News

Kateryna Bandura, Lookout Editor — The Western Region of the Naval Reserves (NAVRES) held a simulated training scenario of maritime drug interdiction operations for the first time ever. The Small Boat Exercise (SBEX) was held Nov. 19-20 in English Bay outside Vancouver. The exercise scenario followed the work performed in Operation Caribbe, a core operation that NAVRES sailors participate in several times annually in partnership with other nations. “The simulated training scenario provided our sailors with skills and training experiences that lend themselves to one of the flagship operations conducted by the Naval Reserve,” said Lieutenant (Navy) John Foster, NAVRES Western Region Public Affairs Officer. SBEX is a large-scale training exercise held two to four times per fiscal year. It sees sailors from all ranks and trades conduct simultaneous operations coordinated around a central exercise scenario with on and off-the-water components. “The purpose of this exercise was to provide real-life experience-based training and development for our sailors in a safe and secure learning environment, both on land and at sea,” Lt(N) Foster said. The training also enhanced the collaboration between the Navy and Army, as over 100 sailors and Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) members trained alongside the 39 and 41 Canadian Brigades. Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Matthew Luipasco, Recruiter at HMCS Tecumseh and the Exercise Coxswain, said exercises such as these greatly enhance the skills of Canadian sailors. “We can employ members in exciting real-world training while also offering them time to experience the world class city of Vancouver. The work-life balance of events like these are second to none,” he said. PO1 Luipasco said the exercise went well. “We could employ members in their specific occupations in a meaningful, real-world scenario that encompassed different layers of both operational and tactical planning and execution,” he said. The next SBEX will...

[caption id="attachment_31435" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Commander RCN (retired) Peter Chance cuts his birthday cake alongside Commander Mike Stefanson of HMCS Venture. Photo: LCdr Paul Seguna, RCN (retired) NAC-VI.[/caption] Paul Seguna, Naval Association of Canada – Vancouver Island — On Nov. 24, the Naval Association of Canada - Vancouver Island (NAC-VI) branch held its monthly luncheon meeting and celebrated the 102nd birthday of one of its members – Peter Chance, Commander (Cmdr) Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) (Ret’d), whose birthday fell coincidentally on that same day. Peter is a well-known and admired Battle of the Atlantic veteran who actively participates in naval affairs. During the event, Cmdr Mike Stefanson, Commanding Officer of HMCS Venture, addressed the audience on the newly established Naval Officer Training Group. Also during the event Commander RCN (Ret’d) Steve White, NAC-VI Branch President, presented Cmdr Stefanson with a kisbee ring from the previous namesake training organization.

[caption id="attachment_31429" align="aligncenter" width="595"] A Joint Command & Staff Program member experiences what it is like to spray a firehose off of the flag deck. Photo: Sub-Lieutenant Van Herpt.[/caption] Kateryna Bandura, Lookout Editor — HMCS Ottawa conducted a day sail on Dec. 5 as part of the Environmental Learning Week of the Joint Command & Staff Program (JCSP). The program hosts students who will advance into positions where they will make decisions impacting naval units and sailors. JCSP includes a week of Elemental Learning Visits where the students get exposure to a wide range of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) strategic capabilities. The day sail was the Royal Canadian Navy’s contribution to the program, intending to expose the students to the naval environment. “Normally, day sails target a civilian audience, and we really try and maximize the cool factor of what the Navy does,” said Sub-Lieutenant Jonathan Boerger, Bridge Watchkeeper in HMCS Ottawa and Second in Command for the day sail. “However, given that this day sail was targeted to JCSP students who all have a military background, we needed to refine our day sail program to go beyond the ‘cool factor’ and get into the strategic impact that the Halifax-class frigate and the Navy can generate.” HMCS Ottawa hosted 125 JCSP participants: 90 Canadian students, 17 Canadian staff, 12 domestic students, and six international students. International students come from as far as Jordan, Malaysia and Kenya. SLt Boerger said the day was a great success. “For a lot of the guests we embarked, it was actually their first experience at sea; and they all left with smiles at the end of the day,” he said. The ship’s crew conducted tours and static displays alongside, while action station demonstrations such as a maneuvering demo and inbound missile threat were conducted in Constance Bank. Subject Matter Experts stations included opportunities to learn about diving, the Naval Boarding Party (NBP), firefighting, missile decks, foc’sle (FX), and the Bridge and Operations Room. JCSP participants observed...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Hugs, kisses and heartfelt embraces were abundant on Dec. 5 when HMCS Vancouver and HMCS Winnipeg returned home to CFB Esquimalt from lengthy deployments. The two Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) frigates, with a crew of 470 members, departed from Esquimalt on June 14. Their 173-day deployment included participation in Operations Neon and Projection, and Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises, among others. Hundreds of family members and friends lined A-Jetty with homemade signs and banners, and waved to their loved ones aboard as the ships pulled into Esquimalt Harbour. First alongside in Dockyard was HMCS Winnipeg. Master Sailor (MS) Thomas McDavid, Navy Cook, was also first to cross the ship’s brow and deliver the traditional ceremonial First Kiss of the homecoming. MS McDavid was bestowed with the honour after winning a lottery aboard, which determined who would be the first off the ship to kiss their spouse. MS McDavid’s First Kiss was with his his high-school sweetheart, Colleen McDavid. As they kissed for the first time in nearly six months, a great cheer rose from the crowd gathered on the jetty. “It’s so exciting to be home and it feels a little bit like the honeymoon stage all over again,” said MS McDavid. “It’s so wonderful to not be on a ship and be able to walk wherever I want to go instead of being in one place all the time.” Sailor Second Class (S2) Nathaniel Bourke, HMCS Vancouver’s Naval Combat Information Officer (NCIOP), was selected for his ship’s First Kiss. “It was really a big surprise for me to find out I had been selected for the First Kiss on Dec. 2 as this was also my birthday,” said S2 Bourke. He delivered it to his girlfriend Shelby Cavill and also delighted in the experience with the crowds. Commander (Cdr) Annick Fortin, Winnipeg’s Commanding Officer, said she was equally enthused to be back in Esquimalt and reunited with her husband Nicholas. It was Cdr Fortin’s...

[caption id="attachment_31425" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Winnipeg conducts a Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with JSS Izumo off the port side during Operation Projection while sailing in the South China Sea on September 29, 2022.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer— Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) will ramp up its presence in the Indo-Pacific region in 2023. The Honorable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, and Vice-Admiral (V-Adm) Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), announced the RCN would deploy three frigates to the region next year. The Minister and Admiral were on hand at Duntze Head on Dec. 5 to officially welcome HMCS Vancouver and HMCS Winnipeg home. In a time-held RCN Admiral tradition, the pair saluted the two ships and their crews for a job well done as they sailed into Esquimalt Harbour and passed between the former naval battery and Fisgard Lighthouse. In her comments to media members at Duntze Head, Anand emphasized the importance of the deployment to the region. “We are very proud to have Canadian frigates in the region to participate in [military] exercises and operations with our partners and Allies as our goal in the region is to increase Canada’s presence and contribute to peace and stability,” Anand said. V-Adm Topshee said the announcement of a third annual mission to the Indo-Pacific region is a sign the RCN is ‘shifting the weight of its efforts’ in the region. As part of the shift, V-Adm Topshee said frigates of the Pacific Fleet would only participate in one NATO-led mission next year instead of the usual two. Anand emphasized the importance of maintaining a ‘free, open and inclusive’ Indo-Pacific. Because these are international waters, “there is no justification [for China] to use a visit as pretext for aggressive military activity,” she continued. The 180-kilometre Strait is part of the...

[caption id="attachment_31383" align="aligncenter" width="595"] As part of the Camber Dive, HMCS Corner Brook confirms the functionality of the systems in a dived state and returns alongside at Ogden Point (above).[/caption] Kateryna Bandura, Lookout Editor — HMCS Corner Brook, one of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) submarines, completed the well-anticipated Camber Dive in October. The trial marks a milestone in the next stage of its Tiered Readiness Program. “The dive tests are a major milestone as they mark the completion of all systems’ refit to dive the submarine successfully,” said James Charsley, Project Manager - Submarines from Babcock Canada (Babcock). The trials were held Oct. 18-20 by HMCS Corner Brook’s crew and Babcock, the main contractor for major RCN submarine refits and upgrades. It began with a ‘cold’ move of the Corner Brook to Ogden Point for dived trim and incline trials, followed by the Camber Dive to test its watertight integrity, sonar, and other key systems. “The Camber Dive portion gives the crew the opportunity, in a controlled environment, to do initial testing on an array of systems that can only be tested once the submarine is under water,” said Chief Petty Officer Second Class (CPO2) Nelson Harvey, National Submarine Search and Rescue (SUBSAR) Coordinator at Canadian Submarine Force (CANSUBFOR) HQ. Some of these systems are but are not limited to, the underwater telephones, escape systems, sonars, submerged signal ejectors, and high-pressure air systems required to surface the submarine. The tests at Ogden Point are the first step in getting the crew and the submarine ready for seagoing operations following the submarine’s extensive refit and upgrades, which began in 2011, CPO2 Harvey said. He said the mountain of work to get the submarine to this point is quite extensive. “Before the Camber Dive, the crew and the submarine undergo a lot of training, culminating in simulated sea time alongside known as a ‘Fast Cruise’. This training runs the crew through exercises such as floods, fire, electrical failures, and casualty extraction,” CPO2...

WO Samuel Breton, Western Detachment Warrant Officer, CFPU — For the last year, the Canadian Forces Postal Unit at CFB Esquimalt has been working with Fleet Mail Office (FMO) Victoria, the Canadian Fleet School (Pacific) and other stakeholders to enhance our service accessibility at CFB Esquimalt. We wanted to streamline deliveries, offer better service hours, and make our service available to a broader group of customers. Major (Maj) Johnston, Canadian Forces Postal Unit’s (CFPU) former Commanding Officer (CO), referred to us Posties as the ‘personal supply chain for soldiers’. This vision played a key role in the review of how we conduct business at the Base. With the support of Maj Weaver, our current CO, and the blessing of the Base Command and Base Chief, we could now deliver significant changes. We focused on providing better support for those we serve. With the transition to Retail Point of Sale (RPOS) 2.0, we relocated our retail office to Naden. We are now in the same building as the accommodations, dining facility and cafe, across the street from the Base Orderly Room and other admin services. Available parking and an adapted lift removed all accessibility challenges we previously faced. We are now meters away from our customers, offering a wide range of Canada Post services, postal box rental and general delivery. Our team also handles morale mail addressed to our deployed sailors, aviators and soldiers. Our office can now serve members of the public, Department of National Defence employees, military members and their families. This change will help us serve the Defence community better as we adapt to the growing popularity of e-commerce.

Mark Nelson — The term close up may refer to a flag hoisted to the full extent of a halyard, with the head of the flag touching the block; e.g., ‘Flag Romeo close up’ indicates a ship is ready to participate in a replenishment at sea (RAS). When a signal flag is not close up, it may be at the dip, meaning it is placed halfway up the flag hoist, indicating an action is about to occur; e.g., ‘Flag Romeo at the dip’ means the ship is preparing for replenishment at sea. The dip can also describe a person who is about to do something. For example, ‘Are you going for a run?’ Response, ‘I’m at the dip’. Close up might also be used as a verb in an order made via a pipe over the ship’s broadcast system or a verbal order, meaning for sailors to proceed to a place of duty, i.e., ‘Cable party, close up!’ Closed up can be used to describe a sailor performing a duty; i.e., ‘Bloggins is closed up on the helm’. The same term is used to describe a sailor who is competent, alert, and professionally deporting themselves; i.e. ‘Since his QL5 course, Bloggins is really closed up’. A similar term is switched on, which can be used to describe someone competent and alert. All about can also be used to describe a clever, snappy, and efficient sailor. Seamanlike is used to positively describe anything befitting a seaman (now referred to as sailor) or indicating competent seamanship, i.e. ‘Bloggins tied the bowline quickly, in a good seamanlike manner’. The United States Navy refers to a closed up sailor as ‘A.J. Squared-away’, a mythical sailor known to be perpetually well-organized. Squared away is a phrase used in most nautical contexts and indicates that a space...

Lt(N) Donald Den, HMCS Malahat PAO — Amongst the many headstones at Royal Oak Burial Park, one lone gravestone stands out in the corner of section O, plot 10. This is the final resting place of Commander (Cdr) Rowland Bourke, Victoria’s sole recipient (and one of only four in the Navy) of the Victoria Cross, the British Commonwealth’s highest military honour awarded to recognize bravery in action. Before all Remembrance Day ceremonies were held on Nov. 11, a small contingent of sailors from HMCS Malahat, Victoria’s Naval Reserve Division, gathered here to pay respects to the fallen war hero and fellow Naval Reservist. “We come here every year to recognize the contribution that Cdr Bourke made, and to honour one of our own,” said Cdr Cameron Miller, Malahat’s Commanding Officer, at the gravesite. “That contribution he made is even more meaningful when you consider he was there in the First World War, and went back again for the Second World War.” Born in England in 1885, Cdr Bourke emigrated to Nelson, B.C, in 1902. When the First World War broke out, he enlisted in the Canadian Forces but was rejected by all three arms of service because of his poor eyesight. Undaunted, Bourke travelled back to England at his own expense and was able to enlist in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, which did not consider his eyesight a concern. During operations in the Zeebrugge Raid in April 1918, Bourke commandeered a small boat to HMS Brilliant, which was under heavy fire, leading the rescue of 38 officers and enlisted men. Bourke was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for this heroism. Then in May, less than two months later, Bourke took command of another motor launch in the same operation following the retreat of HMS Vindictive during the same operation...

[caption id="attachment_31394" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Sub-Lieutenant (SLt) Cody Robertson (centre) discusses risk mitigation measures for an ORCA sail with Lieutenant (Navy) Titus Villegas (far left).[/caption] LCdr James Cantafio, NTD Cdr, NFS(Q) — Naval Fleet School Quebec (NFS(Q)) conducted the latest Coastal Operations Planning (COPS) course on Sept. 19-29, with a focus on effectively applying the Operational Planning Process (OPP) in the naval environment. WHAT IS COPS? COPS is essential for naval officers to conduct and support coastal operations and to plan effectively. It is part of the Naval Training Division (NTD) mandate to deliver operationally-focused and performance-based training. This recent session focused on the first of three courses. WHAT IS COPS I? COPS I applies the effective use of the OPP at the tactical or unit level for mission planning. Although OPP is often used at the strategic and operational level, it is a standard military tool that can be adapted to plan unit-level domestic exercises such as Diving Exercises (DIVEX) and ORCA-class vessel exercises or in response to Operation Lentus. Lieutenant (Navy) Titus Villegas, Course Director and Chief Instructor for COPS, said having COPS I provides potential for future Class A or B Reserve Service employment as a notable bonus. “COPS I exposes candidates to the operational side of our business and the risks we mitigate in order to conduct our operations,” he said. Lt(N) Villegas, a seasoned Reservist Naval Warfare Officer (NWO), said the COPS programme prepares candidates to perform their local function in Training or Operations Officer positions at their respective units. “The course also introduces the candidates to the resources and professional expertise within the Naval Reserve and at NFS(Q), who are more than happy to help them in their exercise planning,” he said. Depending on the time of the year and availability, the number of candidates on...

[caption id="attachment_31396" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photos: Chief Petty Officer Second Class Jean MaCusiselin, Cox’n[/caption] Lt(N)/ Robert Newton, Executive Officer, Naval Security Team — The Naval Security Team (NST) deployed to Halifax, N.S., from Oct. 22 to Nov. 4 to provide waterborne Force Protection for the US Nuclear Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and NATO Allies from Germany, Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands. NST deployed four Defender-class small boats to Halifax with 42 personnel to provide the vessel escort upon arrival and departure and around-the-clock on-water security for the duration of the visit to Halifax. NST primarily comprises Naval Reservists specializing in Harbour Defence and Force Protection roles. However, this deployment saw the integration of 26 brand-new Regular Force members that were awaiting training here in Esquimalt. These new members conducted six weeks of pre-deployment training, after which they obtained the basic NST qualification of Weapons Operator. On completion of pre-deployment training, NST deployed to Halifax to conduct in-area training five days before the arrival of the visiting ships. This training included the establishment of a Controlled Access Zone (CAZ), vessel interception, and Use-of-Force training. Many logistical requirements were needed to carry out the Operation successfully, and it was no easy task. Pre-deployment training with brand new sailors, shipping four boats, equipment, and personnel across Canada, and setting up an Operations Center with accommodations for 42 personnel in Halifax was just the beginning. With the support of Joint Task Force (Atlantic) (JTF(A)), CFB Halifax, Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) Public Affairs, and the hospitality of Naval Reserve Division HMCS Scotian, we were able to complete our mission successfully. As a busy port city, Halifax is called upon by some of the world’s largest shipping lines to connect Canada to more than 150 countries. It is also home to the East Coast fleet (MARLANT) and numerous cruise lines that bring tourists worldwide. That said, during these five days, space had to be made to park the Aircraft Carrier. It is anchored within the harbour...

[caption id="attachment_31406" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Lana Fine helped educate the audience in an interactive training seminar held at the Chief and PO’s Mess. Photo: Leslie Eaton, Lookout Staff.[/caption] Kateryna Bandura, Lookout Editor — To educate the Defence and surrounding community on opioid overdose identification, prevention, and treatment, MARPAC Health & Wellness Strategy (MHWS) held a Naloxone Training workshop at CFB Esquimalt as part of the National Addictions Awareness Week, Nov. 21 to 25. The Naloxone Training session was organized by the Addictions-Free Living Working Group of the MHWS and presented by AVI Health & Community Services. “We hope the training helped to facilitate open discussions around the topic of substance use and addictions to decrease the stigma associated with it,” said Andrea Lam, Health Promotion Specialist, PSP and the Health Promotion Representative for the Addictions-Free Living Working Group. During the workshop, more than 60 participants learned about the signs and symptoms of opioid overdose and how to differentiate between a stimulant and an opioid-induced overdose. Participants also learned how to administer Naloxone, a fast-acting, lifesaving drug used to temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose from substances such as fentanyl. Each participant received a Naloxone kit to take home. Lana Fine, a Health Promotion Educator with AVI Health & Community Services, and her team shed light on harm-reduction strategies and the severity of the opioid crisis, including the impact on Vancouver Island. She provided helpful and tangible information on how people can come together to help one another while sharing insight from outreach workers who work directly in the community with those impacted by substance use disorder. Lam said she was pleased with the turnout. “It shows people are making this a priority and are open to learning more and talking about substance use and addiction, and how it impacts our community,” she said. AVI Health & Community Services is a non-profit located on Vancouver Island with a mission to promote health, dignity, and well-being for all people affected by substance...

[caption id="attachment_31404" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Sailors First Class Kasra Helali and Will Bartlett replace a panel on the horizon bar. Photo: Sergeant Ghislain Cotton.[/caption] Kateryna Bandura, Lookout Editor — Have you ever wondered what kind of tasks the Combat Systems Engineering (CSE) department aboard HMCS Vancouver may perform while deployed? To start, the CSE team is responsible for almost all the equipment that distinguishes a warship from any other ship of similar size. They maintain the radars, weapon systems, sonar, missiles, and military communications equipment. “It’s a very broad range of equipment, which requires a broad range of skill sets,” said Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) Riley Monsour, Vancouver’s Combat Systems Engineering Officer. Recently, Vancouver’s CSEs conducted an investigation and disassembly maintenance of satellite communications, held within a dome structure. LCdr Monsour said the overall communication suite has several layers of redundancy to maintain internet connectivity. “If it is lost completely, we are able to use our HF Radio system to communicate via voice and send messages, similar to the pre-internet era,” he said. The dome was recently undergoing repairs due to a leak that caused salt water to get in; LCdr Monsour said even a small amount of salt will result in crystallization and could lead to grinding and could further result in many components needing replacement due to the impact it can have on antenna functions. The technicians took the system apart to identify the extent of the damage and to preserve the components that could be salvaged. During the maintenance, the Weapons Engineering Technicians – Communication Maintainers listen for the sound of grinding and make sure all antenna equipment is dry. If the antenna dome heater has collected condensation, desiccant packs need to be replaced and the breaker has to be reset. “Hopefully, we will never have to do it again,” LCdr...

[caption id="attachment_31402" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Families and friends gather to show their love at the Greater Victoria Shoreline on a previous operation. Photo: Captain Simon Wilson.[/caption] Kateryna Bandura, Lookout Editor — When children arrive at the jetties on Monday to meet their parents after six months apart, they are greeted by a variety of entertainment, courtesy of the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC). The MFRC has been an invaluable player in supporting military families. Lisa Church, MFRC Community Engagement Manager, said Monday’s homecoming of the two ships wouldn’t be an exception. “We planned to be alongside families to support them however they need. Sometimes that means holding babies while their parents greet their partners after so long away,” Church said. Families experience many comforts including hot chocolate, coffee, festive music, a baby changing area and washrooms. She said the MFRC team has been excited to be on the jetty offering a warm welcome to military families and celebrating homecoming together. Among the entertainment awaiting children are gift bags, colouring books, chalk, festive tattoos, and the mascot Radar, who happily sings and dances with the children “There’s nothing like seeing joyful reunion with families after so many months apart,” she said. HMCS Winnipeg and HMCS Vancouver enter the Esquimalt Harbour, passing Duntze Head on Monday, Dec. 5.

Jazmin Holdway, Marketing, Communications & Sponsorship Manager — To boost morale and increase fundraising while having some cold water fun, units at CFB Esquimalt are competing to throw the Base Commander into the Esquimalt Harbour on Dec. 13. Proudly presented by the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC) Team, the ‘Hutchinson Heave’ is a second-of-its-kind in a special base tradition.  Captain (Navy) J. Jeffrey Hutchinson, current Base Commander at CFB Esquimalt, is carrying on in the spirit of the ‘Topshee Toss’ in 2019, when then-Commodore Angus Topshee, Commander of the Canadian Fleet Pacific, offered units the opportunity to throw him into the water if they raised enough money for the campaign that year. “I challenge the MARPAC Defence Team to take the plunge and win the right to heave me in the harbour for this year’s NDWCC,” Capt(N) J. Jeffrey Hutchinson said. The Unit that fundraises the most money by Dec. 8 will heave Capt(N) J. Jeffrey Hutchinson into the harbour at the small boats jetty at Naden on Dec. 13 at 10:30 a.m. The second place Unit will have the opportunity to heave Matt Carlson, CFB Esquimalt NDWCC Team Leader and Projects Officer with Base Executive Services, into the harbour. The opportunity is open, however, if the winning Unit has a person who would willingly accept and volunteer to take his place, arrangements can be made. The third place Unit will receive a gift basket courtesy of Recyclistas Bike Shop. “The CFB Esquimalt campaign is about building awareness and is a reminder that we are stronger together,” Carlson said. “Our NDWCC provides Defence Team members with a direct line to donate via E-Pledge and numerous fundraising events on Base like the Hutchinson Heave and Bring your Dog to Work Day.” On Dec. 8, NDWCC is also hosting its second Bring your Dog to Work Day at CFB Esquimalt and Virtual Pet Photo Contest, allowing Base members to show off their favourite furry family members while continuing to raise money for...

[caption id="attachment_31356" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Chief Petty Officer First Class Stan Budden.[/caption] Kateryna Bandura, Lookout Editor — Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) Stan Budden, Chief Warrant Officers Corp, joined the primary reserves in 1993 as an infantryman with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. In 1996, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) as a Marine Engineer, which morphed into a Marine Technician in 2017. CPO1 Budden said he feels privileged and honoured to be given this role. “Culture change needs to remain the top priority as we build on the needs of the RCN, and I am in a unique position to influence this,” he said. “Naval Fleet School (Pacific) (NFS(P)) is an institution where the best and brightest shape the fleet, and I look forward to facing this challenge.”  1. What does this new role mean to you? Serving as the (NFS(P)) Chief Petty Officer (CPO) is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the RCN and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in a meaningful way. I am directly helping to promote the goals of Strong, Secured and Engaged in the RCN. Training plays a crucial role in reconstituting the current fleet. The training imparts the knowledge and skills that allow the next generation of sailors to serve professionally, safely, and confidently. With work, we can become the RCN Canadians want and deserve, facing challenges head-on. 2. Do you have a specific goal you wish to attain in your new position? I want to ensure everyone at the Fleet School, staff and students, feels supported. This can be explained with a word I learned from Lilo and Stitch, ‘Ohana’, which means ‘family’, but in a broader sense than most of us think. We are all family as RCN and CAF members. We need to look after each other and treat everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of background, experiences, or age, like we would with members of our primary families. My secondary goal is to promote a physically fit...

[caption id="attachment_31353" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Lieutenant (Navy) Tyson Babcock[/caption] Lt(N) Michelle Scott, HMCS Vancouver PAO — A career in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) was never on his radar, yet Lieutenant (Navy) Tyson Babcock now finds himself with 17 years of service under his belt. Lt(N) Babcock currently serves as an Operations Room Officer deployed aboard His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Vancouver. “It is hard to define a most memorable moment of my career because each step has been unique. Perhaps, the best part is seizing all the opportunities I never knew I would have,” Lt(N) Babcock said. With both grandfathers in the Army and the Air Force, he was intrigued by the notion of serving his country, but he never considered the Navy. Growing up in Kamloops, he decided to try out cadets and joined 204 Black Maria Air Cadet Squadron at 15 to see how he liked it. That led him to discover the Royal Military College (RMC) and the Regular Officer Training Plan (ROTP), which pays participants to earn their degree while obtaining an officer’s commission. He applied for ROTP for all Air Force trades in Grade 11 and was offered a position as a Naval Warfare Officer a few months before graduation. “I had no idea what they did, but after some research and great advice from my dad, I decided it fit what I was looking for,” he said. Throughout his career, Lt(N) Babcock has served in a variety of roles – from being a member of the RMC marching contingent sent to participate in the Nijmegen Marches commemorating the liberation of Holland during the Second World War, to a Junior Officer deploying for the first time with HMCS Regina, to the prestigious role of Executive Officer in HMCS Edmonton. “I got to share trips with some...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — An update to a permanent exhibit at the Juno Beach Centre will shine a brighter spotlight on today’s Canadian war veterans. Located in Normandy, France, the Juno Beach Centre is a popular tourist destination that pays tribute to the 14,000 Canadian Troops that landed there on June 6, 1944, a decisive moment of the Second World War. “This is more than just a D-Day museum,” said Marie Eve Vaillancourt, Juno Beach Centre Exhibitions Director. “It was the wish of the veterans who helped found the Juno Beach Centre that the museum focus on Canada’s history following the Second World War.” Vaillancourt said the Centre’s new Faces of Canada Today project is one way the museum is continuing to grow and why it remains a beacon of Canada’s presence on the beaches of Normandy. The Faces of Canada Today exhibit will re-open in spring 2024, and will provide an important update of those who have served in conflicts following the Second World War, including the Korean War, Afghanistan and United Nations Peace Keeping Missions, and NATO missions throughout the Cold War. This is the first major update for the exhibit in over 20 years, and will contain the first references to Canada’s role in Afghanistan, Vaillancourt noted. Vaillancourt said the centrepiece of the new Faces of Canada Today will feature personal stories and reflections of diverse Canadians and details the numerous peacekeeping missions in which the Canadian Armed Forces participated. The exhibit will include military families and their importance in mission success. It will also include a celebration of Canada’s historic relationship with France, particularly the strength of its friendship and alliance which remains strong today. Like the rest of the Juno Beach Centre, Faces of Canada Today will have a strong link to the Second World War, Vaillancourt said. The Juno Beach Centre’s Legacy of Honour film project will also be included in the new exhibit which interviews 12 Second World War veterans including Victoria’s 102-year-old...

[caption id="attachment_31345" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Participants of the Maritime Security Challenges 2022 conference. Front to back: Captain (Navy) (Retired) Kevin Carlé (NAC VI); Rear-Admiral (Retired) Jennifer Bennett (NLC); Major (Retired) Scott Usborne (RUSI VI President); and Lieutenant-Commander (Retired) Paul Seguna (RUSI VI Vice President).[/caption] Paul Seguna, VI Vice President, Royal United Services Institute — Representatives from the Navy League of Canada (NLC), Naval Association of Canada (NAC) and Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Vancouver Island (VI) branches attended the recent Maritime Security Challenges 2022 (MSC 22) – Pacific Seapower: Strategic Competition in the Indo-Pacific conference held in Victoria, B.C., Nov. 14-16. The conference was attended by senior representatives from the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and allied navies, government and academic maritime security, marine industrial and environmental experts, along with a wide range of Indo-Pacific based interested parties. The conference addressed the full scope of maritime security issues in the Indo-Pacific region, including challenges to freedom of navigation, the importance of regional maritime trade to the global economy, and impacts of climate change. The MSC series of biennial conferences have been held since 2005 with the aim of providing a venue for discussion on issues of common concern, the exchange of shared experiences, and potential solutions to the challenges presented to participating nations in the region. MSC 22 hosts included the RCN, Navy League of Canada, and the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. Commander RCN Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee and Commander MARPAC Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson were amongst several RCN keynote participants.

Mark Nelson — An entire category of nautical vocabulary is dedicated to keeping a ship in safe waters, not aground or on the rocks. Resting upon or touching the sea bottom is referred to as a grounding, which is one of the worst outcomes for a ship, sometimes leaving a vessel high and dry until the tide comes in or unable to continue. Touch and go describes a minor grounding, where the ship can continue its progress. Intentional grounding may be referred to as beaching, so a vessel may load and unload (as with a landing craft) or possibly prevent a badly damaged vessel from sinking. When a ship enters coastal waters, the Officer of the Watch needs to pay attention to the aids to navigation that is specifically intended to assist in determining a vessel’s position or safe course or to warn of dangers. Buoys are used to mark navigable channels, hazards to shipping, and anchorages. In Canada, we pronounce ‘boy’ and not the American ‘boo-ee’. When travelling up a channel, Port hand buoys are coloured green, marked with odd numbers, and should be kept on the port side. Starboard hand buoys are coloured red, marked with even numbers, and should be kept on the starboard side. A bifurcation buoy marks the division of a channel. Fairway buoys indicate safe water. Cardinal buoys indicate the safest water using the cardinal points of a compass (north, south, east and west). Some buoys are distinctly shaped for visual identification, such as a square-shaped can buoy or a cone-shaped nun buoy, resembling a nun’s habit. Light buoys display light to be visible at night. Bell buoys are designed to be heard when visibility is diminished and include a bell with hammers that clang with wave action. Most buoys have a radar reflector;...

[caption id="attachment_31337" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Sailor First Class Alexandra Madsen opens a care package she received from home for her birthday.[/caption] Kateryna Bandura, Lookout Editor — From a child’s drawing to a bag of candy, morale mail brings a part of home to all the deployed sailors. As HMCS Vancouver and Winnipeg navigate the Pacific on their six-month deployment, the blue mail bags always ignite smiles around the ship. “We don’t always realize the power of receiving a note, card, or package that someone took the time to put together for you specifically,” said Lieutenant (Navy) Michelle Scott, Vancouver’s Public Affairs Officer. “It can really turn around someone’s day or even week on ship.” Fleet Mail Office Victoria is one of two Canadian Forces Postal Unit offices dedicated to supporting deployed Royal Canadian Navy ships. To date, the office has sent 238 bags of mail weighing 2.5 tons (2,577 kilograms) to both ships. The Posties, as they are affectionately called, have proudly served deployed Canadian Armed Forces members by ensuring packages are sent and received properly by deployed units. On ship, this task is handled by the meteorological technicians (met tech) on board, who receive and send mail back to the postal units ashore for further processing. Sergeant (Sgt) Victoria Rogers, a met tech in HMCS Winnipeg, said delivering mail is a lot of work but one she absolutely enjoys. “I’ve seen sailors laugh and cry as they opened their packages,” she said. “Some packages are decorated by little kids with stickers and drawings and some are decorated with themes for each one.” While everyone’s mail is different, some things generally stay consistent. “There are always candy and treats getting pulled out and passed around, little toys or stuffies the little ones pop in the box before it’s secured with tape, and notes and pictures from loved ones back home,” Sgt Rogers said. But some sailors truly make the most of morale mail. “Snacks and food items are one thing,” Lt(N) Scott...

[caption id="attachment_31332" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Graduates of HMCS Venture’s General Military Training Instruction (GMTI) course gather for a graduation photo at the Collier Building, Nov. 10. Photo: Corporal Tristan Walach / MARPAC Imaging.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The new training facility at CFB Esquimalt is already proving itself as a critical benefit to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). As a result of HMCS Venture’s new mandate, 18 successful candidates graduated from the General Military Trainer Instruction (GMTI) course on Nov. 10. The course is typically delivered at Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruitment School (CFLRS) in Saint-Jean-sure-Richelieu, Que. “The General Military Trainer Instruction (GMTI) course is instruction and training for our people on how to deliver one of our assigned courses, the Basic Military Qualification,” said Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) Angus Fedoruk, HMCS Venture Division Commander. “This is one of the first ways the new Venture is proving what it can do under its new mandate.” GMTI was championed and organized by Chief Petty Officer Second Class (CPO2) Luc Poirer-Potvin, key member of leadership instruction at HMCS Venture and former instructor at CFLRS. It prepares NCMs and Junior Officers to instruct Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) and Primary Leadership Qualification (PLQ) courses. The new training course will help address CAF personnel shortages, which aligns with CAF Reconstitution efforts currently underway at the instruction of General Wayne Eyre, Chief of Defence Staff. HMCS Venture’s training mandate expanded and now includes Naval Warfare Officer, Naval Technical Officer, Second Language Training, and RCN leadership training that includes Officer and NCM courses. A reorganization in the Naval training system created HMCS Venture out of the Naval Training Development Centre (Pacific) and elements of the Naval Fleet School (Pacific). The fresh cohort of graduates learned skills such as instructing drill lessons, including demonstrating the ideal sequence, inspecting personal kits, preparing...

[caption id="attachment_31326" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Left to right: Acting Sub-Lieutenant Cusack, Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Tremblett, Petty Officer First Class Szeto, PO2 Smith, Lieutenant-Commander Vanderveer, Lieutenant (Navy) Lingard, Sailor First Class Couckuyt . Back left to right: Sailor Second Class (S2) Chaudhry, Sailor First Class (S1) Peters, S2 Champagne-Rochard, S2 Ladouceur-Lauermeier.[/caption] S1 Nicholas Couckuyt, HMCS Saskatoon NCIO On Nov. 11, a group of sailors, including myself, represented HMCS Nanaimo and visited our namesake city to participate in the local activities for Remembrance Day. Our first stop was Royal Canadian Legion Branch 256 to participate in the Remembrance Day ceremony. Our crew paid respects by laying a wreath and visiting with veterans and Legion members. The ceremony included a local boy singing a stirring version of Garth Brooks’ ‘Belleau Wood’, a song about the Christmas Truce of 1914. The Legion members were proud to show off the murals which adorn almost the entire outside of their building, including an image of our ship, HMCS Nanaimo. Legion Branch 256 treated us to lunch while sharing stories from their careers. The crew also attended a ceremony at the Nanaimo Dallas Square Cenotaph. While meaningful and dignified, the ceremony showed a great sense of community in the City of Nanaimo. The Air and Sea Cadets enthusiastically escorted each dignitary to lay their wreaths. Others distributed poppies and brochures to attendees. The ceremony was capped by a gun salute courtesy of the 5th Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery. Lieutenant Commander Mike Vanderveer, our Commanding Officer, presided as the Reviewing Officer of the parade. The ceremony was made extra special with the presence of Victor Osbourne, a Second World War Navy veteran, who was celebrating his 104th birthday. The crowd at the Cenotaph sang a cheerful ‘Happy Birthday’ to Mr. Osbourne and thanked him for his service. Following the ceremony at the Nanaimo Cenotaph, the crew gathered at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 10 to socialize with more community members, including Mayor Leonard Krog, and Lisa Marie Barron,...

[caption id="attachment_31320" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Guests interact with HMCS Ottawa sailors and subject matter experts while the ship docked in North Vancouver at the end of October. Photo supplied.[/caption] Kateryna Bandura, Lookout Editor — Approximately 500 guests visited HMCS Ottawa while the Halifax-class frigate docked in North Vancouver at the end of October. Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) Justin Simmons, Executive Officer with HMCS Ottawa, said the ship was in North Vancouver as part of the Achieve Anything Foundation’s ‘This is You’ program with The Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. “The guests were very gracious for the opportunity to tour our ship, and they asked many inquisitive questions, which the ship’s crew were more than happy to answer,” LCdr Simmons said. The guests toured the upper decks and the bridge, and interacted with several static displays of various sailors and their trades. Subject matter experts of various trades on board the ship showcased what they do best. “Our subject matter experts comprised of divers, boarding party members, helicopter crash rescue firefighters, machinery control room watch keepers, medical technicians, naval weapons engineers and bridge watch keepers – so, essentially, all trades on board,” LCdr Simmons said. LCdr Simmons said HMCS Ottawa had 20 students embarked as part of their at-sea Naval Engineering Indoctrination (NEI) course, where they learn all aspects of the ship. Ottawa’s NEI students were responsible for acting as tour guides, ensuring guests were taken to the areas where demonstrations were taking place. The guided tours took the guests through several working and living spaces throughout the ship, including Sickbay, the operations room, the machinery control room, and the messes. “The guests seemed especially interested in seeing some of the more interactive displays,” LCdr Simmons said, “such as the one with the boarding party where they got to hold the guns, or the rescue firefighters who cut a steel pipe in half with a tool.” Ottawa is nearing the end of its trial’s sail in which the crew is testing the proficiency...

[caption id="attachment_31316" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Lieutenant-Commander Anne Gardam, HMCS Malahat’s Executive Officer, keeps a watchful eye on junior members of HMCS Malahat taking part in NABs simulation training at CFB Esquimalt on Nov. 10.[/caption] Lt(N) Donald Den, HMCS Malahat PAO — During the evening of Nov. 10, members of Victoria’s Naval Reserve Division (NRD) HMCS Malahat, including several Naval Warfare Officers (NWOs), Naval Communicators (NavComms), and Naval Combat Information Operators (NCIOps), took part in virtual ship training at CFB Esquimalt. The Naval Officer Training Centre’s Navigation and Bridge Simulator, or ‘NABS’ for short, is a series of virtual training platforms at the Base that accurately replicate the displays and visuals of a bridge on a Royal Canadian Navy ship at sea. Linked to a separate control room running the simulation, ‘bridges’ can conduct navigation, contact avoidance, communications, and other tasks as if they were at sea. Along with all the proper equipment on the bridge with the appropriate scaled space and seating, the NABS offers a 360-degree realistic field of view, using multiple monitors to simulate an ‘at-sea’ environment. NABS also uses a high-accuracy virtual environment, simulating real-world locations, including realistic land masses, sea depths, and even the type and class of vessel a sailor would likely encounter in that location. Using this customized programming, Malahat members can work on skills in a controlled environment so they are better positioned when out at sea. “Having the simulator is invaluable to maintaining skills that quickly fade while ashore,” notes Lt(N) David Marrack, Deputy Operations Officer. “It is a huge resource for Malahat as an NRD with personnel who may not have the time to dedicate to prolonged refresher sails.” Beginning with basic refresher training on contact avoidance and navigation, the two Malahat bridge teams worked on conducting Officer of the Watch Maneuvers in...

On the rainy Wednesday morning of Nov. 2 Chief Petty Officer First Class Matt Goodwin briefs the participants in the Bring Your Kids to Work Day activities outside the CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum. The rain didn’t dissuade over 75 participants in showing up for the program of activities at CFB Esquimalt starting with a tour of the museum. [...]

Peter Malett, Staff Writer — Glass fragments from the Second World War illuminate residents at Veterans Memorial Lodge with a glowing light. The series of ten stained glass windows at the Broadmead Care long-term care home incorporates fragments from London’s Westminster Abbey, bombed in the final days of the Battle of Britain in May 1941, Dorset Highcliffe Castle, and the Abbey of Saint-Étienne in Normandy, France. “Our Second World War veterans can still remember that time,” said Chaplain Francis Welch, Coordinator of Spiritual Care at Broadmead Care. Chaplain Welch said the artwork’s origin intrigues most residents. “To them, this artwork is very real because it is made from actual buildings they may have seen or walked in,” Chaplain Welch said. He said residents are fascinated that remnants of destruction and the madness of war can create joy and hope. Five of the stained glass windows honour different branches of the military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Merchant Marine and Women’s Services. Another window is dedicated to the province of British Columbia. Carson Sage, Veterans Memorial Lodge Manager of Volunteer Services and Innovative Activation, said the stained glass windows not only make for great talking points for visitors but also provide some therapeutic value for residents with dementia. “The idea behind the windows and the stories they tell is to stimulate the long-term memories of people with dementia, since they often have a loss of short-term memory,” he said. Sage is working on a project on each pane of stained glass, which will describe the artwork contained and its historical or military significance. Last summer, the staff made a presentation about the history of stained glass, initially inspired by the desire of Second World War veterans for world peace. The artwork was commissioned in 1956 by famed glass maker Goddard and Gibb of London, England, and dedicated on the site of Victoria’s Memorial Pavilion at Royal Jubilee hospital. When the pavilion closed its doors, the contents of the chapel and its...

Andrea Lam, Health Promotion Specialist, PSP — Adapted from Overcoming Stigma Through Language primer by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction This year, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) National Addictions Awareness Week is from November 20 – 26. The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘A Community of Caring’, which focuses on how collaborating as a community makes change happen. The Addictions-Free Living Working Group of the Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) Health & Wellness Strategy is creating a culture that encourages healthy lifestyle choices. The group hopes their efforts will reduce the risk of problems with alcohol, cannabis, gambling and other potentially harmful substances and behaviours. According to the 2018 MARPAC Health & Wellness Strategy Evaluation Report Card results, the two priorities for addictions-free living were: Continued work on reducing stigma around substance use and addiction; Continued education and resources about addictions and substance use. The Addictions-Free Living Working Group encourages Defence Team members to visit the CCSA National Addictions Awareness Week website (https://www.ccsa.ca/national-addictions-awareness-week) for more information, and to seek support with substance abuse. Reducing Stigma: #WordsMatter Language around substance use disorder often creates feelings of shame and fortifies the stigma associated with it. Stigmatized language can lead to behaviours that isolate people who use substances. This stigma discourages people from seeking help for fear of being labeled as an ‘addict’. It can also impact the quality of healthcare services they are provided and influence the allocation of government resources towards treatment initiatives. We can address this stigma by shifting to person-focused language that acknowledges someone as a person before describing their personal attributes or health conditions. This language will also acknowledge users are struggling with a health condition and shift away from shaming them.   NAAW 2022 Event Naloxone Training presented by AVI Health & Community Services When: Nov. 23 @ 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Where: C&PO’s Rainbow Room (in-person) What: Learn the signs of an opioid overdose, how to administer Naloxone, and...

Mark Nelson — Every sailor needs a comfortable place to sleep to maintain their peak efficiency, but more importantly, to preserve the twinkle inherent in their eyes. Sailors sleep in a mess, sometimes referred to as a mess deck. A mess is a space filled with bunks, often called racks. The rack owner might refer to their happy resting place as their pit, i.e., ‘I am heading to my pit for the night’. Pit is an appropriate term for a bed that bows down in the center and keeps a tired body steady while the ship rocks. Cart is another nickname for a bunk, derived from a mid-19 century military name for a bed. Someone who spends an inordinate time in their rack might be referred to as a rack monster or pit monster, i.e., ‘Bloggins, the pit monster, will catch some zees anytime he sees his cart’. Zees is used to describe good sleep. ZizEX might describe a decent nap session, making an off-hand reference to snoring. Before the introduction of bunks fitted in the St. Laurent-class destroyers (launched in the 1950s-60s), mess decks were outfitted with mick bars (short for ‘hammock’), which were notched metal bars mounted strategically on the bulkhead and deckhead. These bars provided strong points where hammocks could be affixed. During quiet hours, sailors would snore away, swinging their micks in unison with the ship’s rolling. In the morning, the pipe ‘Lash up and Stow’ would indicate it was time to put the hammocks aside for the daily routine. A hammock consisted of a six-foot canvas with grommets at both ends for securing the clews and a thin mattress inside for extra warmth and comfort. The clews consisted of two lanyards, each spliced to a metal ring, and each ring carrying eight nettles connected to...

[caption id="attachment_31290" align="aligncenter" width="596"] From left, Lieutenant-Commander Andrew Foran, Captain (Navy) Sheldon Gillis, and Commander Daniel Rice sign the paperwork making HMCS Goose Bay’s Change of Command official on Oct. 13. Photo supplied.[/caption] Joanie Veitch, Trident Staff — When Commander (Cdr) Daniel Rice took the helm of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Goose Bay in March 2019, he didn’t expect to be in command of the vessel for the next three-and-a-half years – 1,309 days to be exact. Speaking to the ship’s company and other guests at his outgoing Change of Command ceremony – held at HMC Dockyard Halifax on Oct. 13 – Cdr Rice listed some of the more memorable moments from his time as captain, including that strange time in March 2020, when COVID-19 pandemic restrictions scrubbed scheduled missions off the calendar entirely.  “In its place were a dispersed group of sailors working from home, and what an interesting period that was,” he said. “A boatload of force generation sailors, almost entirely within sight of Chebucto Head for nearly a year. An increasingly fatigued crew, who gave much of their time and energy preparing for missions that never came to fruition, and a culture change crisis that continues to grip the Canadian Armed Forces.” Since restrictions began to ease, however, the ship and its crew have been going non-stop, with taskings that took them to ports in Northern Canada on two different iterations of Operation Nanook, West Africa on Operation Projection, and helping out with hurricane relief efforts in Newfoundland and Labrador after post-tropical storm Fiona devastated the Atlantic region. “During these past 43 months, we spent some 370 days underway and steamed 60,000 nautical miles. That’s a long time to get to know your shipmates, to watch them grow, as sailors and officers, and to celebrate their accomplishments,” Cdr...