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[caption id="attachment_29025" align="aligncenter" width="596"] HMCS Margaret Brooke facilitates a boat transfer in Conception Bay Harbour during their transit to the Arctic for ice trials on Feb. 20. Photo by S2 Taylor Congdon, Canadian Armed Forces Photo[/caption] Joanie Veitch Trident Newspaper — As the future HMCS Margaret Brooke, Canada’s second Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), left Halifax on Feb. 17, the crew was full of anticipation. Not only were they heading off to do cold weather and ice trials, this marked the first time they would spend an extended period out at sea with their new ship. Bound first for Newfoundland before heading north to the Labrador Sea, Margaret Brooke will move through the Davis Strait into Baffin Bay, looking for temperatures of 30-below Celsius or colder and metre-thick ice to run through a series of trials mean to test the ship’s capabilities. It’s expected to be about a four-week trip, although flexibility with the schedule is key, says Lt(N) Graham Austin, Navigating Officer. “You can have a set schedule but because we need specific conditions we need to have maximum flexibility built in.” Like others in the Harry DeWolf-class of vessels, Margaret Brooke is a different ship from most in the Royal Canadian Navy, not only from an operational perspective, but also in terms of the quality of life for the crew, as their home-away-from-home for long periods of time. “I’ve sailed on frigates, MCDVs (Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels) and now on the AOPV (Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessels). I’ve had lots of at-sea time, just a little over 1,300 days, so I can speak to the creature comforts of the AOPV platform,” says PO1 Ron Kennedy, Naval Communicator. “The AOPV, the best way to explain it is that it’s like being on a cruise ship as compared to a frigate...

Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Attention veterans and currently transitioning military personnel. There’s a free training program designed to prepare you for a career in information technology. Australian-based company With You With Me (WYWM) works with government agencies to combat the shortage of digital skills through their unique coaching and instruction. “We want CAF transitioning members to understand they have numerous opportunities outside the military in the tech field,” says Travis Rivard, WYWM Engagement Officer. Rivard speaks from experience, as he is a retired Major in the Canadian military who found a place in the IT domain. Plus, the company’s founder Tom Moore is also a veteran who experienced the struggle of leaving the military and moving into the civilian workforce. WYWM began its involvement with the Government of Canada as a partner in their Cyber Workforce Enablement Program in 2020. It is a supply arrangement where the government can call up cyber- and technology-trained Canadian Armed Forces veterans to fill the overwhelming cyber resource demand in the Public Service. The process With You With Me provides aptitude, psychometric, cultural fit, and learning style assessments to match candidates to an IT job best suited for them, such as Cyber Analyst, Data Analytics, and Software Developer. Following the assessment, virtual training begins, anywhere from six to 12 weeks depending on the program. Trainees use the WYWM Potential Software Platform to learn their tech-industry skills. In a 12-month period, WYWM helped hire more than 100 veterans in the Government of Canada and the private sector. “Veterans have exceptional aptitudes and skills,” says Rivard. WYWM tested more than 30,000 veterans and found that 67 per cent of respondents had the same aptitude traits as software engineers and other skilled occupations. What’s with the name? The company name is derived from Australian military speak. “With You With Me is a catch phrase used by Australian soldiers during urban entry drills. “Essentially, it means I have your back, but it has also become a rallying cry...

[caption id="attachment_29014" align="aligncenter" width="595"] S2 Jesse Roberts, Canadian Fleet Pacific 2021 Sailor of the Year[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A sailor from HMCS Vancouver didn’t know what to make of a surprise phone call informing her she had been selected Canadian Pacific Fleet Sailor of the Year. S2 Jesse Roberts, a 21-year-old boatswain who hails from Yellowknife, NT, was completing a demolition course on Bentinck Island when she received the unexpected phone call from CPO1 Arvid Lee, Fleet Chief, and Capt(N) Jeffrey Hutchinson, Base Commander. “I didn’t know how to react and I was almost certain they had called the wrong person,” she says. “Once the shock wore off, I was excited to call my family in Yellowknife and inform them of the good news.” S2 Roberts joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2018 and enrolled in the navy later that year.  She says it’s not too often people from the far north join the navy, and even more unheard of for one of them to be named Sailor of the Year. She has primarily worked in Vancouver, with a brief attachment to HMCS Winnipeg in November 2019, and HMCS Nanaimo for Operation Caribbe in February 2020. “With my career in the RCN [Royal Canadian Navy] I have had the opportunity to be a part of a professional work environment, where both individuals and the team are faced with high-stake, high-stress situations. This has given me the opportunity to cope and strive under unprecedented circumstances, always adapting and overcoming the unique conditions.” While the basic job description of boatswain is akin to a modern day deckhand, she says it is much more complicated than that in the navy. “When it comes to the operation of small boats, maintaining small arms, rigging, and rope work, boatswains are the experts on board....

[caption id="attachment_28984" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Karam Albatal, 2021 winner.[/caption] CFMWS — Canadian Forces newspapers have launched their youth reporters competition.  Young people from military families between the ages of 13 and 18 who want to share a story about an issue that is important to their life or the community around them can apply. The competition gives young people a unique chance to tell their story in print, online, or on social media with the help of Canadian Forces newspaper journalists, editors, and photographers. The winner of each category will receive a $500 scholarship from Adobe and a one-year subscription to Creative Cloud. Last year’s winner, Karam Albatal wrote a story that was published in the Spring 2021 edition of “Play” magazine. He wrote about being born in Brazil and going to his parents’ home of Syria to learn about his Syrian roots his parents’ culture. While there, he learned French, a language that would come in handy when his family chose Canada as their home a few years later.  “Happiness is simple and anyone can experience it. However, happiness is not easy to achieve. It is found in the simple things in life. During my immigration journey to Brazil, Syria, and Canada, we did not lack for anything, but we did not live in luxury. And although the situation was not always easy, we were happy.”  Finding happiness in simplicity is how Albatal lives his life. It is no surprise that the $2,500 prize he won will be invested in his future medical studies. This year, the selection committee will pick the top stories in a variety of formats to be featured during the final week of April, which is the Month of the Military Child. Instead of one grand prize winners, selected recipients (winners) will receive a scholarship and the opportunity to be published on the CFMWS Channels (website, social media, email) and in Canadian Forces Newspapers. The application can be found at CAFconnection.ca/YouthReporter. Application deadline is Feb. 28.

[caption id="attachment_28977" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Tactical74 owners Aviator Isabelle Fortin and her husband Master Sailor Pierre Lacombe (bottom) work on a sportswear design. Working from their home in Sooke, B.C., the couple sell ready-made items such as tank tops sold on their website and small-run custom-designed screen-printed apparel for units of the Canadian Armed Forces. Photo credit MS Pierre Lacombe.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A military husband-and-wife team are charting a path to small business success, which, they say, fits their retirement plans to a “tee”. MS Pierre Lacombe, an instructor at Naval Fleet School Pacific, and his wife Aviator Isabelle Fortin, an Aviation Technician at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, are the sole proprietors of Tactical74. It is a screen printing and custom-design sportswear apparel business they run from their home in Sooke, which they started in 2015.  Their small business began as a way to provide custom-made jersey’s for their son Antoine’s Motocross racing team and his competitors, says MS Lacombe. Today, it focuses on making spirit wear, workout gear, and custom-designed products for military personnel and units of the Canadian Armed Forces. Items sold include t-shirts, shorts, hoodies, ‘civie-Friday’ polo shirts, stickers, and morale patches. They also sell their spirit products to sports clubs and school teams, but MS Lacombe has designs to grow this market going forward. “We are hoping Tactical74 gives us a plan for the future and a source of income during our retirement,” says MS Lacombe. “We are definitely not to that point yet, still going strong with our careers, and still trying to figure out and learn about the world of small business ownership.” Inside Track Military members looking for something notable, unique, and comfortable are their main customer. Their spirit t-shirts and hoodies feature military-specific slogans, barbs, and jokes. A quick glance at some of the more popular items on their website shows sportswear with naval specific phrases such as ‘Dammit Bloggins’ and ‘Military Brat’ or “I got 99 problems but Sea Days...

Peter Mallett Staff Writer  — The incentive for military members to buy into the luxury suburban housing market on Victoria’s West Shore just got a big boost.  B.C. real estate developer Aquila Pacific recently announced special discounts for military members who purchase a condo or townhome in their new development in Langford. “Aquila Pacific recognizes the challenges and sacrifice of serving our country and wanted to give military members and their families a break,” says Simer Rattan, President of Aquila Pacific. “Beyond just housing, we are working collaboratively with CFB Esquimalt to help solve some of the most difficult social challenges military members face in everyday life outside of their work, such as access to child care at one of our future buildings near by the base.” The Lookout is a 130 condominium and townhome project currently under construction on the Bear Mountain Parkway overlooking Florence Lake. The builders boast a development loaded with amenities, large square-footage floor plans, and inspiring vistas. Rattan says the amenity package for The Lookout is one of the most comprehensive in the region with high-tech working pods to support individuals working from home, pet care, cycling infrastructure, and a two-story gymnasium with cardio and studio room, plus spacious outdoor patios with views of Florence Lake. Groundbreaking has begun with 50 per cent of the units already sold. The developer is offering up to 10 specially-priced units for military members, offering special discounts for one and two-bedroom units, and higher discounts off 2.5 and 3 bedroom units. The second phase of The Lookout development includes condominiums and two and three-bedroom multi-level townhomes priced from $469,000 to $570,000. Floor plans range from just under 650 square feet to 1,100 square feet and feature expansive outdoor patios. Townhomes range from 1,450 to 1,600 square feet. West Shore Real Estate Lewis Ratcliffe, a Langford-based real estate agent selling The Lookout says demand for new homes in Langford has outpaced supply, with new residential inventory currently at an all-time high....

Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Participation numbers in the military’s second language training program have seen a sharp increase following a shift to online learning.  A nearly three-fold up-tick in course participation, from just 18 students to more than 79, has transpired in recent months. That is encouraging news to Formation Official Languages Administration Assistant, Vincent Joyeux, and the educational team who hope the trend will keep going. The increase is a result of the requirement to work at home during the pandemic, making online coursing more desirable, as well as improved marketing. An unexpected silver lining, says Joyeux. The Decentralized Military Second Language Training Program is a series of five- to seven-week courses originally designed for military personnel seeking to maintain or improve their language profile regardless of their current level of language enrolment. Civilian personnel can also attend on a case-by-case basis. Those who enrol are tested to determine their level of proficiency and then placed with others at a similar level. Personnel can apply for more than one session. “Even though students and instructors both need to be more technically adept, we have discovered online learning is working very well” says Joyeux. French language training is not mandatory for military personnel, but greatly encouraged. Joyeux says being able to effectively communicate in the workplace in both of Canada’s official languages is highly beneficial for members seeking promotion and looking to advance their careers.   Course placement  Applicants must first take a French/English Curriculum placement test that determines the point of entry at one of seven progress levels. Courses are intensive but can lead to a Public Service Commission language profile such as AAA, BBB, or CBC depending on the student’s proficiency.   While there is normally in-class learning at Nelles Block for one class, most students will...

[caption id="attachment_28958" align="aligncenter" width="595"] A worker from FMF Cape Breton helps lower the Bofors 57mm gun into place on HMCS Ottawa’s fo’c’sle with the assistance of a mobile crane. The ship repair facility had just completed maintenance work on the weaponry as part of the Ottawa’s Intermediate Work Period. Photo credit HMCS Ottawa[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A few weeks ago, B jetty in HMC Dockyard was a hub of activity as Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMFCB) staff and HMCS Ottawa sailors returned the ship’s Bofors 57mm rapid-fire gun to its place on the fo’c’sle. The gun was removed 14 months earlier as part of the ship’s routine five-year Tiered Readiness Program. This routine maintenance is done on the frigates to check them over, from bow to stern, and make required corrective and preventative repairs.  “Although Ottawa still has a lot of work to complete for its Intermediate Docking Period, the installation of the gun is seen as a major milestone in any extended work period,” says MS Erik Sukstorf, Ottawa’s Weapons Engineering Armament. “A lot would consider it the point in which we become a warship again.” He is the point person responsible for coordinating and overseeing the work on the weapon systems. Fourteen FMFCB shops and a team of sailors worked together to remove the gun, transport it to the Surface Weapons Shop, and then return it to the ship once the work was complete.  The weapons shop unbolted the gun from the deck with help from Fire Control in preparation for the crane operator and riggers to hoist it up and place it on a truck bed.      Tim Christy, FMFCB Work Centre Supervisor for Surface Weapons Shop (162A), says his shop normally performs one install and removal of a 57mm gun every 12 to 14 months for each of the Esquimalt-based frigates. The process involves a complete disassembly of the gun from top to bottom. “Everything is stripped and repainted, with the expertise of...

[caption id="attachment_28939" align="alignnone" width="595"] Base Commander Capt(N) Jeff Hutchinson and CPO1 A.H. Darragh.[/caption] This Wednesday, wear pink to recognize your support of anti-bullying. The theme for Pink Shirt Day is Lift Each Other Up and emphasizes the importance of acceptance, respect, and inclusion for everyone. Join the Defence Team in celebrating Pink Shirt Day and help foster a culture on diversity, inclusion, and kindness by wearing pink. For more information on the Pink Shirt Day campaign, visit www.pinkshirtday.ca Official Pink Shirt Day t-shirts can be purchased at London Drugs, or you can wear a pink shirt you already have, or one from a previous year. [caption id="attachment_28941" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Maritime Forces Pacific leadership support the campaign.[/caption]    

Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Wounded Warrior Run BC is returning to the road in 2022 with a renewed sense of optimism and a new virtual twist. The annual fundraiser will see a team of eight runners embark on a 700 kilometre relay-style run from Port Hardy to Victoria, Feb. 27 to March 6. This year’s run will also have a National Virtual Run. It is part of the team’s efforts to boost fundraising for Wounded Warriors Canada and mental health support programs, says Race Director Capt Jacqueline Zweng “The new National Virtual Run is an option that allows people from every community across Canada to be part of the team. The mental health crisis is everywhere, so this virtual run gives others a sense of empowerment to do what they can in their own towns and networks and run alongside us.” Participants are encouraged to map out their own route, create a team, or make it a community event. They can run, walk, ski, or paddle their way to distances of 1, 5, 10, or 21 km. Those taking part are encouraged to use the fundraising page Strava and a free app that tracks their activity with GPS. To sign up for the National Virtual Run go to www.woundedwarriorrunbc.com Bouncing Back There is also a renewed sense of excitement for the main team of runners ahead of their launch from the northern tip of Vancouver Island. The run was cancelled in 2021 due to health and safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our sense of optimism was drained over the past two years during the pandemic but our team is ready to bring back that sense of hope,” says Capt Zweng. The event will run under different rules this time. In previous years, runners stopped at branches of the Royal Canadian Legion, community halls, and other community organizations, sometimes appearing in front of packed houses of supporters to boost their morale and fundraising campaign. This year, they are approaching things...

[caption id="attachment_28867" align="aligncenter" width="594"] A painting of tugboat CFAV Firebrand by Victoria artist Christina Morrison. Firebrand will transition out of service following the arrival of two new Large Naval Tugs. The painting is part of an ambitious art project launched by Morrison to paint the tugboats on the West Coast of British Columbia. Credit: Christinamorrisonart.com[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — With new warships on the horizon comes new service tugs to maneuver them around the harbour. Four Naval Large Tugs are currently being built by Ocean Industries Inc. of Isle-aux-Coudres, Quebec, under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.  Two tugboats are destined for CFB Esquimalt, and two will be sent to CFB Halifax to join their Auxiliary Fleet. “Serving on both coasts, this new fleet of tugs will support the Royal Canadian Navy’s future fleet, including the two Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships we’ve already received and four more to come, two Joint Support Ships, and 15 Canadian Surface Combatants,” said Vice-Admiral Craig Baines, Commander Royal Canadian Navy. The West Coast Auxiliary fleet will receive their tugs via sea lift in the fall. The east coast can expect theirs in July 2024. In December the tugs received their names: Haro, Barkerville (West Coast), Canso, and Stella Maris (East Coast), all a nod to Canada’s rich history. Creating a buzz Anticipation is mounting for the tugs arrival, says Captain Brian Whittaker, Pilot 1 and Mooring Training Officer for CFB Esquimalt’s Queen’s Harbour Master and Port Operations and Emergency Services Branch. The Naval Large Tugs will replace his unit’s two existing Glen-class tugs, Glendyne (YTB 640) and Glendale (YTB 641), along with the fire and rescue boat Firebrand (YTR 562). These tugs were brought into service in the mid-1970s and their vintage is outdated for the ships of today’s navy. They will be eventually be transitioned out of service and likely sold as crown assets. About Naval Large Tugs There is little comparison between the old and the new tugs. Glen-class tugs have a bollard...

[caption id="attachment_28860" align="aligncenter" width="596"] A Change of Command ceremony for HMCS Harry DeWolf was held Jan. 21. From left: incoming Commanding Officer, Cdr Geoff Simpson; Canadian Fleet Atlantic Deputy Commander, Capt(N) Sheldon Gillis; and outgoing Commanding Officer, Cdr Corey Gleason. The ceremony was held in accordance with all COVID-19 restrictions, with family, friends, and shipmates tuning in to watch online. Photo courtesy Formation Imaging Services[/caption] Ryan Melanson Trident Newspaper — When Cdr Corey Gleason was first asked to take on the appointment as the first Commanding Officer of the Royal Canadian Navy’s first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel, he was warned it wouldn’t be a quick job. He could be leading the unit for as long as five years. “In fact, I spent the next seven years without my feet touching the ground, and now I’m finally coming in for a landing,” he said during the Change of Command for HMCS Harry DeWolf on Jan. 21. Cdr Gleason took command of Harry DeWolf before steel was even cut on the ship itself, and stayed with the job through to its delivery to the navy, sea trials, commissioning, and first deployments in 2020. He also played a major role in developing the policies and procedures that now guide the future of Arctic naval service in Canada. Some of his biggest points of pride come from witnessing the accomplishments of the crew, particularly as years of planning culminated in the reality of the ship conducting successful operations around the world. “I witnessed the steadfast determination of every single person involved in building up the ship. From scheduling and programming, training and development, the list could go on and on. They’ve all done their very best to help meet my mission objectives. “We’ve announced loud and clear. The Royal Canadian Navy can operate anywhere...

[caption id="attachment_28857" align="aligncenter" width="595"] S1 Joseph Dimayuga with fellow sailor S2 Kelly Le. The two served as representatives of today’s Naval Reserves on S1 Dimayuga’s winning logo design for the 2023 Naval Reserve Centennial.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — The designer of the 2023 Naval Reserve Centennial logo says his art combines diversity and inclusion with honouring the history of the reserves. S1 Joseph Dimayuga, former reservist turned Regular Force, beat out dozens of submissions, grabbing the thumbs up from a panel of judges at Naval Reserves headquarters in Quebec City. The winning logo features silhouettes of a male sailor and a Women’s Royal Naval Service member from the Second World War, and a male and female sailor of today’s Naval Reserve. The current day sailors were gleaned from a photo of himself and friend S2 Kelly Le, both representing diversity. “Historically, the navy was predominantly male and white 100 years ago, but times have changed and my thought was to have better representation of today’s navy and how it has transformed,” he says. His art will be turned into a morale patch to be worn in 2023, and serve as a visual identifier on banners, signs, and flags. “Conveying a century of history with a limited circular space that will be transformed into an embroidered patch of three-and-a-half inches was no easy task,” says S1 Dimayuga. “I did this through silhouettes and headdresses so this way past and present sailors are represented, whilst making sure the images will translate well for logo printing and embroidery.” He is very familiar with custom embroidery as he was a garment manufacturer and master tailor before joining the Reserves. “I had lots of experience doing all sorts of embroidery for garments and uniforms, so really it was the perfect training ground for coming up with a winning design for the navy,” he says.  He immigrated to Canada in 2003, and joined the Naval Reserves in 2018. He was a member of HMCS Discovery in Vancouver...

[caption id="attachment_28849" align="aligncenter" width="596"] Lieutenant Commander Nadia Shields aboard HMCS Saskatoon during Operation Caribbe last spring. She is currently preparing her crew for this year’s deployment. Photo credit: Op Caribbe Imagery Technician, HMCS Saskatoon[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer— HMCS Saskatoon and HMCS Yellowknife are set to renew Canada’s drug interdiction efforts in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs) and their crews of approximately 40 sailors each are readying to depart Esquimalt Harbour Feb. 21 for a three-month deployment on Operation Caribbe. The multi-national, anti-drug-trafficking operation is in its 15th year. It will also involve a Royal Canadian Air Force CP140 maritime patrol aircraft, ships and planes of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and USCG Law Enforcement Detachments that will sail with Saskatoon and Yellowknife. Their combined efforts will also require co-operation, intelligence, and communication sharing with other partner nations as they patrol an enormous swath of territory off the coasts of Central and South America. Meet the Commanding officers LCdr Nadia Shields is once again at the helm of Saskatoon for the deployment after commanding the warship in last year’s mission. She says the work of the two warships is to disrupt and deter the flow of illegal narcotics. With over 20 years’ experience in the navy, LCdr Shields is confident she and her crew will put a stop to the drug runners again this year. “We have an amazing, dedicated, professional, and focussed team, and I have no doubt we will be successful because of them,” she says. In Yellowknife’s captain’s chair will be LCdr James Brun, who is in his 17th year with the navy. This will be his fourth Operation Caribbe deployment. Yellowknife will have a Puma LE Unmanned Aircraft System embarked. The hand-launched UAV will increase the ship’s ability to detect and inspect...

Andy Bader The Mitchell Advocate  www.mitchelladvocate.com — Calling it “the biggest adventure I’ve ever been on,” Mitchell, Ontario, native Lt(N) Lisa Tubb recently returned home after circumnavigating North America with the Royal Canadian Navy. Lt(N) Tubb, 27, was the public affairs officer attached to HMCS Harry DeWolf on its maiden voyage the final few months of 2021. It was her first deployment as she began her fourth year in Canada’s military. “I feel silly lucky,” she said during a short six-day Christmas visit to parents’ Jim and Faye Tubb, before returning to home base in Ottawa. “I still can’t believe I did it.” Lt(N) Tubb heard whispers she may be nominated for deployment in June, and to her astonishment was chosen in late July, giving her a couple of weeks to prepare. “It was one heckuva deployment. Everyone wanted a piece of this,” she says. “This is probably one of the biggest adventures I’ve ever been on.” Lt(N) Tubb was one of about 80 people, including 65 crew members, who sailed in HMCS Harry DeWolf; the first in class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV). She left Ottawa Aug. 10 and met up with the ship in Iqaluit, Nunavut, where they completed Operation Nanook, Canada’s signature arctic exercise alongside Canadian and American coast guard ships. “For me, I passed the Arctic Circle, so that was a milestone for a first-time sailor,” she says. The crew re-explored the Northwest Passage - becoming the second Royal Canadian Navy ship to transit through since 1954, visited Beechey Island, learned how to navigate through the changing northern environment, and learned how to safely get through ice fields. For a student of history, (she has a Master’s degree in Canadian history), the chance to re-trace part of the Franklin Expedition where James Franklin’s failed to locate...

A study to assess the health and well-being of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) Department of National Defence (DND) personnel, and in particular Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, is commencing. Researchers would like to learn about the experiences of BIPOC CAF members, both Regular and Reserve Force, accessing and using health care services [...]

Emily Lindahl D Air Force PA — Each veteran has their own story. For some, their story can be too painful to share, too traumatic to relive. For other veterans, sharing their stories is a passion.  Flight Officer (Retired) Ernie Allen, a 100-year-old resident at the Wildpine Residence in Stittsville, Ontario, holds the story of his time in both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) dear, and he is more than happy to share it. I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with Ernie. He came armed with his RAF flight logs, which began on July 1, 1941, his first day in the air force.  Ernie was ready to share his tale of being a pilot in the RAF for the Second World War, his journey to the U.S. following the war, and the trials he experienced trying to join the RCAF for the Korean War. His enthusiasm was evident as he talked about the various aircrafts he flew during the Second World War; the old Hawker Hart and Audax biplanes that towed the military Hotspur gliders, the Typhoons, the Spitfires, and more. He explained the role each aircraft played in supporting allied troops and keeping the enemy at bay. He shared how a friend from high school lost his life when the aircraft he was piloting crashed during the bombing of Berlin. With the plane on fire, the crew was instructed to bail out; however, the pilot and co-pilot went down.  When Ernie was stationed near the German border with Denmark, he learned his friend was buried nearby. He visited the local cemetery to pay his respects.   When the war was over, Ernie travelled to the United States on a converted merchant marine ship to prepare a home for his wife. They settled outside of Boston where he worked as a photographer, specializing in school photos and children’s photography. When the Korean War began, he once again felt the need to...

DND — Enhancing responsiveness and accessibility of Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) is a priority for the Canadian Armed Forces as it strives to better serve members and invest in the culture change movement. To this end, the Integrated Conflict and Complaint Management (ICCM) program has established a toll free line (1-833-328-3351) that will operate in both official languages coast-to-coast, five days a week between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7p.m. EST. This extended service will increase accessibility to CCMS subject matter experts in real time, who have the proficiency to guide and support Defence Team members concerning all matters of workplace conflict and complaint. CCMS locations are staffed by agents specially trained to help members unpack their concerns, identify issues appropriately, and select the best option to address them. Conflict Management practitioners are available to both leaders and personnel to help manage their workplace conflicts through a spectrum of informal options, including training, consultation, coaching, facilitation, mediation, and group processes. Although there are 17 CCMS offices located across Canada, access can be difficult for members due to the constraints of working hours, geographic location, and/or the challenges of deployed status. By extending the contactable hours of CCMS agents via its toll free number, this initiative will aide in providing an agile and highly effective support to the Defence Team.   Additional details related to CCMS services are available on the ICCM web page: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/benefits-military/conflict-misconduct/integrated-conflict-complaint-management/centres.html Please note, this is not a crisis line. If you are in an emergency, call 911. If your call is not an emergency, but you require immediate assistance, dial 1-800-268-7708 to reach the Member Assistance Program or Employee Assistance Program.

[caption id="attachment_28768" align="aligncenter" width="596"] Left: Ethelbert “Curley” Christian. Right: War Amps Director Rob Larman and Tiffany Ross, a member of the War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program, lay a rose at the grave of Ethelbert “Curley” Christian, at Toronto’s Prospect Cemetery.[/caption]   Story courtesy The War Amps — As February marks Black History Month, The War Amps is paying tribute to Ethelbert “Curley” Christian (1883-1954), one of the Association’s founding members who was believed to be the only surviving quadruple amputee of the First World War. Christian lived in Manitoba and served with the 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers). During the Battle of Vimy Ridge, he was wounded when heavy shelling buried him in a trench. With debris crushing all four of his limbs, he lay on the battlefield for two days before being found close to death. Two stretcher bearers were struck and killed by shells while carrying him off the battlefield, but he again survived. Later, in a French hospital, gangrene set in and both of his arms and legs had to be amputated.   While Christian was recovering at Christie Street Veterans Hospital in Toronto, he met his future wife, Cleo MacPherson, who was a volunteer aid. MacPherson noted that it was costly for the government to keep Christian at the hospital and felt she could take care of him at home. However, it would be a full-time job that meant she would be unable to work. The hospital director appealed to the Canadian government on the Christians’ behalf, which led to the creation of the Attendance Allowance, a supplement to full-time caregivers of wounded veterans. This benefit still exists today. Christian was also a founding members of The War Amps, an organization started more than 100 years ago by amputee veterans returning from the First World War...

[caption id="attachment_28761" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Plumber Zach Jilg (left) with Wade Roberts Plumbing co-owners Vengel and Wade Roberts launched their Tanks to Our Veterans initiative that gives free hot water heaters and installation to military veterans.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A small business from Victoria has launched a special thank-you program to acknowledge the service of military veterans. Last fall, Wade Roberts Plumbing kicked off their “Tanks To Our Veterans” initiative that gives away water heaters and free installation to three veterans from the Greater Victoria area. Veterans can be nominated by a member of the community or enter the draw themselves anytime at waderobertsplumbing.com. This year, the draw for three tanks will take place on Remembrance Day. The idea for the giveaway stemmed from a conversation between husband-and-wife owners Wade and Vangel Roberts and staff members regarding veterans in need. “Our hearts were just breaking thinking of people in our community who have lost loved ones in the fight for freedom in our nation and around the world,” says Wade. “We wanted to find a way to show our respect to the veterans in our city, in memory of the fallen soldiers who never made it home.” The military community is close to his heart. He has a step-brother-in-law serving in the Royal Canadian Navy and his nephew served in the Canadian Army. The company’s finance manager Linda Cretney commented during that conversation about a television program she saw about a roofing company that gave away a roof to a veteran in their town. “After Linda had mentioned this, we thought water heaters are our bread and butter so we should give away a free water tank to a veteran,” explains Wade.    Plumber Zach Jilg asked if they could give away three water heaters in honour of his best friend Pte Chad Horn, who was one of three Canadian soldiers killed in an ambush in Afghanistan. Cpl Mike Seggie and Cpl Andrew Grenon of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry...

[caption id="attachment_28756" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Petty Officer First Class Norman Phee with various tartan products are available for purchase at CANEX, including neckties and bow ties.[/caption] RCN PAO — A 31-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is honouring his Nova Scotia roots by helping to create the service’s first tartan. Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Norman Phee was born in Antigonish, N.S., and grew up around the Scottish lifestyle in what he calls “the highland heart of Nova Scotia” (New Scotland). “Having the last name Phee, originally MacPhee, I have been in love with my Scottish ancestry all my life,” he says. In 2011, when Canada decided to restore the historic names of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), he thought the RCN should have its own tartan.  “I did some research into the traditional colours of the naval uniform, as well as what makes the RCN stand out from other navies [around the world] and branches of the CAF,” he explains. “I also researched which navies from around the world have tartans. Then I talked to tartan designers for some insight into what was needed to create a tartan.”    In choosing the colors and pattern, he wanted to tie the traditions of the old RCN to the new.  “While remembering the older sailors and those lost in conflicts past and present, I also wanted to ensure that any CAF member wearing the naval uniform is represented.”  The five colours of the new tartan were chosen to represent different aspects of the RCN: black is its new uniform; dark blue represents the old traditional uniform; yellow is for the laurel on the cap badge; white is for the anchor on the cap badge; red symbolizes ties to the sovereign and sailors lost; and purple represents non-seagoing members who wear a naval uniform. Designed by Gordon Kirkbright of GK Textiles in Burnaby, B.C., the new tartan can be worn by anyone with an affiliation to the...

[caption id="attachment_28750" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Master Sailor Dean Wilson and Sailor First Class Alessandra Leake exit the water on completion of diving operations during a Naval Reserve dive exercise in Comox, on Jan. 28. Photo by Sailor First Class Valerie LeClair Valerie LeClair, MARPAC Imaging Services.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Port Inspection Divers from 15 naval reserve units across Canada gathered on Vancouver Island from Jan. 21 to 30 for an annual diving exercise. Forty-eight Naval Reservists travelled to dive sites in Comox, Nanaimo, and Port Hardy, B.C., to take part in Dive 2270. The annual event was missed last year due to COVID-19; but this year the group came together to perform tasks that help them maintain their dive proficiency, and to meet regenerative training requirements. They made their way to remote locations off shore via inflatable boats. Using Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus (CABA) and diving to depths of 30 metres, they performed underwater searches, surveys, and inspections, primarily for the purpose of port security. Part of this year’s mission was to qualify many of these divers with the new lighter CABA equipment. It also involved testing out the navy’s new Shark Marine Sonar equipment that enables divers to more easily detect underwater objects. “Things went very well and there certainly was a degree of satisfaction to me and the other organizers because we were able to mitigate a lot of obstacles to make this exercise a success,” said PO1 Jacek Jaskiewicz, Regional Dive Centre (RDC) West Chief from HMCS Chippewa. He noted that several days of heavy fog hampered the team’s effectiveness at reaching previously-selected dive sites further offshore. Instead, alternate dive sites closer to shore were used. Poor visibility also led to the cancellation of a helicopter exercise involving a air crew from CFB Comox. Before the exercise, naval reservists isolated for two days and underwent rapid COVID-19 testing. Rigorous cleaning and sanitizing of equipment was also required to keep participants safe. “There was a big team effort...

[caption id="attachment_28737" align="aligncenter" width="595"] From left: RAdm Brian Santarpia, Commander MARLANT and JTFA, Jennifer Denty, Roger Litwiller, and CPO1 Tom Lizotte, MARLANT Formation Chief. Photo by Joanie Veitch[/caption] Joanie Veitch Trident Newspaper–– A porthole from the wreck of HMCS Trentonian, the last corvette lost in the Battle of the Atlantic, was presented to the Naval Museum of Halifax on Dec. 8, 2021. Author and naval historian Roger Litwiller made the donation of the porthole, which is one of two that were recently recovered from the wreck by a dive team from the United Kingdom.  A small gathering to mark the significance of the donation included Jennifer Denty, museum director, Kyle Houghton, a university student who is cataloging the museum’s artwork, Rear-Admiral Brian Santarpia, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) and Joint Task Force Atlantic (JTFA), and CPO1 Tom Lizotte, Formation Chief of MARLANT. “We’re thrilled to be able to add this to the collection and humbled to be thought of as the proper caretaker for the artifact,” said Denty. Speaking to the small group assembled around a temporary display table on the second floor of the museum, along with a framed print of Trentonian and a photograph of the ship’s company, Litwiller recounted the chronology of how the portholes came into his possession.  The story began with an email he received in May 2021. A member of the dive team that took the portholes from the wreck had done research online and found Litwiller’s website on Canadian naval history; Litwiller has also written a book about HMCS Trentonian, White Ensign Flying, published by Dundurn Press in 2014. “I got this email from the fellow saying ‘I’m a diver here in the UK. We did a dive on Trentonian in the spring and, despite my warnings to the crew, two of our club members came up with portholes from the wreck’. He managed to talk them into handing them over,” Litwiller said. Gesturing to the bent and broken porthole, Litwiller said the...

Royal Canadian Navy–– HMCS Winnipeg’s Chaplain made history during the ship’s recent deployment on Operations Neon and Projection in the Indo-Pacific. Captain (Capt) Noteh Glogauer was the first Jewish Rabbi to deploy in a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) warship. While he got to participate in the excitement of the two operations, including the occasional helicopter flight, the main reason he [...]

  [caption id="attachment_28723" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Tom Larkin[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer–– More than 70 years have elapsed since the deployment of Royal Canadian Navy warships to Korea, but Victoria’s Tom Larkin has vivid memories of his days aboard HMCS Sioux. The V-class destroyer was one of three Canadian warships first deployed to Korea to begin the bombardment of communist positions along the coastline. Today, the 91-year-old lives at Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead Care. Whenever he thinks about his time in Korea, he also  remembers the human costs of all wars. That’s because Tom’s stepfather Herbert Michaud never returned home from the war. He paid the ultimate price while serving the Canadian Army during the Second World War and was killed while fighting for the Allies along the Gothic Line in Southern Italy.  “He was a good man, was good to me, and was always there for the family whenever we needed him; but then he never came home from Europe,” says Larkin. “My [real] father died from tuberculosis and I never really got to know him either.” Without a father and to help make ends meet on the home front, Larkin took a job loading fuel locomotives for the Canadian National Railway in Regina; he also worked on local farms during harvest time. He admits he was saddled with more responsibility than most young men his age. His mother, twice a widower, was left to raise him and his three siblings on her own.  In 1947, at the age of 17, he spied an article in the local newspaper reporting that the Royal Canadian Navy was looking for recruits. The story caught his attention but his mother’s signature was required for him to enlist. Despite the tragic loss of his step-father, she signed the forms.  Within months, a young Larkin found himself doing his basic training at CFB Esquimalt. The Cold War After completing his basic training, Ordinary Seaman Larkin was assigned to HMCS Athabaskan as a signalman. He was...

Peter MallettStaff Writer–– Two former military members want veterans, current-serving members, and first responders dealing with issues of mental health and suicide to take a healing leap of faith with them.  Sgt (Retired) Rob MacNeill, former Canadian Airborne Regiment member, and MWO (Retired) Bob Verret, both diagnosed with PTSD before their release, are opening a skydiving camp in Campbell River, B.C, this summer dubbed Operation Pegasus Jump. “I know from my personal experience that parachuting is the best therapy for injured airborne members, but it will also help others in their recoveries,” says MacNeill. “This is a team-building exercise and is all about taking service members and first responders out of their comfort zones and presenting them with a challenge.”  Participants can join a series of three four-day parachute and activity camps in July.  The camp is an extension of their business called U4EO (Us For Each Other). Together, MacNeill and Verret operate five parachuting businesses and educational programs in Campbell River. Operation Pegasus Jump is an opportunity for U4EO to give back to the military and offer former members a unique opportunity for some bonding and camaraderie, says MacNeill.  Pegasus participants will receive supervision and instruction from skydiving centre instructors and volunteers before making their jumps at elevations of 3,000 feet and higher from either a Cesna 182 Jump plane or A-Star helicopter. Former airborne regiment members will assist as volunteers. Those who have never jumped before will receive extra instruction, says MacNeill.  Registration is now open with 28 participants already signed up. Operation Pegasus Jump will include a helicopter tour, fly boarding, a round of golf, and a barbeque.  A fundraising campaign launched to help offset costs with a goal of $50,000. Funds raised will help pay for food, skydiving lessons, fuel, and other logistical expenses. The City...

[caption id="attachment_28717" align="alignnone" width="595"] Rear-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force (Pacific), on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Staff, presents HMCS Regina’s Commanding Officer, Cdr Annick Fortin with the Canadian Forces’ Unit Commendation on Jan. 26. Photo by S1 Mike Goluboff, MARPAC Imaging Services, Esquimalt[/caption] Last week, HMCS Regina officially received the Canadian Forces’ Unit Commendation. Due to the ongoing pandemic, physical attendance was significantly limited in accordance with local provincial health orders. However, the event was live-streamed Jan. 26 over social media so that HMCS Regina’s crew members, past and present, were able to have a virtual presence at the event. Throughout a two-year period, HMCS Regina was hard at work. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the crew showed exceptional resiliency despite frequent operational changes. Time and time again, the crew displayed strength and tenacity to meet challenges head on, proving their motto “Floreat Regina” – Let Regina Flourish. In early 2020, the ship was ordered to sail for an undetermined period of time to maintain a COVID-19 free status. HMCS Regina stayed away from port, home, and family for 64 days before rapidly returning to high readiness for another possible deployment. In addition, HMCS Regina served as the flag ship for an international task group during the Rim of the Pacific Exercise in 2020. Congratulations to HMCS Regina for receiving the Canadian Forces’ Unit Commendation. ––––

Peter MallettStaff Writer–– It has been all over news: Canada’s Olympic Bobsleigh and skeleton teams are heading to the 2022 Olympics with Navy-inspired sleds. Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton partnered with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) to design a Second World War-era Admiralty Disruptive paint pattern for their sleds, similar to the paint scheme on HMCS Regina and HMCS Moncton. The design was unveiled Jan. 20 in Halifax aboard the future HMCS Margaret Brooke - an Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship - by the ship’s captain, Cdr Nicole Robichaud. In Calgary, one of the sleds was displayed at the Ice House.  Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton has a long-standing relationship with the Canadian Armed Forces and previously had air force-themed designs on their sleds, and participated in team-building activities with both the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Bobsleigh Canada President Sarah Storey says Canada’s Olympians are tremendously proud to be associated with the RCN and its strong and honourable tradition of defending the country.  “Whether on ice or at sea, the distinction of putting on a Canadian uniform drives commitment to the training, preparation, perseverance, and teamwork required to perform under intense pressure while representing your country,” she says. “We are unified by the goal of making our team unstoppable and our country proud.” Alex Kaldeway, RCN Public Affairs Multi-Media Producer, designed the new sleds alongside his manager Sabrina Nash. “Designing a bobsled was unlike anything I had ever done before and this was my first opportunity to be part of Canada’s story at the Olympic Games,” Kaldeway says. All of Team Canada’s sleds – monobob, two-person, four-person, and skeleton – are wrapped in the same design. Canada’s bobsleigh and skeleton crews are competing at the 2022 Olympics at speeds of up to 120 kilometres. Training heats begin Feb. 7 with Bobsleigh...

This photograph is believed to have been snapped on Sunday, Aug. 5, 1934, at the commencement of a church parade with the Royal Marine Band of HMCS Norfolk. Pictured here, they are leading members from their own cruiser followed by ratings of HMCS Vancouver and HMCS Skeena to attend a worship and prayer on the grounds of St. Paul’s Naval and Garrison Church on Esquimalt Road. This religious event capped off the British flagship’s successful visit to Victoria in celebrating what turned out to be the inaugural run of Navy Week in Esquimalt leading up the Second World War. This action photo is the last known image of Dockyard’s main gate before its demolition in the late 1930s – it has no known provenance. Challenge: Do you know anything about this picture or the events surrounding it to change any of my strong circumstantial case (detailed above) into a direct evidence case beyond a reasonable doubt? If you have any information on it, email me: gary.restell@shaw.ca ––––

[caption id="attachment_28474" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Left: MCpl Elena Vlassova with her Steel Spirit exhibit at Barrie City Hall. Right: Steel Spirit artist Lee-Ann LeMesurier stands with her artwork on display at Barrie City Hall.[/caption] MCpl Elena Vlassova, an Image Technician with the Canadian Forces Training Development Centre, and Lee-Ann LeMesurier, a full-time reservist, are both members of The Steel Spirit, which showcases artwork by military, first responder, and frontline healthcare workers. Both had their work on display last fall at Barrie City Hall in Ontario. “That made me extremely happy,” says MCpl Vlassova. “It made me inspired to paint more. It gave me the confidence that my art is presentable. I am very grateful for this opportunity to have my life enriched with [these] shows.” Her art is acrylic painting on canvas of mostly old-style architectural buildings, a passion that began during her studies at the Architectural Academy in Russia. She also paints portraits in watercolour. Lee-Ann LeMesurier is a multi-medium artist, working with prints, sculptures, watercolour, and found objects. Her pieces are about self-exploration. “[Art] is definitely a necessity for many of us, whether we like to admit it or not,” she says. She adds, it’s a different experience when art is shared, but having your art displayed is not what defines an artist. For her, art is meant for everyone – all ages and all skill levels – and can be a good way to heal. “I think having an outlet for everybody is important,” she said. “No matter who you are, or what your background, or what you’ve been through, art has a place for you.” The Steel Spirit is a platform for artwork submissions by Military, First Responder, and Hospital Practitioners. They are always looking for new and emerging artists with and without experience, from every background and every age. For more information or if you would like to be involved, please visit: www.thesteelspirit.ca ––––