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MARPAC Public Affairs ~Like many sailors in the Royal Canadian Navy, Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Brian Whitman’s commitment to service includes giving back to his community. Despite spending most of his time at sea, the first thing he does when he is on land is pick up where he left off with his volunteering activities. Throughout his career, he has volunteered at the Mustard Seed Food Bank; assisted the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) for 10 years, while also working as the MFRC representative on board ships; and most recently volunteered with Habitat for Humanity Restores.His work at the nonprofit’s Restore included assisting in the loading bay with incoming donations, repairing merchandise, and helping carry out purchases for customers. In October 2017, when he was named Coxswain for HMCS Yellowknife, he had to reduce his volunteering hours, but kept it up as much as he could. PO1 Whitman spent 18.5 years of his 22.5 years of service on board Royal Canadian Navy ships, and has circumnavigated the globe several times. When asked why he started volunteering, he explained it all started when, as the MFRC representative on ship as part of his duties, he realized what a positive impact it was having on his life. He then started volunteering with the MFRC on land, which led to volunteering with other organizations. “Nothing gives me more satisfaction than seeing the appreciative faces of those I help. Who wouldn’t enjoy that?”PO1 Whitman encompasses the navy’s vision of always being ‘Ready to Help’. When he isn’t giving back to the community or serving his country he also enjoys spending time with his partner, son and daughter.

[caption id="attachment_19830" align="alignnone" width="589"] OS Vandersleyen (centre) and OS Charest (right) are joined by Cdr Sauvé, Commanding Officer of the Naval Training Development Center (Pacific), shown here investigating a defective diaphragm valve.[/caption]Selena Benard, NTDC(P) ~In 2017, the Royal Canadian Navy stood up the Marine Technician trade. This new trade replaced the legacy trades of Marine Engineer, Hull Technician and Electrical Technician. The vision for the Marine Technician trade is to train ­sailors to be capable and flexible in an ever-evolving technological environment. Given the emerging technologies such as electric drive ships, changing power generation technology, and even composite hulls, the old divisions between trades were breaking down at an ever-greater rate.Marine Technicians are being trained as generalist technicians across a broad swathe of machinery, skills and capabilities. This allows members of a ship’s Marine Systems Engineering department to be capable in all aspects of the operation of the ship’s equipment. No matter which ship class a Marine Technician is assigned to, they will have the knowledge needed to operate the equipment on board, be it electrical, mechanical or even physical repairs to the ship’s structure.The new organization of Naval Personnel and Training Group has created Training Development Centres (Pacific) and (Atlantic). On the West Coast, the Training Development Centre is tasked as the Curriculum Control Authority to oversee and plan for the development of all MARTECH training and education. As new technologies mature and become available and deployed on Royal Canadian Navy platforms, the training will be updated to match, keeping personnel flexible and ready to deploy on any platform.

[caption id="attachment_19827" align="alignnone" width="590"] Members of the CFB Halifax and PSP community gathered outside Stadplex after Base Commander Capt(N) David Mazur locked the doors of the now-closed facility on Oct. 31.[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~It was the end of an era for fitness and sports at CFB Halifax when the Stadacona Sports and Fitness Centre (Stadplex) gym, open on the base since 1943, officially ceased operations Oct 31.The facility had reached the end of its useful life and was beyond long-term economical repair.To mark the bittersweet moment, a group of PSP employees, base leadership, and others who had special connections to the building gathered in the lobby for cake and to say goodbye to the facility.“This building has supported the fleet and supported army, navy, and air force men and women, as well as the civilian community and veterans, and served us well for 75 years,” said Capt(N) David Mazur, Base Commander, who also explained the efforts being made in the short term to mitigate the impact on CAF members until a permanent replacement for the gym is in place. These include extended hours at the Dockyard and in Shearwater, hotel-style gyms in Juno and Tribute Towers, and more. Complete information on the short and long-term plans for the future of fitness and sports at the base can be found at http://cafconnection.ca/halifax.“It’s not going to suit everyone’s needs while we go without a purpose-built facility like we’ve always had, but there is a future ahead of us and we’re moving on to the next steps right away,” said Capt(N) Mazur.Joni Sawler, PSP Halifax Senior Manager, thanked the patrons who made such good use of the facility, the PSP staff members who’ve provided services there for the last two decades, and others who supported events or gave back to the gym in...

[caption id="attachment_19824" align="alignnone" width="591"] A Boatswain in works to sew some privacy curtains.[/caption]Capt Jenn Jackson, Operation Caribbe PAO ~When one thinks of a boatswain’s work sewing is not something that comes to mind. But it is part of their cache of skills, and one boatswain is busy stitching while in HMCS Nanaimo during Operation Caribbe. “It was a last-minute decision to add a sewing machine to our kit,” says the boatswain, who cannot be named for operational security reasons. “But it has already come in handy, allowing me to make some additional privacy curtains for around the accommodations pod.”Learning the basics of a sewing machine is part of QL-3 boatswain training, and at the QL-5 level they are required to make bags and other small projects to hone their skills. While it is part of the core training for the trade, it’s not always a boatswain’s first exposure to sewing.“I first learned in junior high, and then learned more from my grandmother. I like doing it. There’s a rhythm to it that clears the head and it is great to see my finished project and the results of my hard work.”Sewing is a regular part of this boatswain’s shift as a day worker during Operation Caribbe, when he is not working on other duties such as special sea duty helmsman or as a small boat coxswain.“You’d be surprised how much sewing is needed on a ship. Uniform repairs, covers for boats, nametags. I have even sewn some fancy napkins for a reception.”As HMCS Nanaimo continues Operation Caribbe, rips and tears will be well mended.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Victoria’s branch of Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers to help at its 10th annual Gingerbread Showcase fundraiser event that kicks off this weekend and runs for seven weeks. The theme for this year’s ginger-bread baking competition is There’s No Place Like Home, and the charity has enlisted approximately 30 amateur and professional bakers from across the Greater Victoria Area. Bakers can create anything that goes with the theme providing everything they make is edible. Their irresistible creations will be on display daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the atrium of the Parkside Hotel and Spa from Nov. 17 to Jan. 6, 2019, when a panel of judges will declare a winner of the contest. Christel Morrow, Habitat for Humanity Victoria Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator, is currently recruiting a team of Ambassadors to cover three hour shifts and is reaching out to military and civilian employees at the base to volunteer. “We are looking for people to welcome and interact with visitors of the display, let them know about our fundraiser and show them around the displays,” said Morrow.Visitors are not permitted to eat or touch the entries, but are encouraged to make a donation and vote for the winning entry. Following a decade of success in the United States, Habitat for Humanity Canada was established in 1985 in Winkler, Manitoba, with a mandate to build affordable housing for people in need. Since its establishment in Canada, Habitat for Humanity has expanded to 72 affiliates nationwide and provided over 2,500 families in all provinces and territories with housing. For more information about the Gingerbread Showcase and how to register as a volunteer visit their webpage: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/2464778/false#/invitation

[caption id="attachment_19817" align="alignnone" width="591"] A Marine Technician records information from one of the ship’s diesel alternators as part of rounds.[/caption]Capt Jenn Jackson, Operation Caribbe PAO ~The role of the Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels has certainly evolved in recent years. Originally used mainly for coastal surveillance, these 55-metre patrol vessels are now conducting extended operations such as Operation Caribbe.With longer blocks of time spent at sea, the engineering section in a Kingston-Class is one of the busiest teams – both at sea and while alongside.“The scope of the engineering team is quite diverse on this class of vessel,” says the Chief Engineer of HMCS Nanaimo, who cannot be named for operational security reasons. “During our deployment on Operation Caribbe, we are responsible for propulsion, power generation, water production, overseeing the maintenance programs for all departments, damage control monitoring, minor plumbing repairs and maintaining the radars and communications systems.”Typically, nine non-commissioned members, from the Regular Force and Primary Reserve, including Marine Technicians with various qualification levels, and a Weapons Engineering Technician, make up the team. Two of the team members are critical for the ship to leave port.“In order to sail, a C-ticket or CERT 4 qualified Chief Engineer and a legacy Senior Electrician must be embarked,” explains the Chief Engineer. “Other members of the team vary from ship to ship depending on the mission and availability of personnel, and it is common to have two to three Marine Technicians in the section working towards their next certification.”Mentoring and on-the-job training are key components to Marine Technician training. Almost every day on the ship, the section spends up to two hours doing engineering drills both in practical and table-top formats.“In addition to working towards initial qualification, Marine Technicians also have to maintain their certifications,” adds the Chief Engineer. “Doing engineering drills regularly...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Children of military families are invited to express themselves artistically this weekend in Canada’s celebration of National Day of the Child. Personnel Support Programs (PSP) with assistance from the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) is offering a free art program for children ages five to 12. The event takes place on Nov. 17 at the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre (CPAC) between 9 a.m. to noon. Children will be asked to create drawings, paintings and other forms of artwork to become part of a group art project: the construction of a large tree of artwork for display. All 35 military bases across Canada will be constructing a tree with artwork, and forms of expression will vary from base to base. CFB Esquimalt’s tree of art will be on display at CPAC on Nov. 20, National Child Day. The art projects will eventually be sent to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa for display later this year. Matt Carlson, PSP Community Recreation Manager, says the art project has two purposes.“It’s an initiative we are really excited about and one that celebrates the Day of the Child, and the role military recreational programs play in supporting operational effectiveness through family well-being,” said Carlson. “This art project will visualize the support PSP provides to military families and the healthy development of children within our unique communities.” National Day of the Child has been observed in Canada since 1993 and is meant to celebrate the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It proclaimed on Nov. 20, 1959, that children are treated with dignity and respect. National Day of the Child celebrates these fundamental rights and includes the promotion and participation of children in cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activities. Carlson says children of Department of National Defence employees and...

[caption id="attachment_19811" align="alignnone" width="591"] Wreath bearers from Rockheights Middle School take part in a moment of silence. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~It was another mission accomplished for Rockheights Middle School students and their annual quest to ensure the sacrifices of Canada’s war dead are remembered.On Nov. 2, approximately 150 Grade 6 and 7 students fanned out across God’s Acre Veterans Cemetery and placed poppies on the over 2,000 gravesites at the national historic site in Esquimalt. Students were joined by parents, teachers, personnel from CFB Esquimalt and veterans representing the Esquimalt Lions Club for this year’s No Stone Left Alone ceremony. “No Stone Left Alone is an event that helps us remember the people who have long since passed,” said Jake McCulloch, a flag bearer with 2483 Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps and Grade 8 student at Rockheights. “It makes me happy and proud to remember those people who are no longer alive, probably people that Jimmy knew.”McCulloch was referring to Sergeant (Retired) Jim MacMillan-Murphy, First Vice President, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 172 and Lions Club member. MacMillan-Murphy served during Canada’s peacekeeping mission in Cyprus and delivered an emotional 10-minute address about comrades lost on the battlefield, the meaning of Remembrance Day, and details about the lives of soldiers buried at the cemetery. In his closing comments he told the students their efforts were greatly appreciated by him and the other veterans, and currently serving military members. “I am so proud of what the students here at Rockheights have accomplished with this ceremony,” said MacMillan-Murphy. “My heart is so full of joy, respect, and appreciation to you students. I remember what I felt like when we were under fire [in Cyprus] and you guys have helped ease that pain.” The No Stone Left...

[caption id="attachment_19808" align="alignnone" width="589"] A crew member takes advantage of the nice weather to work out on the bridge wing.[/caption]Capt Jenn Jackson, Operation Caribbe PAO ~When deployed on ship, sailors live in the same place as they work. While there is a regular watch rotation in place, it can become far too easy to allow work time to blend into rest time, until it feels as though life at sea has become an endless cycle of work broken up by sleep.So how do sailors work to maintain balance on ship?In many cases, it takes discipline to recognize that without appropriate rest and relaxation time, a sailor’s productivity and effectiveness will go down, moving along the mental health spectrum from green to yellow to red.“It’s a question of stamina and longevity,” offers HMCS Nanaimo’s Physician Assistant, who cannot be named for operational security. “If you can take time to bring yourself out of the yellow or red back to the green then you are increasing your capacity for longevity and maintaining your mental health for the duration of the sail.”In Nanaimo, while deployed on Operation Caribbe, the crew is working hard to maintain the ship while sailing, but as the deployment progresses, there are some interesting and unique “down time” activities that are coming out in the messes and flats.“I brought an easily portable project with me,” says Nanaimo’s Deck Officer, who crochets in her spare time. “Crocheting is something I don’t often have time to do at home, so I take advantage of the time between my watches to work on a sweater.”“I actually really like laying in my rack and reading before bed each night,” adds a Boatswain. “Reading helps me prepare for sleep by giving some separation from the work I do during the day.”For command, ensuring morale and...

[caption id="attachment_19805" align="alignnone" width="590"] Photo courtesy: HMCS Edmonton[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The crew of HMCS Edmonton overcame a malfunctioning propulsion system to help seize approximately 750kg of cocaine during a drug bust in the Eastern Pacific last week.“My crew overcame amazing odds for this interdiction,” says Lieutenant-Commander Kristina Gray, Commanding Officer of HMCS Edmonton. “This was not only a first for the ship, but also a first for me as a Commanding Officer. The ship has been working hard and all that effort paid off when we were able to effect a bust resulting in the embarkation of 750kg of cocaine.” if you're subjected to drug or alcohol addiction, alcohol detox Riverside will help you int he process of rehab.Edmonton and its crew are participating in Operation Caribbe, an international operation that facilitates the interdiction of illicit trafficking of drugs, weapons, money and people. Maritime patrol aircraft had been conducting surveillance patrols in close vicinity of the Royal Canadian Navy Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel on Nov. 5 when suspicious activity was spotted in the water below.The location of the incident was then relayed to Edmonton which was called on to investigate. Edmonton then made its way to the area with law enforcement officers from the United States Coast Guard on board.As Edmonton’s Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) arrived on scene, the alleged smugglers spotted them, dumped their bales of drugs in the water and fled the scene. The bales of cocaine were later plucked from the water using RHIBs and brought onboard. The bales were then analyzed and tested positive for cocaine.During the incident, Edmonton experienced a loss of propulsion. It was eventually discovered that a malfunctioning electronic control of the propulsion system and two blown fuses were the cause of the problem. With propulsion restored Edmonton was happy to carry on with operations.A...

Michelle Savage, Army Public Affairs ~You may not know her name, but Lieutenant Roberta Catherine MacAdams improved the dietary health and healing of men and women during the First World War, and also helped pave the way for women in Canadian politics.Women were not allowed to serve in combat roles during the First World War, but many still made significant contributions, including Lt MacAdams, who served as a dietician in the Canadian Army Medical Corps. It was the first such position.Documents in her service record tell the story.On some forms the word “him” is scratched out and replaced with a handwritten “her”.  A form listing family information asks, “If married, state full name of your wife.” “Husband” was not an option.Lt MacAdams (sometimes spelled Macadams) was born in Sarnia, Ontario, in 1880. She attended the Ontario Agriculture College and graduated from the Macdonald Institute for Domestic Science (now the University of Guelph) in 1911.Shortly afterward, she made her way to Alberta and accepted a position with the provincial government as one of the first domestic science instructors – a job that required her to travel to rural communities to teach about health and nutrition.A report written by MacAdams led to the creation of the Alberta Women’s Institutes, a support network for women living in rural communities, who were often lonely or isolated and had little access to information about health.As the initial Edmonton Superintendent of Domestic Science, she also helped schools in that city develop classes that advanced the science of nutrition.In 1916, she enlisted in the Canadian Army Medical Corps and was given the rank of Lieutenant. Although she wore the blue and white uniform of a nurse, she performed the first-ever role of dietician at the Ontario Military Hospital in Orpington, England.The hospital was built in response to overwhelming...

[caption id="attachment_19787" align="alignnone" width="591"] Multi-talented craftsman volunteer, Ben Schwartz, puts the finishing touches to the bouncing bomb replica at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Nanton, Alberta. Schwartz also designed and built the mounts for the bomb on the museum’s Lancaster. Photo by John Chalmers[/caption]John Chalmers, Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame ~“We have the only Lancaster in the world equipped with a bouncing bomb,” said Dan Fox, vice-president of the Nanton Lancaster Society, which operates the Bomber Command Museum of Canada, at Nanton, Alberta.  Fox was referring to the museum’s replica bouncing bomb, or “Upkeep” as the original was called—the type carried by Lancaster bombers of Royal Air Force 617 Squadron in the famous Dambusters raids of May 1943. The special bombs were spun backwards before being dropped at very low level. They then bounced across the water and sank against the wall of the dams that were attacked in Germany’s Ruhr Valley on May 16-17, 1943. Once they had settled to a specific depth, they exploded against the dam walls.Designed by museum volunteer and board member, Ben Schwartz, the replica bomb was built by Tecumseh Industries Ltd. in the nearby town of High River, Alberta. Weighing 960 pounds (435 kilograms), the bomb was built for the museum’s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Dambusters raid. The cost of the bomb was supported by Shere Fraser and her mother, Doris Fraser, the widow of Canadian bomb aimer Flight Sergeant John Fraser, who flew with 617 Squadron in the Dambusters raid. His aircraft was shot down, but Flight Sergeant Fraser was able to bail out and was captured as a prisoner of war.On Aug. 24-25, 2018, at the Bomber Command Museum, special events were held to honour Canadians who flew with the Royal Air Force on the famous bombing raid.Of...

Tom MacGregor, Legion Magazine ~The Royal Canadian Legion will mark the centennial of the end of the First World War with the solemn sound of church bells ringing in communities throughout Canada on Nov. 11.“The Dominion Executive Council wanted us to find a way to appropriately mark the centennial of the Armistice,” said Deputy Director of Corporate Services Danny Martin. “There were several suggestions made. We wanted to find something in which the entire Legion could participate.” The program that was accepted is known as the Bells of Peace. The intention is to encour­age communities to make their church bells toll 100 times at the setting of the sun on Remembrance Day. With seven different time zones in Canada, the ringing will be staggered as the sunset occurs, east to west.“We invite communities to be as creative as they want to be,” said Martin. “The ringing of bells can be in sequence or in unison or it can be a cacophony.” Branches will be encouraged to find descendants, preferably youth, of First World War veterans to do the ringing. Pipers will be encouraged to play “Amazing Grace” or another appropriate piece of music at the cessation.The concept was modelled on the spontaneous ringing of church bells throughout England when the peace was announced. Similar spontaneous actions happened in Canada but it was not known to be nationwide at the time.Specific historical sites have been identified in each Canadian province for the commemoration to happen including Fort Rodd Hill. It is a historic site and is where Arthur Currie, later Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Currie, received his military training, which he would use to lead the Canadian Corps during the Hundred Days that ended the war.The Bells of Peace program is supported by a grant from Veterans Affairs Canada through its Commemorative Partnership...

[caption id="attachment_19779" align="alignnone" width="590"] Maria Singson’s winning entry Behind the Wall, Senior Black and White Poster category.[/caption]Stephen J. Thorne, Legion magazine ~Meghan (Maria) Singson is heading to York University this fall to study philosophy. It’s only natural, then, that the graduate of Francis Libermann Catholic High School in Scarborough, Ont., brings depth and impact to her art.A self-described casual artist, Singson, 18, won the senior black and white poster category in the Legion’s 2018 national poster and literary contests with a complex 56-by-71-centimetre charcoal drawing that speaks eloquently to the costs and futility of war.Inspired by her great-grandfather, Arthur (Bob) Blomfield—a Second World War air force veteran and long-time member of the Legion’s Highland Creek Branch in Scarborough—Singson has entered the annual contest three times.It was her first win in the competition that rewards outstanding tributes to Canada’s wartime sacrifices through posters, poetry and prose, and it was especially significant to her personally because her great-grandfather died in 2015. “I wanted it to have a focus; more than just having everything about the war and remembering, I wanted to make a statement,” said Singson.She called the piece “Behind the Wall.” In it, she sought to convey the emotions and pain associated with war, while at the same time creating a memorial to her great-grandfather and those with whom he served.The piece is set in a border of what appears to be a blast-damaged wall, as if the viewer is looking through a shell hole. Judges said it also looked like punctured ice, which dovetailed with some of the marine scenes depicted around its perimeter.A diversity of small images depicting wartime scenes, old and new, draw the viewer in. At the bottom is a mother nuzzling a baby, almost as if she’s inhaling that newborn scent, her face a study in distracted...

[caption id="attachment_19776" align="alignnone" width="591"] Petty Officer Brian Whitman (left) and Leading Seaman Lorne Lee (right) from HMCS Yellowknife do some heavy lifting. Photo by MS Robin Moncrief[/caption]MS Robin Moncrief, HMCS Yellowknife ~The crews of HMCS Yellowknife and HMCS Whitehorse spent Saturday Oct. 27 giving back to the community by volunteering their time and muscles at the Grand Opening of the third ReStore located at 50 Burnside Road West. Petty Officer First Class Brian Whitman has a long history of volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, and the Grand Opening of the new ReStore location was no exception. He rallied a group of almost 20 volunteers, including non-commissioned members and officers from both ships, to join him in supporting their big day at the new Tillicum ReStore location. ReStore is the way Habitat for Humanity balances out their administrative costs, so that all fundraising for the cause goes directly to building homes. During the day members assisted throughout the store, in roles such as greeters, serving coffee and cake, receiving and delivering large pieces of furniture to customers, and populating the sales floor with new items. Members were keen to assist an excited community who were looking for specific items, and some who were there to donate items. “We couldn’t have asked for a more dedicated and hard working group of volunteers to help us,” said Christel Morrow, Volunteer Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity Victoria.Staying engaged in the community that supports Royal Canadian Navy ships and the Canadian Armed Forces is something both crews maintain as a priority, and they look forward to continuing in the future. Bravo Zulu to the members that took time out of their weekends to support Habitat for Humanity.

[caption id="attachment_19773" align="alignnone" width="590"] With meticulous care, Beurling chalks up his “kills” on the fuselage of his Spitfire.[/caption]Don Gillmor, Legion Magazine ~George (Buzz) Beurling was credited with 31½ “kills” in the Second World War, more than any other Canadian pilot, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Flying Cross and two Distinguished Flying Medals. He was a gifted pilot, a superb marksman and fearless in battle. He died young, at 26.These qualities are usually enough to create a mythic figure, but Beurling failed to capture the public imagination the way First World War ace Billy Bishop did, and he wasn’t beloved by fellow pilots or his superior officers.Born in Verdun, Que., Beurling wanted to fly from an early age, taking his first flight when he was 12. He tried to join the Royal Canadian Air Force but was turned down because he lacked academic qualifications, having dropped out of school at 15. So he went to England and the Royal Air Force (RAF) took him.In 1942, he made his reputation as an ace in the defence of Malta. At the age of 20, he had a staggering 27 kills in a few months, more than any other RAF pilot. Beurling was shot down four times over Malta, the last requiring hospitalization. He was sent to Britain in October 1942 aboard a B-24 transport aircraft that crashed into the sea off Gibraltar. Only a few men survived, among them Beurling, who managed to swim to shore despite the cast on his leg.Beurling was sent back to Canada to help sell war bonds. He appeared to be the perfect salesman: a dashing fighter ace. He was lionized by the media and mobbed in his hometown, but he didn’t like the war bond campaign and it didn’t like him. At one stop, he told...

[caption id="attachment_19770" align="alignnone" width="591"] Retired Canadian Army Major Gary Del Vallano works on a project for Royal United Services Institute Vancouver Island (RUSI-VI) at his home in Victoria. Del Vllano, 80, enjoyed a 38-year military career and is the director of RUSI-VI Military Oral History program. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A joint research initiative connecting university history students with veterans and currently serving military members continues to write new chapters in Canadian military history.Royal United Services Institute Vancouver Island (RUSI-VI) oversees the Military Oral History program involving third-year students at the University of Victoria. Students are assigned topics in early January and post their recorded interviews to the school’s Military Oral History program archive, while also making written submissions for grading. Since it first commenced in the 1970s, the Military Oral History program has amassed an impressive archive of over 1,400 hours of interviews with over 700 current and former soldiers, sailors, air force personnel and military police, focusing on defence and security topics. It’s one of the largest oral history projects in Canada and is archived on the project’s web page, and in the university’s library. Visitors to the digital archive can listen to the memories of interview subjects from Victoria and across Canada who discuss their personal recollections of a variety of military-related subjects dating back to the First World War. First-hand AccountsThe Military Oral History program was founded by RUSI-VI, UVic professor and military veteran Reginald Roy. The project can trace its beginnings to his recorded interview about the military career of First World War veteran and Victoria Cross recipient Major General George Randolph Pearkes, who went on to become Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia. After the Pearkes interview was complete, Roy started to build an extensive archive of other interview subjects, many of whom...

[caption id="attachment_19765" align="alignnone" width="590"] Elders and Indigenous soldiers in the uniform of the Canadian Expeditionary Force circa 1916-17.[/caption]Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs ~A Quebec-based amateur historian has set himself the ambitious goal of documenting every North American Indigenous soldier who has served since Europeans first discovered the continent in 1492.In his role as president of Association de recherche des anciens combattants amérindiens, Yann Castelnot of Riviere-du-loup has already compiled the names and histories of some 150,000 Indigenous Veterans of Canada and the United States into an online database.He began the work in 1998, inspired by an article on Indigenous soldiers of the First World War.“At the time, the Internet was not as developed as today and the subject of Native American Veterans was not addressed anywhere,” he recalled.Castelnot, who has lived in Canada for over a decade, grew up in the Vimy region of France and close to many other significant First World War sites, including the Somme in France and the Ypres region of Belgium, which fired his imagination.“It is difficult to explain what this means without seeing it with your own eyes,” he said. “But every community in the area contains a monument or military cemetery. They are deeply rooted in our culture and pride.”He noted that Indigenous North American soldiers served proudly and voluntarily.“A majority of them did not have an easy life when they returned from the First World War, yet they reengaged voluntarily in large numbers during the Second World War. The story of the soldiers who fought on the other side of the world for the freedom of another people must be told.”Castelnot started with names from the World Wars but soon expanded the project to all who had served after December 29, 1890 – the date of the Wounded Knee massacre, when United States government...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Last week marked the 100th anniversary of HMCS Galiano’s sinking, the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) only ship lost on the West Coast during the First World War. But the patrol vessel didn’t fall prey to German torpedoes or underwater mines; instead her demise is described as a unique “tale of accidents and misfortunes” according to retired RCN Commander Joe E. Cunningham, a contributor at the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum. Many maritime historians who have written on the subject are in agreement.One thing is certain, the steel-hulled, steam powered ship sank in heavy seas while undertaking a re-supply mission in the Queen Charlotte Sound in the early morning hours of Oct. 30, 1918.  However, how it sank and the location of the wreck remain a mystery to this day.“Holds full of water, send help” read the frantic last dispatch from wireless operator Michael Neary. But help never arrived in time and all 36 of Galiano’s crew perished. Most historical accounts are in agreement with Cunningham that a perfect storm of factors, including a ferocious Pacific gale and dangerous sea conditions, were the primary causes. The plight of Galiano was also exacerbated by the Spanish flu pandemic sweeping the globe that lead to several crew falling sick. The depleted and largely inexperienced replacement crew were also having to deal with a malfunctioning boiler. A century after its sinking, on the morning of Oct. 30, members of the of the Naval Association of Canada, Vancouver Island Branch laid a wreath at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Galiano memorial at Ross Bay Cemetery. Commodore (Retired) Jan Drent was among those who attended the ceremony. He is a volunteer-historian and creator of a Galiano exhibit at the B.C. Maritime Museum that debuted in September.Like Cunningham, Drent is also well-versed in...

[caption id="attachment_19758" align="alignnone" width="590"] Photo by Sgt René Dubreuil[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~When the Royal Canadian Air Force’s remaining Sea King helicopters are phased out, retired Air Force pilot Major (Retired) Paul O’Reilly admits it will be akin to losing a close friend. That’s because he spent much of his 34-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces flying the Cold War era, Sikorsky-built twin engine amphibious helicopter on and off the decks of Canadian warships. O’Reilly, 71, says saying goodbye to them will be a teary affair. “You can’t help but get a little bit misty eyed. For any pilot who flies an aircraft, you grow attached to it as the years roll by, and you would forever recognize it instantly.” Today O’Reilly spends two days of his week volunteering at the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum. He is a military history buff and founding member of the Vimy Flight group, which, in 2017, took First World War replica planes to the 100th Anniversary ceremony at Vimy. His love of history, and living some of it, gives him an interesting perspective on the Sea King.In 1987, he was a pilot on board HMCS Huron as it sailed through the Panama Canal from 12 Wing Shearwater heading to Esquimalt Harbour with two Sea Kings onboard. They were the first two helicopters to arrive for naval operations on the West Coast. “I’m surprised they [Sea Kings] are still here,” he says. “When I came out to the West Coast with the first Sea Kings, the whole idea was these aircraft would last three or four years and a new, more modern helicopter would show up and we would move to that.”A hasty replacement for them in Canada did not happen, and so the decades went by. “One of the reasons why they lasted so long was because with constant technological upgrades over the years they could still do the job. Why would you change and get a new aircraft when the one...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Standing solemnly at the corner of a cenotaph on Remembrance Day is a task steeped in military tradition; a highly visible public duty that requires physical stamina and a stellar service record. This year, joining the six Canadian Armed Forces members and one member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at the National War Memorial in Ottawa will be a nurse from CFB Esquimalt. Lieutenant (Navy) Derek Carter of Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific) will stand guard at one corner of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier dressed in his N1 Service Dress with white gloves, white belt, and medals, head bowed, hands atop a rifle, representing the Canadian Forces Health Services Group for Nursing.“It’s a great honour to be selected as one the sentries and represent Canadian Forces Health Services Group and the nursing community itself,” said Lt(N) Carter. “From a professional perspective, being able to stand with our current and former service men and women, acknowledging those who have sacrificed their lives, is a privilege.”His appointment to the 2018 Remembrance Day Sentry Program was a surprise and an honour. The 49-year-old sailor, with 29 years’ service to Canada, recalls joining his family in his Port-aux-Basques, Newfoundland, home, watching the nationally televised ceremony every Nov. 11. While Lt(N) Carter was posted at CFB Halifax, his father (who has since passed away) travelled to Halifax to join him in attending the Remembrance Day ceremony. Lt(N) Carter enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1990 as a Boatswain and served in various warships of the Pacific and Atlantic fleets. In 2001 he transferred to Canadian Forces Health Services as a Medical Technician, and in 2006 obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Dalhousie University. His brother, who lives in St. Albert, Alberta, will travel with him to the ceremony, while his sister, who lives in Newfoundland, will continue the family tradition and watch it on television. Lt(N) Carter is the first member of his family, that...

[caption id="attachment_19727" align="alignnone" width="591"] LCdr James Classen, (left) thanks USS Michael Murphy during their approach with MV Asterix. Bernard Wentzell, MV Asterix’s civilian master, is on the right. Photo submitted[/caption]PO1 Nicolas Major, NRU Asterix ~After a catastrophic engine room fire on board HMCS Protecteur left it adrift and without power on Feb. 27, 2014, USS Michael Murphy was first on the scene. When they arrived the day after the fire, it gave those on board Protecteur, including me, a sense of relief. Help had arrived. After six days of towing by USS Michael Murphy, USS Chosin and USNS Sioux, Protecteur was brought alongside Pearl Harbor. The efforts of Michael Murphy earned them a CAF Unit Commendation for their immediate response to Protecteur and the ­family members embarked. Four years later, during Exercise Kakadu 2018 off the coast of Australia, five former crewmembers from Protecteur supported replenishment at sea (RAS) operations to refuel USS Michael Murphy from Protecteur’s replacement, MV Asterix.When I was told we would be transferring fuel to USS Michael Murphy during Ex Kakadu 2018, fond ­memories came back of the amazing support the American destroyer provided to us after the fire. Without hesitation, they sent over water, Gatorade and medical support. They even took care of our loved ones as they received 17 civilian family members that had embarked as part of a morale and outreach building tiger cruise. They expressed later that they were treated like family on board the American destroyer. The five members of Naval Replenishment Unit Asterix - MS Bertrand Robillard, MS Andrew Clark, LS Robert Lalonde, LS Iain Gozzola, and I - were all at our stations during the Sept. 8 RAS. It was now our turn to provide a service to USS Michael Murphy. LCdr James Classen, Commanding Officer NRU Asterix, was the first...

[caption id="attachment_19720" align="alignnone" width="590"] A cook in HMCS Nanaimo works to splint the arm of a crew member with a mock injury. Casualty clearing is a secondary responsibility for the cooks. Photo by Capt Jennifer Jackson[/caption]Capt Jenn Jackson, Operation Caribbe PAO ~When we think of a cook, we think of preparing and serving food. However, when it comes to cooks in a Royal Canadian Navy warship, meal preparation is only part of their work.They also have the grim job of casualty clearing during an emergency, the brawns of line handling when needed on deck, and even the compassion to aid a sea sick sailor.These roles are part of basic training but are enhanced through mentorship, coaching and experience during a career at sea.“The senior cook is the primary casualty clearer in an emergency,” explains the chief cook in HMCS Nanaimo, which is currently deployed with HMCS Edmonton on Operation Caribbe, an illicit drug interdiction operation off the coast of Central America in the eastern Pacific Ocean. For security reasons members of the crew cannot be named. “I learned a lot of skills throughout my career thanks to the coaching and mentoring of the various Physician’s Assistants I have sailed with, and in turn, I pass on that knowledge to the junior cooks.”It is a similar experience for learning how to handle lines on deck. Cooks become more proficient from the guidance received from Boatswains the longer they sail.In a Kingston-class ship, there are only three cooks to feed the 44 other crew members.It’s a long day for a cook at sea as they rise at 5 a.m. to prepare breakfast and typically work until 7 p.m. after supper clean-up.During day-time emergencies, it is necessary for one cook to monitor the cooking food while the others respond.For the Chief Cook, there are...

[caption id="attachment_19717" align="alignnone" width="590"] Photo by Cpl Boudrias[/caption]Lt(N) Éliane Trahan, Public Affairs Officer ~Eleven Port Inspection Divers from various Naval Reserve Divisions across Canada recently participated in Exercise Ardent Defender, held Oct. 1 to 19 at the 4th Canadian Division Training Centre, Meaford, ON.This was a joint, multinational and inter-agency annual exercise hosted by the Canadian Armed Forces that tested joint Counter Explosive Threat capabilities.Reservist divers were involved in underwater searches, inspections and surveys to detect explosive devices. They worked jointly with Clearance Divers from the Experimental Diving Unit Group in Toronto. Although it was an exercise, divers found unexploded ordnance from decades past in an isolated area; the Clearance Divers safely detonated them.Compared to last year’s participation, Port Inspection Divers doubled in numbers. “We are thrilled to see the participation climb, it allows us to be one team and work together, Port Inspection Divers and Clearance Divers,” said Petty Officer Second Class Dan Larche, Clearance Diver supervisor.Port Inspection Divers usually serve part-time with their home unit for scheduled evenings and weekends, although they may also serve in full-time positions at some units for fixed terms, depending on the type of work that they do.They are called to do tasks to ensure the maritime security of the nation. They often work with naval port security teams to provide underwater skill sets in support of the sovereignty and safety of Canada’s numerous ports, harbours and waterways, and may also be deployed outside Canada for operations or exercises.

[caption id="attachment_19714" align="alignnone" width="590"] HMCS Calgary members are welcomed to Jeju, South Korea, as part of the country's International Fleet Review. Photos by LS Mike Goluboff, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]SLt Alexandra LaPlante, HMCS Calgary ~Three months into Operation Projection, HMCS Calgary took part in an International Fleet Review in the Asia-Pacific region.It was hosted by the Republic of Korea Navy and staged out of Jeju Civil-Military Complex Port, located on the south side of Jeju Island, South Korea.Sailors from participating ships were also welcomed at a variety of activities ashore throughout the International Fleet Review week held Oct. 9 to 15.On hand for the event was Vice-Admrial Ron Lloyd, Commander Royal Canadian Navy. He presented members of Calgary and NRU Asterix’s ship’s companies with the Special Service Medal, earned after 45 days on operations. VAdm Lloyd also hosted a series of town halls for Calgary’s crew.Fourteen navies participated in a day-long pass-in-review at sea on Oct. 11. Calgary joined the column of ­vessels manoeuvering themselves into position for the Pass-in-Review in front of the South Korean flagship - the helicopter carrier ROKS Dokdo. While manning the rails on the approach to Dokdo, Calgary sailors were treated to a fly-past and parachute display, and were able to watch a large portion of the Republic of Korea Navy fleet sail past in an impressive column.Calgary, positioned between Bruneian offshore patrol vessel KDB Daruttaqwa and Indian destroyer INS Rana, was the third ship to salute the dignitaries and the massive crowd assembled aboard Dokdo. Despite risky wind conditions, Calgary’s crew sported their ever-popular Smithbilt hats, which elicited applause and cheers from the passing spectators.Calgary was welcomed back alongside the following morning.  Over the next three days, members of the ship’s company participated in a sports day and international friendship night, which included exposure to some very popular...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy is off to Chile in December to perform in bicentennial anniversary celebrations for the Chilean Navy.The Band will perform in a musical tattoo on Dec. 2 in Vina del Mar as part of Armada de Chile’s 200th anniversary celebrations. The concert will also feature the United Kingdom’s Royal Marine Band and bands from other militaries around the world.Chief Petty Officer Second Class Brayden Wise will lead the band as Naden Band Commanding Officer, replacing Lieutenant (Navy) Catherine Norris who will be on maternity leave. “It’s an honour to be invited to participate in such an important event for the Chilean Navy,” said Lt(N) Norris. “We are excited and thankful for the opportunity to contribute and work together with our hosts and the other military bands attending these celebrations.”The Band’s visit to Chile comes during a busy late-year schedule for the 35 full-time professional musicians.Last Friday they travelled to Vancouver for the Canadian Football League Tribute to the Canadian Armed Forces at B.C. Place, taking part in the halftime show as the B.C. Lions took on the Edmonton Eskimos. The Band is also in rehearsals to prepare for performances in Victoria and support to base events leading up to Remembrance Day.Plus, five members of the Naden Band will augment the Stadacona Band of the Royal Canadian Navy in Belgium for Operation Distinction, the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.Then there is one of the biggest events on their calendar, the 40th Annual Christmas Concerts in support of The Salvation Army on Dec. 10, 11 and 12 at the Royal Theatre. That occurs just three days after they return from Chile.These are both exciting and demanding times for the Band, says PO2 Katrina Bligh, oboist, and PO2 Winston Hind, who...

[caption id="attachment_19711" align="alignnone" width="591"] Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites interpreters in a 1942 Willys Jeep, in front of Fisgard Lighthouse. Photo by Fritz Mueller, Parks Canada[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Victoria’s rich military history will be commemorated this weekend with a special event at national historic site Fort Rodd Hill.Historians and museum staff from across the region will gather at the Parks Canada site in Colwood for its 100 Years of Remembrance event, Nov. 4, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.“Victoria has a long and proud history of military service, wartime industry and home-front activism,” said Kate Humble, Curator with Fort Rodd Hill. “This event is a truly unique opportunity to experience all the aspects of Victoria’s military heritage, represented by these wonderful, varied museums and archives, in one place for the first time. The people of this community have made many important contributions and sacrifices, and their stories are exciting and emotional. It’s vital that we remember them and continue to share those stories amongst current generations.”Exhibits include military vehicles from the Ashton Armoury; a shipbuilding display by the Maritime Museum of B.C.; and tales of wartime flight from the B.C. Aviation Museum.An exhibit from CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum will focus on the convalescent hospital operated at Naden by the Military Hospitals Commission during the First World War and, subsequently, the Department of Soldiers’ Civil Reestablishment.  Other participants include the Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Saanich, and St. Michael’s University School Archives, the Victoria Genealogical Society, Craigdarroch Castle, the Canadian Scottish Regiment Museum, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry cadets, and the Colwood Women’s Institute.Clare Sharpe, Exhibit Designer with CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum, says her exhibit will focus on rehabilitation efforts at the hospital during the First World War and post-war era. It includes photographs...

[caption id="attachment_19689" align="alignnone" width="590"] The ICBC FAQ section states that “the rule requires the driver to move out of the left lane even if the driver is driving at the posted speed limit.”[/caption]SLt M.X. Déry, Contributor ~Over the last five years on this coast, I’ve adapted to many aspects of B.C. culture, such as riding my bike year-round and the extortionate cost of living. But the Quebecois driver in me just can’t adapt to B.C. driving and hogging the left lane.Every time I drive to or from the airport or ferry terminal, I end up behind a conga line of slow drivers doing 70km/h in the left lane of an 80km/h highway, with drivers in the right lane cruising along at nearly the same speed. No one flashes their high beams or honks their horns at the slow driver at the front of the pack, because once that driver exits the highway, the next car keeps the same pace.It isn’t just one slow driver in the left lane, it is an escargatoire of snails in no hurry and oblivious to the ire they create in the heavy-footed drivers trapped behind them.When driving through the rest of Canada, if a car is driving faster than the one in the left lane the slower drivers get out of the way without prompting. When driving through Washington State, there are signs directing drivers to pull over and let vehicles pass if there are more than five cars behind them. I wouldn’t have believed it unless I had seen it on my journeys to Seattle, but they actually pull over completely!In B.C., however, drivers remain in the left lane regardless of the speed they are doing. There has been a push in the last three years to get these road hogs out of the left...

[caption id="attachment_19686" align="alignnone" width="589"] Corporal Ryan Cunningham of Base Logistics speaks with a member of the Naval Tactical Operations Group during the Canada Defence Team Career Networking Fair on Oct. 17. CFB Esquimalt was one of seven military bases across Canada to participate in the first annual career networking fair. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~CFB Esquimalt was one of seven military bases across Canada participating in the launch of the first annual Canada Defence Team and Career Networking Fair on Oct.17. Locally, the career networking fair was held at the Learning Career Centre (LCC) in Naden and was geared towards military members, DND employees and students currently exploring new career paths, development opportunities or ways to transition throughout their current department. The event brought together civilian and military branches under one roof and included display kiosks by Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton, Marine Tactical Operations Group, the National Student Hiring Team, Base Administration Office, and Regular Force and Reserve Force recruiting representatives from all three military branches. Other career networking fairs were held simultaneously at CFB Borden, Kingston, Petawawa, Gagetown, Montreal and Halifax. Participants in Esquimalt also took part in workshops presented by human resources representatives at the base as well as a Virtual Workshop from Ottawa’s Diefenbaker Building with a live video hookup. A panel discussion along with a variety of career development presentations focused on identifying future staffing needs, resume building, interview skills, coaching, mentoring and building a culture of change. The workshops were viewed by participants in the LCC conference room but can also be accessed on the internet from anywhere in Canada for 30 days following the event. The launch of the Canada Defence Team and Career Networking Fair is part of the Government of Canada’s Blueprint 2020 initiative that is focussed on...

[caption id="attachment_19683" align="alignnone" width="591"] Mark Miller, UNDE; Glenn MacDougall, Acting DGWM; Nicole Schaaf, Office of Disability Management, and Capt(N) Jason Boyd cut the ribbon marking the regional office of Disability Management opening. Photo by Peter Mallett[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A new disability management centre opened for business in Esquimalt last Friday with a mandate to provide improved case management services for ill, injured and impaired DND civilian employees.Glenn MacDougall, the Acting Director General of Workplace Management (DGWM), representing Assistant Deputy Minister Human Resources Civilian, presided over the opening ceremony for of the new regional Office of Disability Management on Oct. 19. Located in Naden, the new centre is operated by the civilian human resources branch of the Department of National Defence and is a key component of DND’s Total Health and Wellness Strategy. It offers support services including work and non-work-related accidents, injuries, illness or impairment; and recovery, return to work, accommodation and medical retirement.MacDougall said the opening of the new centre supports Canada’s Defence Policy: Strong, Secure, Engaged, and its objective to sustain a healthy, respectful and safe workplace. He emphasized that the Office of Disability Management will tackle the stigma surrounding mental health-related illnesses. “We have to continue to build programs that support employees and managers, provide easily accessible tools and above all, create a culture that promotes employee health and wellbeing,” he said. “Taking care of our mental health is just as important, but we’re not as good as we need to be at recognizing what that looks like, especially in the workplace.”The regional Office of Disability Management employs four full-time case workers who are supported by a national team at multiple centres across the country. They will initially serve CFB Esquimalt but will eventually expand operations by the end of the fiscal year to include Vancouver Island and...