‘Swashbuckling fun’ at Esquimalt Buccaneer Days
By Lookout Production on May 27, 2024 with Comments 0
Captain (Navy) Kevin Whiteside, Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt Base Commander, and Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Sue Frisby, CFB Esquimalt Base Chief, march in the parade at Buccaneer Days on May 11. Photos: Master Corporal Nathan Spence, Maritime Forces Pacific Imaging Services.
Peter Mallett,
Lookout staff
—
Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) members were front and center at this year’s Buccaneer Days parade through downtown Esquimalt on May 11.
Buccaneer Days is a time-honored tradition and spring festival that sees participants dress up as pirates and sailors while attending a variety of family-friendly events, with its Saturday morning parade serving as its official kickoff event.
Captain (Navy) Kevin Whiteside, CFB Esquimalt Base Commander, and Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Susan Frisby, Base Chief Petty Officer, led this year’s parade in an RCN Vintage Jeep. Commander Patrick Montgomery saluted Capt(N) Whiteside from the parade’s reviewing dais, accompanied by Mayor Barbara Desjardins.
Members of the Naval Tactical Operations Group rode aboard their unit’s own float, and the Naden Band participated in this year’s parade as well. The Office of the Base Commander and the Personnel Coordination Centre helped coordinate the military component and support for this year’s parade.
The Buccaneer Days’ festival occurred May 10 to 12. Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class (CPO2) Jason Tucker, Deputy Base Chief, thanked organizers from the Township of Esquimalt and CFB Esquimalt for their efforts in organizing the event.
“Buccaneer Days is always a fun part of the year and a great opportunity to celebrate our ties to the Township of Esquimalt, one of our oldest and most cherished relationships,” said CPO2 Tucker.
This year’s Buccaneer Days festival also involved several interactive events in and around the Archie Browning Community Centre including live music, music bingo, kid’s zone activities, a bean bag tossing (cornhole) tournament and beer gardens. Buccaneer Days can trace its history back to 1939 and Esquimalt’s former May Queen Celebration. In 1966, the annual festival to celebrate spring, similar to May Day, transformed into Buccaneer Days, with attendees donning pirate wear and vying for prizes for the best costume.
Buccaneer Days is a time-honored tradition and spring festival that sees participants dress up as pirates and sailors while attending a variety of family-friendly events, with its Saturday morning parade serving as its official kickoff event.
Captain (Navy) Kevin Whiteside, CFB Esquimalt Base Commander, and Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Susan Frisby, Base Chief Petty Officer, led this year’s parade in an RCN Vintage Jeep. Commander Patrick Montgomery saluted Capt(N) Whiteside from the parade’s reviewing dais, accompanied by Mayor Barbara Desjardins.
Members of the Naval Tactical Operations Group rode aboard their unit’s own float, and the Naden Band participated in this year’s parade as well. The Office of the Base Commander and the Personnel Coordination Centre helped coordinate the military component and support for this year’s parade.
The Buccaneer Days’ festival occurred May 10 to 12. Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class (CPO2) Jason Tucker, Deputy Base Chief, thanked organizers from the Township of Esquimalt and CFB Esquimalt for their efforts in organizing the event.
“Buccaneer Days is always a fun part of the year and a great opportunity to celebrate our ties to the Township of Esquimalt, one of our oldest and most cherished relationships,” said CPO2 Tucker.
This year’s Buccaneer Days festival also involved several interactive events in and around the Archie Browning Community Centre including live music, music bingo, kid’s zone activities, a bean bag tossing (cornhole) tournament and beer gardens. Buccaneer Days can trace its history back to 1939 and Esquimalt’s former May Queen Celebration. In 1966, the annual festival to celebrate spring, similar to May Day, transformed into Buccaneer Days, with attendees donning pirate wear and vying for prizes for the best costume.
Naval Tactical Operations Group members participate in the Buccaneer Days parade.
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