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Andy Bader The Mitchell Advocate  www.mitchelladvocate.com — Calling it “the biggest adventure I’ve ever been on,” Mitchell, Ontario, native Lt(N) Lisa Tubb recently returned home after circumnavigating North America with the Royal Canadian Navy. Lt(N) Tubb, 27, was the public affairs officer attached to HMCS Harry DeWolf on its maiden voyage the final few months of 2021. It was her first deployment as she began her fourth year in Canada’s military. “I feel silly lucky,” she said during a short six-day Christmas visit to parents’ Jim and Faye Tubb, before returning to home base in Ottawa. “I still can’t believe I did it.” Lt(N) Tubb heard whispers she may be nominated for deployment in June, and to her astonishment was chosen in late July, giving her a couple of weeks to prepare. “It was one heckuva deployment. Everyone wanted a piece of this,” she says. “This is probably one of the biggest adventures I’ve ever been on.” Lt(N) Tubb was one of about 80 people, including 65 crew members, who sailed in HMCS Harry DeWolf; the first in class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV). She left Ottawa Aug. 10 and met up with the ship in Iqaluit, Nunavut, where they completed Operation Nanook, Canada’s signature arctic exercise alongside Canadian and American coast guard ships. “For me, I passed the Arctic Circle, so that was a milestone for a first-time sailor,” she says. The crew re-explored the Northwest Passage - becoming the second Royal Canadian Navy ship to transit through since 1954, visited Beechey Island, learned how to navigate through the changing northern environment, and learned how to safely get through ice fields. For a student of history, (she has a Master’s degree in Canadian history), the chance to re-trace part of the Franklin Expedition where James Franklin’s failed to locate...

A study to assess the health and well-being of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) Department of National Defence (DND) personnel, and in particular Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, is commencing. Researchers would like to learn about the experiences of BIPOC CAF members, both Regular and Reserve Force, accessing and using health care services [...]

Emily Lindahl D Air Force PA — Each veteran has their own story. For some, their story can be too painful to share, too traumatic to relive. For other veterans, sharing their stories is a passion.  Flight Officer (Retired) Ernie Allen, a 100-year-old resident at the Wildpine Residence in Stittsville, Ontario, holds the story of his time in both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) dear, and he is more than happy to share it. I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with Ernie. He came armed with his RAF flight logs, which began on July 1, 1941, his first day in the air force.  Ernie was ready to share his tale of being a pilot in the RAF for the Second World War, his journey to the U.S. following the war, and the trials he experienced trying to join the RCAF for the Korean War. His enthusiasm was evident as he talked about the various aircrafts he flew during the Second World War; the old Hawker Hart and Audax biplanes that towed the military Hotspur gliders, the Typhoons, the Spitfires, and more. He explained the role each aircraft played in supporting allied troops and keeping the enemy at bay. He shared how a friend from high school lost his life when the aircraft he was piloting crashed during the bombing of Berlin. With the plane on fire, the crew was instructed to bail out; however, the pilot and co-pilot went down.  When Ernie was stationed near the German border with Denmark, he learned his friend was buried nearby. He visited the local cemetery to pay his respects.   When the war was over, Ernie travelled to the United States on a converted merchant marine ship to prepare a home for his wife. They settled outside of Boston where he worked as a photographer, specializing in school photos and children’s photography. When the Korean War began, he once again felt the need to...

DND — Enhancing responsiveness and accessibility of Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) is a priority for the Canadian Armed Forces as it strives to better serve members and invest in the culture change movement. To this end, the Integrated Conflict and Complaint Management (ICCM) program has established a toll free line (1-833-328-3351) that will operate in both official languages coast-to-coast, five days a week between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7p.m. EST. This extended service will increase accessibility to CCMS subject matter experts in real time, who have the proficiency to guide and support Defence Team members concerning all matters of workplace conflict and complaint. CCMS locations are staffed by agents specially trained to help members unpack their concerns, identify issues appropriately, and select the best option to address them. Conflict Management practitioners are available to both leaders and personnel to help manage their workplace conflicts through a spectrum of informal options, including training, consultation, coaching, facilitation, mediation, and group processes. Although there are 17 CCMS offices located across Canada, access can be difficult for members due to the constraints of working hours, geographic location, and/or the challenges of deployed status. By extending the contactable hours of CCMS agents via its toll free number, this initiative will aide in providing an agile and highly effective support to the Defence Team.   Additional details related to CCMS services are available on the ICCM web page: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/benefits-military/conflict-misconduct/integrated-conflict-complaint-management/centres.html Please note, this is not a crisis line. If you are in an emergency, call 911. If your call is not an emergency, but you require immediate assistance, dial 1-800-268-7708 to reach the Member Assistance Program or Employee Assistance Program.

[caption id="attachment_28768" align="aligncenter" width="596"] Left: Ethelbert “Curley” Christian. Right: War Amps Director Rob Larman and Tiffany Ross, a member of the War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program, lay a rose at the grave of Ethelbert “Curley” Christian, at Toronto’s Prospect Cemetery.[/caption]   Story courtesy The War Amps — As February marks Black History Month, The War Amps is paying tribute to Ethelbert “Curley” Christian (1883-1954), one of the Association’s founding members who was believed to be the only surviving quadruple amputee of the First World War. Christian lived in Manitoba and served with the 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers). During the Battle of Vimy Ridge, he was wounded when heavy shelling buried him in a trench. With debris crushing all four of his limbs, he lay on the battlefield for two days before being found close to death. Two stretcher bearers were struck and killed by shells while carrying him off the battlefield, but he again survived. Later, in a French hospital, gangrene set in and both of his arms and legs had to be amputated.   While Christian was recovering at Christie Street Veterans Hospital in Toronto, he met his future wife, Cleo MacPherson, who was a volunteer aid. MacPherson noted that it was costly for the government to keep Christian at the hospital and felt she could take care of him at home. However, it would be a full-time job that meant she would be unable to work. The hospital director appealed to the Canadian government on the Christians’ behalf, which led to the creation of the Attendance Allowance, a supplement to full-time caregivers of wounded veterans. This benefit still exists today. Christian was also a founding members of The War Amps, an organization started more than 100 years ago by amputee veterans returning from the First World War...

[caption id="attachment_28761" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Plumber Zach Jilg (left) with Wade Roberts Plumbing co-owners Vengel and Wade Roberts launched their Tanks to Our Veterans initiative that gives free hot water heaters and installation to military veterans.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A small business from Victoria has launched a special thank-you program to acknowledge the service of military veterans. Last fall, Wade Roberts Plumbing kicked off their “Tanks To Our Veterans” initiative that gives away water heaters and free installation to three veterans from the Greater Victoria area. Veterans can be nominated by a member of the community or enter the draw themselves anytime at waderobertsplumbing.com. This year, the draw for three tanks will take place on Remembrance Day. The idea for the giveaway stemmed from a conversation between husband-and-wife owners Wade and Vangel Roberts and staff members regarding veterans in need. “Our hearts were just breaking thinking of people in our community who have lost loved ones in the fight for freedom in our nation and around the world,” says Wade. “We wanted to find a way to show our respect to the veterans in our city, in memory of the fallen soldiers who never made it home.” The military community is close to his heart. He has a step-brother-in-law serving in the Royal Canadian Navy and his nephew served in the Canadian Army. The company’s finance manager Linda Cretney commented during that conversation about a television program she saw about a roofing company that gave away a roof to a veteran in their town. “After Linda had mentioned this, we thought water heaters are our bread and butter so we should give away a free water tank to a veteran,” explains Wade.    Plumber Zach Jilg asked if they could give away three water heaters in honour of his best friend Pte Chad Horn, who was one of three Canadian soldiers killed in an ambush in Afghanistan. Cpl Mike Seggie and Cpl Andrew Grenon of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry...

[caption id="attachment_28756" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Petty Officer First Class Norman Phee with various tartan products are available for purchase at CANEX, including neckties and bow ties.[/caption] RCN PAO — A 31-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is honouring his Nova Scotia roots by helping to create the service’s first tartan. Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Norman Phee was born in Antigonish, N.S., and grew up around the Scottish lifestyle in what he calls “the highland heart of Nova Scotia” (New Scotland). “Having the last name Phee, originally MacPhee, I have been in love with my Scottish ancestry all my life,” he says. In 2011, when Canada decided to restore the historic names of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), he thought the RCN should have its own tartan.  “I did some research into the traditional colours of the naval uniform, as well as what makes the RCN stand out from other navies [around the world] and branches of the CAF,” he explains. “I also researched which navies from around the world have tartans. Then I talked to tartan designers for some insight into what was needed to create a tartan.”    In choosing the colors and pattern, he wanted to tie the traditions of the old RCN to the new.  “While remembering the older sailors and those lost in conflicts past and present, I also wanted to ensure that any CAF member wearing the naval uniform is represented.”  The five colours of the new tartan were chosen to represent different aspects of the RCN: black is its new uniform; dark blue represents the old traditional uniform; yellow is for the laurel on the cap badge; white is for the anchor on the cap badge; red symbolizes ties to the sovereign and sailors lost; and purple represents non-seagoing members who wear a naval uniform. Designed by Gordon Kirkbright of GK Textiles in Burnaby, B.C., the new tartan can be worn by anyone with an affiliation to the...

[caption id="attachment_28750" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Master Sailor Dean Wilson and Sailor First Class Alessandra Leake exit the water on completion of diving operations during a Naval Reserve dive exercise in Comox, on Jan. 28. Photo by Sailor First Class Valerie LeClair Valerie LeClair, MARPAC Imaging Services.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Port Inspection Divers from 15 naval reserve units across Canada gathered on Vancouver Island from Jan. 21 to 30 for an annual diving exercise. Forty-eight Naval Reservists travelled to dive sites in Comox, Nanaimo, and Port Hardy, B.C., to take part in Dive 2270. The annual event was missed last year due to COVID-19; but this year the group came together to perform tasks that help them maintain their dive proficiency, and to meet regenerative training requirements. They made their way to remote locations off shore via inflatable boats. Using Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus (CABA) and diving to depths of 30 metres, they performed underwater searches, surveys, and inspections, primarily for the purpose of port security. Part of this year’s mission was to qualify many of these divers with the new lighter CABA equipment. It also involved testing out the navy’s new Shark Marine Sonar equipment that enables divers to more easily detect underwater objects. “Things went very well and there certainly was a degree of satisfaction to me and the other organizers because we were able to mitigate a lot of obstacles to make this exercise a success,” said PO1 Jacek Jaskiewicz, Regional Dive Centre (RDC) West Chief from HMCS Chippewa. He noted that several days of heavy fog hampered the team’s effectiveness at reaching previously-selected dive sites further offshore. Instead, alternate dive sites closer to shore were used. Poor visibility also led to the cancellation of a helicopter exercise involving a air crew from CFB Comox. Before the exercise, naval reservists isolated for two days and underwent rapid COVID-19 testing. Rigorous cleaning and sanitizing of equipment was also required to keep participants safe. “There was a big team effort...

[caption id="attachment_28737" align="aligncenter" width="595"] From left: RAdm Brian Santarpia, Commander MARLANT and JTFA, Jennifer Denty, Roger Litwiller, and CPO1 Tom Lizotte, MARLANT Formation Chief. Photo by Joanie Veitch[/caption] Joanie Veitch Trident Newspaper–– A porthole from the wreck of HMCS Trentonian, the last corvette lost in the Battle of the Atlantic, was presented to the Naval Museum of Halifax on Dec. 8, 2021. Author and naval historian Roger Litwiller made the donation of the porthole, which is one of two that were recently recovered from the wreck by a dive team from the United Kingdom.  A small gathering to mark the significance of the donation included Jennifer Denty, museum director, Kyle Houghton, a university student who is cataloging the museum’s artwork, Rear-Admiral Brian Santarpia, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) and Joint Task Force Atlantic (JTFA), and CPO1 Tom Lizotte, Formation Chief of MARLANT. “We’re thrilled to be able to add this to the collection and humbled to be thought of as the proper caretaker for the artifact,” said Denty. Speaking to the small group assembled around a temporary display table on the second floor of the museum, along with a framed print of Trentonian and a photograph of the ship’s company, Litwiller recounted the chronology of how the portholes came into his possession.  The story began with an email he received in May 2021. A member of the dive team that took the portholes from the wreck had done research online and found Litwiller’s website on Canadian naval history; Litwiller has also written a book about HMCS Trentonian, White Ensign Flying, published by Dundurn Press in 2014. “I got this email from the fellow saying ‘I’m a diver here in the UK. We did a dive on Trentonian in the spring and, despite my warnings to the crew, two of our club members came up with portholes from the wreck’. He managed to talk them into handing them over,” Litwiller said. Gesturing to the bent and broken porthole, Litwiller said the...

Royal Canadian Navy–– HMCS Winnipeg’s Chaplain made history during the ship’s recent deployment on Operations Neon and Projection in the Indo-Pacific. Captain (Capt) Noteh Glogauer was the first Jewish Rabbi to deploy in a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) warship. While he got to participate in the excitement of the two operations, including the occasional helicopter flight, the main reason he [...]

  [caption id="attachment_28723" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Tom Larkin[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer–– More than 70 years have elapsed since the deployment of Royal Canadian Navy warships to Korea, but Victoria’s Tom Larkin has vivid memories of his days aboard HMCS Sioux. The V-class destroyer was one of three Canadian warships first deployed to Korea to begin the bombardment of communist positions along the coastline. Today, the 91-year-old lives at Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead Care. Whenever he thinks about his time in Korea, he also  remembers the human costs of all wars. That’s because Tom’s stepfather Herbert Michaud never returned home from the war. He paid the ultimate price while serving the Canadian Army during the Second World War and was killed while fighting for the Allies along the Gothic Line in Southern Italy.  “He was a good man, was good to me, and was always there for the family whenever we needed him; but then he never came home from Europe,” says Larkin. “My [real] father died from tuberculosis and I never really got to know him either.” Without a father and to help make ends meet on the home front, Larkin took a job loading fuel locomotives for the Canadian National Railway in Regina; he also worked on local farms during harvest time. He admits he was saddled with more responsibility than most young men his age. His mother, twice a widower, was left to raise him and his three siblings on her own.  In 1947, at the age of 17, he spied an article in the local newspaper reporting that the Royal Canadian Navy was looking for recruits. The story caught his attention but his mother’s signature was required for him to enlist. Despite the tragic loss of his step-father, she signed the forms.  Within months, a young Larkin found himself doing his basic training at CFB Esquimalt. The Cold War After completing his basic training, Ordinary Seaman Larkin was assigned to HMCS Athabaskan as a signalman. He was...

Peter MallettStaff Writer–– Two former military members want veterans, current-serving members, and first responders dealing with issues of mental health and suicide to take a healing leap of faith with them.  Sgt (Retired) Rob MacNeill, former Canadian Airborne Regiment member, and MWO (Retired) Bob Verret, both diagnosed with PTSD before their release, are opening a skydiving camp in Campbell River, B.C, this summer dubbed Operation Pegasus Jump. “I know from my personal experience that parachuting is the best therapy for injured airborne members, but it will also help others in their recoveries,” says MacNeill. “This is a team-building exercise and is all about taking service members and first responders out of their comfort zones and presenting them with a challenge.”  Participants can join a series of three four-day parachute and activity camps in July.  The camp is an extension of their business called U4EO (Us For Each Other). Together, MacNeill and Verret operate five parachuting businesses and educational programs in Campbell River. Operation Pegasus Jump is an opportunity for U4EO to give back to the military and offer former members a unique opportunity for some bonding and camaraderie, says MacNeill.  Pegasus participants will receive supervision and instruction from skydiving centre instructors and volunteers before making their jumps at elevations of 3,000 feet and higher from either a Cesna 182 Jump plane or A-Star helicopter. Former airborne regiment members will assist as volunteers. Those who have never jumped before will receive extra instruction, says MacNeill.  Registration is now open with 28 participants already signed up. Operation Pegasus Jump will include a helicopter tour, fly boarding, a round of golf, and a barbeque.  A fundraising campaign launched to help offset costs with a goal of $50,000. Funds raised will help pay for food, skydiving lessons, fuel, and other logistical expenses. The City...

[caption id="attachment_28717" align="alignnone" width="595"] Rear-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force (Pacific), on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Staff, presents HMCS Regina’s Commanding Officer, Cdr Annick Fortin with the Canadian Forces’ Unit Commendation on Jan. 26. Photo by S1 Mike Goluboff, MARPAC Imaging Services, Esquimalt[/caption] Last week, HMCS Regina officially received the Canadian Forces’ Unit Commendation. Due to the ongoing pandemic, physical attendance was significantly limited in accordance with local provincial health orders. However, the event was live-streamed Jan. 26 over social media so that HMCS Regina’s crew members, past and present, were able to have a virtual presence at the event. Throughout a two-year period, HMCS Regina was hard at work. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the crew showed exceptional resiliency despite frequent operational changes. Time and time again, the crew displayed strength and tenacity to meet challenges head on, proving their motto “Floreat Regina” – Let Regina Flourish. In early 2020, the ship was ordered to sail for an undetermined period of time to maintain a COVID-19 free status. HMCS Regina stayed away from port, home, and family for 64 days before rapidly returning to high readiness for another possible deployment. In addition, HMCS Regina served as the flag ship for an international task group during the Rim of the Pacific Exercise in 2020. Congratulations to HMCS Regina for receiving the Canadian Forces’ Unit Commendation. ––––

Peter MallettStaff Writer–– It has been all over news: Canada’s Olympic Bobsleigh and skeleton teams are heading to the 2022 Olympics with Navy-inspired sleds. Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton partnered with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) to design a Second World War-era Admiralty Disruptive paint pattern for their sleds, similar to the paint scheme on HMCS Regina and HMCS Moncton. The design was unveiled Jan. 20 in Halifax aboard the future HMCS Margaret Brooke - an Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship - by the ship’s captain, Cdr Nicole Robichaud. In Calgary, one of the sleds was displayed at the Ice House.  Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton has a long-standing relationship with the Canadian Armed Forces and previously had air force-themed designs on their sleds, and participated in team-building activities with both the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Bobsleigh Canada President Sarah Storey says Canada’s Olympians are tremendously proud to be associated with the RCN and its strong and honourable tradition of defending the country.  “Whether on ice or at sea, the distinction of putting on a Canadian uniform drives commitment to the training, preparation, perseverance, and teamwork required to perform under intense pressure while representing your country,” she says. “We are unified by the goal of making our team unstoppable and our country proud.” Alex Kaldeway, RCN Public Affairs Multi-Media Producer, designed the new sleds alongside his manager Sabrina Nash. “Designing a bobsled was unlike anything I had ever done before and this was my first opportunity to be part of Canada’s story at the Olympic Games,” Kaldeway says. All of Team Canada’s sleds – monobob, two-person, four-person, and skeleton – are wrapped in the same design. Canada’s bobsleigh and skeleton crews are competing at the 2022 Olympics at speeds of up to 120 kilometres. Training heats begin Feb. 7 with Bobsleigh...

This photograph is believed to have been snapped on Sunday, Aug. 5, 1934, at the commencement of a church parade with the Royal Marine Band of HMCS Norfolk. Pictured here, they are leading members from their own cruiser followed by ratings of HMCS Vancouver and HMCS Skeena to attend a worship and prayer on the grounds of St. Paul’s Naval and Garrison Church on Esquimalt Road. This religious event capped off the British flagship’s successful visit to Victoria in celebrating what turned out to be the inaugural run of Navy Week in Esquimalt leading up the Second World War. This action photo is the last known image of Dockyard’s main gate before its demolition in the late 1930s – it has no known provenance. Challenge: Do you know anything about this picture or the events surrounding it to change any of my strong circumstantial case (detailed above) into a direct evidence case beyond a reasonable doubt? If you have any information on it, email me: gary.restell@shaw.ca ––––

[caption id="attachment_28474" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Left: MCpl Elena Vlassova with her Steel Spirit exhibit at Barrie City Hall. Right: Steel Spirit artist Lee-Ann LeMesurier stands with her artwork on display at Barrie City Hall.[/caption] MCpl Elena Vlassova, an Image Technician with the Canadian Forces Training Development Centre, and Lee-Ann LeMesurier, a full-time reservist, are both members of The Steel Spirit, which showcases artwork by military, first responder, and frontline healthcare workers. Both had their work on display last fall at Barrie City Hall in Ontario. “That made me extremely happy,” says MCpl Vlassova. “It made me inspired to paint more. It gave me the confidence that my art is presentable. I am very grateful for this opportunity to have my life enriched with [these] shows.” Her art is acrylic painting on canvas of mostly old-style architectural buildings, a passion that began during her studies at the Architectural Academy in Russia. She also paints portraits in watercolour. Lee-Ann LeMesurier is a multi-medium artist, working with prints, sculptures, watercolour, and found objects. Her pieces are about self-exploration. “[Art] is definitely a necessity for many of us, whether we like to admit it or not,” she says. She adds, it’s a different experience when art is shared, but having your art displayed is not what defines an artist. For her, art is meant for everyone – all ages and all skill levels – and can be a good way to heal. “I think having an outlet for everybody is important,” she said. “No matter who you are, or what your background, or what you’ve been through, art has a place for you.” The Steel Spirit is a platform for artwork submissions by Military, First Responder, and Hospital Practitioners. They are always looking for new and emerging artists with and without experience, from every background and every age. For more information or if you would like to be involved, please visit: www.thesteelspirit.ca ––––

[caption id="attachment_28473" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photo by Cpl Laura Landry[/caption] Trident Newspaper –– The PO2 Craig Blake Memorial Fitness Challenge is a short distance “sprint” triathlon held at MacDonald’s Beach near 12 Wing Shearwater, Nova Scotia, in September.  The event is organized to honour the athletic achievements of avid cyclist and triathlete PO2 Craig Blake, the first Canadian soldier to fall in Afghanistan. The goal of the event is to bring people of all fitness levels together to strive to do their best through friendly competition. With HMCS Fredericton deployed on Operation Reassurance while the 2021 Fitness Challenge took place at home in September, members of the ship expressed interest to Race Director Kevin Miller from Personnel Support Programs (PSP) in supporting the event while at sea. Coordination began immediately, with Sports Officer MCpl Kerri Shultz tasked to come up with a plan to make it happen. It was decided to use a rower, stationary bike, and treadmill on board for the challenge. The 300m swim, 6.5km bike, and 2km run of the PO2 Craig Blake Memorial Fitness Challenge were replaced with a 1000m row, 6.5km bike, and 2km run on the stationary fitness equipment.  A mandatory one minute break was used to ensure transitions were done safely and allow time to adjust the equipment to fit each competitor.  Participants could sign up for the individual category where they would complete all three activities, or in the team category where each member completed one leg of the event in a relay format.  “Overall, we had a great time organizing the event and we were pleased with the turn out. It definitely boosted the morale on board and gave everyone something to train for during the deployment. I loved seeing fresh faces back in the gym and on the cardio equipment,” MCpl...

There will be approximately 3.5 million fewer plastic shopping bags going into landfills across Canada this year thanks to CANEX. Canada’s military store has made the switch to reusable shopping bags as of Jan. 17. This aligns with the federal government’s plan to eliminate plastic waste in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  “This decision is part of our commitment to continue to make CANEX - Canada’s Military Store, a preferred and sustainable destination for members and families of the CAF community,” says Frank Rocchetti, Senior Vice-President, CANEX.  Many municipalities and stores have already eliminated single use plastic bags.  This is the latest step by CANEX in its ongoing green effort. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, CANEX eliminated printed flyers and single use posters in stores.  Several CANEX outlets eliminated plastic bags back in November 2021 in a pilot project. CANEX made two million in-person transactions last year.  Each one averaged almost three single use plastic shopping bags. That saves approximately 21,000 kilograms of plastic ending up in landfills across Canada. CANEX stores will be selling reusable shopping bags to members. These will include Soldier On and Support Our Troops bags.  Fifteen per cent from each bag sold goes directly to those charities. ––––

[caption id="attachment_28471" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photo by Corporal Lynette Ai Dang[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer –– HMCS Calgary sailed out of dry dock Jan. 8 following completion of its Intermediate Docking Work Period performed by Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMFCB) Cape Breton. The short work period, part of a five-year Tiered Readiness Program, was necessary to perform required preventative and corrective maintenance and to test the ship’s engineering and combat systems following its return home in August from a lengthy deployment. It entered dry dock Nov. 10, receiving a short-distance tow from C1 Jetty by three Queen’s Harbour Master tugboats. Before draining the dry dock of water, allowing the ship to settle on large blocks on the floor, Fleet Diving Unit Pacific clearance divers inspected the hull for any damage or significant wear and tear. The work performed during the Intermediate Docking Work Period is similar in nature to a car’s routine maintenance inspection at a local garage, but on a much grander and sophisticated scale, says Lt(N) Si Tian, the ship’s Acting Marine Systems Engineering Officer. “This dry docking period is part of a ship’s normal lifetime maintenance cycle and ensures Calgary meets required readiness for operations,” says Lt(N) Tian. “Surveys of the ship’s systems were also performed to prepare the plan for its upcoming extended work period.” Calgary will undergo a more comprehensive refit in 2023. The work The lion’s share of the preventative and corrective maintenance was performed by FMFCB’s production and engineering shops, with assistance from the ship’s company and outside contractors.  The ship’s gas turbines, ancillary and auxiliary systems, and the two main electrical switchboards and its multiple breakers were tested. Repairs were made to some leaking valves, a regulator malfunction in the ship’s freshwater system, and the ship’s diesel generators that supply electricity when at sea....

Every year, the Mental and Social Wellness Working Group of the MARPAC Health and Wellness Strategy (MHWS) supports Bell Let’s Talk, a campaign that aims to encourage a national conversation about mental health. The goal of this annual event is to help end stigma associated with mental health issues and to support mental health initiatives around the country. On Jan. 26, join the Working Group in supporting Bell Let’s Talk Day by talking, tweeting, posting, and texting about mental health. By doing this, we work towards normalizing these important conversations and reducing the stigma of mental health issues. The theme for this year’s campaign focuses on “continuing to support yourself and others”. It would be an understatement to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our daily lives, but it has also highlighted the critical importance of prioritizing our mental health and wellness. Bell Let’s Talk 2022 will continue to focus on taking action while considering the unique circumstances we are still facing, and that now more than ever, mental health matters and every action counts. The MHWS is excited to welcome Tyler Simmonds, Award Winning Canadian Film Director and advocate for mental health, in support of Bell Let’s Talk as part of the MHWS Speaker’s Bureau Series. Tyler will be joining the MHWS on Thursday Jan.  27 from 10 – 11:30 am, PST, via Zoom with the goal of reducing stigma surrounding mental health and normalizing connection and seeking support. –– Mental Health Resources CFB Esquimalt has an abundance of resources that you can access if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues. Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) 250-363-2640 or 1-800-353-3329 Chaplains 250-363-4106 (24hr) Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Peer Referral Line: 250-363-7968 24 hour line: 1-800-268-7708 Member Assistance Program (MAP) 24 hour line: 1-800-268-7708 CF...

[caption id="attachment_28469" align="alignnone" width="595"] An HMCS Winnipeg sailor pins a medal on his child.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer –– An Alberta grandfather of eight grandchildren, three of which have parents serving in the navy, believes children of deployed sailors deserve a medal for their service and sacrifice. Medals For Children is an initiative launched by Earl Phillips, with the idea germinating after a family deployment update call with HMCS Calgary last spring. Someone asked about medals for children, an idea he liked, which prompted him to provide miniature medals to the crew. When HMCS Winnipeg sailed, Phillips saw the opportunity to provide medals to them as well, and immediately contacted the ship to measure interest. The reaction was favourable.  So, when HMCS Winnipeg returned from its deployment in the Indo-Pacific region on Dec. 16, 2021, a box of 120 shiny blue and bronze medals were waiting on the ship’s main deck to be distributed.  The medals acknowledge the patience, heroism, and bravery of HMCS Winnipeg crew members’ children during their four-month deployment, he says. Phillips designed and ordered the medals from an online distributor in B.C. at a cost of approximately $12 each. He used his own money and that of two corporate donors in his home town to pay the bill. Both sides of the medal are coloured in blue and bronze. The front features a child’s hand reaching toward the hand of an adult; the reverse features the name of the ship – HMCS Winnipeg, and the dates of its deployment. It also includes a red and white ribbon. He then worked with the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) Esquimalt to hand out the medals at Winnipeg’s homecoming. “Children of deployed sailors are also making a commitment and sacrifice for the security of our nation by being separated...

[caption id="attachment_28468" align="aligncenter" width="596"] The crew line the deck as HMCS Montreal sails away on deployment.[/caption] Ryan Melanson Trident Newspaper –– The Royal Canadian Navy’s Atlantic Fleet has begun its first deployment of the New Year, with HMCS Montreal departing Halifax Jan.19 to join NATO colleagues in Northern Europe as part of Operation Reassurance. As has become the norm due to the pandemic, ship and crew, along with the embarked CH-148 Cyclone Helicopter Air Detachment, slipped away quietly without a large gathering at the jetty, having said goodbye to their families days earlier before beginning a hotel quarantine to reduce the risk of COVID-19 cases. But despite these  not ideal conditions, and the extra stress brought on by the worsening pandemic, Montreal’s Commanding Officer said he’s impressed by the high spirits among his ship’s company, who have all been looking forward to completing the isolation and testing requirements and getting down to business. “The crew is ready to go and all of us want to get on with it. There’s been so much preparation leading up to this point, and now the crew is eager to get going out the door and get this mission started,” said Commander Chris Devita. The majority of the team came together on board Montreal last August, and have since been working nonstop, bringing a ship that hasn’t sailed in more than two years up to the required readiness levels. “We started as a group of individuals, and now we are truly a cohesive ship’s company. I’ve never been more proud - these folks have dug deeper, found success where it wasn’t always expected, and they’ve shown a great positive attitude all along.” Another round of COVID-19 testing followed after the ship after it left its homeport, and despite the rise in cases attributed to...

DND –– Looking for a fresh opportunity to enhance your career and grow your repertoire of professional skill sets?  Become a Conduct After Capture Instructor. March 11 is the application deadline. Why become a Conduct After Capture Instructor? As a Conduct After Capture Instructor, you will develop a unique set of skills that will benefit the Canadian Armed Forces and help you gain professional development opportunities. You will be part of a unique, small team environment conducting resistance and resilience training. While COVID-19 restrictions may impact the ability of the training centre to conduct activities as planned, at this time all potential instructor candidates will undergo selection and screening in April. This is to ensure that only those with suitable abilities will move on to the instructor course in the fall. What can candidates who are selected for the instructor course expect? The Conduct After Capture Level C course is one week. Candidates will conduct practical conduct after capture training. The screening process is open to minimum ranks of Cpl/S1 (for non-commissioned members (NCMs)), or Lt/SLt (for officers). All candidates must be occupationally-qualified, and NCM candidates must have successfully completed their Primary Leadership Qualification course. The Conduct After Capture Training Centre will hold virtual recruiting sessions on Jan. 20 and 27 at the following times: French at 1000 hrs (EST) English at 1100 hrs and 1400 hrs (EST) To register, CAF members must send an email expressing their interest to Conduct After Capture  Recruiting: ++CAC.Recruiting-Recrutement.DPD@CDA-ACD@Kingston (DWAN access required) or CAC.Recruiting@forces.gc.ca. The training centre will send instructions on how to join a briefing using the WebEx Meet mobile app. Visit the CAC TC intranet site (Accessible only on the National Defence network) for more information about eligibility criteria, forms and important dates, and please refer to CANFORGEN 133/21. To submit an application or for any questions contact: ++CAC.Recruiting-Recrutement.DPD@CDA-ACD@Kingston (DWAN access required) or CAC.Recruiting@forces.gc.ca. ––––

DND –– Look no further! General Wayne Eyre and Chief Petty Officer First Class Gilles Grégoire have launched their new virtual Coffee Talk series. These hour-long, informal sessions provide a small group of Defence Team members (up to 15 per session) an opportunity to share a virtual coffee with the CDS and CAF CWO and to discuss issues, both big and small. The Coffee Talk series offers participants a forum to highlight issues, propose solutions, and learn about the CAF Command Team’s goals and priorities in a relaxed, psychologically-safe environment. These sessions also provide the CDS and CAF CWO with perspectives from a wide range of voices within the Defence Team and will help nuance their understanding of the issues that are top-of-mind for military and civilian members. The sessions will operate under Chatham House Rules to enable the free exchange of ideas. The first Coffee Talk will take place in a virtual format via MS Teams on Monday Feb. 7 and Defence Team members are invited to participate. To attend, send your name, your organization, what it is you do, and any other information about yourself you would like to share to: +Internal Communications internes@ADM(PA)@Ottawa-Hull no later than Tuesday Feb. 1. ––––

DND –– Available to all civilian employees and military members, this informative and attractive electronic calendar is a highly visible reminder of hundreds of multicultural and religious holidays, festivals, and observances occurring throughout the year, nationally and internationally. Learn about the different holidays and special events celebrated or commemorated in the many cultures across the globe, as well as here in Canada. Simply scroll over a date for a short description of the commemoration. Special diversity and inclusion commemorative events at National Defence are also included in the calendar. Download the calendar into your Outlook, as a PDF or bookmark it and consult it throughout the year. https://www.multiculturalcalendar.com/ecal/main.php?lang=en&s=ste-DND&year=2022&id=3 ––

Peter Mallett Staff Writer –– It was big, bright, and chalked full of lights. A giant 18-wheeler transport truck from Base Transport’s Special Purpose Vehicles section helped light up the holidays for area children and families attending three different holiday parades in Victoria. The float appeared in the 39th Peninsula Co-Op Santa Lights Parade on Nov. 27, IEOA Truck Light Convoy and Food Drive, Dec. 4, and the Esquimalt Light Parade on Dec. 5. Christopher Shipway, Special Purpose Vehicles Supervisor of the Transport Electrical and Mechanical Engineering unit, says creating a float for holiday parades has become an annual tradition for his unit. Over the years, thousands of Christmas light strings have been amassed. “Yes, there is room for more lights,” says Shipway. “Best guess is there are currently around 70,000 lights in our possession, depending on how you count them.” Putting the float together is no easy task. Shipway says it took approximately 1,100 volunteer hours by several staff members and their families and friends to get the job done.  The wooden structure used to display the lights was created with assistance from Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton tool cribs, shops, and shipwrights. The effort also received support from Real Property Operations Pacific and Special Events coordinator Christine Farrington. After the Christmas break there was the less-enjoyable task of removing the lights, carefully storing them for next year, and then tearing down the wooden display, which took a week for volunteers to accomplish, says Shipway. ––––

[caption id="attachment_28453" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Fredericton arrives home in Halifax on Dec. 18 after an Operation Reassurance deployment. Photo by Cpl Cheryl Clark[/caption] Joanie Veitch Trident Newspaper –– After a five-month deployment on Operation Reassurance serving as the flagship to Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1), HMCS Fredericton returned to Halifax on Dec. 18. While its primary role was as the SNMG1 flagship, Fredericton also kept busy with maritime security patrols and multinational exercises as part of Operation Reassurance, in support of NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe. In September, Fredericton took part in Dynamic Mariner 21-2, a multinational exercise held off the north coast of Scotland. “Fredericton acted as a multi-role point defence platform, participating in myriad simulated combat scenarios while at sea,” said Commander Drew Graham, the ship’s Commanding Officer. “The main value of these exercises is to provide sailors with the experience they need against real fighter aircraft and submarines, which they can bring home and spread throughout the fleet. The sailors learned how to cooperate with other navies and their sailors, creating organizational knowledge that is not soon forgotten,” he says. Other activities during Fredericton’s deployment included the Flag Officer Sea Training program off the southern coast of England and Passing Exercise training with various Baltic States. Due to a fire on board ship on Nov. 18, Fredericton had to pull out of Flotex Silver, the Royal Norwegian Navy’s exercise off the coast of Norway. “The crew fought the fire in accordance with their training, and fortunately no one was injured. It was in a tough place to fight a fire and we were in some rough weather, so the task of fighting that fire was challenging. The crew performed extremely well,” said Cdr Graham. Damage from the fire consisted mainly of...

Peter Mallett Staff Writer –– The Maritime Museum of British Columbia is looking for stories and art from Victoria’s military community for its upcoming Queer at Sea exhibit. Queer at Sea: Tales from the 2SLGBTQ+ Community will open May 17 at the museum’s new Douglas Street location and runs through the summer. The goal is to showcase the stories and artwork of 2 Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning (2SLGBTQ+) people from CFB Esquimalt and beyond, says Brittany Vis, Maritime Museum of B.C. Executive Director. “It is important that navy 2SLGBTQ+ people are represented so their contributions can be acknowledged and celebrated.” She adds much work remains in the military and throughout society to eliminate discrimination. The exhibit will showcase historical accounts of discrimination and intolerance against 2SLGBTQ+ people in the military. She points to archival records from 1920 of the discharge of a Boy Seaman for engaging in sex with fellow male crew members. He was declared unfit for service because of “mental deficiency.” Vis notes there is also the infamous story of the murder of Aaron Jenkins in 1958 by his same-sex lover Leo Mantha. “While these stories are difficult, we do plan to discuss them in the exhibit and share this history of our navy,” says Vis. “To counteract these difficult stories from the past, we would also love to feature stories from today to demonstrate how times have changed, and also to illustrate why further work still needs to happen.” Share your story or art Vis encourages military and civilian employees at the base to share their experiences of what it is like to work for navy and Department of National Defence and to consider any photos or objects that might help tell their story. Stories can be shared in several ways including: a written...

[caption id="attachment_27487" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Lieutenant Junior Grade Kyle Luchau, a United States Navy sailor on exchange with HMCS Harry DeWolf, at work on the ship’s bridge.[/caption] Royal Canadian Navy –– When HMCS Harry DeWolf finished its historic circumnavigation of North America on Dec. 16, 2021, one member of the crew headed home with a duffle bag full of memories and one-of-a-kind experiences. United States Navy sailor Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) Kyle Luchau joined the ship in mid-August, although his journey began many months earlier when he applied for the inter-navy exchange “on a whim.” “I heard about the chance to travel through the Arctic, and without hesitation I put my name forward,” says LTJG Luchau, noting that he didn’t have high hopes of being selected. “Then one day I was requested in my Executive Officer’s cabin where I saw he was on the phone. He asked me one question: ‘Do you have a valid passport?’” Soon after, LTJG Luchau was on his way to Ottawa for a quarantine period, then travelled to Iqaluit, Nunavut, to meet the ship. In addition to strengthening working relationships between the Royal Canadian Navy and the United States Navy, sailors such as LTJG Luchau who are selected for the exchange program become familiar with the other nation’s operating systems and standard operating procedures. During his time on board, LTJG Luchau worked to master the systems of the Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel, and participated in both Operations Nanook (the Canadian Armed Forces’ signature northern exercise) and Caribbe (Canada’s participation in U.S.-led counter-narcotics operations in the eastern Pacific Ocean) as part of the ship’s company. He took up duties expected of a naval warfare officer: standing watches, attending briefs and lectures, studying, and aiding the Defence Research and Development Canada’s scientists launch a new...

[caption id="attachment_27484" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Civilian contractors and crew members conduct ice operations alongside HMCS Harry Dewolf during Cold Weather Trials near Frobisher Bay on Feb 20. Photo by Corporal David Veldman, Canadian Armed Forces Photo[/caption] Master Sailor River Leggat HMCS Harry DeWolf –– Sailing as a profession is a paradoxical career. On one hand we all love to travel, but on the other hand we all can’t wait to get home. Sailing the circumnavigation of North America in HMCS Harry DeWolf was a wholly different experience - thrilling and unique with vast views. As a Naval Communicator, more specifically the Information Systems Administrator, I am the one that either steals your bandwidth or resets your passwords. I’ve been with the ship since the shore office was barely assembled with a handful of folks, through to breaking ice for the first time and now through spinning a yarn around North America. Circumnavigation was our watchword throughout the beginning of the shore office days, and all eyes were fixed on it. Going through the north was an amazing experience. The scenery and raw nature around us as we sailed from hamlet to hamlet was awe-inspiring. The sights of fleeting glaciers and wildlife such as walruses and polar bears were frequent reminders of our changing world and how nature tries its best to adapt to it. We visited Beechey Island and saw the final resting place of a handful of sailors from the Franklin Expedition. Their graves stood in mute testament to the severities of sailing through dangerous waters. We even had a close encounter with a polar bear, with whom we had a quiet (and somewhat rushed) farewell, before we respected their space and made our way back down the mountain to safety. We visited many hamlets and heard the residents’ stories,...