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[caption id="attachment_10022" align="alignleft" width="596"] Cpl Carbe Orellana, Canadian Forces Support Unit, Ottawa Imaging ServicesJason Kenney, Minister of National Defence, and Warrant Officer (Retired) Patrick Tower unveiled the commemorative plaque at the Valour Building May 25 in Ottawa.[/caption] Last Monday, Master Warrant Officer David Shultz, Range Control Officer, was in Ottawa to take part in the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the Valour Building, formerly known as La Promenade Building at 151 Sparks Street. The solider was joined by 11 other military members, all recipients of the Star of Military Valour. The bronze plaque, unveiled by Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence, is in honour of the heroic actions of 20 military members during Canada’s 12 year military mission in Afghanistan. “This plaque, and the name of this building, serve as a reminder of the self-sacrifice and devotion to duty embodied by our Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan,” said Kenney, addressing 12 of the Star of Military Valour recipients, and two families of the fallen who were present at the ceremony. “We honour these remarkable individuals who have been presented with the Star of Military Valour for their service to their country.” The plaque and building also serve as reminders of the contributions made by all men and women in uniform during the Afghanistan mission. MWO Shultz received the medal for his actions in Kandahar in May 2008 when he formulated and executed a flanking manoeuvre to attack the enemy ambush. His manoeuver neutralized the insurgent’s position and allowed his patrol to secure the surrounding area; but quickly after, his patrol was attacked again. Disregarding personal risk to himself, MWO Shultz plunged into intense enemy fire to direct his soldiers and engage the enemy. He repeatedly re-entered the danger zone to remove injured personnel, and execute the patrol’s fighting withdrawal. Due to his actions, countless other casualties were prevented. “A lot of it goes back to the training that we’ve had,” he says. “And I would be lying if I...

[caption id="attachment_10016" align="alignleft" width="300" class=" "] Bruno Guevrémont, owner of CrossFit Stasis, holds a medicine ball – one of the many workout tools used during the varied CrossFit workout.[/caption]         “When you’re fit physically, you’re fit mentally,” is the mantra playing on loop in Bruno Guévremont’s mind as he lifts weights, rows, and runs. The former navy clearance diver not only lives this philosophy, but also encourages everyone who crosses the threshold of his new business, CrossFit Stasis, to live it as well.Guévremont opened his training gym a few months before being medically released in January 2014 after a second tour in Afghanistan. Difficulty sleeping and anxiety led him to a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis in 2010.“As a bomb technician on the Afghanistan tour, I was part one of the busiest counter-improvised explosive device teams,” he says. “It impacted me. When I got back to Victoria I had to think hard about when I had last felt good.”He turned to CrossFit to get him back to mental and physical health.As a Clearance Diver he needed to function at an extremely high fitness level in order to reduce air consumption under water. He used CrossFit strategies at the Naden gym each lunch hour, such as rowing, skipping, and weight lifting.“When people saw what I was doing, they asked me what I was training for. Pretty quickly I had a solid group of people with me every lunch hour.”Up to 20 people joined Guévrement as he led an informal CrossFit workout each day.“I started feeling really good about helping other people get fit, and I was getting myself back to a strong physical place,” he says. With his impending medical release date at the forefront of his mind, Guévrement began brainstorming alternate career paths. He even began a police officer application. But he kept being...

[caption id="attachment_9947" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Peter D. Smither, President and Senior Project Manager of Iron Triangle Project Management Inc., Lt(N) Colin Dudeck, Project Manager of HeroWork, and Paul Letour, Founder and Executive Director of HeroWork are set to work on this year’s renovation project: the Citizen’s Counselling Centre.[/caption]The HeroWork Program Society is calling out for  volunteers to help them complete their 2015 project– the overhaul of the Citizens’ Counselling Centre.Over 1,000 low income individuals a year find solace in the counselling services offered by the Centre. However, the 50-plus-year-old building they operate out of has not had repairs in 25 years.The mix of charitable work in a diminished infrastructure meets HeroWork’s mandate – to help other charities thrive by renewing and refreshing their physical building through events called Radical Renovations.Helping plan the Citizens’ Counselling Centre renovation is Lt(N) Colin Dudeck, who lends his experience and skills from his role with the Halifax Class Modernization to the Herowork project management team.  “Military volunteers have helped in our past two projects,” says Lt(N) Dudeck, referencing base volunteers who were key to renovating Threshold Housing in 2014, a transitional housing centre for at-risk youth, and the Mustard Seed Food Bank in 2013.The extensive experience military volunteers have working in teams, combined with their specializations in the trades, make them an incredibly valuable resource for the project, says Lt(N) Dudeck.  “In the navy, we do a lot of work in small groups; on a ship it might be something like changing out a pump, where we coordinate getting a job done together with our different skills sets.”HeroWork needs more volunteers for three successive weekends: May 29-31, June 6-7, and June 13-14, with the first weekend being the biggest need.Work varies from demolition to carpeting, trim work to carpentry, to moving furniture.Paul Latour founded HeroWork six...

Whether fighting in the trenches of the First World War or fighting in the political arena for full rights for his people, First Nations soldier Sergeant Francis Pegahmagabow is a Canadian hero.The Ojibwe soldier from Wasauksing First Nation near Parry Sound, Ontario, was not only one of the most effective snipers and scouts in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), but of the Aboriginal peoples who participated in the First World War, he is the most decorated.Recognized three times for bravery and devotion under fire in Belgium and France, he is one of only 38 Canadians to earn the Military Medal with two bars, each bar referring to a recognized act of bravery.The modern equivalent to the Military Medal is the Medal of Military Valour, the third highest award for military valour in the Canadian honours system.Sgt Pegahmagabow was (most likely) born on March 9, 1889, in what is now Shawanaga First Nation, near Parry Sound.His father, a member of Wasauksing First Nation on Parry Island, died when Sgt Pegahmagabow was a baby.His mother also fell ill, so he was raised by his Shawanaga relatives, only returning to Wasauksing First Nation as an adult.As a young man, he turned his hand to several trades, including working as a seaman on boats in Georgian Bay.At 21, he learned to read and write English, a rare skill for a First Nations person of that generation.“We have great admiration for him for that,” said the veteran’s great-grandson, Dr. Brian McInnes.When Britain declared war on Germany on Aug. 4, 1914, Canada too was at war as a member of the British Empire.Sgt Pegahamagabow was among the first recruits, signing up on Aug. 13, 1914, despite an early prohibition against the enlistment of Aboriginal Peoples.Sgt Pegahmagabow served with the 23rd Northern Pioneers Regiment, based in Parry...

On a hot summer afternoon in 1947, 27-year-old Verna Mary Smith, a Victoria entertainer, performed a hand balancing and acrobatics show on the grass in James Bay’s MacDonald Park.A few days later, a photograph of Smith’s show in the local newspaper caught the eye of Gerry Gosley.He was amazed at the balancing act Smith accomplished in the photo as she lifted her entire body off of the ground and contorted it in the air, supported by a single hand.Gosley, who was interested in performing himself, couldn’t resist approaching Smith and propose the two pair up and start a show to tour around Victoria.Smith, an adventurous and vivacious young woman, agreed immediately with one condition - that she direct and choreograph the show and train accompanying performers.With an agreement in place, the two started “The Smile Show.”“Our first show as a group in Victoria was at the Britannia Legion,” recalls Smith, 95, and the last surviving member of the original group.“Gerry and I went out and got some posters, and we used water and flour to paste them up on all the telephone poles, and we filled the Legion that night. We had a heck of a good show, and we got a heck of a good write up done in the local paper.”Their performance was based off English comedy and variety shows, and featured different acts of singing, dancing, and acrobatics accompanied by band-style music.Victoria is Smith’s home-town, and she first learned to sing as a girl at St. Anne’s Academy.“I did my first show when I was three-and-a-half-years-old. It was on account of my mother’s influence – she started teaching me songs early on, and she loved the English comedy shows.”As she grew up, and her musicality became more pronounced, she trained with a German opera singer.On her own,...

[caption id="attachment_9904" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Naval Boarding Party from HMCS Winnipeg practices ship clearing drills during Exercise Trident Fury off the west coast of Vancouver Island on May 5.[/caption]Exercise Trident Fury ended last Friday with more than 1,200 personnel going back to their units with a strong sense of accomplishment having flexed their mettle / metal.The warfare exercise, that took months of preparation for 12 days of round-the-clock training, is a biennial, and often multinational naval exercise held off the coast of Vancouver Island by Maritime Forces Pacific.From May 4 to 15, seven Canadian and American naval vessels conducted maritime scenarios and weapons firing off in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This location provided some challenges because to the south are active shipping lanes, but safety was at the forefront of the exercise.Challenges and mounting complexity were built into each scenario by the planners.Under assessment were air and surface joint operations that included maritime surveillance, live air and surface weapons firing, and anti-submarine warfare training.Several government agencies were brought into the exercise.Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the United States Navy (USN) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) all brought their particular skill sets.Over the course of the exercise these agencies enhanced their skills required to operate seamlessly with the military during real-life international operations.Special guest Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence and Minister for Multiculturalism, joined HMCS Winnipeg during the exercise to witness the full scope of Canada’s navy and air force capabilities.Also participating in Trident Fury were HMCS Ships Calgary, Saskatoon, and Yellowknife, United States Ship Cape St. George, United States Coast Guard Cutter Active, and RCN Orca-class vessel Wolf.Royal Canadian Air Force assets included the CP-140 Aurora Long Range Patrol Aircraft and CH-124 Sea King ship-based helicopters.American air assets included the USN P-3 Orion...

“If our frigates and destroyers are our eyes, ears, and hands, then surely Protecteur was the heart of the fleet,” said Lieutenant Commander Blair Brown, the ship’s last commanding officer, to those witnessing Protecteur’s paying off last Thursday.Behind him loomed the ship’s grey hull, sitting high in the water because it no longer carried fuel and cargo to replenish other warships.  Commissioned on Aug. 30, 1969, Protecteur served for 46 years on both coasts as a replenishment oiler that kept Canadian and allied ships stocked with the necessary provisions to successfully complete combat operations. “In her 46 years of service, Protecteur’s reach has far exceeded her grasp,” said LCdr Brown, the 33rd commanding officer of the ship.“She’s served her community well.” Before LCdr Brown were guests, a mix of former Protecteur sailors, dignitaries and civilians, sitting in neat rows, all gathered to mark the historic event.Adding to the celebratory occasion was the music of the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy. Hovering in the distance was a Sea King ready to give an aerial salute with a fly past. Protecteur’s legacy is long and varied, full of colorful stories and heroic moments. In 1982, the ship with Sea King embarked, and crew were responsible for the rescue of 28 Norwegian sailors from motor vessel Essi Silje, a chemical tanker whose port engine room had caught fire. Protecteur was involved in combat missions during the first Gulf War in 1991 on Operation Desert Shield.A year later it deployed to Florida as part of the relief effort after Hurricane Andrew.Following a violent outburst in East Timor in 1999, Protecteur was deployed as part of the Australian-led peacekeeping task force.In 2014, the navy decided to retire the veteran ship. But the end date was accelerated because of a crippling engine room fire...

[caption id="attachment_9896" align="aligncenter" width="199"] MGen Christine Whitecross answers questions during a media event at the Wardroom, at the conclusion of her visit to CFB Esquimalt.[/caption]Major-General Christine Whitecross, commander of the new Canadian Armed Forces Strategic Response Team on Sexual Misconduct, visited CFB Esquimalt to clarify details of the new action plan dealing with sexual misconduct in the military.The base visit is just one of many underway to have face-to face interaction with military members in a town hall setting.On May 13, she conducted three separate town halls at Esquimalt, reaching about 1,000 military members, which provided an opportunity to interact directly with CAF members.“I think the biggest thing we need to communicate is that people need to be aware of their actions and their language and how it affects other people,” said MGen Whitecross.“So we’re giving them some tools to do that, because ultimately we have a responsibility to our people that they work in a safe and respectful environment.”Her 25 person team, comprised of military and civilian personnel, is responsible for conducting a detailed review of former Supreme Court Justice Marie Deschamps final report on sexual misconduct.They will then develop an action plan to address and implement the report’s findings that says the “sexualized culture” in the Forces disproportionately affects lower-ranking female members.The plan will address all 10 of Dechamps’ recommendations for the Canadian Armed Forces, including establishing a centre for survivors of sexual harassment and assault that is independent of the chain of command.“We want to make sure that people who go to the centre are not unduly influenced by their own chain of command; so they feel compelled and empowered to go to a central agency that will help them in terms of victim support and advocacy.”She adds, “My mandate was clear from the Chief of the...

[caption id="attachment_9857" align="aligncenter" width="200"] The Land of the Sun crew on location in Vancouver, with Sasha Popove filming (center), Melissa Flagg (far right), and Jason Segal (far left).[/caption]Leaving loved ones behind is an all too familiar experience for any military member, and Victoria director Melissa Flagg portrays this in her new film, “Land of the Sun.”The 17-minute short follows the story of a Canadian military family struggling to make it through a long separation when husband Shale is away on tour in Afghanistan.It is the deep longing followed by the joy of reunion that Flagg’s film so accurately captures.“I wanted people to identify with the struggles of a Forces member who must leave what they love, and to give people a sense of how hard it is in military families – what people actually go through when they spend time apart,” she says.Flagg grew up in Victoria and became interested in photography when she was in high school, printing and developing her own photos in the school’s darkroom.From there, she started experimenting with digital media and film.After a number of small student films produced during her time studying at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Flagg produced her first independent film, “Finding and Fraying”, in 2008.The medium of film became the perfect creative outlet for her through the solitary time spent script writing and the cooperation during production and post-production.“What I love about film is that I have time to be alone with my ideas, but I can creatively play with others,” she says.“And what amazes me about the collaborative aspect is that everybody who contributes something makes the project so much fuller and richer. It’s not something I could have ever made on my own.”Flagg’s idea for the military-themed film started to percolate when she was finishing post-production...

[caption id="attachment_9854" align="aligncenter" width="164"] The crew of the first HMCS Iroquois, commissioned in 1942, crowd the deck of the ship.[/caption]The Naval Ensign has been lowered for the last time in HMCS Iroquois.The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) honoured the Tribal class destroyer for its 43 years of service with a paying off ceremony at HMC Dockyard Atlantic, May 1. Commissioned on July 29, 1972, the anti-submarine warfare destroyer served as the command ship of the East Coast Fleet.Iroquois was the first of its class, one of four RCN destroyers. Iroquois completed a Tribal Class Update and Modernization Project refit in 1992, when it was made a modern area air defence platform. VAdm Mark Norman, Commander RCN, said for those on the outside, a ship is just a lot of steel. “Those of us who go down to the sea in ships see it differently. We see it as a living thing, brought to life by the passion, energy and professionalism of the crew.” He said one synonym for a vessel is a container – “a container of unbridled enthusiasm.”He shared one memory from his own time in Iroquois, running the main passageways of the ship playing peek-a-boo with his then four-year-old daughter, upon return from a long deployment.To the ship’s company past and present, as well as the trades people of Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott, VAdm Norman said, “I thank you for keeping the old girl running. It is truly time to thank her and say farewell.” He spoke of transition, turning tides, and moving forward.“It’s time to close a chapter. It’s time to say goodbye.”RAdm John Newton, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic, told stories from many Iroquois missions, such as fighting through 70-foot seas while en route to Iceland at the height of the Cold War, thereby testing the kit...

[caption id="attachment_9848" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Soldier On group starts their fitness testing for the day at PISE, on May 5, completing jumping jacks.[/caption]The Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence (PISE) was the backdrop for the kickoff to a five-day Soldier On Multisport Camp.A team of 29 serving and former Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members from across Canada spent May 5 to 9 training for rowing, cycling, and triathlon with Olympic and Paralympic coaches.Participants were flown to Victoria, free of cost, to push themselves physically and mentally as they were introduced, or re-introduced, to a sports intensive lifestyle.“The intent of the camp was to inspire and motivate ill and injured members and former members through the transformative power of sport,” says PO1 Joe Kiraly, Operations Warrant for Soldier On.“We wanted to provide an opportunity to show the positive role physical fitness plays in an individual’s journey to recovery.”Successful applicants were chosen from across Canada, based on regional priorities and first time participation.Five members were from Victoria. Only those who have suffered a permanent physical injury or mental health illness while enrolled in the CAF were eligible to apply.Many participants had either minimal experience in their chosen sport group, or had never tried it, while others had been near professional athletes in their sport of choice before sustaining injury.“We kicked off the week with a series of physical tests measuring body data, musculoskeletal strength, and aerobic fitness capability, all of which were organized by Jonathan Ritchot, the PISE Adapted Strength and Conditioning Specialist,” says PO1 Kiraly.Aspiring student physiotherapists and strength conditioning professionals from Camosun College’s Centre for Sport and Exercise Education carried out modified push up tests, sprint tests, and grip tests.A quick game of wheelchair basketball followed, sponsored by the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association.The remainder of the week saw the participants split...

[caption id="attachment_9811" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Army cadets from 3300 RCACC stand ready to march in the Vaisakhi parade, which was part of the festival celebrations that took place on April 18 in Surrey, B.C. More than 250,000 people attend Vaisakhi celebrations in Surrey each year.[/caption]3300 British Columbia Regiment Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps in Surrey, B.C. celebrated the addition of the honour title “Bhai Kanhaiya” to their official name with a fundraising dinner held Friday, April 10.The cadet corps is the first in Canada to be formed and supported by the Sikh community, although it is open to all youth.The name Bhai Kanhaiya was chosen to honour a historical figure in the Sikh community. Bhai Kanhaiya (1648 - 1718) practiced Sewa, translated as selfless service, which is the spirit of generosity towards fellow human beings.During the battle of Anandpur in 1704, Bhai Kanhaiya helped the wounded without discrimination for soldiers on either side of the battle.He continued to be known for his tolerance, kindness and compassion with no distinction of religion, nationality, colour, caste or creed, and is now seen as a forerunner of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.Cadets and staff of 3300 RCACC have embraced the idea of Sewa, or selfless service, as it encompasses the values of the cadet program.“As we move forward, the Bhai Kanhaiya cadet corps will continue to serve as an inspiration for other programs, which embrace Canada’s multiculturalism, and offers young Canadians opportunities to interact with youth from other cultures,” said Harbinder Singh Sewak, chairman of the Friends of the Sikh Cadet Society.The fundraising dinner was held on the eve of Vaisakhi celebrations, a traditional time of harvest and plenty, with an attendance of more than 400 guests.The event was attended by the Minister of National Defence and Minister for Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney;...

[caption id="attachment_9807" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Cpl Philippe Archambault an Imagery Technician from the Directorate of Army Public Affairs, covering the 2013 Canadian Army Run in downtown Ottawa, ON.[/caption]Imagery Technicians with the Canadian Armed Forces are the trade behind the lens.They are entrusted to capture, in photos or videos, the individual moments and pervasive spirit of the Canadian military and its members.A member of the trade today is both an historian and a photojournalist.The technician is tasked with documenting the actions of the CAF for the Government of Canada and the world, and to bear witness to the amazing stories of Canadian soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen.Imagery technicians work alongside other CAF members in the Army, Navy and Air Force to document important events in the life and times of the Forces.They may work at any base in Canada, on ships at sea and overseas as part of United Nations, NATO and other missions.The images and videos they capture are used for training, flyers, posters, public affairs and higher strategic requirements.An imagery technician might tag along with infantry one day, military police another day and medics the next.Always, however, the imagery technician’s goal is to tell the soldiers’ stories of struggle, sacrifice and success with the best possible images.Sgt Dan Shouinard, Imagery Supervisor and acting Operations Warrant, Directorate Army Public Affairs, has photographed still and video images of a wide range of Army experiences since he joined the regular force in 2001 as an imagery technician.“We are witnessing and recording history,” said Sgt Shouinard, “which is why many imagery technicians say they have the best job in the CAF.”Another job benefit, according to Sgt Shouinard, is that imagery technicians get to see each and every military job and observe the dedicated work of other CAF members firsthand.Sgt Shouinard started out as a...

Seven Canadian and American naval vessels sailed from Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt today to participate in Exercise Trident Fury, a biennial multinational exercise taking place off the coast of Vancouver Island from May 4-15.  Trident Fury is a naval exercise organized by Maritime Forces Pacific.The exercise tests air and surface joint operations including maritime surveillance, live air and surface weapons firing, and anti-submarine warfare training.Participants come from the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), the United States Navy (USN), and the United States Coast Guard (USCG).More than 1,200 military personnel will participate in this exercise, which enhances the RCN’s ability to operate in a task group environment with our allies.“Exercise Trident Fury is critical in making sure that Pacific Fleet ships are ready to deploy with our allies on a wide range of operations.  Interoperability is critical to working in a maritime environment,” said Commodore Bob Auchterlonie, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific.Naval vessels participating this year include Her Majesty’s Canadian (HMC) Ships Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and Yellowknife, United States Ship Cape St. George, United States Coast Guard Cutter Active, and RCN Orca-class vessel Wolf.Military aircraft participation include RCAF CP-140 Aurora Long Range Patrol Aircraft and CH-124 Sea King ship-based helicopters.American aircraft participating in the exercise include USN P-3 Orion Maritime Patrol aircraft, SH-60 Seahawk helicopters and EA-18 Growler electronic warfare jets.

On Sept.19, 2014, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), announced the retirement of four ships that had reached the end of their operational lives: HerMajesty’s Canadian Ships Protecteur, Preserver, Iroquois and Algonquin.Each ship has a slightly different story, but the common thread is that all four ships have served Canada and the RCN with honour and distinction.  Three of the four ships will be “paid off” in ceremonies on their respective coasts this spring and summer.The term “paying off” refers to the British age-of-sail practice of paying a crew their wages once a ship has completed its voyage. In the RCN, the tradition continues with the term paying off referring to the formal ceremony where the naval jack, ensign and commissioning pennant are hauled down, the crew departs a ship for the last time, and the ship is then no longer referred to as HMCS.HMCS ProtecteurAfter 46 years of great service, HMCS Protecteur, one of the RCN’s auxiliary oiler replenishment ships, will be paid off during a ceremony at CFB Esquimalt on May 14.Constructed in Saint John, New Brunswick, Protecteur was commissioned on Aug. 30, 1969, initially sailing into service with the Atlantic Fleet before transferring to the Pacific Fleet, where she completed her service.Protecteur took part in numerous operations during her service life, notably deploying to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield in 1991, to Florida as part of the relief effort after Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and was part of Canada’s contribution to the multinational task force to assist East Timor from October 1999 to January 2000.HMCS PreserverHMCS Preserver has successfully served with the RCN for more than 40 years.Despite not being used as an at-sea platform anymore, Preserver continues to serve by providing a fueling service to the Atlantic Fleet.A...

[caption id="attachment_9794" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Roo, formerly known as Charlie, enjoys the comfort that comes with being adopted to a loving family.[/caption]Martin Luther King Junior once said: “Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”PO1 Alana Power does not look the other way.She has saved the lives of 70 dogs and five horses through her one-person Su Casa Rescue organization.“I started the rescue because I wanted to do more for those who could not speak for themselves, those who needed help after having a rough start in life,” says the sailor, who works at Maritime Forces Pacific headquarters.She chose Su Casa to symbolize the safe homes she provides for her rescues.“Mi Casa Su Casa means ‘my place is your place’, so I chose something that would signify the rescued are welcome and they have a safe place.”Most of the dogs come from San Bernadino, California, which has high-kill shelters; they would be euthanized if not saved by her.She began rescuing horses in 2009 and dogs in October 2013 with Bella and Henry, two puppies that became part of her “forever pack.”All her rescues come with unique, but grim stories.One such pup is Roo, a Chihuahua from California.He weighed 2.5 lb., and was surrendered to the shelter by his owner to be euthanized.“The owner wanted him killed because something was wrong with his back leg. This little guy’s leg had been broken and not given vet care. He was able to walk and did not appear in pain, but he had definitely sustained injuries,” she says.He arrived as a small, sickly pup who won her heart as she nursed him back...

[caption id="attachment_9790" align="aligncenter" width="250"] PO2 Adam Coolidge prepares to dive.[/caption]Sonar Supervisor PO2 Adam Coolidge is just weeks away from hanging up his navy combats for good and leaving the tight knit naval community. But he won’t be floundering when he immerses himself into the civilian world. The sailor has created his own business and its already proving a success.With the skills attained through almost 17 years of service to the Royal Canadian Navy, and 20 years of recreational diving, the sailor has opened his own commercial diving business, Cold Water Divers Inc. “The most important skills my training with the navy gave me were timings, organization, and administrative experience,” he says. “Timings means everything for a diver, and I have to keep all of my dive gear perfectly organized and in good working order, ready to go at a moment’s notice. And, of course, as the owner I’m responsible for all of my company’s paperwork.”Cold Water Divers Inc. specializes in maintenance and repair of operational civil infrastructures built in water, such as bridges, docks, and sewage outfalls; therefore, divers must have a high level of expertise working with tools. His company currently employs five divers capable of heavy lift salvage and removal, underwater welding and broco cutting, and live HD video inspections. On a typical project, two divers are sent below the water to work on the task, which can range from cleaning a ship’s propeller to completing a hull inspection, to repairing a wharf.Their 20-foot boat is always nearby with a small crew responsible for ensuring the divers’ safety, with one employee tending, and a supervisor overseeing the entire operation including providing the divers with their unlimited air supply. His company also boasts it is the only modular dive company on the Island.Divers can operate out of a shipping container that contains everything needed to...

[caption id="attachment_9752" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Naval war veteran Gerry Butler holds a framed letter and the Arctic Star medal received from Veteran Affairs Canada.[/caption]Naval war veteran Gerry Butler received an unexpected gift on his 90th birthday.Nearly 70 years after ending his wartime service he has been awarded the Arctic Star.A military honour unveiled by the Government of the United Kingdom in 2012, the Arctic Star is granted for operational service of any length north of the Arctic Circle from Sept. 3, 1939, to May 8, 1945.It commemorates and recognizes the particular severity of the conditions experienced by those who served in the Arctic during the Second World War, and is available to all Commonwealth forces including those from Canada.Butler was overcome by emotion when the medal was delivered to him at his apartment in Montréal March 23.His son-in-law, Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Rick Bowes, a 23-year veteran of the Canadian Army who was instrumental in getting the medal through Veterans Affairs Canada, joined other members of the family to surprise the veteran with the medal.“He had tears running down his face,” says LCol (Ret’d) Bowes.“You know, these old veterans don’t expect anything. They are humble to the core.”During the Second World War, many Canadians served on Allied convoys as they sailed across the Arctic Ocean to deliver vital supplies to Russia.Commonly known as the Murmansk Run, ships departed from North American ports and sailed to the northern Soviet Union in an effort to assist them in their fight against Germany.A young Butler joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942 and served in Her Majesty’s Ship Jamaica through the North and Baltic Seas to Murmansk between June and August 1944.He is one of a few Canadian naval veterans entitled to wear both the Arctic and Pacific Stars as he also served in Her Majesty’s Canadian...

[caption id="attachment_9749" align="aligncenter" width="199"] MS William Dennis proposes to Jenny Clark after arriving back from Operation Caribbe.[/caption]After a five week deployment on Operation Caribbe, in which HMCS Whitehorse and HMCS Nanaimo assisted in seizing a combined six metric tons of cocaine, the two ships arrived home last Wednesday to a crowd of cheering families and loved ones.The ships sailed past Duntze Head for the traditional salute while the Naden Band serenaded the crowd. Waiting loved ones eagerly clutched flowers and balloons as the ramp was slowly lowered, by crane, onto the Y jetty.The first step off the ship was taken by Master Seaman William Dennis of Whitehorse, who proposed to Jenny Clark on the ramp, before the two shared a customary first kiss. Whitehorse and Nanaimo joined the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard on Feb. 23 as Canada’s contribution to the multinational Operation Martillo, which seeks to intercept trafficking by transnational organized crime in the Caribbean Basin and Eastern Pacific. Operation Martillo has been strengthening international partnerships between the Western Hemisphere and European nations in a bid to improve regional security and deter future criminal activity.Historically, interagency cooperation efforts such as Martillo have resulted in yearly seizures of millions of dollars of illicit drugs, while actively disrupting trafficking in international waters and airspaces around South and Central America. “If drugs make it through the easier passages, Mexico for example, they can eventually get to North American markets,” said Whitehorse Commanding Officer, LCdr Christopher Rochon upon the ship’s return home.“There have been traces of these drugs making it to Canada, so it’s good for our ships to be out there.” The two ships acted in a supporting role to the operation, tasked with locating, tracking, and approaching suspect vessels found along the Pacific coast of Central America.The ships were also authorized...

[caption id="attachment_9746" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Students wait for instructions on how to hoist Oriole’s sail.[/caption]As part of HMCS Oriole’s “Youth Adventure Challenge,” 14 high school students from across Canada left their homes to come aboard and sail with the navy crew for five days.Students were selected through a competitive application process organized by the Canadian Student Leadership Association, which invited senior Leadership 11 and 12 students from secondary institutions to apply.Only those applications with glowing academic credentials, extensive volunteer work, and well-crafted application essays were chosen.The high number of applicants was expected, as the entire challenge, apart from transportation, is free of cost.Students travelled from Quebec, Alberta, and the interior of B.C to set sail on April 13 from Esquimalt Harbour, and many had no experience sailing.“Some of them have never seen the ocean,” says Oriole’s Captain LCdr Jeffrey Kibble.“Some of them have never been on a boat, and some of them have never even left their province. So for them to suddenly come to another part of Canada and have an adventure on the West Coast is truly amazing.”As the crew, the students completed tasks normally expected of a fully-trained crew, such as hoisting and lowering the 136 kilogram main sail multiple times a day, helping cook meals, cleaning, and practicing safety training. Students took turns holding different crew positions, acting as the supervisory Buffer, the “Shack” or Chief Cook, and the “Stokes” or Chief Engineer.They also rotated watches, with each student working one mandatory night shift.“They aren’t here for a cruise,” says LCdr Kibble on the first day.“They are here to learn from us, and what we’re going to teach them is that teamwork and leadership are necessary to sail this vessel. The more responsibility they take on, the better.”The young crew is far from daunted, and when the...

      Today, Paul Nichols will mount his horse Zoe on the steps of Victoria’s legislature and begin his first day riding across Canada.Nichols, a retired Corporal who served with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry, and his wife Terry, have created the “Ride Across Canada” campaign to bring to the fore issues surrounding veterans integrating back into civilian life, and to remind Canadians that the profile of veterans is changing from the old to the young.“We are on a mission to change the face of the typically understood Canadian veteran,” says Terry Nichols.“So when Canadians think of veterans, they will also think of women and young men. A veteran could be your car mechanic or a nurse at your hospital. You just can’t tell by looking at someone what their history is; so we want to show communities who these people are. We want to tell their stories, and we hope this will bring the Canadian people a deeper understanding of the military world.”The duo will ride for eight months from Victoria to Newfoundland, and stop at communities along the way to pick up veterans and currently serving Forces members.Over 700 veterans are expected to join the pair who has been working with a small crew for the past nine months to plan the adventure.The couple has organized horse facility administration stations every 150 kilometres nationwide, which will remain stationary for about five days within the various communities. These stations are where people can meet the couple and the horses.  Horses have been in Paul and Terry’s lives for over 20 years.The couple’s farm, Pen-Y-Bryn, just outside of Quesnel, is certified by the British Columbia Therapeutic Riding Association and the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association to provide emotional and mental support to special needs individuals.Horses, says Terry, helped Paul’s transition back into...

       It took only two minutes and one second to send the former Canadian warship Annapolis to the bottom of Halkett Bay Marine Park on April 4.The steam powered destroyer came to rest 31 metres below sea level on the ocean floor – only one metre off of its intended destination. It is now an artificial reef for divers to enjoy, and sea life to call home. Crowded around the sinking site were over 200 private vessels, who cheered as the 14 charges, placed throughout the ship’s hull and engine room, were set off seconds apart, causing the bay to echo with loud booms. Once the charges were tripped and the ship began to fill with water, a small party of former Annapolis Commanding Officers, including retired Captain (Navy) Brian Beaudry and Rick Town and Commander (Retired) Peter Campbell, added their cheers to the chorus around them. As the ship lurched downward, waves sweeping over the flight deck, the officers set their eyes on Annapolis one last time. Annapolis, a 102-metre helicopter-carrying destroyer, was commissioned in 1964 by the Royal Canadian Navy, and decommissioned in 1996.In 2008, it was purchased by the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia from the Federal Government, with the goal to create the largest artificial reef in the Greater Vancouver area.  This is the eighth ship sunk by the Reef Society, and will provide a new habitat for a diverse range of marine life.In the past, sunken vessels have attracted over 100 different types of marine life to a single location.Annapolis will be specifically dedicated to promoting the growth of the rockfish and lingcod species native to the Howe Sound area.With an impressive array of marine life to view, the Reef Society predicts there will be a heavy surge in diving tourists and researchers to the...

       The Sunset Ceremony, to be held April 25, will celebrate 75 years of leadership and learning at Royal Roads – 55 years as a military institution/college and 20 years of Royal Roads growth as a public university.The Ceremony will commence at 7 p.m. on the former parade square, now parking lot 3, below Hatley Castle at Royal Roads University on 2005 Sooke Road.It is open to the public.What is a Sunset Ceremony and why is it being held?Traditionally, a Sunset Ceremony is conducted by military and para-military organizations.However, in recognition of Royal Roads 75th Anniversary, a special Sunset Ceremony will be co-hosted by Royal Roads University and the Vancouver Island Ex-Cadet Club, representing the military period.The military period of Royal Roads started with HMCS Royal Roads in 1940, and developed into the Royal Canadian Naval College Royal Roads, then into the RCN-RCAF College Royal Roads, to the tri-service college/Canadian Service College Royal Roads, and finally, in 1968, to the Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) until it closed in August 1995.The last time a Sunset Ceremony was conducted at Royal Roads was May 12, 1995, as part of the closing ceremonies for RRMC.Who is participating?The ceremony will be conducted on the former parade square and will showcase the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, officer cadets from the Royal Military College of Canada’s Pipes and Drums Band; the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy; the 50-person Vice Regal Guard of Maritime Forces Pacific; cadets from the United States Air Force Academy’s Drum and Bugle Corp; an ex-cadet contingent comprised of ex-cadets who attended Royal Roads between 1940-1995; 105mm guns from the 5th (BC) Field Regiment of the RCA; and regional air, sea and land cadets.The three VIPs for the event will be RAdm Bill Truelove, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific; Dr. Allan Cahoon, President...

[caption id="attachment_9659" align="alignnone" width="252"] Chief Constable Frank Elsner accepts the certificate of recognition for being a supportive employer of reservists. Skip Triplett, Regional Director of the CFLC Vancouver Island, presented the certificate. Major Brendan Le Blanc, nominator of the award, observes the presentation.[/caption]The Victoria Police Department’s unwavering loyalty to military reservist employees was honored this March 31, when the Canadian Forces Liaison Council (CFLC) presented senior police leadership with a formal certificate of recognition for employer support.Dr. Skip Triplett and John Appleby, regional directors of the CFLC, thanked the Victoria Police Department for upholding their longstanding tradition to enable employees in the reserves to attend their frequent training sessions and commitments.Reserve members currently employed by the police department must juggle their training requirements with their workloads. Ongoing reserve training can occur on weekends and occasionally on weekdays.Reservists may also be called upon unexpectedly to deploy for extended periods of time, for situations such as responding to natural disasters and other emergency situations.As such, reserve employees must be ready to place their work duties on hold when their city, province, or country, needs their help.Dr. Triplett emphasized the responsibilities of a reservist can stretch their time and energy thin, meaning they require additional assistance from their employers to succeed both at work and in the military.“Sir Winston Churchill believed that reservists are twice the citizen, because they are constantly balancing a military career with a civilian life. But I like to say they are three times the citizen, because most of them have families too, and that’s a whole other role,” said Dr. Triplett.The CFLC encourages employers to be flexible and accommodating when working with a reservist.For the CFLC, the Victoria Police Department has succeeded in this supportive role, having developed a policy that promotes the development of reservists by facilitating...

[caption id="attachment_9656" align="alignnone" width="300"] Daniel LeBlanc, Chief of Staff-Executive Officer to Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific; Cdr Wes Golden, Base Administration Officer; and SLt (Ret’d) Louis Howard, share stories after an impromptu speech from SLt (Ret’d) Howard.[/caption]A packed lunchtime Weepers crowd at the Wardroom on March 27 was treated to an impromptu speech on by a unique former Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve officer, SLt (Ret’d) Louis Howard.SLt (Ret’d) Howard, 91, is one of only three surviving crew members from HMCS Sarnia, the ship that helped rescue survivors from HMCS Esquimalt, the last RCN vessel sunk during the Battle of the Atlantic.Base Administration Officer, Cdr Wes Golden had the pleasure of introducing SLt (Ret’d) Howard, who spent a few moments telling the story of that fateful sinking and throwing in a few other stories along the way.“We knew something was wrong because we were supposed to meet up with Esquimalt and she never made it,” said SLt (Ret’d) Howard, who was navigating officer and sonar officer in HMCS Sarnia.HMCS Esquimalt was torpedoed by German a U-boat in the approaches to Halifax harbour on April 16, 1945.The warship sank within four minutes, unable to send out a distress message.The surviving members of HMCS Esquimalt’s crew spent six hours adrift before HMCS Sarnia and her 78 crew members rescued them.“From the moment he began telling us his story, I was immediately drawn in,” said Lt(N) Paul Trenholm, who was having lunch at the Wardroom that day.“Standing before us was a living Canadian hero with so much to share and there is only a thin window of time left for us to hear from these veterans.”SLt (Ret’d) Howard and the rest of the crew eventually rescued 27 men and recovered the bodies of 13 others. In total, 44 men were lost.For his actions, he...

[caption id="attachment_9653" align="alignnone" width="300"] Cadets from 195 “Bicknell” RCSCC cheer on their team mates during the final relay of the Regional Inter-Divisional Seamanship Championship.[/caption]More than 100 sea cadets from B.C. and the prairies, all winners of their zone competitions, gathered in Victoria for the Regional Inter-Divisional Seamanship Championship held March 21-22 at the Naden Drill Shed.Over the weekend, cadets practiced and competed in seamanship skills, from tossing heaving lines at targets, to navigation, to semaphore (communicating with flags), to sheer legs (using knots and wood to assemble a lift for heavy loads).Cadets competed in eight-person teams, four each from B.C. and the prairies. The aim of the competition was to encourage cadets to increase their knowledge of seamanship and to provide a friendly competition. Victoria’s own 5 “Rainbow” RCSCC won the championship for B.C. Team captain PO1 Austen Webb said the team practiced four hours each Sunday for several months in preparation for the competition series. 137 “Kamloops” RCSCC from Kamloops won the team spirit award.The weekend ended with a ship-building competition, based on Royal Canadian Navy ships, and a relay that involved hoisting signals and navigation markers, tying knots, completing a puzzle of HMCS Vancouver, and answering naval trivia. Awards were presented by Commodore Bob Autcherlonie, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific.Capt Cheryl MajorRCSU (Pac)Public Affairs Officer

[caption id="attachment_9594" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of the first graduating course of Maritime Tactical Operators from CFB Esquimalt, participate in a security exercise on March 26.[/caption]After three months of intensive round-the-clock training, students on the first Maritime Tactical Operator Course graduated March 26, and will go on to form Enhanced Naval Boarding Party Team 1.The 13 graduates underwent extensive training in advanced naval boarding tactics, including hand-to-hand combat, improvised explosive device identification, close quarters battle, tactical shooting, and tactical questioning.Last Thursday’s graduation marks the delivery of an initial operating capability as directed by the first phase of the Future Naval Boarding Party Capability Development outlined in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Executive Plan.“In less than 10 months we have successfully selected, trained and graduated our first class,” said LCdr Wilfred Lund, Naval Boarding Party 3.0 Project Officer in Charge. “This team is trained and equipped to provide a highly flexible capability that is a testament to the unpredictable and evolving nature of our missions.”Although traditional Naval Boarding Parties are able to perform basic obstructed boardings, feedback from recent operational deployments, such as Operation Caribbe and Artemis, has emphasized the need for a Naval Boarding Party that is capable of meeting a new level of threat.The Enhanced Naval Boarding Party capability will provide the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCN with the agility, flexibility, and tactical expertise to confront and deter a variety of threats in high-risk operational environments.“In terms of our partner allies, the Enhanced Naval Boarding Party is a unique capability,” said LCdr Lund. “We are building on our decades of operational boarding experience in order to fill the gap between what our special forces can do and what we need to do on our own as a navy.”The team will be attach posted to HMCS Winnipeg and will participate...

[caption id="attachment_9590" align="alignnone" width="300"] Smoking huts gone, bike shelters in[/caption]As the base and its employees prepare for the April 1 Base Standing Order Smoking Policy to take effect, which directs smokers to smoke only in designated smoking areas, attention is now being turned towards the smoking sites situated around the base.With healthy lifestyle now a corporate philosophy, what was once a smoker’s refuge from the elements is now a dry place to house bicycles. Taking the lead to transform the huts is Base Chief Petty Officer, CPO1 Shawn Taylor. Upon the suggestion from CPO2 Sean MacUisdin, he is re-purposing these structures in order to accommodate the expanding cyclist population.“It just made sense to re-use already existing structures for bicycle racks, which we don’t have enough of anyways,” he says.The first site to transform is the shelter adjacent to Nelles Block. At least six more shelters are slated to transform.                                 CPO1 Taylor’s project comes on the heels of a change to the base smoking policy, which previously had not been changed in the Base Standing Order since 1989.“The existing policies that were in place then no longer exist,” says CPO1 Taylor. “So I looked at what the rest of the country was doing with smoking policies, what other bases were doing, and what we’re doing locally in terms of municipality rules. After talking with the Base Commander and senior council, we have changed to full compliance with the national law and regional bylaws.”Four teams scoured the base to pinpoint all the smoking locations. More than 450 smoking sites were found, with another 300 potentially being used by smokers.After considering the latest updates on laws, and recommendations from Health Canada, CPO1 Taylor and his staff put together the new smoking policy, which mirrors the new municipal bylaw. New smoking sites, far fewer than...

[caption id="attachment_9586" align="alignnone" width="300"] RAdm Bill Truelove watches over two cadets at the helm of Patrol Craft Training Vessel Moose.[/caption]On an overcast Sunday two weeks ago, Orca training vessels Moose and Raven slipped from the jetty at the Coast Guard Station in Deep Cove.Lining the decks were naval cadets, cameras in hand snapping photos of the choppy gray water and sloping hills on the horizon before them.But this sail wasn’t just for fun; the youth were on board to have the full experience of naval life.At the sound of an alarm echoing throughout Moose, 18 cadets leaped into action. Oscar the man overboard dummy was in need of rescuing and its casualty retrieval was in the hands of the cadets.Most cadets took their cues for action from the experienced crew members, or followed the direction of the older cadets, taking their place at the base of the zodiac crane, or passing out life jackets.Some headed to the bridge, while others unfastened the zodiac for launching. For most on board, this was their first time in an Orca class vessel, and their first experience sailing in the waters off the B.C. coast.“Now I see the practical use of all the training we’ve done at my corps back home,” said Comox resident PO1 Madelaine Desnoyers, 17. “It’s one thing to learn theory and then another thing to actually be on a boat. Now it all makes more sense.”A few hundred metres away Oscar bobbed in the water in a bright orange life jacket as the crew lowered the zodiac from the ship to the ocean. A senior cadet drove the boat to Oscar who was plucked up by the cadet crew and returned to Moose.Back on the bridge, the most senior naval officer on the Pacific Coast, RAdm Bill Truelove watched over...

[caption id="attachment_9557" align="alignnone" width="232"] Michael Moore, a Canadian songwriter, musician, and teacher based in Toronto.[/caption]“I’ve thought about what happened at Dieppe for a long time,” says Michael Moore, a Canadian songwriter, musician, and teacher based in Toronto.“The fact that 6,000 soldiers, when they were crossing, had no idea what was coming, and how the Germans were entrenched in the shore ahead of them. They didn’t know what was about to happen.”For Moore, 6,000 is a precious number.His most recent song, “6,000 Soldiers” refers to the number of allied forces that fought at Dieppe on Aug. 19, 1942.The 5,000 Canadian troops, 1,000 British Commandos, and 50 American rangers that fought the battle are honored in the lyrics of the song, recorded in February of this year in Nashville, and released on YouTube the morning of March 10.Moore has been a musician since he was in seventh grade, where he began playing the trumpet in band class.He continued to play throughout high school and his post-secondary education, eventually graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in music.Though he was trained as a trumpet player, he plays the keyboard and a range of other band instruments.Moore, however, prefers crafting songs to performing on stage.“I mostly like to write,” he says.“I do perform at smaller venues occasionally, but it’s the writing I really enjoy. I’m quite happy to let others do the singing.”Lead vocalist William Ray’s soulful voice helps give the song a country feel, fitting with Moore’s preferred music genre, a blend of folk and country.Moore was raised in Petawawa, Ontario, home to the Garrison Petawawa base. Though he didn’t grow up in the military community, he says he’s always had an interest in Canadian history, and in particular, the wars that Canada has fought.As a music and history teacher, Moore...