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Lookout staff  — More than two dozen people gathered at the Maritime Discovery Centre Pier in Alberni Inlet to watch HMCS Ottawa arrive at Berth 3 of the Port Alberni Terminals on Aug. 12. “Ottawa’s visit to Port Alberni was significant given it has been many years since the last time a major warship was alongside,” said Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) Steve Sheffar, Coxswain of HMCS Ottawa. The Harbour Chieftain fireboat and Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Station 39 vessel greeted the ship with a water salute while tugs from Pacific Towing Services Ltd. helped guide the ship to the wharf. A large delegation from the Tseshaht First Nation greeted the ship’s crew with drumming and song. Commander Sam Patchell, the ship’s Captain, then exchanged gifts with the elected Chief Councillor Ken (Wahmeesh) Watts. HMCS Ottawa offered ship tours to the public the following day. Visitors chatted with the ship’s crew about their roles onboard, including representatives from the Boarding Party, Dive Team, and Marine Technicians. They also checked out different stations on the ship, including the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter on board. A team from Canadian Armed Forces Recruiting was on-site to provide information about enrolling in the Royal Canadian Navy. “The ship’s company was welcomed by the community and enjoyed all that was offered while also having the opportunity to do some work, welcoming visitors onboard, and cleaning up parks and grounds around the town,” CPO1 Sheffar said. Crew members worked on community service projects around the Alberni Valley and visited Royal Canadian Legion Branch 293 to converse with branch members and play pool. The ship departed the Port Alberni berth Monday morning.

Meet on September 27th for the RCN Mentorship and PD Session #4 Topic Mentor-Protégé vs Coaching with Commander Lucille Boettger to ask questions and learn more. Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) sailors from Regular and Reserve Force at all ranks and civilian employees at all levels are invited to the next session of the RCN’s Mentorship Program. The next group session: Date: Tuesday, September 27, Noon to 1:30 p.m. EST Location: Microsoft Teams, contact CPO1 Tara White (P-OTG.RCNMentorPD@intern.mil.ca) The program is also open to all Canadian Armed Forces personnel and all Department of National Defence civilian employees and if you can’t make it, don’t worry the recordings can be found on the SharePoint page. These sessions will be available to all on Microsoft Teams and everyone is encouraged to actively participate, share their insights and ask questions. For more information, visit the Mentorship Program’s intranet page. Le mentorat et l’encadrement vous intéressent? Consultez le 27 septembre à la séance de mentorat et de PP no 4 de la MRC sur le thème Mentor-Protégé contre Encadrement avec le Capf Lucille Boettger pour poser des questions et en savoir plus. Les marins de la Marine royale canadienne (MRC) Force régulière et Réserve de tous les grades et les employés civils de tous les niveaux sont invités à la prochaine séance du Programme de mentorat de la MRC. Vous êtes invité à assister à la prochaine séance de groupe : Date : Mardi 27 septembre, Midi à 13 h 30 (heure de l’Est) Lieu : Microsoft Teams via CPO1 Tara White (P-OTG.RCNMentorPD@intern.mil.ca) Le programme est également ouvert à tout le personnel des Forces armées canadiennes et à tous les employés civils du ministère de la Défense nationale. Si vous ne pouvez pas venir, ne vous inquiétez pas, les enregistrements sont offerts à la page SharePoint. Ces séances seront accessibles à tous sur Microsoft Teams et tout le monde...

[caption id="attachment_30735" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Team Commander – Glenn Cooper.[/caption] SLt Wilson Ho, MUSAR Team — The CFB Esquimalt’s Medium Urban Search and Rescue (MUSAR) Team completed its monthly training throughout the last week of August at the Emergency Response Training Operations Centre, formerly known as the USAR Training Compound, near the Naval Officer Training Centre (NOTC) Venture. This month, the team maintained proficiency on the DELSAR Urban Search and Rescue kit, a seismic/acoustic listening device used to detect and locate trapped victims. The team also used the SearchCam 3000, an articulating, extendable, waterproof search and rescue camera to help searchers locate victims trapped in collapsed buildings and spaces. Preparations were made for the Base Disaster Response courses scheduled to run from Sept. 12 to 30 in preparation for Shake-Out British Columbia, which is occurring in late October. In addition to training, the team is starting a segment to feature members of the CFB Esquimalt MUSAR team to highlight their experiences and technical expertise. This month, we sat down with Glenn Cooper, the Team Commander of CFB Esquimalt’s MUSAR team. What are your main responsibilities as the Team Commander? As the only full-time employed member of CFB Esquimalt’s MUSAR Team, my primary responsibility is to ensure the Team is properly trained and well-equipped to respond to any emergencies as directed by the Base Commander or the Joint Task Force (Pacific) (JTF(P)) Commander. How long have you been on the team? I’ve been a part of the MUSAR team since 2001. I’ve worked in all positions, including Rescue Squad, Rescue Team Leader, and Operations Chief. I was promoted to the role of Team Commander in 2008. How long have you been working/part of the Defence Team? I’ve been working with Department of National Defence since January 1989. Where did you learn the technical...

Mark Nelson, Contributor Gaiters are traditionally white or khaki leggings, worn to wrap around the ankle and fasten with buckles. The name is derived from the French guêtre, traditionally translated as ‘a leather cover for the ankle’. Gaiters were once worn as a normal accoutrement to the square-rigged uniform. Today, they are most often worn with a web belt by ceremonial guard or brow staff members. Sometimes sailors refer to gaiters as war spats, but webbing is used as the collective term for gaiters and a web belt, a pairing that is showy but marginally functional. The term all gate and gaiters can be used to describe someone, or something, that is all show and lacking genuine substance, i.e., ‘That new ship announcement was all gate and gaiters’. In this way, gate means big talk, bragging, or even mouthing off, i.e., ‘Bloggins was gating off at the Boatswains’. In the same vein, gate can be used to refer to the mouth, as in, ‘Shut your gate’. To thousands of Naval Reservists, the word Gate has only one meaning… as a nickname for their former training vessels. More formally known as the Porte Class, operating from the early 1950s to the 1990s, gate vessels were originally built to open and close submarine gates. They were later converted to function as training vessels. Their sailors happily referred to them as pig boats, probably derived from the clumsiness of the short-hulled single-screw vessels. An unofficial badge suggested the acronym, ‘Pride, Integrity, Guts’. To sailors, a pig can be a figure of reverence and might appear in places other than the breakfast table. HMCS Winnipeg is fondly referred to as Winter Pig. The recently paid-off Iroquois-class destroyers, also known as the 280 class, were often referred to as war pigs because of their age, size,...

[caption id="attachment_30729" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Participants in an intramural touch football game from HMCS Calgary and other Base units gather for a group shot on Aug. 17 at the Colville Rd. Sports fields. HMCS Calgary’s team won the game and will move on to compete in the Commodore’s Cup football game versus 442 Squadron from CFB Comox. Photo: PSP[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Military members on Vancouver Island will get the chance to partake in a new sporting tradition. The first ever Commodore’s Cup flag football game will see Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) take on 442 Squadron in Comox on Oct. 14 at the Colville Road sports field. Commodore (Cmdre) David Mazur said the competition is named in honour of current and past Commanders of Canadian Fleet Pacific (CANFLTPAC). “The new competition stems from a conversation with the Fleet Chief about creating an event with some fitness and fun, and forging new sports rivalries,” Cmdre Mazur said. “We looked at building on the tradition of the Mini Grey Cup in Halifax and arrived at the idea of battling 442 Squadron in a flag football game.” The highly popular Mini Grey Cup sees the Non-Commissioned Members (NCM) from the CFB Halifax Fleet Club compete against the Wardroom. MARPAC’s team will consist of sailors from HMCS Calgary’s intramural touch football team and other fleet members. Lieutenant (Navy) David MacLellan, a Combat Systems Engineer with HMCS Calgary and MARPAC’s Team Captain and Quarterback, said his teammates relish the opportunity to take on 442 Squadron on the football field. “There is a great deal of anticipation and excitement surrounding the game,” Lt(N) MacLellan said. “I think it will be a great morale booster since no games were held for the past few years because of COVID-19.” Lt(N) MacLellan said the MARPAC team is still taking...

[caption id="attachment_30725" align="aligncenter" width="595"] The Men’s gold winning team. Credit: PSP[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The Esquimalt Tritons Slo-Pitch team defeated CFB Winnipeg in the Gold Medal Game of the Canada West Regional Slo-Pitch Tournament with a 12-6 victory on Aug. 26 in Wainwright, Alta. The win earned them a berth at the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Men’s Slo-Pitch Championship tournament in Edmonton, Sept. 19 to 23. Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Troy Kendrick, Tritons Team Captain, said the team feels upbeat about their chances at the Nationals. “I’m very optimistic,” he said. “As a team, we are approaching it with the mindset of ‘Do your job and nobody can beat you’.” His spirit is buoyed by the Tritons winning five of their six games at the regional tournament. Esquimalt defeated Cold Lake, Moose Jaw, and Edmonton twice, with the only loss of 21-15 to Comox in their second game of Round Robin. PO1 Kendrick hit two home runs in the championship game. Major defensive blocks came from the gloves of outfielder Acting Sub-Lieutenant Caleb Stuckless and shortstop Chief Petty Officer Second Class Rob Tibbetts, hanging on for the win. PO1 Kendrick said his pitcher, Sailor First Class (S1) Eric McRae, was ‘on fire’ and earned game MVP honours. “He delivered a pitching gem and allowed the opponents only six runs over seven innings,” PO1 Kendrick said. He said that, unfortunately, S1 McRae would be attending a career course at the time of the game in Edmonton and thus unable to suit up. “Player availability always seems to be an issue for the Navy and not having Eric for the Nationals will be very difficult for our team to overcome,” PO1 Kendrick said. At press time, a schedule had yet to be released for the Nationals, and it was unclear who Esquimalt would face in their first game.    Women win silver Esquimalt’s Women’s Slo-Pitch team will not be competing at CAF Nationals. The Tritons lost to Edmonton in their gold...

[caption id="attachment_30719" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Group Shot: Members of the MARPAC Selects and Babcock Blues gather at centre ice at Wurtele Arena following their Sept. 8 game to celebrate a donation by Babcock Canada $5,000 to the Military Family Resource Centre. (Centre right) Babcock Marine Vice President Keith Cunnane presents a cheque for $5,000 to Esquimalt MFRC Board Chair Samantha Krzywonos. Credit: Peter Mallett/Lookout.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — A last-minute goal made the Babcock Blues winners of the Second Annual Victoria-Class Cup Championship hockey game on Sept. 8. With a 3-3 tie late in the third period and headed to overtime, Blues forward Mike Turner broke the deadlock with MARPAC Selects with just 40 seconds remaining. “Today’s result was disappointing for the MARPAC Selects but it sets things up nicely and builds our rivalry for when we meet again next year,” said Chief Petty Officer Second Class (CPO2) Rob (Michael) Tibbetts, MARPAC Selects Captain. Goaltenders Petty Officer Second Class Randy Collens (MARPAC Selects) and James Fletcher (Babcock Blues) faced a barrage of shots throughout the game. Fletcher was awarded the Rob Sneath Most Sportsmanlike Trophy for his outstanding play and cementing the win for Babcock. “It was great to win and be honoured after the game,” Fletcher said. He is a retired sailor and previously worked as a Marine Technician and a Stoker at the Base. Before his retirement less than three years ago, he played in goal for the Esquimalt Senior Tritons team. Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific (CANFLTPAC) Commodore David Mazur and Keith Cunnane, Babcock Marine Vice President, performed the ceremonial opening puck. The game’s final score did not seem to matter much. The Esquimalt’s Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) introduced the Victoria-Class Cup in partnership with Babcock in 2019 as a hockey fundraising event for Defence Community members and their families. “Being able to support an organization like the MFRC is a victory for everyone involved because it does such a great job of supporting our sailors and families,”...

[caption id="attachment_30695" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photos from 2012 Hosaqami raising. In celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II”s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, then-Lieutenant Governor Stephen Point and the Government House Foundation commissioned Chief Tony Hunt to carve a replacement for Hosaqami. Guests assist with the raising of the Pole Hosaqami at the front of the Government.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — A recent presentation at CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum led to the return of an item to the hands of its crafter 62 years later. Following Lieutenant-Commander (Retired) Bill Shead’s presentation on Hosaqami, a historic 24-foot totem pole, Tatiana Robinson, Museum Curator, brought his attention to one of the Museum’s artifacts. “What a delight it was to see it and hold it again after 12 years of not knowing its final disposition,” Shead, 83, said after confirming a lance Robinson pointed out was indeed the one he carved so many years ago. “It was quite a surprise to learn the lance was in good hands of a museum curator after all this time.” Shead, an Indigenous veteran, visited CFB Esquimalt on Aug. 29 to speak about the intriguing story of Hosaqami. This totem pole was given to the Royal Navy in 1960, and Shead was on the voyage to England as one of the Special Escort of the Hosaqami delivery on HMCS St. Croix. On his journey, he and his mates carved and decorated mop handles to create lances for the ceremonial presentation on arrival in England. Robinson was equally surprised about the discovery. “His life’s story as a sailor and connection to Hosaqami is very intriguing,” Robinson said. “At how many points in his life was he connected and reconnected with Hosaqami and how unusual is that.” During his presentation, Shead spoke about his connection with Hosaqami. “At the outset, no one really had any inkling of what role the escort would or should play in the ceremony,” he said. “The members of the escort, including myself, came from...

Mark Nelson, Contributor — Blue Peter refers to the maritime signal flag for the letter “P”, phonetically referred to as flag Papa. Consisting of a white square on a blue field, it is also known as the recall flag. A ship flying Blue Peter indicates the vessel is preparing to slip and depart a port. British folks know Blue Peter as a long-running BBC children’s television programme. The name was chosen because the show represents a ‘voyage of adventure’.  In production since 1958, it’s certainly been a lengthy voyage. In NATO navies, friendly forces are represented by the colour blue, as in the Blue Force in a war game exercise. In the same exercise, enemy forces are usually represented by the colours orange or red, i.e., Orange Force or Red Force. Interestingly, during the Cold War the term Orange Force was preferred as being more neutral, and not to single out the USSR as being the obvious aggressor. The term blue on blue is sometimes used in the instance of unfortunate death or injury resulting from actions of one’s own forces or allies. The term blue-water navy refers to a naval force with warships designed to operate worldwide, not just in coastal waters, which is referred to as a brown-water navy. The term Bluenose has a variety of meanings. Canadians would likely know Bluenose as the name of a famous 1920s Nova Scotia-based fishing schooner that was built to ‘out-sail them all’. The Bluenose is so famous it is featured on a Canadian dime, and Bluenose II, a replica of the original, is homeported in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, to this day. The name Bluenose is derived from a nineteenth-century nickname for the province of Nova Scotia, or in reference to people from Nova Scotia, i.e., Bluenosers. Blue nose is used in...

Cdr Cameron Miller, CO, HMCS Malahat and MS Jennifer MacKinnon, Recruiter, HMCS Malahat — Fitted with jumpsuits and safety gear, members of HMCS Malahat, Victoria’s Naval Reserve Division, plunged 3,500 feet from a Cessna 182 aircraft during a summer skydiving camp. Commander (Cdr) Cameron Miller, Malahat’s Commanding Officer, said [...]

Sam Phillips:  Sam Phillips was born in October 2001 in Marlow, England. He was raised in the United Kingdom until he was 7 when he moved with his parents and younger sister to Halifax, N.S., in 2009. Growing up, Phillips played many sports, including soccer, hockey, and rugby. Playing these sports put him in a team environment, so he tried to find a career that gave him the same. Phillips joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2018 at 16 as a Port Inspection Diver (PID) in the Naval Reserves. He did not come from a swimming background and had never done any scuba diving until 2019, when he began his PID course. He instantly fell in love with diving and being in the water. After the course, he got employment at Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) in Shearwater, N. S., where he worked alongside the Clearance Divers at the Unit. He witnessed the close bond between Clearance Divers, how they performed various jobs in small teams, and became interested in joining. He challenged the Clearance Diving Assessment Centre (CDAC) in 2021 and completed the 6-day selection on the 2021-2022 Clearance Diver course. Over the 11 and a half months, the course challenged him in various ways, both physically and mentally, and has given him training like no other. Phillips’s favourite part of the course was the Underwater Demolition phase, where the Divers used explosive methods to destroy underwater targets. Phillips looks forward to a career as a Clearance Diver. He wants to pass on his knowledge by teaching others to dive and having the opportunity to travel the world. Morgun Knutson:  Richard ‘Morgun’ Knutson was born on June 10, 1994, in High Prairie, Alta., and grew up on the West Coast in Sechelt, B.C. Before joining the Canadian Armed Forces in 2015 as a Combat Engineer, Knutson worked in various labour intensive positions, most extensively as a Reinforcing Ironworker installing rebar in the Vancouver area. After his initial training, Knutson was...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Esquimalt Tritons were edged by Edmonton Warriors on penalty kicks in the final game of the Men’s Western Regional Soccer Championship on Aug. 19.  “This was a very young and talented team we brought to Edmonton, and we gained respect and admiration from our opponents because of our solid performances throughout the competition,” said Petty Officer First Class  (PO1) Carlos Cea. PO1 Cea assumed player-coaching duties of the Tritons for their regular skipper Chief Petty Officer Second Class (CPO2) Pat Robbins, who could not attend due to work commitments at the Patrol Vessel Sea Training Division Pacific. PO1 Cea said the Tritons quickly established themselves as a ‘top dog’ at the tournament right from the opening kickoff. The Tritons were undefeated over five matches heading into the championship match against tournament hosts. The competition began on Aug. 15 and served as a qualifier for next month’s CAF Championship in Kingston, Ont., from Sept 26 to 30. After ending regulation time in deadlock at one goal apiece, the Tritons fell to Edmonton on penalty kicks and failed to qualify for the CAF nationals. Corporal (Cpl) Justin Harris had opened the scoring for Esquimalt in the second half before Edmonton equalized from the penalty spot. A late game clearance by Sailor Third Class (S3) Liam Harrington prevented Edmonton from a regulation-time game-winner and sent the match into extra time. The Tritons began to play on Aug. 15 with a penalty kick victory over Edmonton. That was followed by a 3-1 win over 19 Wing Comox, with goals coming from S3 Kellar Livingston, S3 Matt Thompson, and S3 Josh Charles. In their third game on Aug. 16, Esquimalt shut out 17 Wing Winnipeg with a 2-0 win on an own goal and another from S3 Livingston. CFB Moose Jaw was forced to forfeit the final game of the opening round on Aug. 17 due to injuries. One day later, Esquimalt defeated the same Moose Jaw side in the semi-finals,...

[caption id="attachment_30663" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Yellowknife Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) (call name ‘Raven’) heads towards Tongue Point.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer The crew of HMCS Yellowknife rescued an injured hiker stranded on a remote island off Western Vancouver Island on Aug. 15. The Kingston-class vessel was conducting Search and Rescue (SAR) Zone patrol with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) when a call came for help about a male hiker in his 20s at 6 p.m. at Tongue Point, Nootka Island, in a radio transmission from a Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) of Victoria. Sub-Lieutenant (SLt) Martin Hagen, Naval Warfare Officer in HMCS Yellowknife, said the hiker was not local and unfamiliar with the tides and dangers of the area. “The hiker ultimately decided to hail the Canadian Coast Guard rather than risk warding off wolves and other wild animals while waiting for the next sea taxi to arrive in three days,” SLt Hagen said. According to him, the hiker was unable to reach the last ferry sailings off the island. Given the hiker’s original plans, he was not equipped for staying in the cool and wet weather conditions, and lacked the necessary equipment to make a safe shelter for the night. Yellowknife dispatched a Zodiac inflatable rescue boat with Petty Officer Second Class Andrew Astles, Sailor First Class Kyle Morgan, and Stephanie Rose, CCG Rescue Specialist. The hiker was contacted via handheld VHF radio, located above the drying shoreline, and quickly extracted. The hiker was suffering from a hand injury and mild hypothermia. He was treated and then transported to a CCG Rescue Boat, which took him to Gold River for the trip home. Lieutenant (Navy) Ben Scott, Yellowknife’s Executive Officer, said the hiker faced a predicament that many newcomers who hike Vancouver Island’s rugged West Coast Trail face. “Many...

[caption id="attachment_30660" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Government of Canada Ceremony at the Square du Canada in Dieppe, France. Photo credit: Julien Faure.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The words inscribed at the Square du Canada in Dieppe, France, grimly recount the bloodiest day of the Second World War for Canada. “The beaches of Dieppe are marked with the blood of Canadians, the road to our final liberation foretelling of their victorious return,” reads the commemorative plaque. On Aug. 19, an official Government of Canada delegation made up of veterans, young Canadians, and government officials gathered there with the people of France to commemorate the 80th-anniversary raid on Dieppe. The sacrifice of the 5,000 Canadian soldiers who landed on the beach that day with impossible odds of success was remembered through speeches, presentations, wreath-laying ceremonies, and a moment of silence. Of those 5,000 soldiers, 3,350 were casualties, 1,950 were captured as German Prisoners of War, and 916 were Canadians who died. Code-named Operation Jubilee’, the Dieppe Raid was the first significant action seen by Canadian soldiers in Europe during the Second World War. The Canadian soldiers came ashore from their landing craft, ready to fight their way into Dieppe quickly. They had been told the assault on Germany’s Western Front would be a piece of cake, noted Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister Responsible for Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, during her address. “Of course, it turned out to be anything but,” Taylor said. “They landed under heavy fire, up against a fierce and well dug-in enemy that would not easily give ground, and, in the end, they had no chance.” Lieutenant (Navy) (Retired) John Nosotti of Vancouver was part of the delegation travelling to France. Nosotti, 78, served 45 years in the Canadian Armed Forces as a reservist. His military service...

[caption id="attachment_30650" align="alignnone" width="595"] Sub-Lieutenant Caycedo Buitrago tries on the Mawashi exoskeleton.[/caption] Ashley Evans, FMF Cape Breton/Cape Scott PAO — Earlier this year, Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Breton took part in a fitting of exoskeletons for trial use. With the potential to improve safety and efficiency for workers at FMF, Jeff Hawthorne discussed the trial at the Research and Development Center: What are the exoskeletons, why were they made, and what are they used for? The exoskeletons are full-body, non-powered (passive), wearable technology designed to benefit users engaged in various logistical tasks. The technology uses adjustable tensioned straps and bands, and biomechanical design to provide mechanical advantage to the back, shoulders, elbows, and knees. It can redirect the force of a load being carried or physical task being completed, lessening the short and long-term impact on the human body. Each area can be easily engaged or disengaged, depending on the task. The key advantages to these exoskeletons include: Three areas with passive mechanical systems: the shoulders, back, and knees – no batteries to charge, no motors that could fail. Modular and tunable assistance: you can mix the torso, arms, and back component sizes to fit your body and then easily fine-tune that fit to prevent any rubbing or pinching. How did the Research and Development Division start working on this project?  The exoskeletons we’re using for testing are an innovative product made in Canada by Mawashi Science and Technology. This partnership came about thanks to the Innovative Solutions Canada - Testing Stream (ISC-TS) delivered by Innovation, Science & Economic Development’s (ISED) Innovation Canada Sector. Under the ISC-TS, innovators are matched with a federal government department to participate in innovation testing. It provides funding support for selected Innovator costs associated with the testing done by a federal testing department (in this case, Research and Development, HMCS Venture, Naval Personnel and Training Group). What are they made of? The exoskeletons consist of aluminum and titanium parts, straps, cables, elastomeric bands, 3D-printed parts,...

Lt(N) Michelle Scott, HMCS Vancouver PAO — Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot (CFAD) Rocky Point conducted a significant forward ammunition transfer for two Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) ships in Pearl Harbor before their follow-on deployments. After successfully completing Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2022, which involved several gunnery exercises, [...]

[caption id="attachment_30615" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Matthew James (left) and James Coe, Co-op students working at the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum.[/caption] CFB Esquimalt Public Affairs — As part of the University of Victoria’s (UVic) Co-op program, James Coe and Matthew Kerr worked at CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum this summer. James is studying history with a minor in political science, and Matthew is studying history with a minor in business. Since you both go to the UVic, did you know each other before you started working here? Matthew: Yes, we’re both history majors, but we’ve known each other since kindergarten. James: We went through the same schools together and ended up at UVic. When we joined the Co-op program, we saw that the museum had two positions. We thought it would be great if we both got the positions, and here we are. What is your favourite area of history to study? Matthew: I love studying the Cold War era, but I recently took a Veterans’ Oral History course at UVic, which interested me in modern European history. James: I’m interested in American history; my favourite topic is the Cold War. After recent courses at UVic, I have developed an interest in the history of UN peacekeeping. What’s an average day like at the museum? Matthew: There are two kinds of days at the museum. On a weekday, we spend the morning researching and working on projects as volunteers running the museum for guests. In the afternoon we usually switch, working in the Visitors Centre or doing more project work. Currently, a big ongoing project is with the digital archives; the museum has 12,000 items in its archive, which all need to be transferred and organized in a new system. James: Each day, we open and lock up the museum...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — A Naval Warfare Officer from the Naval Personnel Training Group (NPTG) is leading a team of volunteers at the site of a full-scale renovation at Victoria Cool Aid Society’s Downtown Community Centre (DCC). Lieutenant (Navy) Bob Mackay, an analyst at NPTG and an experienced home renovator, has been spending his days removing carpet, prying drywall, and shattering plastic tiles. “Nothing is as much fun as throwing a hammer into a wall and knowing you’re not going to get in trouble for it,” he chuckled. “Although our work was difficult, you could see smiles from behind the grime and sweaty coating on our faces.” A team of eight volunteers from NPTG headquarters has teamed up with local charity HeroWork, focused on renovating and rebuilding facilities that house local non-profit community groups. The Victoria Cool Aid Society has provided a variety of housing, shelter and support and health services to Victoria’s most vulnerable people since 1968. The latest project at DCC has seen the greatest involvement of the base’s military personnel yet, said Paul Latour, HeroWork founder and Chief Executive Officer. “Members from CFB Esquimalt have stepped up with the biggest volunteer input our organization has seen, and is a notch above anything from the past,” Latour said. Latour said getting volunteers in the summer has been difficult as many are on summer leave or vacation, but he said members from the base gladly stepped up to the plate. HeroWork is still searching for more volunteers from the community. Lt(N) Mackay has volunteered for HeroWork since 2019 and said he has truly enjoyed his work on three different projects to date. Despite the hard work in warm mid-summer conditions this year, he said the team found the experience rewarding. The support of Boomers Legacy, a Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) non-profit has also been crucial in the success of HeroWork’s current and past projects, Latour said. The organization has provided substantial annual financial support through grants,...

Mark Nelson, Contributor — When a ship travels the seven seas, it racks up sea miles, a distance measured in nautical miles. A nautical mile is exactly 6,076 feet. For simplicity’s sake, sailors say it is 6,000 feet or 2,000 yards. An important nautical measurement is a cable, which is one-tenth of a nautical mile, or 200 yards. In the Stan Rogers classic sea shanty Barrett’s Privateers, an unofficial anthem for many Canadian sailors, the Antelope chased an American ship until ‘at length they stood two cables away’. Unfortunately, 400 yards seemed to be the operational range of an American cannon, resulting in disaster for the Antelope. The person who knows the distance the ship has travelled is the Navigating Officer, abbreviated Nav O, and informally known as the navigator. It wasn’t long ago that we kindly referred to this person as the navi-guesser since the ship’s position was based on a series of best guesses, comprised of dead reckoning. Dead reckoning is a method of determining a vessel’s current position by combining the last known position with the vessel’s speed, elapsed time, and course steered. Originally, dead was spelled ‘ded,’ for ‘deduced.’ Dead reckoning a ship’s position is now a thing of the past, as every HMC ship is fitted with GPS-enabled computer-based navigation systems and electronic charts. Other navigational fixes encompassed cocked hats, a flawed navigational fix comprised of three bearing lines that do not meet, and the occasional basket of eggs, an astronomical fix consisting of a collection of circles, occurring when the sun is directly overhead. As harbour bottoms may shift with the currents over time, sailors must know the depth of the water below the hull. It is measured with an echo sounder that broadcasts a sound wave and measures the current in meters, feet or...

[caption id="attachment_30604" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Members of HMCS Vancouver celebrated the 29th VAN-iversary with a BBQ and cake on the flight deck while sailing during Operation Projection. Vancouver will also support Operation Neon as part of their deployment to the Indo-Pacific before their anticipated return to Esquimalt in December. Photo: Sergeant Ghislain Cotton.[/caption] Essay by S2 Teagan Villeneuve  — The legacy of HMCS Vancouver extends over a century, with three iterations of the ship, each serving a particular purpose with success. The first commissioned ship to bear the name HMCS Vancouver was an S-class destroyer F6A, built in 1917. It was formerly known as Her Majesty’s Ship (HMS) Toreador of the Royal Navy and was given to Canada on loan. On Mar. 1, 1928, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) officially commissioned the ship as a training vessel. The first iteration of HMCS Vancouver successfully contributed to the modern Canadian Navy by fostering experienced sailors. Three 102mm guns decorated the ship’s upper decks and 450mm and 533mm torpedo tubes. It was equipped with a 40mm pom-pom for anti-air and other minor threats, along with four Lewis machine guns. Sailing at a top speed of 30 knots, the first 20th century HMCS Vancouver was considerably faster than other destroyers because of its build and materials. That HMCS Vancouver took part in the most extended RCN cruise attempted in 1934 for a training deployment to the Caribbean Sea. However, by 1935 the destroyer had deteriorated and was eventually scrapped as it would not be able to sail back to the United Kingdom for refit. It was decommissioned on Nov. 25, 1936. The second iteration of HMCS Vancouver was commissioned during the Second World War, and contributed to the many freedoms Canadians enjoy today. It was a Flower-class corvette, commissioned on March 20, 1942, and built for an escort capacity, with a top speed of 16.5 knots and a crew of 67 people. The armament on board was catered to reacting to a small surface,...

Phillipe Daigle:  Sailor First Class Philippe Daigle grew up in the small town of Bécancour, Québec, and joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 2012 immediately after high school. He joined as a Reservist Naval Combat Information Operator, spending his summers on both coasts when not at school. He then had the chance to deploy with the RCN. He also worked for the Canadian Coast Guard stationed at different Search and Rescue bases and the Rescue Coordination Centre in Québec City. There, he combined his skills to help people in distress. Always looking for new ways to challenge himself, he decided to apply and go on the selection process to become a Clearance Diver. Philippe thinks working in a specialized unit such as the Fleet Diving Unit is a privilege because of the concentration of highly motivated and proficient individuals. He loves the job as it allows him to overcome uncomfortable and challenging situations. After being selected for the course, Philippe was eager for the first step of his new career within the CAF. He is now looking forward to all the opportunities to come, visiting places worldwide and possibly learning more from other countries’ military about diving and Explosives Ordnance Disposal.   Jeffrey Hines: Jeffrey Hines was born in Oakville, Ont., in Nov. 1985 and grew up in Cole Harbour, N.S. In April 2013, he joined the CAF as a Marine Engineer. After completing his trades training, he was posted to HMCS Charlottetown, based out of Halifax, N.S. While with the Charlottetown, he could visit many ports along the Eastern Seaboard. In April 2016, he completed the Ships Diver course at FDU(A). His time as a Ships Diver on Charlottetown was short-lived because in Sept. 2016, he was posted to Naval Fleet School (Atlantic) to attend the Marine Engineer QL 5 course. On completion in the spring of 2018, Jeffrey was posted to HMCS Halifax. In Sept. 2018, he returned to FDU(A) for the Ships Diver Requalification Course. While...

[caption id="attachment_30589" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Master Corporal Brendan Keith of Military Police Unit (Esquimalt) stands with Sergeant Mandip Gill of the Victoria Police Department at the intersection of Lyall Street and Macaulay Street on August 23. Photo: CFB Esquimalt.[/caption] CFB Esquimalt Public Affairs — CFB Esquimalt drivers and cyclists need to slow down on Lyall Street and other areas, say concerned citizens, as well as military and Victoria police. Lyall Street is a road commonly used by Base members travelling to Work Point or Dockyard. Police and local residents have observed that uniformed members or those with Base-related decals on their car frequently speed down the road and fail to make complete stops at stop signs, both in cars and on bicycles. Over the last year, the office of the Base Commander has received messages from concerned citizens about this issue, especially about the intersection of Macaulay Street and Lyall Street from the parents of children attending nearby Macaulay Elementary School. Concerned for the safety of their children, residents in that area have taped up signs at the intersection, started a Facebook group for those concerned about the issue, and even pleaded for more action at a Township of Esquimalt council meeting on August 22. “We are asking CFB Esquimalt members to remember there is a playground at that intersection; there are children present. We understand people are just travelling to and from work and have places to be but this is about the safety of children. We just want to be able to walk our daughter to school safely,” said Brian Cant. Cant and his husband Kyle Kushnir, live at that intersection and their daughter Aubrey, 6, is going into Grade 1 next month. Cant emphasized cars are not the only concern. “Since September, our family has had over a dozen close calls with drivers or cyclists as we walked our daughter to and from school. We know the Base does not control that area but as school returns, and more...

[caption id="attachment_30585" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Capt(N) Sebastien Richard, Commander Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton, serves breakfast during the 2021 NDWCC kick-off.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The flapjacks will be grilling, the coffee brewing and the sausages sizzling at the traditional pancake breakfast during this year’s National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC). This year’s campaign will kick off a month early. “A lot of people at the Base really look forward to this event because it builds awareness and educates people about the NDWCC and the good works we do for the community,” said Melanie Tetreault, NDWCC Team Leader. “It also offers an excellent breakfast at an affordable price, and it’s all for a great cause.” The breakfast will take place at the Chief and Petty Officers’ Mess on Tuesday, Sept. 6, from 0630 to 0900. The national charitable campaign benefits charitable organizations of the United Way Southern Vancouver Island and the 16 charities of Health Partners. This year members will not be permitted to fundraise for charitable organizations outside United Way Southern Vancouver Island or Health Partners. Tetreault said individual donors can still make a personal donation to organizations outside the two leading charities through the NDWCC E-Pledge system, which should be running by early September. The breakfast is traditionally held in the first week of October, but Tetreault says the kick-off breakfast was moved to an earlier date to capture the brighter days of late summer to encourage greater participation. It may also outperform last year’s fundraising sum of $180,000. This year’s menu includes pancakes, meat or vegetarian sausage, hash browns, and a selection of coffee, tea, or juice. Dine-in and takeout options are available, and community dress such as cycling clothes are permitted. Speakers slated for the event include Captain (Navy) Jeff Hutchinson, Base Commander, CFB Esquimalt; Mark Beslauer,...

[caption id="attachment_30582" align="aligncenter" width="595"] In the Green Team, responsible for Morale and Welfare activities on board Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338), takes a group photo during Operation Projection while sailing in the Pacific Ocean on Aug 21. Photo: Sailor First Class Melissa Gonzalez, Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Technician.[/caption] Capt Christine MacNeil, HMCS Winnipeg PAO — There is a group on board HMCS Winnipeg representing a new name. Formerly known as the Morale Mafia, the group is now called ‘In the Green Team’. Despite the name change, their goal remains unchanged: improve the ship’s company morale by hosting or supporting various morale activities. Proposed by Sailor First Class (S1) Tommy Mailloux, the ‘In the Green Team’ name is derived from the Canadian Armed Forces Mental Health Continuum and emphasizes the importance of being ‘in the green’, or healthy. The group meets once a week to brainstorm new morale activities and discuss suggestions from crew members. They also look at the ship’s schedule to determine the best timing for activities that will allow for maximum participation. Thus far on this deployment, the team has presented HMCS Winnipeg personnel with a nail-bitingly close Mario Kart tournament, the brainchild of one of the ‘In the Green Team’ volunteers. There has also been a trivia tournament suggested and ran by a member of the crew with the support of ‘In the Green Team’, and a Super Smash Bros tournament. The ship is also holding a euchre tournament, with several other activities coming up, including a pizza delivery by the team, talent night, karaoke blitz, paint night, and stargazing. HMCS Winnipeg is currently two months into a six-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific region. The crew recently concluded Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2022 and is now part of Operation Projection, conducting forward naval presence...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Clearance Divers enhanced their light-salvage capabilities during their mission at Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, which concluded with the discovery of a missing Second World War bomber engine. While it wasn’t part of their RIMPAC mission, the RCN Dive Team worked to assist the United States Defence POW/MIA Accounting Agency in its search for the bomber. The plane crashed and sank during a 1940s training mission in Kaneohe Bay near Oahu. Lieutenant(Navy) Lt([N]) Allport, Operational Dive Team Officer with FDU(P) said the team dove for two days in heavy sea states, discovering the bomber’s engine near the east of Kaneohe Bay. “This was an exciting moment and provided some tangible proof that the overall efforts of the team were important,” Lt(N) Allport said. The Canadian RIMPAC Dive Team, consisting of eight divers, one engineer from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) (FDU[P)], and three divers from Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic), completed complex exercises while working mainly from the United States Navy (USN) Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 1 in Pearl Harbour. The training was a perfect fit for the focus of this year’s edition of RIMPAC: large-scale humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, says Lieutenant (Navy) Michael Allport. “Our overall purpose was to enhance our operability between Allied nations’ dive teams and RIMPAC, which provided some valuable training for many of our junior and senior Dive Team members,” said Lt(N) Allport. Under guidance by USN divers, the RIMPAC Dive Team practised a technique known as hot tapping. This process tests Clearance Divers’s technical skills and abilities to safely extract oil or fuel from the submerged hull of a capsized ship and then return it to holding tanks at the surface. While an actual ship and fuel were not employed, the divers used a model of a non-toxic liquid provided by the USN to accomplish their mission. “It involved boring through the container, putting a valve on it, and extracting the liquid inside,” said...

[caption id="attachment_30575" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photo credit: Getty Images[/caption] Department of National Defence — When it comes to physical wellness and fitness, women in the CAF can have unique needs throughout their career journey, which require specific attention. This is especially important given that from 2014-2017, women had a higher percentage of medical releases than men (43 per cent versus 39 per cent) and at earlier points in their careers (14 years versus 17 years). In an effort to increase the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) capability in being more responsive to women and gender-diverse military personnel, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) Personnel Support Programs (PSP) recently received $3.7 million in recurring funding to develop a Women’s Physical Wellness and Fitness Program. “The military leadership engagement on this file and subsequent financial support secured is a testament to the Canadian Armed Forces’ commitment to women’s physical wellness and fitness,” said Bruce Ploughman, Senior Vice-President PSP. “We [CFMWS’ PSP] are now resourced to work together with our DND/CAF partners to better support women and gender diverse military personnel throughout their career with a view to increasing representation of women in the CAF.” The new program, now in development, will provide relevant, targeted, and evidence-based physical wellness and fitness support to address gender-specific requirements throughout phases of a woman’s career. The new program will focus on achieving four key program outcomes: Prepare women physically for occupational and operational training (e.g. Basic Military Qualifications) Reduce susceptibility to musculoskeletal injury (MSKI) Accommodate women during career interruptions (e.g. pregnancy) Maintain physical function through aging (e.g. osteoporosis) and gender-specific development stages (e.g. menopause) From the outset, the PSP team’s priority will be to focus on pre-natal/post-partum, a program area long highlighted as a gap by both personnel and leadership. The intent is also to augment and...

Lt(N) Donald Den, Public Affairs Officer, HMCS Malahat — Playing soccer in 36 degree heat is no feat for the weak, and a Naval Communicator at HMCS Malahat, Victoria’s Naval Reserve Division, remembers it well. “As we had only arrived in Spokane, Wash., a couple days earlier, [...]

[caption id="attachment_30566" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Bring your authentic self to work. Ashley Evans, Sailor First Class Charleyne Oulton, and Major Rachel Middleton begin a painting project organized by the Defence Team Pride Advisory Organization. The set of stairs located next to the Base Orderly Room was painted in 11 different colours of the progressive rainbow flag on Aug. 23 in recognition of Public Service Pride Week. Photo: Peter Mallett/Lookout.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — A permanent pride flag now adorns a well-travelled staircase at CFB Esquimalt. The staircase’s risers between the Base Orderly Room and Nelles Block now have a new colour scheme, representing the progressive colours of the rainbow flag and LGBTQ2+ pride. “It’s permanent and gives our communities a lot of visibility,” said Master Sailor (MS) Erin Rautenstrauch, Military Co-chair of Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) Defence Team Pride Advisory Organization (DTPAO). On Aug. 23, DTPAO members with the support of the base community grabbed their brushes and paint cans to paint the colours of the progressive rainbow flag on the stairs. The painting coincided with Public Service Pride Week, Aug. 22 to 26, and this year’s theme, Bring Your Authentic Self To Work. MS Rautenstrauch said discussions about painting the stairs began in 2021 but ramped up in the past couple of months. “It is a historic event for members of the LBGTQ2+ community at the base, and it lets people know we are here and an important part of the military community,” she said. Commander (Cdr) Dan Saunders, Commanding Officer of Base Administration (BADM) made the symbolic first brush stroke on the lower portion of the stairs. During his opening remarks, Cdr Saunders said the flag would be a good reminder that inclusion is a priority of the Canadian Armed Forces. “This permanent installation will act as a prominent display of our support to LGBTQ2+ communities, and will be a symbol of our commitment to making sure all community members are welcome here at CFB Esquimalt,” Cdr Saunders said....

[caption id="attachment_30550" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Ken Silvester, Vice-Chair of the Model Railroad Club at CFB Esquimalt, poses with a model railroad. A listing of CFB Esquimalt clubs is available at https://bit.ly/3AAV6lO[/caption] Ken Silvester is the Vice-Chair of the Model Railroad Club at CFB Esquimalt. The club is open to current and retired Canadian Armed Forces members and Department of National Defence employees. What’s an average club meeting like? We meet on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Generally, we spend some time chatting, enjoying coffee and having good conversations, and then we get to work either repairing old models or creating new ones. Since we go to many shows, the models can get a bit dinged up in transport, so there’s always something that needs to be worked on. Most of our models are built in a modular format for ease of transportation, but we also have a permanent layout that allows members to run and test their engines on the track. Is there anything exciting coming up for the club? We have a lot of events coming up that we’ve been getting ready for, which means repairing many models to ensure they look their best and run smoothly at all of the shows. We plan to attend Formation Fun Day on September 10 and then the Victoria Train Show and the Luxton Fall Fair at the end of the month. What’s something about the club you wish more people realized? The hobby is about more than just trains. It might be for you if you are interested in modelling in general or in electronics. The hobby is also always changing and evolving as new technology becomes available. Recently we’ve been trying to set up some Arduino microcontrollers to trigger lights and animations on the modules. What drew you to the Model...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — When a pint-sized sickly grey troll with a pot belly, gnarled feet, and discoloured teeth rips a beautiful garden to shreds, David realizes things in his life are very wrong. In a self-published short story, A Troll in the House, the fictional troll represents Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which one military member faced in real life, and is using as a  [...]