Top Sailor Award double play for HMCS Regina
By Lookout Production on Jun 06, 2024 with Comments 0
Commodore David Mazur, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, and Chief Petty Officer 1st Class David Bisal, Fleet Chief, present Sailor 1st Class Nicholas Campbell and Master Sailor Tristan Harris with their Sailor of the Quarter certificates in a May 16 ceremony at Naval Fleet School (Pacific). Photos: Peter Mallett/Lookout Newspaper
Peter Mallett,
Staff Writer
Master Sailor (MS) Tristan Harris became Sailor of the Last 2023 Quarter; his shipmate Sailor 1st Class (S1) Nicholas Campbell became Sailor of the First 2024 Quarter. Both took on extra work during a challenging time when the Halifax-class frigate reactivated from its extended docking work period in Seaspan in 2023.
Both members are attending Naval Fleet School (Pacific) (NFS(P)) for career progression training. Commodore (Cmdre) David Mazur, Canadian Fleet Pacific Commodore, presented their awards at a May 16 ceremony at NFS(P).
“When you are reactivating a ship there is a lot of call for people to go above and beyond their usual work routines and help out other departments onboard,” said Cmdre Mazur. “So, when people such as MS Harris and S1 Campbell step forward and say, ‘I will take this on even though it’s not my job or trade’, we encourage and celebrate that.”
Commander (Cdr) Jeremy Samson, HMCS Regina’s Commanding Officer, said having two of Regina’s sailors consecutively recognized is a very proud moment for the ship and crew.
“Their excellence, unwavering dedication, and outstanding contributions underscore the values that define our Navy,” Cdr Samson said.
Along with the award, the sailors received a commemorative certificate, a Sailor of the Quarter coin and a preferred parking spot in the Dockyard. The images of each Sailor of the Quarter winner are added to a display in the main lobby of Canadian Fleet Pacific’s headquarters.
Commodore David Mazur, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, and Chief Petty Officer 1st Class David Bisal, Fleet Chief, present Sailor 1st Class Nicholas Campbell and Master Sailor Tristan Harris with their Sailor of the Quarter certificates in a May 16 ceremony at Naval Fleet School (Pacific). Photos: Peter Mallett/Lookout Newspaper
Master Sailor Tristan Harris
MS Harris says the good news came to him and his family as a pleasant surprise.
“They couldn’t be prouder of me,” he said. “I am the only living member of my family in the last 80 years to be a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and this is something my family takes great pride in.”
MS Harris is a Boatswain originally from Hope, B.C., and a proud member of the Stó꞉lō First Nation. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy nearly ten years ago.
An internal document from HMCS Regina said MS Harris was chosen for the Sailor of the Last 2023 Quarter award because of his outstanding leadership, dedication, commitment and being a role model for his peers. In November 2023, he was honoured to represent MARPAC as Indigenous Council and Eagle Staff Bearer for Remembrance Day at the National Memorial in Ottawa. He also received a Command Commendation for saving a life in Darwin, Australia, while on WestPloy 16 training.
Today, MS Harris attends the fleet school for his Rank Qualification Petty Officer Second Class training and hopes to return to Fleet School later this year as a Sailor Third Class or Sailor First Class Instructor.
(Left) CPO1 David Bisal, Fleet Chief, and Commodore David Mazur, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, present Sailor 1st Class Nicholas Campbell with his Sailor of the Quarter certificate in a May 16 ceremony at Naval Fleet School (Pacific).
S1 Campbell
S1 Campbell received the news during a surprise visit of Cdr Maryl Sponder, NFS(P) Commanding Officer, to his Advanced Acoustic Analysis Class (AAAC).
“All my classmates and shipmates in Regina’s Operations Room were super ‘pumped’ for me to get this award, and my mom loved hearing this news,” said S1 Campbell.
A statement from Canadian Fleet Pacific says that S1 Campbell’s nomination came because of his leadership qualities. He exceeded expectations by voluntarily accepting numerous roles onboard Regina, including Operations Room Buffer (supervisor), spearheading training for the ship’s other Sonar Ops and his role in Regina’s Naval Boarding Party.
S1 Campbell’s volunteerism outside of his duties also played a role; he volunteers for Lifetime Networks, a local non-profit that improves the lives of those with disabilities. As an additional morale boost, only a day after hearing about his Sailor of the Quarter award, he received the award for top student in his AAAC class.
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