News

Lt(N) Pamela Hogan, Base Public Affairs Office ~CFB Esquimalt is reaching out to the public to help eliminate the unauthorized recreational use of the Nanaimo Rifle Range property in order to safeguard the public. To achieve this, information is being circulated that highlights the danger of encroaching on a live firing range area, with the goal of stopping the trespassing. The base is also enhancing infrastructure around the range boundaries.A recent physical security survey of the range showed a significant amount of trespassing and the illegal installation of recreational infrastructure. Additionally, there is evidence of vandalism and non-military use of firearms within the property. “While we regret and acknowledge past historic use, albeit unauthorized, of the area inside the Nanaimo Rifle Range, recent incidents and ongoing safety concerns require us to take action,” said Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd, Commander of CFB Esquimalt. “I have concern for the individuals and families that continue to trespass within this active, live-fire facility and urge everyone to respect the boundaries we have put in place. To date, we have had many positive interactions with the public who continue to be essential in helping to spread this message. We want to thank everyone for their cooperation and understanding as we take the necessary action to ensure public safety.” While CFB Esquimalt acknowledges and is sympathetic to those individuals who have expressed concern about the enforcement of these boundaries, trespassing in this controlled access area is both against the law and dangerous. Range use encompasses live-fire training during the day, night, and throughout the weekend, and the severity of potential trespasser injury may be intensified by the remoteness of the area.Members of the public may not be aware that the range footprint includes more than the physical range infrastructure of the firing lines and back stops. The...

[caption id="attachment_20814" align="alignnone" width="593"] Bombardier Marie-Herene Maillet became the first female Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member to achieve a perfect score of 400 on her annual FORCE Test.[/caption]Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs ~Just say “it is time for your mandatory annual FORCE evaluation” and even seasoned Canadian Armed Forces members get nervous – but not Bombardier Marie-Herene Maillet, who scored an unheard of 100 per cent.Bdr Maillet is an Air Defence Technician with 4th Artillery Regiment (General Support), Royal Canadian Artillery, based in Oromocto, New Brunswick.In order to demonstrate they have the high level of physical fitness required for service, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members are subject to annual FORCE Evaluations. They must complete a series of four tasks: the sandbag lift, the sandbag drag, 20-metre rushes, and the intermittent loaded shuttle (five 40-metre shuttles with a weight and five without).Only 0.2 per cent of CAF personnel manage to get a “platinum” score of between 394 and 400 points on their annual fitness test. Not only did a Canadian Army member join that small but distinguished group on Feb. 19, but she is also the first female CAF member to have reached platinum – and with a perfect score of 400.Describing herself as a “super-hyperactive human,” Bdr Maillet explained that her personal fitness regime – a daily morning run of up to five kilometres, daily weight training and three afternoon swims each week – proved to be more than adequate preparation. Career ambitions were also a major motivator.

[caption id="attachment_20818" align="alignnone" width="593"] The bow mega block section of the future HMCS Margaret Brooke is moved outside at Irving’s Halifax shipyard. Photo courtesy Irving Shipbuilding[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~The Government of Canada and Irving Shipbuilding marked the latest milestone of the National Shipbuilding Strategy on May 3 with the start of construction on the future HMCS William Hall. It is the fourth of the Royal Canadian Navy’s future fleet of Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS).A ceremony was held inside the Assembly Hall at Irving’s Halifax Shipyard, with the Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, and RAdm Art McDonald, Deputy Commander Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), and other government, Canadian Armed Forces, and industry representatives.With hundreds of his colleagues looking on, shipyard apprentice Connor Warren made the first welds as part of the construction of the future ship.Minister Sajjan described the progress of AOPS construction as evidence the National Shipbuilding Strategy has revitalized the marine industry in Canada and led to new Canadian innovations. This will all lead to a strong and modern fleet of new RCN warships.Like the other ships in its class, the fourth AOPS is named after a Canadian naval hero. Petty Officer William Hall was a sailor aboard HMS Shannon in 1857 when crew from the ship provided support to the British Army during the relief of Lucknow. Hall received the Victoria Cross in 1859 for his role in that battle, breaching an important wall as part of a 24-pounder howitzer crew despite sustaining serious injuries. Hall was the first Nova Scotian and the first person of African descent to receive the Victoria Cross.Several shipbuilders working at the shipyard through Irving and Nova Scotia Community College’s Pathways to Shipbuilding – African Nova Scotian Program were front and centre at the ceremony to see work begin on the...

Lt(N) Linda Coleman, HMCS Regina PAO ~Meet HMCS Regina’s Navigating Officer and Senior Bridge Watchkeeper, Lt(N) Taylor Workman. The London, Ontario, native is on Operation Artemis, the Canadian Armed Forces’ ongoing contribution to counter-terrorism and maritime security operations in the Middle Eastern and East African waters.So far on this mission, Regina has seized over 9,000 kg of narcotics in the Northern Arabian Sea in an area known as the “hash highway” – a historical shipping route through the Indian Ocean that’s been known for smuggling hashish for centuries. The profits made from selling these illegally smuggled narcotics is a known source of funding for terrorist and criminal organizations in the region.For Lt(N) Workman, this is an exciting part of his job. “When a suspicious vessel we tracked down is being searched by the boarding team and you get the call that they found drugs being illegally smuggled, it’s an awesome feeling,” said Lt(N) Workman. “Once it sinks in that you’re making an impact, and you get to share the news with friends and family highlighting what you’re doing out here and why you’re deployed for so long, it makes me feel proud of our ship and our navy for having an impact on the global stage.” So how did someone from Ontario find himself hunting drug smugglers in the Arabian Sea with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN)? “My grandfather was a pilot who trained other pilots during the Second World War; so, the idea of serving the country was always in the back of my mind.” In 2010, Lt(N) Workman joined the navy through HMCS Prevost, the Naval Reserve Division in London, ON. Once he completed Basic Training, Lt(N) Workman said he was “hooked” and within six months requested a transfer to the Regular Force. “I got accepted to the Regular Officer...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Victoria Minor Hockey Association (VMHA) has undergone a naval-themed rebranding and will now be known as the Victoria Admirals.The name switch from the Victoria Ice Hawks to Admirals was announced April 30 and came after club officials approved the amalgamation of Victoria and Saanich Minor Hockey Associations for the upcoming 2019-2020 season. The realignment grows the size of the club to approximately 900 players on 55 house league teams and elite level representative teams.“CFB Esquimalt has been a part of the community for over 150 years and we’re so pleased that the Victoria Admirals have chosen to recognize that naval connection,” said Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd, Base Commander for CFB Esquimalt.VMHA’s new logos and uniform were designed by local artist and illustrator Jeremie White. White previously designed uniforms for the Vancouver Canucks during the 1990s and has children who play hockey for VMHA teams. The logo features a large red letter ‘V’ backed by an anchor and a horizontal fronting crest featuring the nickname “Admirals.” An alternate logo designed by White features a Canadian warship and its main gun on a black, red and grey background accented by waves and a white maple leaf. The new jerseys won’t be revealed until a ceremony later this year.Nicki Reich, VMHA Vice President and Communications Director, led the VMHA re-branding process and says the name change reflects the importance of the Pacific naval fleet in the community. “It has been a pleasure to work with the team at the base to create a brand that acknowledges our naval heritage in Victoria,” said Reich.

[caption id="attachment_20801" align="alignnone" width="593"] An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) controller assembles the UAV onboard HMCS Whitehorse during Operation Caribbe. Photo by Operation Caribbe Imagery Technician[/caption]Captain Annie Morin, Op Caribbe Public Affairs Officer ~The new PUMA Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) – commonly known as a drone – was employed throughout the recent Operation Caribbe mission, greatly enhancing the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability of HMCS Whitehorse, a Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel.The employment of PUMA onboard Whitehorse was a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) first; the culmination of many months of effort by military and DND civilian teams.The system provided enhanced visibility during boarding operations conducted by the embarked United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement detachment, allowing personnel aboard Whitehorse to monitor boarding operations from above. In one situation, the drone was used to locate a suspect vessel prior to a boarding, and feed real-time video back to the ship while teams conducted a search.Operation Caribbe is Canada’s contribution to United States-led efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking at sea.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Two sail training vessels of the Royal Canadian Navy with their team of sailors are set to compete in next month’s prestigious Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race.This year’s biennial 580-nautical mile race is a 15-day sailing competition around Vancouver Island beginning June 1 in Nanaimo. This year’s 15th edition will involve what organizers say are 38 of the fastest yachts in the region and approximately 400 competitors.Lieutenant Commander Chris Maier, a Division Commander at Naval Fleet School (Pacific), heads Esquimalt’s team who will race aboard Fleet School’s 36-foot, sloop-rigged (single mast), Sail Training Vessels (STV) Goldcrest and Tuna. LCdr Maier says the race will provide an “invaluable experience” for those selected to compete.“It’s a very exciting race that will showcase what the RCN sail training program is able to do,” he said. “Sailors will be tested in all sorts of conditions, whether sailing upwind in very challenging conditions to transiting difficult stretches of waterway such as the notoriously difficult Seymour Narrows near Campbell River.”Crews for the two boats are sailors from Naval Fleet School (Pacific) and Regular Officer Training Program (ROTP) students, most of whom are new to the navy and sailboat racing. Teams will be led by a few experienced sailors handpicked from the fleet to be watch captains.LCdr Maier is also Commodore of the Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA) recreational sailing club. He has seven years sailing experience and spends many weekends out on the water with the CFSA, but says the race is also going to put his abilities to the test.“This will be the most challenging thing I have ever done aboard a sailboat,” he said. “It will be a long and intense series of nine sailing legs between nine ports in many places I have never sailed before, and I will...

[caption id="attachment_20794" align="alignnone" width="592"] Cmdre Angus Topshee presents Cdr (Retired) Al Kennedy with athe Wound Stripe on May 14. Kennedy was severely injured in the HMCS Kootenay explosion on Oct. 23, 1969. Photo by SLt Michael Déry[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~As the 50th anniversary of the HMCS Kootenay explosion approaches this fall, one of its survivors has finally been honoured with a Wound Stripe, a distinction worn on the sleeve of military members wounded in action prior to 2001. Commander (Retired) Al Kennedy, 77, received the honour from Commodore Angus Topshee, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, last Tuesday at a ceremony in D100.The Victoria resident was the Engineering Officer in Kootenay on the morning of Oct. 23, 1969. Just after 8 a.m. there was an explosion in the ship’s engine room that killed nine people, including seven of the 10 men in Kennedy’s engine room team. The tragedy is considered the Royal Canadian Navy’s worst peace-time accident, so it was with a heavy heart and tears that Kennedy addressed those at the ceremony. “I cannot forget the nine men who lost their lives that day, and of course their families, wives, children, parents and friends who were bereft,” said Kennedy. “It was a terrible experience for everyone, and I survived, but not a day goes by when I don’t think about it.”The Wound Stripe Kennedy received is the forerunner of the present-day Sacrifice Medal, created in 2001 to recognize members of the CAF, a member of an allied force, or a Canadian civilian under the authority of the Canadian Forces who died or was wounded under honorable circumstances as a direct result of hostile action.Before presenting him with this honour and a ceremonial plaque, Cmdre Topshee congratulated Kennedy for his strength and character in the incident. He then apologized that it had...

[caption id="attachment_20786" align="alignnone" width="592"] Members of Royal Canadian Navy participate in the Battle of the Atlantic Service. Photo by LS Brendan Gibson, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]SLt Richard Bowker, HMCS Calgary ~T he first HMCS Calgary (K231) was a Flower-class Corvette, one of many that were built to meet the demand for escorting merchant vessels across the Atlantic during the Second World War.Corvette crews earned a reputation of possessing a hardy and courageous spirit, which would serve them well against the submarines that stalked allied ships. The Corvettes proved effective in anti-submarine warfare, with Calgary being no exception. On Nov. 20, 1943, Calgary in consort with HMCS Snowberry and HMS Nene, sank the German submarine U-536. Calgary would continue to serve in an anti-submarine and escort role through the Battle of the Atlantic and in the North Sea, as well as at the Battle of Normandy. Calgary was paid off on June 19, 1945, but her spirit lives on in her successor.The current HMCS Calgary (FFH335) is the flagship of Canada’s Pacific Fleet and proudly carries the Battle Honours of her predecessor. Her strike to maintain mission focus and courageous spirit has brought the ship and crew success at home and abroad, most recently during Operation Projection in 2018. From Newfoundland to British Columbia, and all parts in-between, the crew of Calgary hails from all walks of life and proudly represents Canada. Not all her sailors are from the navy; many of the crew come from the air force and army. MWO Louise Martel is one such sailor. Though her element is army, she has sailed with the navy for three years in Calgary as the senior supply technician and racked up over 365 days at sea. No matter their background, the crew of Calgary came together the first Sunday in May to honour...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~To invigorate the physical fitness and wellness of its members, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have launched a new physical performance strategy called Balance. Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jonathan Vance announced the rollout of the new strategic document on April 23. It’s focused on realizing the “people first and mission always” goals spelled out in Canada’s Defence Policy Strong, Secure and Engaged. Gen Vance says the aim of Balance is to promote a culture of fitness and improved physical performance for Canada’s approximately 68,000 regular force and 22,000 reserve members. “We have a collective responsibility within the Canadian Armed Forces to develop and sustain a strong, healthy and fit military,” said Gen Vance. “This begins with leaders who are fully committed to a culture of physical fitness and wellness, and where sailors, soldiers, and airmen and airwomen take their wellbeing seriously.”Balance falls in line with Canada’s Defence Policy that was announced in June 2017 and builds on the former Canadian Armed Forces Health and Fitness Strategy policy that was introduced in 2008. Balance is intended to “reinvigorate” the essential components of operational readiness and lifelong wellness by focusing on four key areas: physical activity, performance nutrition, adequate sleep and prevention of injury. “The strategy’s ultimate goal is to ensure every military member has the support, resources and opportunities to maintain a balanced, healthy, active lifestyle that makes them ready for Canadian Armed Forces operational requirements,” said Gen Vance. Balance was developed by the CAF with support from Personnel Support Programs (PSP), creating an 82-page guidebook available in PDF version on the national CAF Connection website (www.cafconnection.com/balance ). It provides local command teams the necessary tools to assist and encourage military members in becoming fitter, healthier and more operationally ready than before.The document spells out...

[caption id="attachment_20779" align="alignnone" width="593"] Military members remove a table from the former detention centre. Photo by John Penner/ John’s Photography[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Armed with sledgehammers, drills, saws and tool belts, 35 volunteers from the Royal Canadian Navy helped local charity HeroWork with a difficult demolition project in View Royal. Made up of staff from the Damage Control Division of Naval Fleet School (Pacific), volunteers spent most of April 30 gutting the inside of a former youth detention centre on Talcott Road. The demo work is to make way for a full-scale renovation of the building on behalf of Our Place Therapeutic Recovery Centre that will take place in June. HeroWork is a local non-profit that helps other local charities improve their buildings through self-described Radical Renovations. HeroWork Chief Executive Officer, Paul Latour says the demolition work was a vitally important first step in their latest renovation and the work completed included the removal of fibre glass beds and seating from the holding cells, lighting and electrical boxes, cabinetry and cupboards, along with the demolition of concrete walls. He commended the volunteers for their efforts while also noting their work was more difficult than most demolition projects since the site is a former jail and everything there was built not to be broken.“The team of volunteers arrived on a bus from CFB Esquimalt, got to work right away and in an organized fashion,” said Latour. “Historically, volunteers from the base have made enormous contributions to our projects and we can always count on them. We are also expecting a big turnout from them when our Radical Renovation project for Our Place starts in June.”Our Place Therapeutic Recovery is a local non-profit with a mandate of tackling the problems of homelessness, addiction, and incarceration through the development of a therapeutic recovery community as...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Author Misao Dean, University of Victoria Canadian literature professor and author of Inheriting a Canoe Paddle, will speak about Reconciliation from a Settler Point of View on May 22 at 11 a.m. at Naden’s Learning and Career Centre. Her appearance is facilitated by the Defence Aboriginal Awareness Group as part of CFB Esquimalt’s Aboriginal Awareness Week events. “The theme for my address is to make the point that we are all treaty people,” said Dean. “Indigenous people carry a treaty card and are very aware they are governed by the provisions of treaties, but sadly the rest of Canadian society is mostly oblivious to the fact. Treaties confer obligations as well as benefits. I want people to think about the obligations imposed on us by treaties and better understand the historical injustice that has occurred in our country.”Her presentation of blunt, often unpleasant historical facts and a rejection of more traditional interpretations of Canadian history has created a buzz in literary circles, but has also caused her some unwanted attention. In March 2016, Dean appeared on CBC 180 to discuss her book. She used the phrase “white canoeists” and that brought on a barrage of cyber bullying comments. “It was quite frightening,” said Dean. “My intention was never to suggest that all colonialists were personally evil people, but more factually that they didn’t pay close enough attention to the consequences of their actions. Consequences we all have to live with today.” Dean moved to Victoria in 1989 after receiving her PHD in English at Queen’s University. Over the years she has taught several former and current serving military personnel in her classes and says she has little doubt the military community will embrace her message. “I perceive military people as hard working and very focussed on trying...

[caption id="attachment_20771" align="alignnone" width="593"] More than 120 sea, army and air cadets from across Canada took part in opening ceremonies of the 45th National Cadet Marksmanship Championship at Wurtele Arena. Photo by Captain Shirley Ho[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Army, air and sea cadets from across Canada hit us with their best shots May 5 to 9 in this year’s National Cadet Marksmanship Competition held at CFB Esquimalt.Equipped with Daisy 853C air rifles, 125 cadets, ages 12 to 18, took to the concrete floor in the Naden Wurtele Arena for the competition, guided under the same rules and regulations that govern Olympic shooting competitions. Twenty-two teams representing all of Canada’s provinces, Nunavut and the North West Territories competed for team and individual medals while shooting from standing and prone (lying down) positions. Individuals and teams competing in the nationals had won or were runners-up in their provincial or territorial marksmanship competitions in order to qualify.Cadets were housed and fed at Work Point and Naden, and took part in several activities during their stay that included tours of Fort Rodd Hill, Hatley Castle, downtown Victoria, HMCS Calgary, and Zodiac boat rides around Esquimalt Harbour. Captain Beth Devlin of Regional Cadet Support Unit (Pacific), an organizer of the event, congratulated senior leadership at the base and Personnel Support Programs staff for pulling out all the stops in making this year’s competition a success.“The cadets got to experience things and see sites they had never seen before,” said Capt Devlin. “The support of the base and its staff has allowed us an experience for youth they just couldn’t get in any other program.”After all the results had been tallied by the afternoon of May 10, winners were announced in the following categories: Overall TeamGold 2820 RCACC, Charny, QC; Silver 51 RCACS, Ottawa, ON; Bronze 907...

[caption id="attachment_20768" align="alignnone" width="593"] Photo by MCpl Carbe Orellana, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~CFB Esquimalt’s Base Logistics has installed a sophisticated storage and retrieval system at its main warehouse in Colwood that whittles down finding a part to mere seconds.Vice Admiral Ron Lloyd, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, was on hand to snip the ribbon at Colwood 66 on May 3, unveiling the Kardex Remstar Shuttle 500.The Vertical Lift System (VLS), he said, is a technological innovation that will greatly enhance both the speed and efficiency of the supply chain across the Pacific Fleet.“When you are down range in your ship and you need something quickly, being able to get that part is where readiness really stands,” said VAdm Lloyd.The cubed-shaped storage retrieval system measures just 600 square feet but can store approximately 40,000 of the warehouse’s small volume goods. Those items are currently stored on towering shelving units accessible by ladders that occupy a footprint of 6,000 square feet.The arrival of the Vertical Lift System took 15 months from planning to execution, which is a record-breaking timeline for the implementation of this first-of-a-kind CAF capability, says Commander Sam Sader, Commanding Officer of Base Logistics.“VLS is a huge game changer and a complete transformation of the way the RCN does business because its magnitude for efficiencies is really at least tenfold in everything it does,” said Cdr Sader. “Adopting this new best-in-class technology not only optimizes the warehousing process to deliver parts faster to Fleet and FMF, it also makes warehousing systems more user friendly and safer for staff.”In his address, Capt(N) Jason Boyd, Base Commander, commended the assistance of the projects partners including Real Properties Operations (Pacific), who made structural and construction upgrades in the warehouse to accommodate the new system; Base Information Services (BIS) and the...

[caption id="attachment_20740" align="alignnone" width="593"] The Esquimalt Fire Bear gather for a team photo after their gold medal win. Right: Fire Bears team captain Josh Peterson of Esquimalt Fire and Rescue raises the Beaver Cup trophy over his head in celebration of their win. Inset below: Blues guitarist Jesse Roper and member of the RPOps Thrashers belts out a rendition of O Canada on his guitar during the Beaver Cup opening ceremony at Wurtele Arena. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Esquimalt Fire Bears engineered a 5-2 victory over 19 Wing Comox to capture the gold medal at this year’s Beaver Cup hockey tournament.The latest edition of the annual recreational hockey competition for members of the military’s engineering community was played April 23 to 26 at Wurtele Arena and featured five co-ed teams squaring off in round robin play. The Esquimalt Fire and Rescue team made a triumphant return to the tournament after a four year absence. Fire Bears team captain Josh Peterson raised the Beaver Cup trophy over his head as his teammates cheered during the post-game trophy presentation ceremony led by Real Property Operations (Pacific) Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Matthew Sandy.“We didn’t come to lose but our opponents from Comox were also great competitors and the final score certainly didn’t reflect how closely matched the two teams were on the ice today,” said Peterson who works as a firefighter at the Base. “The most important thing is we got on the ice as engineers and focused on building friendship and camaraderie with our peers through hockey.”LCol Sandy says the tournament is an effort to bring together civilian employees and military personnel who work in the DND engineering community at CFB Esquimalt and 19 Wing Comox for some friendly competition.“The engineering community at military bases are a tight-knit family,...

Lt(N) Linda Coleman, HMCS Regina ~It was April 27, a Saturday night, when HMCS Regina was alongside in Muscat, Oman, for a port visit during Operation Artemis.While many Canadians were watching playoff hockey on Hockey Night in Canada back at home, HMCS Regina had their own version going on: Hockey Night in Oman. Oman is known for its beautiful beaches and hot weather. But ice hockey? Not so much. Yet to our surprise, ice hockey not only exists in Oman, but is alive and well.In over 30 degree heat, HMCS Regina’s hockey team made their way to an ice hockey rink called “Fun Zone” in Muscat to play against an expat team called the Wadi Dogs, and the Oman national ice hockey team, the Khanjars.The game was organized by PO2 Tom Orlowski, a Marine Technician onboard Regina, and Aaron Grimley, a member of the expat team in Muscat. It was thanks to Mr. Grimley that Regina had the privilege to play against the Oman national team. The Oman national hockey team was founded in 2014, but it originally started because of the Canadian expat community in Oman. “Back in 2008, we saw a group of Canadians playing here once a week,” said Ibrahim Galadiri, a player on the Oman national team. “We bought some hockey equipment and decided to join them, and day by day we got more players. We decided to make our own team, and then the government decided to support us in 2014.” The team is an associate member of the International Ice Hockey Federation, plays against other Gulf countries, and participates annually in the Challenge Cup of Asia.“It’s fantastic to see how hockey has grown around the world,” said LS Eric Johnston during intermission. “To play in Oman in the Middle East, it’s amazing.” “I never imagined...

[caption id="attachment_20743" align="alignnone" width="593"] LS Scott Ferron[/caption]SLt M.X. Déry, MARAPC Public Affairs Office ~Wood chips fly in all directions as LS Scott Ferron grips his chain saw and taps a block of red cedar. With each cut from the rotating teeth an eagle takes form.His emerging sculpture is practice for the Campbell River Shoreline Art Competition.“Being able to take a chain saw with that much power and make a work of art is something that intrigued me,” said LS Ferron, a Marine Technician in HMCS Victoria. Prior to joining the Navy in 2010, he worked in forestry and discovered this unique art form when he witnessed a competition. “It was the first time I saw someone carve a work of art with a chainsaw,” he said. “I found a new use for that power tool.”Under the mentorship of Chris Foltz and Bob King, two award winning carvers, LS Ferron learned this craft.He is now revving up for the competition in June, which means making sure the chain saws are in working order and practicing on multiple canvases or logs. But raw material can get expensive.To save money, he looks for free material such as deadfall. But he must be mindful of rot, nails, or anything that would destroy his tools. Luckily British Columbia has plenty of red cedar, which is rot resistant and a softwood, making carving easier. He managed to acquire a fair amount of wood from a local resident who was willing to part with it if he carved her a dog.The practice pieces don’t compare to the massive lumber he’ll carve during the four-day competition; a typical piece is eight feet tall and four feet in diameter. Competitors are given about 40 hours to carve their submissions, plus they do a quick carve that is auctioned off.“It requires a...

SLt Matthew Mooney, HMCS Ottawa ~It takes a lot for a ship and crew to be ready to let go her lines and proceed to sea in support of Canadian operations around the world. The process begins the moment the ship returns from her previous deployment. A warship is like a floating city that is constantly supporting its crew. After a long deployment overseas, the ship needs to proceed alongside for a maintenance period where anything that degraded overseas can be repaired or replaced. Ottawa’s road to readiness began in September when she and her crew returned from their summer deployment to Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).During October of last year, work was conducted on a number of systems to bring the ship back up to its full fighting order. Both software and hardware was replaced in order to ensure that sailors would have the best equipment to support them on their missions. But it isn’t only the equipment that is changed. The crew of a warship is dynamic; it is constantly being supplemented as crew members go on leave or career courses or get posted in and out. So, in addition to new equipment, there are always new personnel to train and mentor in their new roles or, in many cases, on their new ship. Ottawa took the opportunity, while sailing for the Submarine Commander’s Course in February to invite Sea Training (Pacific) to help mentor the team in an Assisted Ship Readiness Training (ASRT) program. During ASRT, Sea Training ran the crew, who in many cases was working together for the first time, through exercises designed to highlight areas for improvement for the future. The ASRT program aims to assist all of the different organizations in HMC ships. There are simulated warfare engagements, gun shoots, simulated boardings, and...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~It has been a punishing start to 2019 for Lt(N) Nico Lightbody. The award-winning triathlete had two serious accidents that have left him with broken bones, and unlikely to compete in any sport competitions until late this year.While at an Ironman training camp in Los Angeles Jan. 24, he took a spill riding his bike down a steep incline. His bike flipped and he went over the handlebars and landed on his back with the impact breaking his right collarbone and his helmet in two. The injury required doctors to insert pins and a plate in his shoulder to hold his collarbone in place. Lt(N) Lightbody estimates he was travelling 40 kilometres an hour when his back wheel struck a small rock on the path. Then three weeks ago he was riding his bike on Ash Road in Saanich and was taking a sip from his water bottle when a utility vehicle suddenly stopped in front of him. He was able to brake before striking the back end of the vehicle, but the braking action pushed all his weight forward and his entire body flipped forward over his handlebars. He landed on his head and back, and this time suffered a broken left collarbone, more road rash, and soft tissue damage in his right forearm.“My first injury came as a complete shock and I didn’t know I had broken anything,” said Lt(N) Lightbody. “In my latest accident it was a case of surreal disbelief that this could happen again, and then sadness.”He was back to training for the June 1 Ironman 70.3 competition in Hawaii when the second accident happened. “It was super unfortunate to break my collarbone for the second time in three months,” said Lt(N) Lightbody. “All my races for this year are up in...

[caption id="attachment_20731" align="alignnone" width="593"] Photo by LS Gibson, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Lt(N) Evan Park, Naval Fleet School (Pacific) ~On a clear sunny afternoon in Constance Bank, four Patrol Craft Training (PCT) Orcas operated with a CH-148 Cyclone Helicopter (call sign Stinger 20) for the first time. The vessels were at sea in support of the Athabaskan Naval Warfare Officer IV Charge phase.The Cyclone, a much more powerful aircraft than the Sea King, created significant downwash, so it was important to determine the effects on the Orca class and to practice countering such effects. Once interoperability was proven, the aircraft pilot and the officers in charge of PCT Wolf, Raven and Grizzly exercised personnel transfers between the two platforms. “Proving the concept opens the door to future transfers of provisions or personnel while underway, increasing flexibility in routine operations and/or during emergency response situations” said LCdr Erik Poirier, Officer in Charge of PCT Wolf.Athabaskan NWO IV Charge students, in their last training phase before joining the fleet, had a unique opportunity to work with the new airframe. “Working with the Cyclone this week was a rare opportunity for myself and my fellow students,” said A/SLt Liam Moors. “We did not expect to work with it until we reached the fleet, let alone be a part of the first operation ever between the two platforms. It was a great experience.”

[caption id="attachment_20728" align="alignnone" width="593"] A sailor assumes force protection duty.[/caption]Capt Annie Morin, Public Affairs Officer, Operation Caribbe ~As HMCS Yellowknife sails under the hot sun in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, the air is heavy with humidity, bringing the temperature to about 45 degrees with the humidex. It’s nearly impossible to stay dry even when limiting your movements. Your clothes stick to you in all the wrong places; the nape of your neck perpetually clammy. Inevitably, sweat is just something you have to deal with. The ship’s task at hand on Operation Caribbe is to find and board vessels of interest carrying illicit drugs, and on April 14 they made their first drug bust. Start of the actionOn the bridge of the ship, everything was dark apart from the faint lights emanating from the equipment. From afar, Yellowknife was nearly invisible sailing in its search area when the radar picked up a signal from a nearby vessel. The helmsman piped boarding stations signaling to those involved in the boarding to get ready; the ship’s Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats was lowered into the water with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) law enforcement detachment who would actually perform the boarding. The crew positioned the ship favorably using the moonlight so it could remain unseen by the vessel for as long as possible. A Costa Rican flag was spotted on the vessel. Other than required communications with the operations room, the bridge was quiet in anticipation. In complete darkness, the RHIBs pulled away. As the RHIBs came to the sides of the suspected smuggling vessel, the Captain was hailed by USCG members; the suspects stood noticeably surprised by the sudden nocturnal apparition, but remained calm. One by one, the USCG members climbed on board the vessel, having received authorization to board by authorities. Upon receiving...

[caption id="attachment_20704" align="alignnone" width="593"] Retired submariner Jim Northrup spoke to members of the Lost Soul group about the history of the Naval Museum and some of his own experiences in the building. Photo by Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~Jim Northrup says he’s heard a lot of strange stories about the Naval Museum of Halifax over the years.A retired submariner and volunteer at the museum, Northrup recalled a story from a commissionaire who saw a woman in the building after hours, only to have her disappear when he spoke to her. He also remembered contractors replacing the windows of the 200-year-old building, who talked about feeling the presence of people standing behind or beside them while they worked.“There’s all kinds of stories like that. I’ve felt it too. I had a friend who called this building the creepiest place he ever worked in,” Northrup said.Those types of stories were what led Lost Soul Spiritual Services, a local group that specializes in spiritual and paranormal house cleansing, to the museum on March 25 for a special visit and to investigate.While the group normally works with people who are troubled by feelings of spirits or paranormal activity in their homes, CFB Halifax agreed to have the group in for an investigation into the creepy tales that have circulated for years.Heather Rann, a self-described medium and one of the founders of the group, said she’s done similar work in the past at the Halifax Citadel and Fortress of Louisbourg, but the Naval Museum marked the biggest project with her current teammates and new gear, including a Structured Light Sensor camera system, like the type often used to seek out paranormal activity on TV.“This is one of our bigger and more exciting investigations,” she said.Rann and her colleagues got a tour of the...

[caption id="attachment_20701" align="alignnone" width="592"] An officer from HMCS Yellowknife deploys an Argo float in the Pacific Ocean. Photo by Captain Annie Morin[/caption]Capt Annie Morin, Public Affairs Officer Operation Caribbe ~Recently, HMCS Yellowknife was asked by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to water deploy an Argo float as part of a broad-scale global array of temperature/salinity floats. This piece of equipment provides continuous monitoring of temperature, salinity, and the velocity of the upper ocean. To gather the information, the Argo floats go through a cycle of approximately 10 days. The float first descends at a depth of approximately 1,000 meters and drifts for eight to 10 days. At that point, it descends further to about 2,000 meters before ascending to the surface over a period of approximately six hours where it will spend some time at the surface of the water to transmit its data. While submerged, the float collects water column information and data. The cycle is then repeated to gather and transmit new data.  “HMCS Yellowknife was presented with the opportunity to contribute to the gathering of oceanographic data and gladly accepted the offer,” said Lieutenant Commander Donald Thompson-Greiff, the ship’s commanding officer. “By supporting the Department of Fisheries and Oceans with the deployment of an Argo float off Latin America, we are able to help the collection of a range of data valuable for research.” Debuted in 2000, the program activates about 800 floats each year which contributes to a greater understanding of the oceans. The data gathered by the floats is released near real-time to the Argo Global Data Centres located in Brest, France, and Monterey, California. Overall, the global network includes some 4,000 Argo floats around the world with over 30 participating nations in the program.Lieutenant (N) Josée Belcourt, Maritime Forces Pacific Formation Oceanographer, was the liaison between DFO and the Royal Canadian Navy to facilitate deployment of the floats. She explains that the data gathered “provides valuable scientific information to monitor ocean variability, including...

[caption id="attachment_20697" align="alignnone" width="591"] Members of the French Navy NH90 helicopter detachment from Task Force 473 meet with members of HMCS Regina’s Cyclone helicopter detachment on the ship’s flight deck. Photo by Cpl Stuart Evans[/caption]Lt(N) Linda Coleman, HMCS Regina Public Affairs Officer ~Last Tuesday, HMCS Regina conducted a cooperative deployment with French Task Force (TF) 473, a Carrier Strike Group with nuclear-powered French Navy aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle as its centerpiece. The cooperation took place in the Arabian Sea with the goal of enhancing interoperability and improving communications.The day started with an Air Defence Exercise (ADEX), which saw French Navy Rafale M Fighter jets take off from Charles de Gaulles aircraft carrier to conduct maneuvers over Regina. As the jets flew over the warship as low as 200 feet, Regina’s operations room was buzzing with activity. The aim was to exercise Above Water Warfare capabilities by practicing detect to engage, warnings, self defence against unknown strike / fighter bomber aircraft, and air to surface missiles. “The ADEX was a lot of fun for our Above Water Warfare team to track and locate French fighter jets,” said Lt(N) Adam Ness, Regina’s Above Water Warfare Officer. “The opportunity to work with an aircraft carrier and its fighter jets doesn’t come around very often, so it was a unique opportunity for us to exercise these skills. Happy to say that we rose to the challenge resulting in a successful exercise.” The afternoon saw TF 473’s NH90 Helicopter conduct deck evolutions with Regina, including hoisting, slinging, and landings. For Regina’s embarked Cyclone helicopter detachment, it was an opportunity to conduct joint training. “The deck evolutions went very well with the French Navy. It’s great professional development for us to work with other countries, see how they operate and perform these procedures, which is a...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~During the Second World War, Commander (Retired) Peter Godwin Chance served in a variety of Canadian warships including HMCS Skeena, HMCS Seacliff, and HMCS Gatineau.After the war, he would see combat again as part of Canada’s support of UN operations in the Korean War. From April 1951 to July 1952 he served aboard tribal-class destroyer HMCS Cayuga, overseeing navigation and air direction during bombardments along the coastline. In 1986, he was awarded and the Admiral’s Medal and then in 2002 the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal; in 2014 he received the French Legion of Honour Medal at the rank of Knight and was also awarded a Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation. Today, Chance delights at the opportunity to share his vivid descriptions about his experiences at sea. His autobiography entitled, A Sailor’s Life 1920 to 2001, was published by SeaWaves Books in 2011.Commander (Retired) Peter Godwin Chance, 98, answered some questions from today’s sailors about his service, and survival, on the Atlantic Ocean during the Battle of the Atlantic.---CPO2 Joe Dagenais, Chief Boatswain Mate HMCS ReginaQ: Sir, first of all thank-you for your service, and all that you and your shipmates did for Canada. My question is which of the over 40 missions that you participated in was the most memorable?A: Operation Neptune because of the magnitude and scope, and it helped settle the course of the war. LS Robert Thrun, Marine Systems Engineering Division HMCS ReginaQ: What were your initial reasons for enlisting in the service? Also did your personal experiences throughout the course of the war change you view point of the services or strengthen the beliefs that you already held and caused you to enlist?A: I enlisted because my next-door neighbour in Ottawa was a Sub-Lieutenant at the local reserve division known as The Ottawa...

[caption id="attachment_20694" align="alignnone" width="591"] Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Barry, Operations Officer for Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Te Mana, salutes during last week’s ANZAC Day ceremony at the Esquimalt Memorial Park Cenotaph.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~When sailors of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) gathered to commemorate ANZAC Day last week, the Battle of River Plate was not far from their thoughts. The decisive battle occurred in the first few months of the Battle of the Atlantic and unfolded off the coast of Uruguay in late 1939. HMS Achilles, a New Zealand-crewed British warship, helped deliver a crushing defeat to Germany and morale-boosting victory for the Allies. Loaned to New Zealand by the British, Achilles played a pivotal role in disabling Germany’s formidable pocket battleship Graf Spee. Even though Achilles and two Royal Navy ships were heavily outmuscled by the superior German surface raider, Achilles became the first New Zealand warship engaged in a Second World War naval battle, and also their first win.Last week on April 25, at 10 a.m., approximately 80 RNZN sailors from Her Majesty’s New Zealand Ships (HMNZS) Te Mana and Te Kaha gathered at the cenotaph in Esquimalt to commemorate ANZAC Day. The national day of remembrance is observed in Australia and New Zealand; it was originally established to commemorate the two nation’s sacrifices of the First World War. Nowadays, ANZAC Day pays homage to military personnel who served in all wars, both conflicts and peacekeeping operations. For sailors of the RNZN, The Battle of River Plate will always be in their thoughts. Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Barry of Te Mana was one of those who bowed his head in a moment of silence to remember his countrymen who sacrificed so much. LCdr Barry says his thoughts drifted to his Great Grandfathers who fought in the First World...

Clare Sharpe, CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum ~The story of Victoria’s adopted ship, HMCS Beacon Hill and the courageous young naval hero who commanded her are the focus of a new exhibit at the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum, opening May 17.“Hero Warship: HMCS Beacon Hill and Her Daring Commander” celebrates the ship’s strong historical ties to Victoria, and the deep local connections between her Commanding Officer, Edward Theodore ‘Ted’ Simmons, and the city he called home.‘Ted’ Simmons became a celebrated hero of the Battle of the Atlantic in the Second World War. Yet he remains relatively unknown in his former home community, and his daring exploits have gone largely unrecognized. Like many Canadians who sacrificed personal security for the uncertainties and danger of wartime service, Simmons displayed genuine bravery in the face of terrible - and terrifying - circumstances.Simmons was born in Vernon, B.C., on July 6, 1910; he was the son of a police officer. Eventually moving to Victoria, he worked in the textbook division of the Department of Education as a provincial civil servant before taking a sales job with a local company, Standard Furniture, where he was training to be an interior decorator. Simmons was a leading light in Victoria’s amateur theatrical community during the 1930s. He served as President of the city’s Beaux Arts Society and acted and danced in the society’s productions. From many accounts, he was a fun-loving and gregarious man with a lively wit and sense of humour. In 1939, with war in Europe looming, Simmons registered for service with the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR), even before the navy had the authority to recruit him into the strength of the RCNVR. He left civilian life and a promising career for the uncertainties of war and the serious perils of...

Rear-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie ~Esquimalt, B.C., is approximately 5,000 kilometers from Halifax N.S., and 7,600 km from London, England. In fact, we in Victoria are closer to Tokyo than Berlin. So why should Canadians on the Pacific coast care about the Battle of the Atlantic?The answer is simple. When Canada declared war on Germany in September 1939, and sent ships and sailors to sea on convoy escort duties, the whole country committed to the effort. Men and women from every corner of the dominion volunteered to serve in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Thousands of British Columbians from all walks of life served in the RCN – the Victoria school teacher, the Kelowna forester, the Bella Bella fisherman, the Vancouver mechanic. They left family and friends, boarded busses or trains and headed east to join the fight. Geography ceased to matter. The sailor wearing the RCN uniform wasn’t from Thunder Bay, Lethbridge, Moose Jaw or Trois Rivieres. He was from HMCS Swansea or HMCS Haida, or she was from HMCS Shelburne or HMCS Newport Corner. The battle happened on the Atlantic, but it was fought by Canadians from all over.And fight they did. The ships of the RCN and the Merchant Navy maintained the vital sea lanes that supplied the Allied war effort for six grueling years. At the cost of thousands of lives and hundreds of ships, the sea routes between North America and England were made secure from the German U-boats.By D-Day in 1944, the allies had superiority in the air and control over the sea lanes. It is safe to say that without the herculean effort of the corvettes, destroyers, merchantmen and RCAF aircraft, the Normandy invasion would not have been possible.After Victory in Europe in 1945, the sailors went home to pick up where they left off....

[caption id="attachment_20667" align="alignnone" width="592"] LS Tyler Steffan gets a hair cut from MS Jeffrey Haines as part of a fundraiser for children’s sports charity Jump Start. Photo by LS Thrun[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~If you pass by the “stoker’s” workshop in HMCS Regina, you might catch a glimpse of that infamous barbershop red and blue pinstripe icon. This is the home of the Greasy Clippers, a make-shift barber shop with Master Seaman Jeffrey Haines behind the clippers.The 34-year-old Marine Engineering Technician is currently on a seven-month deployment in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean as part of Operation Artemis. On his down time, he heads to his makeshift barbershop to keep his shipmates shipshape, and the fundraising pot growing for Jump Start. All the proceeds he raises - $5 a hair cut – goes to the Canadian Tire charity that benefits children’s sports. It gives economically disadvantaged youth the chance to participate in organized sports programs and physical activities by paying for equipment, registration fees and other costs.“It’s a hard concept for kids to understand why their parents can’t afford something,” said MS Haines. “I’ve always loved what Jump Start has stood for because I believe all kids should have the opportunity to play sports no matter what their background or financial situation.”Jump Start was launched by the Canadian Tire Corporation in 2005. It has assisted over 1.9 million children and last year raised close to $30 million to support community-based sports programs. MS Haines is a self-taught barber and began cutting his and his children’s hair after buying a set of clippers. Two months into Regina’s deployment he has done over 140 haircuts. Along with some generous tips he has raised over $1,000. The barber shop is his first charity project and took a bit of planning. The week before...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A submariner with HMCS Chicoutimi, along with other members of the military community, is gearing up for next month’s Jeepapalooza cancer fundraiser. The May 17 to 20 event combines camping and camaraderie with a weekend-long off-road caravan for jeep and SUV enthusiasts, taking them on a journey past lakes, streams valleys and mountain vista points on logging territory of the Comox Valley. This will be Petty Officer Second Class Oleg Mamontov’s fifth time as a participant in the sixth annual event. He returns year after year for a few days of fun and adventure, but also because it serves a much more practical purpose. “The whole point of Jeepapalooza is to raise as much money as we can for the B.C. Cancer Foundation,” says the 42-year-old submariner. “We are looking for individuals and businesses to support us in any way they can from monetary donations, to donations of prizes for our silent auction, to buying raffle tickets.”Jeepapalooza’s goal this year is to raise funds for the Immunotherapy Research Program at Vancouver Island’s Deeley Research Centre of Victoria. Last year, support for the event surpassed expectations with $31,000 raised. This year, the charitable event hopes to meet or surpass that total. As for the fun factor, PO2 Mamontov says that begins after participants set up their campsites at the Jeepapalooza camp ground. After that, most of their time during daylight hours is spent off-roading in jeeps and other similar-style vehicles on a huge swath of private property owned Timber West Logging territory.When the vehicles are turned off the fun and friendship-building ramps, says PO2 Mamontov. “During the day it’s all about big jeeps, big tires and lots of mud, but the fun continues at night. If you like the outdoors but are not into exhausting activities like hiking...