Top Sailor Awarded Esteemed West Coast Naval Honours

Archana Cini, Lookout Newspaper. Contributions by Rodney Venis, Base Public Affairs

As the spring rain lifted on March 3, the company of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Max Bernays assembled to celebrate one of their own: Sailor 1st Class (S1) Andrée-Anne Dion-Tessier, the Canadian Fleet Pacific (CANFLTPAC) 2025 Sailor of the Year.

The mid-morning ceremony highlighted not only S1 Dion-Tessier’s dedication to service during the past year, but also the teamwork and camaraderie that define life aboard Max Bernays. During the event, in recognition of the CANFLTPAC honour, she was presented with the Captain(Navy) (Capt(Navy)) Peter Hinton Memorial Award for Leadership and Excellence in Service, which is typically bestowed to junior non-commissioned members who demonstrate ethical leadership, integrity and commitment to duty. The award, and accompanying sword of the same name, is presented annually by Geraldine Hinton, the wife of the late Capt(Navy) Peter Hinton, in whose memory she helped establish the award to commemorate his deep legacy of service to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). She was joined during this year’s ceremony by Capt(Navy) Sam Patchell, Commander CANFLTPAC, who also helped deliver notification to S1 Dion-Tessier that she would be receiving a Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (CRCN) Commendation.

When S1 Dion-Tessier first learned that she had been selected for the distinctions, her reaction was one of amazement and gratitude.

“I was honoured and a little surprised,” she said. “It wasn’t something I expected. During the deployment, my focus was simply on doing my job and giving my best to support the team.” S1 Dion-Tessier also emphasized that the recognition belongs as much to the collective effort of the sailors aboard Max Bernays as it does to her own. “It was a challenging period at times, but what really stood out to me was the support from my peers and the hard work of the junior sailors around me,” S1 Dion-Tessier said.

Sailor 1st Class (S1) Andrée-Anne Dion-Tessier. Photo supplied.

“They work incredibly hard every day, and I would not have been able to accomplish everything without their help. This recognition means a lot to me, but it also reflects the effort and teamwork of the people I work with.”

S1 Dion-Tessier’s journey towards the RCN began with encouragement from close to home. Her older brother, Jean-Raphaël Dion-Tessier, who currently serves in the Canadian Army, helped inspire her decision to join the military. “My big brother had a strong influence on my decision to join,” explained S1 DionTessier. “During a time when I was feeling overwhelmed, we talked about his experiences and the opportunities the military had given him. That conversation really opened my eyes and helped me realize that the Canadian Navy was the path I wanted to take.”

The award, named in honour of the late Capt(Navy) Peter Hinton, carries the legacy of a renowned naval officer. Capt(Navy) Hinton joined the navy in 1941. Approximately three years later, he would become one of the youngest to command a landing craft during D-Day, a harrowing experience transporting troops onto the beach at Bernières-sur-Mer, as recounted in historian Mark Zuehlke’s book Juno Beach, Canada’s D-Day Victory. After leaving the navy briefly, Capt(Navy) Hinton returned in 1951 and served for over 30 years. His career included command of His Majesty’s Canadian (HMC) Ships Columbia, Fortune, Protecteur, and Athabaskan along with a tenure as commandant of the leadership school HMCS Cornwallis. Among his other career highlights, he also made RCN history as the first officer to serve consecutively as Base Commander on both coasts. He retired in 1976 and, after spending much of his later years serving in roles such as Executive Director of the Victoria Branch of the Canadian Red Cross, died peacefully on Dec 19, 2008.

Today, award recipient S1 Dion-Tessier’s concept of service is straightforward.

“I would describe my approach to service as steady and committed,” she said. “For me, it means showing up every day ready to work, supporting the team, and making sure the job gets done right.” Looking back on her journey serving the RCN so far, S1 Dion-Tessier says the advice she would give her younger self is simple: take the opportunity. “I would tell my younger self not to wait and to go for it,” said S1 Dion-Tessier. “Take the opportunities that come your way, even if they seem challenging. You will figure things out along the way.” She added with a smile that the process usually includes learning a lot along the way — including English.

“It might not always be perfect,” continues S1 Dion-Tessier, “but it will make people smile.”

As the ceremony concluded, the recognition served as a reminder that receiving such honours can often celebrate more than individual achievement. It can also reflect the sacrifices of those from years past, like the late Capt(Navy) Hinton, and those who serve with such values today, like S1 Dion-Tessier and all those aboard Max Bernays.