maclean was voted Most Valuable Player of the Championship game for Esquimalt and A/SLt McHugh for the entire tournament. Other standouts for Esquimalt included Sub-Lieutenant (SLt) Seamus Maguire and Sailor First Class (S1) Derek Cheetham. PO1 Gillies, who plays left wing for Esquimalt, said getting the most out of each player on their 20-person roster was crucial to the victory. “The key to our success in this tournament was from our depth as we could play every member on every line and through...

DND, Canadian Armed Forces — The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have confirmed that remains recovered in Vendin-le-Vieil, France, are those of Corporal Percy Howarth, a Canadian soldier of the First World War. The identity was confirmed through historical, genealogical, anthropological, archaeological and DNA analysis. [...]

From the Archives: Stories from the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum Clare Sharpe, CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum — One of the most prized possession in the belongings of ships’ ratings in years gone was the ditty box. A ‘ditty box’ (or bag) was a small, usually lockable receptacle every sailor made to store and protect treasures such as letters, photos, and mementoes of loved ones. In addition to holding personal memorabilia, keepsakes and souvenirs, it had practical articles such as sewing supplies and soap. These could also house specialized work tools of the sailor’s trade, such as a bosun’s call (whistle) or a fitting or accessory needed to complete routine shipboard tasks. The need for such an item likely arose due to the lack of personal space aboard ships, where living was essentially communal, and privacy was at a premium. A few theories float around about the name. Ditty bags and boxes date as far back as the 1600s, if not earlier, and were made of cotton known as ‘dittis’, thus the name ‘ditty box’. Another theory is from the word ‘ditto’ or ‘the same thing’ as a ditty box held two of everything – two sewing needles, two spools of thread, and so forth. Yet another possibility is that ‘ditto’ was short for either ‘commodity’ or ‘oddity’. Still, another suggestion is that ‘ditty’ has its roots in the ancient term ‘dight’, meaning to clean, repair or make good. Some containers were round, and others were square; some were plain, while some were decorated. Favourite motifs were diamond shapes, stars, names and initials. Some ditty boxes were embellished with coins, medals, anchors and other paraphernalia carved or burned into the wood, especially on the lid. Wood was the most common material, while whalers sometimes used baleen from the jaws...