Unsung Logisticians lauded at birthday bash
By Lookout Production on Feb 16, 2024 with Comments 0
Members of the Base Logistics team gather for cake and refreshments at the Chief and Petty Officers’ Rainbow Room during a 56th Anniversary party for the Royal Canadian Logistics Service on Feb. 1.
Peter Mallett,
Staff Writer
The last time BLog held an anniversary party was in 2021.
In his address, Commander Dan Saunders, BLog Commanding Officer, said there is a growing realization in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) of the RCLS’s importance.
“The RCLS is critical to all RCN initiatives and nothing would get done without you; things in the Navy would grind to a halt,” Cdr Saunders said.
RCLS includes civilians and military members, spread out between all three Canadian Armed Forces branches and CFB Esquimalt units. They perform various jobs, encompassing multiple trades such as Human Resources, Financial Service Administrators, Mobile Support Equipment Operators, Traffic Technicians, Material Management Technicians, Postal Technicians, Ammunition Technicians, Cooks from Base Foods and musicians.
“I’m glad we were able to come together again as a group because this event is about reuniting and seeing familiar face but also meeting people,” said Chief Petty Officer Second Class Troy McGregor, Base Foods West Coast Occupational Advisor.
The anniversary party is also an opportunity to educate the public and even those within the military about the RCLS, say event’s co-organizers Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Donald Quenneville of BLog Systems Control Division and Major (Maj) Weena Boutin of Transport Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (TEME).
“We are often seen as the unsung heroes of the Canadian Armed Forces,” Maj Boutin said. “This gathering gave people of different ranks, professions and backgrounds a chance to discuss the challenges they face daily and do so in a more relaxing environment than in the workplace.”
MWO Quenneville says logisticians in Canada and those engaged in military operations worldwide celebrate each milestone, no matter what location they are working.
Logisticians who have gone above and beyond the call of duty were presented with Awards of Excellence and certificates by Captain (Navy) Kevin Whiteside, Base Commander.
“Your incredible work is invaluable to the formation and our entire team, and without you, we simply could not do what we do,” said Capt(N) Whiteside.
(Left) Chief Petty Officer First Class Susan Frisby, Base Chief, and Captain (Navy) Kevin Whiteside, Base Commander, present Master Sailor April Davis, Base Orderly Room, and Corporal Alison Tso, MARPAC/JTF(P) HQ, with the Formation Logistics Junior Non-Commissioned Member Award. All photos: Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper
The award categories and those recognized included:
- Civilian, Robert Senkpiel, BLog;
- Formation Logistics Award Junior NCM, Corporal Alison Tso, MARPAC/JTF(P) HQ and Master Sailor April Davis;
- Base Orderly Room, Formation Logistics Award Senior NCM: Petty Officer Second Class, Chelsie Astles;
- Base Comptroller, Formation Logistics Award, Officer: Lieutenant Anabelle St-Martin, BLog.
(Left) Captain (Navy) Kevin Whiteside, Base Commander, and (right) Chief Petty Officer First Class Susan Frisby, Base Chief, present Logisticians Major Weena Boutin, Transport and Electrical Mechanical Engineering Officer and Master Warrant Officer Donald Quenneville, Base Logistics Acting Systems Control Officer, with a certificate of recognition for organizing this year’s 56th anniversary party.
Following the awards ceremony, Logisticians toasted their accomplishments by enjoying cupcakes and buttercream chocolate marble cake whipped up by Base Foods Cook and former Pastry Chef Corporal Kristel Campbell of HMCS Winnipeg.
Members of the Base Logistics team gather for a group photograph.
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