Royal Canadian Navy launches Mentorship Program

Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) sailors at all ranks and civilian employees at all levels have a mentorship program to call their own.

Personnel are invited to attend the program’s first session, which will take place on May 26 from noon to 1:15 p.m. EST (sign-in begins at 11:30), and will be available Canada-wide on Microsoft Teams, or dial in at 343-803-5382, phone conference ID: 692 197 804#.

In the first session, titled “Why Mentorship?”, RCN members will share their thoughts on why mentorship is important. The session will feature the following speakers:

Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) Alena Mondelli, Halifax Base Chief Petty Officer;

Formation Master Sailor Kevin Dave from Maritime Forces Atlantic;

Command Master Sailor Maude Lauzon;

Formation Master Sailor Stephanie MacAndrew from the Naval Reserve;

Lieutenant-Commander Calley Gray;

Sailor First Class Ella York; and

Rear-Admiral Casper Donovan, Acting Deputy Commander RCN.

“The program is designed to create a space where individuals, regardless of their rank or experience, can share their knowledge and expertise with others who want to learn and grow in a personal and professional capacity,” says program director Dennis Witzke.

The program will consist of group sessions led by a subject matter expert. These sessions will be available to all on MS Teams. The group sessions will be held monthly and everyone is encouraged to actively participate, share their insights, and ask questions.

Although this program was developed with RCN military and civilian personnel in mind, it is open to all Canadian Armed Forces members and Department of National Defence employees at all ranks and levels.

“It is important to facilitate the transfer of knowledge between Defence Team members to prepare them for the complex roles they’ll be expected to perform as their careers progress,” says CPO1 Tara White, the navy’s occupation manager for boatswains and clearance divers, and member of the program development team. “This way we can ensure important lessons and skills that have been learned are passed on and support the development and preparation of sailors and officers for future challenges, as well as our civilian colleagues.”

More information can also be found here: INTRANET: rcn-mrc.mil.ca/ene/mentorship.page