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[caption id="attachment_11635" align="alignnone" width="600"] Members of Joint Task Force Forward, operate the bioscan systems for processing refugees in Beirut, Lebanon, during Operation Provision.[/caption]Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs >> As the first Syrian refugees arrive in Canada, Army Reservists are on the ground and eager to help keep them safe and comfortable while they await permanent resettlement in their new home.The reservists have volunteered to be part of Operation Provision, the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) contribution to the resettlement initiative, which is being led by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).Most are serving in auxiliary security roles or augmenting staff on the various CAF bases where refugees may be temporarily housed should the need arise. Several say they feel a personal connection to the mission.“I signed up for Op Provision because I wanted to welcome the Syrian refugees to Canada,” said Gunner Markus Hale, a member of 56 Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA), based in Brantford, Ontario. “As an immigrant and a Canadian soldier, I felt it was my duty to volunteer.”“I joined Op Provision because my parents were refugees to Canada and had a better life,” added Corporal Dardal Malushaj, with the Toronto Scottish Regiment. “I want to give back and help the Syrian refugees have a better life as well.”Canada’s resettlement plan will continue to evolve as it moves forward. CAF members have both the training and high level of readiness needed to evolve with it.The multi-faceted resettlement plan starts with the identification and processing of the approximately 25,000 displaced Syrians that IRCC estimates Canada will be taking in. A contingent of CAF members are deployed in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey to assist.According to IRCC, the 25,000 were to be identified by Dec. 31 and the expectation was that 10,000 of those would be welcomed to Canada by...

RCAF Public Affairs >> The Royal Canadian Mint has launched a new $20 silver coin commemorating the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP).The Plan, as it came to be known, arose from Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King’s desire to see Canada contribute meaningfully to the Allied war effort while, hopefully, maintaining control of Canadian personnel rather than seeing them absorbed into British units, and avoiding the terribly high casualty rates of the First World War. The BCTAP agreement was signed in late 1939, and ran until 1945.It was a simple plan, on the surface. Once Commonwealth nations around the world had determined through their own Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS) that enrollees did, indeed, have “the right stuff”, candidates arrived at BCATP schools throughout Canada for advanced flying training, and air gunnery, wireless operator and air observer instruction. Upon graduation, aircrew travelled to England where they formed units and entered the fray under their own nations’ banners.Beneath this ordered surface was one of the most demanding efforts undertaken by Canada during the Second World War.Airfields and schools were repurposed or constructed throughout Canada. These facilities and their supporting infrastructure would employ some 33,000 military personnel and about 6,000 civilians, and require about 5,000 aircraft – at a staggering cost of more than $607 million.By war’s end, BCATP schools had trained 131,553 Allied aircrew, and Canada had become known as “the aerodrome of democracy”. The Plan was one of the most successful efforts undertaken by Canada during the Second World War. A legacy of the BCATP is visible in the many airfields and regional airports that dot our nation today.The Royal Canadian Mint’s new British Commonwealth Air Training Plan commemorative $20 silver coin is a fitting tribute to The Plan and to the Canadians who brought it to life.With thanks...

[caption id="attachment_11601" align="alignnone" width="600"] Left to right: CPO2 Don Reid greets his wife PO1 Allison Reid as she disembarks from HMCS Whitehorse at the completion of Operation Caribbe last Thursday. She holds her son Jackson as daughter Madeleine stands close by.[/caption]DND – The last Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) assets, HMC Ships Brandon and Whitehorse arrived home last Thursday, concluding a successful year for the CAF on Operation Caribbe. Canada’s 2015 annual contribution to the multinational campaign against illicit trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean – Operation Martillo – saw CAF assets and personnel directly contribute to the seizure or disruption of approximately 18.5 metric tons of cocaine and three metric tons of marijuana, more than any other year since the CAF’s contribution began in 2006. As part of Operation Caribbe 2015, the CAF contributed four CP-140 Aurora surveillance aircraft, five Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (HMC Ships Brandon, Goose Bay, Nanaimo, Shawinigan and Whitehorse), two Halifax-class frigate with their embarked CH-124 Sea King helicopter (HMC Ships Winnipeg and Vancouver), and one Iroquois-class destroyer (HMCS Athabaskan) with its two embarked CH-124 Sea King helicopters.Royal Canadian Navy ships deployed a total of 10 times (HMC Ships Whitehorse and Winnipeg deployed twice each) and sailed for a total of 344 days. Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Auroras flew 321 hours, and CH-124 Sea Kings flew 150 hours, providing surveillance, detection, and disruption capabilities during the operation.HMC Ships Brandon and Whitehorse seized and disrupted more narcotics during a 44-day deployment this fall than any other duo of Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels during the operation’s history, with a combined total of approximately 9,800kg. The previous record of 5,934 kg was held by HMC Ships Whitehorse and Nanaimo, obtained earlier this year while deployed in the Eastern Pacific.“I have seen the terrible damage inflicted...

[caption id="attachment_11598" align="alignnone" width="600"] A group photo of the Pacific Region Women’s Soccer team from Esquimalt who won the Championship for the Women’s Soccer Nationals hosted by CFB Borden, Ontario.[/caption]Peter Mallet, Staff Writer – 2015 was a year of firsts for the Pacific Region Women’s Soccer team.They won their first Canadian Armed Forces National Championship trophy, and collected their first-ever award at the annual sports awards luncheon in Esquimalt, where they were crowned Breakthrough Team of the Year.But the real kicker is they couldn’t have achieved it without the guidance of first-time, rookie coach Sgt Caleb Klimas.“We were complete underdogs heading into the national tournament,” says Sgt Klimas, a medical technician at the base clinic in CFB Esquimalt. “We lost our first two games but just kept getting stronger every game after that point, and then won four games in a row.”The Pacific Region team hoisted the Nichola Goddard Trophy at CFB Borden on Sept. 13 after defeating Quebec 2-1 on penalty kicks. Midfielder Lt(N) Tien Nguyen represented the Pacific Region’s team at the tournament for the third time, and said the victory over Quebec “came as a complete surprise” to her and her teammates. It’s always been an uphill battle for the Pacific team because of the constant deployments, she says, and sailings at the base coupled with a smaller pool of players to draw from makes it difficult to field a competitive team.“Sgt Klimas was a communicator, a motivator, but also had an easy-going and relaxed style of coaching that was a perfect fit for this team,” says Lt(N) Nguyen, a combat systems engineering officer with HCM West. Sgt Klimas played youth soccer on the lower mainland in Surrey and served as a defender for Kwantlen Polytechnic Institute soccer team. But he admits it really wasn’t his experience...

[caption id="attachment_11594" align="alignnone" width="600"] HMCS Winnipeg’s cover band, “The Zeroes”.[/caption]MS Bevin Gordichuk, HMCS Winnipeg – “When musicians get together and combine their efforts to produce a single sound, it’s some of the most symbiotic team work one can imagine. If you want to observe team work that approaches perfection, check out a well-rehearsed band.” PO2 Pete Fraser, November 2015.HMCS Winnipeg’s cover band - ‘The Zeroes’ were ready to perform their first shore gig in Toulon, France, Nov. 19, but the terrorist attacks in Paris interrupted their plan. It was a shocking reminder of the importance of the ship’s mission during their nine-month deployment on Operation Reassurance. The band has a strong following and has participated in morale-raising events throughout the deployment.  Their crowning achievement to date was the visit from Team Canada, which included the Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), RCN Command Chief, former hockey and football stars, and Honorary Captain (Navy) Arlene Dickenson. They met in Belfast, Ireland on Oct. 10 where the Zeroes played a six-song set followed by an encore with two-time Juno Award nominated musician Kira Isabella Wilkie to sustained applause from their appreciative ship mates.The band members - lead singer and rhythm guitar Lt(N) Justin Dunn, lead guitar LS Brian Bourassa, acoustic guitar LS Joseph Chisling, keyboardist MS Bevin Gordichuk, bassist PO2 Pete Fraser, and drummer LS Dan Camellato (a.k.a. Animal) - formed the group after Lt(N) Dunn and LS Bourassa began jamming in Cabin zero as a way to decompress and share their love of playing music during the deployment. They recruited PO2 Fraser for bass, and LS Chisling for guitar.“I had only been playing guitar for a few years as a hobby and didn’t really give it enough attention,” said LS Chisling. “Working with the guys over the course of the...

[caption id="attachment_11561" align="alignnone" width="600"] LS Jose Villano, LS Andrew Drake and AS Matthew White from HMCS Winnipeg help with renovations at the Résidence solidaire les Favières in Toulon, France, during a break from Operation Reassurance Nov. 18.[/caption]SLt Jamie Tobin, HMCS Winnipeg – Eight members of HMCS Winnipeg assisted a local not-for-profit organization in Toulon, France, Nov. 19.The team went to Résidence solidaire les Favières, a local rehabilitation centre that provides a stable living environment for people in Toulon that require support. While they were there, the team painted living areas and took on landscaping jobs that provided the grounds with a much needed facelift.“The group did a lot of great work out there,” said PO1 Timothy Hobson, one of the team leads. “We were able to accomplish as much in one day that their one maintenance employee could have accomplished in several weeks, and he was very pleased with the result.” The work party took on this community relations initiative during the ship`s rest and maintenance period, a time that is set aside from major deployments to conduct maintenance on the ship and give the crew a brief reprieve from operations. Those involved in the event were more than willing to take time away from this period to lend a hand in support of the community.“We really appreciated the team’s work, willing spirit and openness to help out,” said Tim Rawls, the Director of Résidence solidaire les Favières.One team took on two painting projects in rooms inside the facility, while the other leveled ground for a functional clothes line and cleared brush, weeds and shrubs out of the facility`s large hillside property.“It felt really good to get out into the community and get my hands dirty,” said LS Jose Villano, a Combat Systems Engineering Technician. “Volunteer opportunities are certainly deployment...

[caption id="attachment_11558" align="alignnone" width="600"] HMC Ships Whitehorse (back left) and Brandon (back right) follow United States Coast Guard Cutter Stratton during a Joint Operations photo op.[/caption]Lt(N) Greg Menzies, MARPAC Public Affairs – When HMC Ships Brandon and Whitehorse reached their area of responsibility during Operation Caribbe, they were ready to work with partners and make a difference in the fight against illicit narcotics in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. During the long transit south, both ships conducted sea training that was necessary to familiarize every sailor about ship procedures, routines and emergency drills. This training confirmed the ships’ ability to conduct a wide range of operations at sea, and achieve the standard readiness needed on Operation Caribbe.Operation Caribbe is Canada’s contribution to Operation Martillo, a U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force South-led interagency and multinational effort among Western Hemisphere and European nations, designed to improve regional security and deter criminal activity.“Weather and sea states during mission workups were rough, but despite this every member overcame adversity and persevered as they knew they had to complete their assigned duties,” said Lieutenant-Commander Landon Creasy, Brandon’s Commanding Officer. “Sailors on both ships were well trained and qualified in everything they did to prepare them for this deployment.”The operation began as the ships left San Diego, California, with embarked United States Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) teams. The mission for Brandon and Whitehorse was to support the LEDET teams, who conduct the boarding and seizures of suspect vessels in accordance with bilateral agreements signed between the United States and Central American nations.During the deployment, the ships also conducted two passenger exchanges (PASSEX) that were organized between Brandon, Whitehorse, the USCG, United States Navy (USN) and the Mexican Navy. The Royal Canadian Navy has a long standing tradition of conducting PASSEXs with its allied partners....

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer – Base firefighters continued the holiday legacy of a fallen comrade this year by entering Pumper No. 450 into this year’s annual Esquimalt Celebration of Lights parade.The backup pumper for CFB Esquimalt’s Fire and Rescue Services was adorned with over 1,000 Christmas lights and took home top prize for Best Decorated Vehicle at the Dec. 6 holiday event hosted by the Township of Esquimalt.“Winning the prize was very much a team effort,” said fire department chief, Steve Mullen. “But the whole reason behind our involvement is to do something festive within the community. It makes the guys and girls in this unit feel good and they always make a big effort to do it up right.”A big part of the unit’s past success was the enthusiastic involvement of veteran firefighter Dave Hill. Mullen says Hill took it upon himself to spearhead the annual tradition of lighting up the truck for the holidays throughout his 22 years at the station.But on Nov. 19, 2011, 54-year-old Hill was diagnosed with terminal lung and esophageal cancer after a routine trip to the family doctor. His co-workers rallied around Hill and his family, raising enough money for them to visit Hawaii in January 2012. Hill died seven months later and was honoured at the 11th annual Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial in August 2014.Mullen says Hill’s legacy lives on each year when they flick the switch and the fire truck is set aglow.“Decorating the fire truck was a labour of love for Dave, I know he’d be smiling if he found out we kept his winning tradition alive,” said Mullen. “He was always at the epicentre of taking the bull by the horns and ensuring our truck would shine brightly. He would dress up as Santa Claus and buy candy...

[caption id="attachment_11507" align="alignnone" width="600"] MCpl Michael Bastien was honoured Nov. 25 for his outstanding photography with the Military Photographers Achievement Award, part of the Canadian Armed Forces Photo Contest. Pictured here: BGen Marc Theriault; BMO representative, Rick Campagna; MCpl Bastien; and Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, LGen Guy Thibault, at the Canadian War Museum.[/caption]DND – Bravo Zulu to Master Corporal Michael Bastien, who goes above and beyond as an Imagery Technician at Maritime Forces Pacific.Thanks to his outstanding imagery and dedication to his trade, MCpl Bastien has won the inaugural Military Photographers Achievement Award in the Canadian Armed Forces Photo Contest.This new award recognizes the technical quality of an individual photographer or videographer’s work, and highlights the personal qualities – the hard work and dedication behind the scenes that go into consistently producing evocative imagery for the CAF.MCpl Bastien is seasoned in the art of acquiring and using still and motion imagery to support operational planning, public affairs, and countless other requirements during crises, contingencies and exercises.He has deployed on operations several times as an image tech, including on Operation Reassurance in 2014 on board HMCS Regina. He used his time at sea to compose some amazing operational shots, a number of which won awards – both at previous CAF Photo Contests and in the 2015 Canadian Community Newspaper Awards.His skill and artistry in telling a story through the camera lens has led to his images regularly appearing in newspapers across the country.Called a natural leader by his unit, MCpl Bastien consistently takes the opportunity to mentor and coach less experienced colleagues about new equipment and techniques, while continuing to work on his own professional development.Thanks to his extensive experience and talent at capturing the commitment of the men and women who serve Canada, he’s proven to be an...

A/SLt Kyle Reed, MARPAC PA Office – As soon as HMC Ships Ottawa and Edmonton discovered their namesake city teams, the Ottawa RedBlacks and the Edmonton Eskimos, would be opponents for the 103rd Grey Cup, the rivalry erupted between the ships. In the days leading up to the big game, there was the expected banter and bickering as the ships’ crews expressed support for their teams.To make the rivalry official, the ships’ Commanding Officers exchanged messages predicting each other’s demise and agreeing to terms on a bet. The bet demanded the losing team hoist the winning team’s flag for a 24-hour period after the game. If that weren’t enough, on the Friday before the game, Edmonton sailed closely past Ottawa with the Edmonton Eskimos flag flying proudly, while Ottawa crew members had their own RedBlacks flag on display.If such a relationship between two ships and their respective CFL teams is surprising, it shouldn’t be. The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and their respective namesake city’s CFL teams have shared a close relationship for decades, and the hoisting of the opposing team’s flag is a common tradition.The RCN even won a Grey Cup back in 1944 when HMCS Donnacona defeated the Hamilton Wildcats 7-6. Last year, sailors from HMCS Vancouver sailed the Grey Cup into Vancouver harbour, prompting then-CFL commissioner Mark Cohon to exclaim, “I get to do a lot of cool things in my job. I get to present the Grey Cup and take the Grey Cup to Afghanistan. I get to call the guys who are in the Hall of Fame and tell them they are going into the Hall of Fame. But I’ve got to say, coming in with the Cup with Vancouver, the ship, behind me – it was spectacular!”With the teams taking to the field for the Grey...

November 30, 2015OTTAWA – Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan today wrapped up a successful visit to Kuwait where he met with Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel currently deployed in the region as part of Canada’s contribution to the multinational Coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Minister Sajjan used the occasion to pay tribute to the troops, thanking them for their dedication and service. While in Kuwait, Minister Sajjan also met with his counterpart, His Excellency, Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, and other senior officials. During their discussions, the Minister underscored Canada’s ongoing commitment to working with allies and partners to counter global terrorism, and expressed his appreciation to Kuwait for hosting Canadian Armed Forces personnel engaged in the campaign. This support is vital to the mission. Quotes “Over the past few days, I have had the pleasure of meeting with allies and partners in both Jordan and Kuwait to discuss cooperation on a number of pressing global security and humanitarian issues. I was pleased with the positive exchange of ideas and expressed Canada’s on-going commitment to working with coalition partners to counter the ISIS threat, as well as Canada’s efforts to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees from the region as quickly as possible.” Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence “It is an honour and privilege to represent Canada on the world stage and to have an opportunity to meet with coalition counterparts and members of the Canadian Armed Forces. I want to express my deep appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to Canadian soldiers, sailors and airmen and airwomen for their hard work, professionalism and dedication.” Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence Quick Facts Canada joined the multinational Coalition against ISIS in 2014 in an effort to help bring security and stability to Iraq and the region. Canada has been and continues to be an important contributor to this international effort.  Canada currently has approximately 600 CAF personnel deployed to the region as part of Joint Task Force-Iraq (JTF-I), which supports coalition efforts to degrade ISIS....

[caption id="attachment_11442" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) and volunteers gathered Nov. 21 for the annual turkey run/spin at Millstream Village, Langford, to raise money for the Goldstream Food Bank’s Christmas Hamper Program.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer – The Goldstream Food Bank got an early Christmas gift this year thanks to clearance divers from CFB Esquimalt.More than $21,000 was raised for the food bank’s Christmas hamper program at the sixth annual Navy Diver Turkey  Fundraiser at Millstream Village on Saturday Nov. 21.Lt(N) Walter Dubeau, lead organizer of the event, says crowds gathered at the Village to watch divers complete underwater demonstrations in a 3,000 gallon dive tank loaned to them by the B.C. College of Divers.Alongside the divers was an equipment display set up by the Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) bomb disposal unit. One diver wore full bomb disposal gear for the entire day while walking on a treadmill. Stationed a few steps away were divers on nine stationary bicycles riding for hours, eventually covering the distance between Victoria and Calgary, roughly 1,500 kilometres.“People who line up to receive a hamper each year don’t have a whole lot,” says Lt(N) Dubeau. “The fact that more than half the dive unit – roughly 50 of us – came out and pulled together to raise the funds is a great achievement.”He credits the strength of the diving unit for pulling off such a feat.“It takes a whole unit to make this happen. The true thanks must go to the men and women of the Fleet Diving Unit and their friends and families who work hard to get every penny to put those turkeys on the tables.”Lt(N) Dubeau has been volunteering with the Goldstream Food Bank for over six years, and says that more than 700 recipients from Langford, Colwood, Highlands, Metchosin, and View Royal visit the food bank for a hamper every Christmas.To equip hampers with a meat product, the food bank relies on donations, which usually amounts to about 25...

[caption id="attachment_11439" align="alignnone" width="300"] It was a tense journey for sailors in Orca 55 as the training vessel encountered fierce winds and four metre swells.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff writer – A few weeks ago most of south Vancouver Island was slammed with 90 kilometre an hour winds and heavy rain leaving thousands without power and a major cleanup of debris.Out on the water Mother Nature was even more dangerous.For those sailing to Vancouver in the 33-metre Orca 55 on Nov. 17, the storm was so fierce the swells reached epic heights – more than four metres or the height of a one story building.LCdr Preston McIntosh, Patrol Craft Training Unit Commanding Officer, says the storm’s fury was much worse than predicted by weather forecasters.He is hailing his crew for battling the elements and getting the vessel to safe harbour.“It was the quick action of my crew members that allowed us to make it safely into Holmes Harbour, Washington,” said LCdr McIntosh, noting it wasn’t the vessel’s intended destination. “It gives me a high level of confidence in my team and the ability of them to deal with any situation that might arise with the Orcas.”The training vessel was en route to the mainland for a community day sail when they encountered 83 kmh winds and two to three metre swells, causing Orca 55 to take very hard portside rolls near Discovery Island.LCdr McIntosh then made the decision to avoid a “perilous” northward turn into the Haro Strait where the ship would face even larger swells. He ordered the vessel change course to a southeasterly direction towards Puget Sound. But the unpredictable weather worsened. Winds increased to 160 km/h and the vessel and crew were forced to contend with four-metre swells.Despite the onslaught of sea sickness, MS Roger Robicheau made it to...

[caption id="attachment_11436" align="alignnone" width="300"] Base Chief, CPO1 Robert Spinelli (left) receives a flu shot from Cpl Justin Lalonde, Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific), at the Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters flu vaccine clinic on Nov. 23.[/caption]Capt Laura Guevremont, CFHSC(P) – With flu season in full swing, Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific) has been offering the flu shot to its members to help them stay healthy this winter. It’s important when deciding whether or not to get the flu shot that you have the right information about the flu and the vaccine. There are many misconceptions about influenza and the flu vaccine, and these misconceptions can lead to a decrease in the number of people who are vaccinated.Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by the Influenza A and B viruses. This virus usually appears in the late fall and early winter when cold temperatures allow the virus to spread more easily. The flu most commonly causes a sudden high fever, chills, sore throat and cough.The flu can lead to more severe respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia. This is particularly dangerous in the very young and very old, the chronically sick, and pregnant women as their immune systems are not as good at protecting them from disease even after they have been vaccinated.Approximately 10 to 20 per cent of Canadians will get the flu each season, about 12,200 will be hospitalized and 3,500 will die.The influenza virus is constantly mutating which means people need to be vaccinated each year. The flu vaccine is formulated using data on flu viruses that circulated around the world in the previous year. The flu vaccine formulation for the 2015/16 season was chosen in February of this year. It protects against two A strains including H1N1, and one or two B strains.Last year the flu vaccine...

[caption id="attachment_11411" align="alignnone" width="300"] Peter Mallett, LookoutFrom left: Cdr Wes Golden, CANEX vice president Mack McMillan, Cdr Brigitte Boutin, and CANEX Express Mart manager Iris Shiplack cut the ribbon during the grand opening ceremony of a Tim Horton’s express at their Colwood outlet.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer - The operators of Colwood’s CANEX Express Mart hope the $120,000 investment in a Tim Hortons Express franchise will get business percolating in the Belmont Park location.As a fierce autumn storm raged outside on Nov. 17, employees, customers and base officials gathered around the giant automated coffee dispensary unit and raised their complimentary cup of java to cheerily toast the arrival of Tim Hortons.CANEX Express Mart manager Iris Shiplack says the new coffee kiosk is a more convenient location for Belmont Park residents, Colwood Pacific Activity Centre users, Fleet Diving Unit staff, and employees at Colwood Building 66.And while they won’t be selling Tim Hortons’ sweet treats, they will have fresh baked goods for sale from the Six Mile Bakery.The franchise bill was split between CANEX and the Base Fund, with the aim of driving up profits, with a percentage turned back to the Base Fund to be used for morale and welfare activities.This year, CANEX and SISIP donated a combined $166,092 to the Base Fund.Irene Woodruff, who resides close to the Express Mart, said the location is great for her and the neighbors.“I use a walker to get around and this location is easier for me, especially on stormy days like this one,” Woodruff said. “Word and excitement about this location seems to be spreading with my neighbours and others in the community that Tim Hortons is open for business.”

[caption id="attachment_11408" align="alignnone" width="300"] A/SLt Matthew Heim of HMCS Malahat shows Sara Geday how to “drive” a 33-metre Orca-class vessel.[/caption]Ten women and men joined naval reservists from HMCS Malahat for a morning at sea and an afternoon of firefighting, experiencing for themselves a day in the life of a sailor.Participants were mostly University of Victoria students, which had its reading break Nov. 9 to 13. The Sailor for a Day event was for those who wanted to experience what the Naval Reserve offers as part-time employment.“Participants were very interested in the Naval Reserve’s educational reimbursement for post-secondary education, competitive wages and benefits, leadership and professional development opportunities – all as a part-time career,” said Petty Officer Second Class Class Beth-Anne Salzer, one of Malahat’s recruiters.The day kicked off at Malahat in James Bay, and then the 10 guests were off to Her Majesty’s Canadian Dockyard in Esquimalt to embark in PCT Wolf, a 33-metre Orca-class patrol vessel from the Patrol Craft Training Unit.The weather was co-operative, with calm seas and no precipitation. The guests saw for themselves how a trained crew manages typical shipboard emergencies such as a person overboard drill and a steering gear breakdown.One of the highlights was learning to throw a heaving line, which resulted in a friendly competition amongst the guests.They also enjoyed the opportunity to take the helm, and under close supervision experienced driving the ship through many helm orders and engine revolution changes.After returning to HMC Dockyard and brushing the newly-earned salt from their shoulders, the guests were then off to the Damage Control Training Facility Galiano in Colwood, where they spent the afternoon learning about firefighting onboard RCN vessels, handling firefighting equipment and experiencing a controlled fire.As a bonus, the group had the opportunity to witness an advanced team of sailors attack a...

[caption id="attachment_11405" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lt(N) Lucie Gijzen on board MV Besant.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer  -  Lieutenant(Navy) Lucie Gijzen, a physician working at Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific) isn’t your average doctor. On top of her duties as a Primary Care Physician, she travels the world to collaborate in submarine escape and rescue working groups in NATO countries, and participates in international submarine escape and rescue exercises.She is one of six physicians in the Canadian Armed Forces trained in the field of diving and submarine medicine.Her highly specialized medical training in hyperbaric and submarine medicine recently earned her a spot on a team of 25 medical personnel selected for Exercise Black Carillon 2015 (BC15). The submarine escape exercise took place Sept. 14 to Oct. 9 at the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) base HMAS Stirling in Perth, Western Australia.“The exercise was designed to provide massive casualties training to medical personnel trained in submarine medicine, to give submariners a chance to abandon a vessel in a real-life scenario, and to provide the RAN a chance to practice aero medical evacuations,” explained Lt(N) Gijzen. “All while using the RAN’s new intervention vessel for the first time, MV Besant.”She adds this type of exercise is important “because we need to be ready in the event that a submarine is in distress. We need to be able to keep our submariners safe.”The first few days of the exercise saw Australian submarine HMAS Rankin bottomed in 19 metres of seawater in Cockburn Sound, off the coast of Western Australia. Six James Fisher Defence instructors from the Submarine Escape Training Facility at HMAS Stirling were situated inside the submarine, ready to escape through the submarine’s single man escape tower in inflatable survival suits, buoying them to the surface.The scenarios for the exercise replicated a submarine collision with...

[caption id="attachment_11373" align="alignnone" width="300"] Hockey players from the Victoria Grizzlies complete their morning training session at Fleet DivingUnit Pacific by navigating a rope bridge.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff WriterPlayers from the Victoria Grizzlies Junior A hockey team in Colwood traded skates for wet suits Nov. 3 when they stepped into the world of Navy Clearance Divers. This annual event is offered to the BCHL hockey club as an outreach piece to show the young hockey players an aspect of military training, leadership and teamwork that exists just a short walk from the team’s home arena, the nearby Q Centre.Just like navy divers in training, the players suited up and plunged into Esquimalt Harbour for the daily fitness drill known as “The Morning Swim.”On the shore, Fleet Diving Unit Pacific Training Officer Lt(N) Walter Dubeau barked instructions and encouragement.More teamwork was tested when the players divided into two teams and climbed on to a rope bridge suspended above the water.  Balance and strength were assessed.From the vantage of the shore, Lt(N) Dubeau spoke to the correlation between teamwork used by his divers and that of a professional hockey team.“Teamwork is part of everything we do in the Fleet Diving Unit. We have to work together; our entire training manual speaks to this. If you don’t have teamwork then [clearance] tasks cannot be completed. It’s the same in hockey.”Those tasks are not simple ones; they require the full engagement of the team to ensure a diver’s safety, whether it is cutting and welding the bottom of a ship or rendering sea mines safe with underwater explosives.“Truth be told, they [navy divers] work much harder than us,” said Grizzlies’ Jake Stevens, 18, a defencemen from Chicago Illinois. “The only thing that keeps them going in their rigorous training is their will and desire.”He says what he...

[caption id="attachment_11370" align="alignnone" width="300"] A veteran prays during a No Stone Left Alone Ceremony at the Esquimalt Veterans Cemetery (God’s Acre).[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff WriterThey may be gone, but the supreme sacrifices of Canada’s war dead aren’t being forgotten by Canada’s next generation.This year’s Nov. 6 No Stone Left Alone event saw more than 60 Grade 6 students from Rockheights Middle School honoured and solemnly remember the selfless acts of heroism by Canadians in uniform, by placing poppies on over 2,000 gravesites at Esquimalt’s national historic site, God’s Acre Veterans Cemetery.“The goal of the No Stone Left Alone ceremony is to educate and engage youth in honouring every soldier who has fought for our Canadian freedoms, and to ensure their acts of bravery are remembered and never forgotten,” said Rockheights Middle School Principal, Maryanne Trofimuk.The annual campaign was launched in 2011 by Edmonton’s Maureen G. Bianchini in an effort to recognize the nation’s fallen by placing a poppy on the headstones at military fields of honor.This year’s commemorative event involved 3,400 students in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories, placing a total of 20,000 poppies on military gravesites.In Esquimalt, a gathering of over 250 people - students and current and former military members - remembered the cost of war during a ceremony at the Colville Road cemetery. The burial ground was originally built by Rear Admiral George Fowler-Hastings in 1868 as a place of rest for Royal Navy sailors, but has since expanded to encompass all members of the Canadian Armed Forces.“Ceremonies such as the one today remind us that freedom comes with a cost, while also providing the opportunity to thank the veterans past and present who put on the uniform of the Canadian Armed Forces and serve Canada proudly,” said LCdr Michael Erwin during...

[caption id="attachment_11367" align="alignnone" width="300"] The morning of November 10th was when the Lodge at Broadmead unveiled a new monument and many veterans came out to take part in the ceremony.[/caption] Rachel Lallouz, Staff WriterThe day before Remembrance Day, Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, accompanied by Maritime Forces Pacific Commander, Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier, unveiled a new monument at the Lodge at Broadmead in front of a crowd of Second World War and Korean War Veterans.The granite monument commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Lodge’s opening, and the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.A plaque on the monument’s polished front reads:“Dedicated to the Canada’s veterans, especially those cared for at the Lodge.”“I believe it is the responsibility of every Canadian to show great respect and to remember the men and women who served, and who continue to serve in uniform today,” said LGov Guichon in her address to the crowd. “I am humbled by their actions.” RAdm Couturier echoed the Lieutenant-Governor’s words, thanking and applauding the Lodge for serving the resident veterans with caring, respect, and integrity.“I want to say thank you, too, to the veterans who carried the flame so high, and who gave us the opportunity to follow in their footsteps,” he said. Second World War veteran, Major (retired) Murray Edwards, acting as a representative of all veterans at the Lodge, expressed his gratitude for the new monument.“We, the veterans and other residents here at the lodge wish to extend our thanks for the arrangements made today. Remembrance Day is a time for sober reflection,” said Edwards.“As we view this monument, we will never forget.” In keeping with the Lodge’s high number of veteran residents, Broadmead Care Board Chair Paul Morgan announced a name change for the Lodge following the unveiling.The Lodge at Broadmead will...

[caption id="attachment_11332" align="alignnone" width="300"] Nagasaki after the atomic bomb was dropped.Image by Cpl Lynn P. Walker, Jr. (Marine Corps) - DOD”War and Conflict” image collection (HD-SN-99-02900). Licensed under Public Domain via Commons.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_11333" align="alignnone" width="227"] Image by Peter Mallett, LookoutSecond World War veteran Rudi Hoenson goes through his photo album as he recalls his prisoner of war experience.[/caption]Each November, when prisoner of war survivor Rudi Hoenson pauses to reflect on the true meaning of Remembrance Day a long ago nightmare comes to the forefront.“I get so many sad feelings that well up inside of me and my thoughts instantly flash back to Nagasaki and the [Japanese] POW camp,” says the 92-year-old veteran. “I think of all the people who died needlessly right in front of my eyes, and what went on across Europe, and in Nazi concentration camps. It’s unbelievable, unimaginable to think that all of this could happen, but it did.”The final and most horrific chapter in Hoenson’s war life was as a Japanese POW on Aug. 9, 1945, when a United States B-29 bomber dropped “Fat Man” on Nagasaki.While it was a traumatic event for him, he says the use of the bomb was necessary and saved “countless untold” lives in the process.“If it wasn’t for the bomb, I would not be here today,” he says. “All of us POWs would have been killed if the Americans landed on Japanese soil [with ground troops]. Furthermore, the bomb itself saved millions of lives that would have been lost had the war dragged on.”The young soldier joined the Dutch army after the bombing on Pearl Harbor at age 17. While they valiantly worked to protect the Dutch East Indies from the Japanese in 1942, the island eventually fell into enemy hands. Hoenson was captured and became a POW, first at Singapore’s Changi Prison, and later to Camp Fukuoka 14 in Nagasaki.For more than three years, Hoenson and his fellow prisoners performed forced labour for the Mitsubishi Shipyard, helping the...

[caption id="attachment_11329" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ralph Thistle, centre, gathers with his family and their beloved Collie in Canada, early 1940s.[/caption]Sylvia Thistle-Miller pulls on a pair of tight white gloves, before carefully picking up a palm-sized journal of red, worn leather.“I was raised with the stories of my past told to me as I sat on my grandmother’s lap,” she says, while turning the yellowed pages. “But with many people who fought in the wars, they don’t share everything. There was a lot of quiet.”Three years ago, Thistle-Miller was cleaning out her mother’s house when she came across a box of tiny, pocket-sized diaries. As a child, she was given several of them by her grandmother, and upon rediscovering them she set about throwing them out.“But I noticed that one of them was so much more worn than the rest,” she says. “I don’t usually check these things, but I ended up opening it.”Written in barely legible cursive were the carefully pencilled notes of her grandfather’s experience fighting in France and Belgium during the First World War. Thistle-Miller was shocked to find detailed day-to-day accounts of his time spent in the trenches at Ypres, where he wrote of being gassed in what is known as the world’s first chemical warfare attack on April 22, 1915.Thistle-Miller was three-years-old when her grandfather died, and says the only knowledge she has of him lies in black-and-white photographs, stories passed down from family members, and the journal.Her grandfather, Ralph Thistle, was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, in 1889, to a family of ship builders and printers who had called the province home since the 1500s. “Prior to World War One breaking out, my grandfather had been a member of the 48th regiment of the Newfoundland Highlanders for seven years,” says Thistle-Miller. “He already knew how to shoot,...

[caption id="attachment_11325" align="alignnone" width="180"] Isabelle Ava-Pointon, 2015 Beaverbrook Vimy prize winner, scans the names of 580,000 men who died in northern France during the First Word war. The alphabetically engraved names reside on the Ring of Remembrance - Notre Dame de Lorette.[/caption]November 11th is coming. Once again we feel mildly uncomfortable at the thought of having to stand in silence and think of unpleasant things.We are in the midst of the centenary of the First World War, and there are no living veterans of that conflict.Now, more than ever, it is our duty to keep the flame of remembrance burning.That word, remembrance, is often heard this time of year. But why commemorate events that happened a century ago? Why must we honour lives that were cut short 100 years past?Some answers are easily apparent. Remembering the horrors of war will ensure that we do everything in our power to avoid armed conflict. Yet some reasons are not so evident, and thus for young people like myself, it can be hard to understand the importance of this day.Before I participated in the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize, I knew it was important to remember the World Wars, but I was not entirely sure why. A fortnight in Europe changed all that.There is another reason for remembrance equally as important as ensuring future peace, but much harder to grasp: it is our duty to remember and honour the lives of the tens of thousands who gave their all for their country. The suffering that these men and women had to endure is beyond the scope of most of our imaginations.This summer I walked across the battlefields of Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele. I ran across No Man’s Land on the Somme. I waded in the sea and marched through the sands of Juno beach. I...

MS Brandon Ensom sees no better way to understand military history than to sit with a veteran and hear their service stories.The Lodge at Broadmead, home to many aging veterans, is the stage for those oral recollections to unfold.  The sailor discovered the place two years ago when he accompanied Rear-Admiral Bill Truelove on a visit to the seniors home.“It’s important for veterans to know that today’s generations of members acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifices and what they went through,” he says.“And it’s important for us to hear their stories. You can read about historical events, or watch television shows depicting them, but to actually hear what Juno Beach was like at 8 a.m. on June 6, 1944, from a person who was present – there’s no comparison.”The sailor is hoping to lure other military members to join him on his third Thursday of each month visit  to the Lodge.He takes a maximum of 10 volunteers. People meet at 10 a.m. in front of the Pacific Fleet Club and climb aboard a bus to ease the transportation burden.People sign in with the front desk and proceed to the Lodge’s main lounge, The Oak Room.“It’s pretty informal after that,” says MS Ensom.“A volunteer sits down with a senior, introduces themselves, and usually gets a very enthusiastic reception.”The chats last about an hour before hopping on the bus back to the base.“It’s pretty humbling to know we all wear the same uniform,” he says.“I’ve talked to people who have escaped from prisoner-of-war camps multiple times, and we talk about having a bad day at sea or the office. It’s invaluable to hear what they have to say.”Sometimes there aren’t enough military members to pair up with the expectant storytellers.“We might arrive with only four or five members to a full house of...

Sixteen naval reservists from across Canada deployed on board HMCS Winnipeg June 15 to support Operation Reassurance, Canada’s contribution to NATO assurance measures in Europe.“Our reserve members are integrating seamlessly into the ship’s company,” says Commander Pascal Belhumeur, Commanding Officer of HMCS Winnipeg.“This deployment provides them with incredible exposure to unmatched training opportunities on board a modernized Halifax-class ship in real-time international operations.”These naval reservists represent a number of naval professions.Three are currently serving on the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) first Enhanced Naval Boarding Party, a team that specializes in maritime interdiction operations.For the past few years, the RCN has been transitioning into a “One Navy” concept that employs reserve and regular forces on operational missions.Naval Reserve members have been deploying on major operations since late 2013, but Winnipeg is the first ship to employ reserve members in almost every department.“As a naval combat information operator (NCIOP), I feel really lucky to serve in a warship that has the most modern warfare system,” says Leading Seaman Jefren Liu, originally from HMCS York.“Operating the updated Combat Management System is an experience that I may not have had without this deployment.”  Maritime surface and sub-surface officers in the Naval Reserve also tend to serve the majority of their careers in Kingston-class vessels.This deployment has provided Sub-Lieutenant Michael Van Vlaenderen from HMCS Chippawa with a unique opportunity to sail on board a ship named after his home town while putting his skills to the test on a major warship.“Every day and every evolution is a learning opportunity. The ships do things differently and it is important to always adapt,” says SLt Van Vlaenderen.“During my time in Winnipeg, I have had the opportunity to train for my Officer of the Day and Naval Officer Proficiency Qualifications [both Regular Force qualifications] and gain the experience...

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and the team at Project Resolve and Chantier Davie Canada Inc. are looking for naval and air force input into the conversion of the German container ship MV Asterix, which will provide interim at-sea support services to meet the RCN’s operational requirement for at-sea replenishment.An online survey has been created for sailors and air crew to choose the amenities that would best suit them when away on deployment and make any other suggestions they think would help the ship achieve its mission.“This has never been done in any navy in the world,” says Spencer Fraser, chief executive officer of Project Resolve Inc.“We want our sailors and air crew members to have input on designing their ship. These are young Canadians, why shouldn’t they have the right stuff to do the job?”To date, over 150 people have answered the 25-question survey that explores safety, comfort and productivity.Fraser says they are “listening very carefully and closely” to the all the feedback from Canadian Armed Forces members.The survey concludes at the end of November, so Fraser urges CAF members to get online and have a voice in the ship conversion process.Asterix has been delivered to Levis, Quebec, where Davie Shipbuilding will do the conversion.Pending the finalization of the agreement with the government, the converted vessel will be delivered to the navy for service in the summer of 2017.Fraser is very familiar with life aboard a ship.He retired as a Lieutenant Commander in 2003 and during his career spent extended time on multiple ships. He says it is the “little things” that can be a big deal and impact both morale and productivity.The survey can be accessed at https://theomx.com/surveys/2015/projectresolve.In the meantime, work continues to build two Queenston-Class Joint Support Ship (JSS) to be delivered to the navy in 2020. Peter MallettStaff Writer

Major Tom Batty, officer commanding of the Army Learning Support Centre (ALSC), 5th Division Support Group Gagetown, picks up Fredericton’s City Hall to show off the detail in the hands of the clock face in the tower, and then sets the building back in place on its foundation.Then he picks up the Justice Building across the street and slowly turns it on its side to show the level of detail in the brickwork over the front door.Next he lines up a convoy of Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) and Leopard 2 tanks.It is not superhuman strength that lets Maj Batty accomplish these feats – but rather feats of human ingenuity working in combination with modern technology.The entire model of downtown Fredericton was built in Gagetown using innovative 3D printers, and sits on a plywood board that is 2m x 3m square.This tiny town site plays an important role in helping Canadian soldiers learn about modern urban warfare, such as training in positioning troops and vehicles effectively in an urban core.Instead of the past practice of conducting training exercises in the actual downtown core, scenarios can now be replicated accurately using the model in a so-called “cloth model” exercise.A “cloth model” exercise is a war game event conducted on a table, on the ground, or on paper to practice particular maneuvers, battles or missions.The 3D models enhance those tactical discussions and have the added geometric advantage of being able to build accurate scale models of the environments in which soldiers train.These 3D printers are among the most innovative workhorses and are currently at work 24/7 to produce tiny replicas of vehicles, firearms and training aids on an “as-needed” basis, processing orders submitted from various schools, training centres and units within the Canadian Army.The manageable size of the tiny models allows soldiers to...

On a sunny California morning, HMCS Calgary joined its counterparts from the United States Navy and Coast Guard and sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge; lining the shore were thousands of people to see the spectacle.The frigate’s mission: to represent Canada and the Royal Canadian Navy in San Francisco for Fleet Week 2015, held Oct. 5 to 12.Fleet Week is celebrated annually across the United States, in cities such as New York, Portland, Seattle and San Francisco, with the aim of showcasing the navy to the public, and building and strengthening ties with the cities that host them.  Events include the parade of ships where the fleet enters the harbour in formation, aerial displays from the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, and the U.S. Navy’s Leap Frog parachute team, as well as the unique opportunity for the public to venture on board and tour warships from around the world.In San Francisco, the United States Navy showed off one of their newest warships: USS Somerset, the latest San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks, as well as the Cruiser USS Cape St. George, the Destroyer USS Stockdale, and the Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado.  Joining sailors in the Fleet Week kick off were members of the San Francisco 49ers.Calgary, berthed at Pier 15 between the famous San Francisco Ferry Terminal and tourist hotspot Pier 39, was a popular choice for tourists and locals who wanted to get a closer look at the men and women of the Royal Canadian Navy.The crew hosted tour groups, including displays from the ship’s boarding party and dive team, and strategically placed sailors at various positions on the upper decks to answer questions on a variety of subjects, from weaponry and equipment to the ship’s role in counter-piracy and peacekeeping around the world, to being a sailor and a Canadian.  Over 4,000 people came on board.  Other events in the week included a concert to the fallen put on by the U.S. Marine Band, an air show, a meet...

[caption id="attachment_11255" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Using kettle bells, Fleet School students do a farmer’s carry to build endurance and grip strength.[/caption]A class of 20 Fleet School Esquimalt students are the first to trial the new Periodization Program, a fitness training package designed to enhance job performance.This unique program was created by Esquimalt Personnel Support Program (PSP) fitness instructors, overseen by PSP fitness coordinator Matt Carlson.“The goal of the program is to prepare Fleet School students physically for what they will be doing upon graduation – such as lifting boxes, pulling ropes, and carrying heavy supplies,” says Carlson.The program began Oct. 15, and continues for one year with PSP fitness instructors leading students through classes twice a week with targeted exercises.PSP Fitness instructor Peter Gibson says the new exercises include deadlifts, which mimic the physical action of lifting and carrying boxes, and hamstring-driven weight and cardio exercises that will prepare students for constantly being on their feet.Sessions will also focus on plank-style exercises, which strengthen the core and reduce risk of work-related injury.Bent-over rows and rowing exercises will prep sailors for pulling heavy ropes.He even hopes to bring “props” from the ship into the training.The program was designed around feedback given from sailors on the physical demands of their jobs.“Our intention is to increase the fitness of our Fleet School students, ensuring that when they are assigned to a ship they won’t have any issues doing the jobs asked of them by their superiors,” says Gibson.“Hopefully this will contribute to our navy personnel’s efficiency and strength, and promote an injury-free workplace.”The training goal is to rid sailors of poor form when doing physical work says Gibson.The success of the program will be tracked over the year, starting with a base level of fitness at the start for each student, then bi-monthly testing,...

It’s that time year again when Canadian Armed Forces members all across the country participate in speaking engagements during Veteran’s Week. The program helps remind Canadians about the sacrifices made and continue to be made by Canada’s military members. Last year, CAF members gave more than 1,900 presentations across Canada, reaching more than 540,000 Canadians during Veterans’ Week.As part of the National Veterans’ Week Speakers Program, Maritime Forces Pacific Public Affairs is looking for volunteers to give presentations at schools and other organizations across the Capital Regional District and Lower Mainland.The key to the program’s success is the enthusiastic participation of Regular and Reserve Force members. Any CAF member can take part in the program; they just need the approval of their supervisor first. By volunteering to be a speaker, you can share your story of service with Canadians of all ages.  A website exists that provides prepared presentations for various age groups, useful information on preparing your own speeches, and guidance on using social media.Please contact Lt(N) Paul Trenholm and A/SLt Kyle Reed for the Remembrance Week speakers program and let them know when you are available. They can be reached through DWAN or by calling at 250-363-5789.