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[caption id="attachment_22428" align="alignnone" width="593"] Major (Ret’d) Murray Edwards blows out the candles on his birthday cake. Edwards, a veteran of the Second World War and Korea recently celebrated his 100th birthday with a large group of family and friends by his side. Photo credit: Brian Owens[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A veteran of Victoria’s Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry (PPCLI) celebrated his 100th birthday in style. A large cheer echoed through the conference room of a Saanich hotel on Jan. 18 as centenarian Major (ret’d) Murray Edwards raised a toast and then blew out all the candles on his birthday cake. Edwards, a resident of Veterans Memorial Lodge, served as a combat instructor in the Second World War for Canada and then on the battlefield in Korea with Princess Patricia’s (PPCLI) at the famous Battle of Kapyong. “The first hundred years were the best,” joked Edwards before making a wish and blowing out the candles on a large birthday cake.The crowd of approximately 40 well-wishers included friends, family, members of the PPCLI Association, Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Association, while Member of Parliament for Saanich Gulf Islands Elizabeth May also joined in the celebration. During the party a congratulatory message from Queen Elizabeth was read aloud while Senator Yonah Martin of British Columbia sent Edwards a video birthday greeting. Edwards served Canada unconditionally from the start of the Second World War until his eventual retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces in 1969. He was also part of Canada’s Peace Keeping mission in Cyprus and the Third Arab–Israeli War. He once remarked during a previous interview that he is old enough to have attended a Civil War Veterans’ parade in New Jersey, as a young boy. That happened in the late 1920s, in the years after his family had immigrated to New Jersey from...

[caption id="attachment_22425" align="alignnone" width="593"] LS (Ret’d) Roderick Finley displays a photographic collection featuring his late friend and former shipmate CPO2 Fred Watson. Finley was aboard South Korean vessel ROKS Munmu the Great during a Port visit to Esquimalt in December. He accepted a South Korean Ambassador for Peace medal on behalf of Watson during a ceremony that also honoured nine other Korean War veterans.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A close friend and former shipmate of a Korean War veteran was recently overcome by tears while posthumously accepting an Ambassador For Peace medal on his behalf.They were tears of joy but also remorse says Leading Seaman (ret’d) Roderick Finley. That’s mostly because his good friend Chief Petty Officer Second Class (ret’d) Fred Watson wasn’t around to enjoy the outpouring of gratitude by representatives of the Republic of  Korea navy and government.“I’m not sure if it’s such a great sight to see a grown man cry but there were certainly some tears on that day,” said Leading Seaman (ret’d) Roderick Finley. On Dec. 19 the 81-year-old Victoria resident was aboard Republic of Korea (ROKS) Munmu the Great for a medal presentation ceremony and reception on the destroyer’s flight deck. Watson was one of ten medal recipients honoured on Munmu the Great that day. The awards were presented to veterans of the Korean War by South Korea’s Navy Cruise Training Task Group Commander RDML Minsoo Yang and Defence Attaché Colonel Keunsik Moon during the ship’s four-day port visit to Esquimalt. “The Republic of Korea will always remember the Korean War Veterans, and their courageous actions during the Korean War,” said Colonel Moon. “We are forever thankful and we will continue our efforts to remember and commemorate their sacrifices.”Four of the ten medal recipients honoured are no longer living. “He would have loved the moment and...

[caption id="attachment_22421" align="alignnone" width="593"] Robert Minnick receives a Commander Royal Canadian Navy Commendation presented by Commander Maritime Forces Pacific Rear-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie. The citation reads: On 28 November 2018, Mister Minnick was on the beach on the island of Maui, Hawaii when he noticed a person being dragged to shore and moved to assist. After bringing the unconscious man to shore, he took control of the scene and began administering first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation until first responders arrived. These actions saved the life of the drowning victim. He brought great credit to himself and to the Royal Canadian Navy. Photo by LS Valerie LeClair, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A firefighter from the base has received official recognition for saving the life of a surfer while on a recent vacation in Hawaii. On Jan. 24 Rob Minnick of CFB Fire and Rescue was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, Rear-Admiral Rob Auchterlonie, in a ceremony at the Chief and Petty Officers Mess.The 48-year-old father of two was enjoying a quiet afternoon on scenic Ka’anapali Beach in Maui on the afternoon of Nov. 28 with his wife and two friends from Victoria. He decided to go for a walk along the beach with his wife Tara when they both noticed a commotion on a stretch of nearby beach. A crowd of people was gathered around an unconscious adult male snorkeler in his early 20s, who was in medical distress. Minnick and his wife rushed to the scene to help. Two snorkelers had found the victim face-down in the water several metres offshore before pulling him to the beach. After checking his vital signs Minnick began administering life-saving CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation). “Matthew had no pulse, he wasn’t breathing and his heart was stopped which essentially means...

[caption id="attachment_22396" align="alignnone" width="592"] Major Philip Dawe (left) and Dr. Ross Brown (right)[/caption]Carrie Stefanson ~Canada doesn’t have military hospitals, so it’s important for military doctors to see injuries typical of the battlefield. The Canadian Forces Trauma training program began about 20 years ago, and is instrumental in keeping Canada’s military medical personnel trained in advanced trauma care so they can deploy when needed. Major Philip Dawe heads up Canadian Forces Trauma Training Centre West in Vancouver. He’s a trauma and acute care surgeon at Vancouver General Hospital and comes from a family with a long history of military service. His father and three brothers served in the Canadian Forces and his youngest brother Matthew, died in a roadside bombing in 2007. “If I could save one military person’s life overseas, then my career will be worthwhile,” says Maj Dawe. “Preventable deaths occur in deployed operations and if I could prevent one of those it would be a good day.” Maj Dawe is the third military surgeon to head up Canadian Forces Trauma Training Centre West. The centre’s mandate is to facilitate trauma training for Canadian Forces physicians, physician assistants and nursing officers. Many of Canada’s military medical personnel have trained at centres in Vancouver and Montreal prior to their deployments. “As care for the wounded continues to gain more importance in both public opinion and policy, the mutual benefits of a robust civilian-military relationship have become increasingly evident,” says Maj Dawe. “On one hand, lessons learned from our overseas experiences are being delivered to our colleagues at home to enhance patient outcomes. On the other, our colleagues at home have helped us to get ready for those deployments by affording us cross-training and refresher opportunities to ensure we’re providing best-possible care to our troops in our limited-resource deployed environments.”Dr. Ross Brown, trauma/general surgeon and Senior Medical Director with Vancouver Coastal Health/Coastal Community of Care now working at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver, was the first embedded military trauma surgeon in...

[caption id="attachment_22393" align="alignnone" width="593"] A computer rendering by Will Krzymowski of the proposed schooner Leonora. Ship design led by Stephen Duff. The Sail and Life Training Society (SALTS) have announced plans for construction of a third tall ship for its fleet of vessels that teach youth from across Canada sailing skills.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~In an effort to bolster the reach of its youth sail training vessels, the Sail and Life Training Society (SALTS) plans to add a new schooner to its fleet. The Victoria-based charity recently named its planned third vessel ‘Leonora’ and intends the new ship to join its existing tall ships, Pacific Grace and Pacific Swift. Each year SALTS sail training programs reach approximately 1700 young people between the ages of 13 and 25, including Royal Canadian Sea Cadets from across Canada, providing them with the opportunity to develop their sailing skills aboard a tall ship. SALTS Executive Director Loren Hagerty says that he is hopeful construction on Leonora can begin this year. The addition of Leonora will allow the society to provide another 850 spaces for its programs each year. Hagerty says a builder of the ship has yet to be determined but anticipates bid requests will be sent to shipyards later this year.“We are seeing real momentum in the fundraising for this project, which is a very large undertaking for a smaller charity like SALTS. We are optimistic that in years to come we can get more young people out to sea in our transformational programs,” said Hagerty.The ultimate goal of SALTS, says Hagerty, is to provide an ideal platform for youth mentorship at sea along with providing them with a confidence boost and sense of wellbeing while developing “relational and teamwork skills.”The most recent cost estimate for the project is $5.5 million, but the budget will...

[caption id="attachment_22390" align="alignnone" width="593"] FS Courbet’s boarding party with some of the 3.5 metric tonnes of hashish seized from a dhow in the Gulf of Oman on 13 December, 2019. The estimated regional wholesale value of this bust is $1.8 million U.S. dollars.[/caption]Lt(N) Tony Wright, CTF 150 Public Affairs Officer ~In a little over a week, Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150), led by Australia with a staff of Australians, Canadians, and New Zealanders, have conducted a pair of successful boardings netting almost 3.6 metric tonnes of narcotics whose proceeds would have otherwise made their way into the hands of terrorist organizations. CTF 150’s mission is to disrupt terrorist organisations and their related illegal activities by restricting their freedom of manoeuvre in the maritime domain. The activities of CTF 150 are a critical part of global counter-terrorism efforts, as terrorist organizations are denied a risk-free method of conducting operations or moving personnel, weapons or income-generating narcotics and charcoal.The Australian-led team’s success began with some bad luck for the smugglers on Friday the 13th of December. French Ship (FS) Courbet, a frigate of the Marine Nationale operating in the Gulf of Oman in direct support of CTF 150, seized 3.5 metric tonnes of hashish from a vessel they had been tracking. This haul had an estimated regional wholesale value of $1.8 million U.S. dollars.Less than a week later on December 19, Her Majesty’s Ship (HMS) Defender, a United Kingdom Royal Navy destroyer working in direct support of CTF 150 made another bust.A suspicious vessel was first detected using Defender’s shipborne helicopter. Defender then closed in on the dhow and a team of Royal Marine Commandos secured the vessel and its crew. It was then searched by a Royal Navy boarding team who found 131 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine with an estimated regional...

[caption id="attachment_22387" align="alignnone" width="592"] Commodore Ed Ahlgren, Royal Navy (Left) relinquishes command of Combined Task Force 150 to Commodore Ray Leggatt, Royal Australian Navy (right) during a ceremony at Combined Maritime Forces Headquarters in Manama, Bahrain. The change of command was presided over by Commander Combined Maritime Forces Vice Admiral James Malloy (centre).[/caption]Lt(N) Tony Wright, CTF 150 Public Affairs Officer ~In December, Commodore (CDRE) Ray Leggatt assumed command of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) in a ceremony held at Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Headquarters in Manama, Bahrain. CDRE Leggatt’s team, comprised of members of the Royal Australian (RAN), Royal Canadian (RCN), and Royal New Zealand (RNZN) navies, came together as strangers in late September. After six weeks of preparation and Mission Readiness Evaluations in Sydney and two weeks of handover with the outgoing UK/French contingent in Bahrain, the team is now tightly knit and ready to assume the duties of CTF 150. “I am truly honoured to be taking this command; the 8th time that Australia has led CTF 150,” said CDRE Leggatt on assuming command.  “We are fortunate to have an Australian, Canadian and New Zealand staff composition, which I believe will bring valuable diversity in thinking and experience, providing us with agility and unity of effort in prosecuting our mission to disrupt terrorist organizations by restricting their freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain.”CTF 150, headquartered in the Kingdom of Bahrain, is one of three combined task forces within the CMF.The 33 member nations of CMF work together to strengthen maritime security in the Middle East Region, conducting maritime security operations, capacity building activities, and regional engagement.“It’s taken a lot of work to get to this point and we’ve put in a lot of miles,” said CTF 150 Deputy Commander CAPT Sean Stewart, RNZN. “We are excited to...

[caption id="attachment_22384" align="alignnone" width="593"] Captain (N) (Ret’d) Kevin Greenwood, Naval Instructor at Naval Training Development Centre (Pacific) presents Tunisian naval officer Lt(N) Khayri Bouzaiene with his Command Development Course certificate at the Collier Building at Work Point. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A naval officer from Tunisia recently became the first international participant to enrol and graduate from Naval Fleet School Pacific’s Command Development Course (CDC). Just ahead of the holiday break course instructor Captain (ret’d) Kevin Greenwood of the Naval Training Development Centre (NTDC) (Pacific) presented Tunisian naval officer Lieutenant (Navy) Khayri Bouzaiene with his course certificate at the Collier building. It brought to a conclusion the 32-year-old’s first-ever visit to Canada and also his first-ever experience commanding a vessel of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Lt(N) Bouzaiene who mostly speaks Arabic and some French gave a highly positive review of his experience prior to his departure on Dec. 14 while also stating his unfamiliarity with English wasn’t a deterrent to his learning. “I really liked my experience here in Victoria and the Royal Canadian Navy was an impressive organization to learn from,” said Lt(N) Bouzaiene. “The people were wonderful and very helpful and when I didn’t understand something and the communication gap got in the way they were there to help.”The aim of the ten-week program says Greenwood is to develop senior RCN lieutenants the Command-level knowledge, leadership, appreciation, critical analysis and decision-making skills necessary to successfully command HMC Ships. Components of the course include leadership skills such as command and control and decision making, collision avoidance, bridge resource management, seamanship and ship handling, maritime law, use of force, damage control, logistics, administration, engineering and maintenance. The program culminates in a two-week at-sea phase aboard Orca-class training vessels. Lt(N) Bouzaiene, has enjoyed a 14-year career in...

[caption id="attachment_22379" align="alignnone" width="592"] Dan Bourgoin of Personnel Support Services (PSP) is the man in charge of the new regional office for Soldier On which opened at Nelles Block recently. The fitness trainer and instructor says he is looking to hear from potential participants in the program about what sports and activities they enjoy. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~If you are an injured veteran or military member looking to improve your level of physical fitness and activity, the director of the new Soldier On regional office wants to hear from you. The mandate of the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) program is to provide resources and opportunities for veterans and current-serving members across Canada with a mind to helping them “adapt and overcome” both physical and mental health injuries through participation in sports and physical fitness activities. Dan Bourgoin, a Personnel Support Services (PSP) employee with over 22 years of experience as a fitness trainer and instructor is the man in charge of the Soldier On Regional Office which recently opened its doors here at the base. Located on the ground floor of Nelles Block the office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is one of ten new regional to open across the country. Bourgoin says his first order of business is setting up a dialogue with the military community whether its in-person, over the phone or through Soldier On’s social media platforms. His intention is to gauge people’s interest levels and also find out about the types of activities, sporting goods equipment and support they are looking for Soldier On to deliver.“My doors are open and I would like to hear from people,” said Bourgoin. “We don’t create events for the sake of creating events, we create opportunities for people who...

[caption id="attachment_22376" align="alignnone" width="593"] On January 16, 2020, representatives from the Government of Canada and the Royal Canadian Navy, many of Seaspan Shipyards more than 2,800 employees and other guests gathered for a ceremonial keel laying event. Photo credit: Seaspan Shipyards[/caption]A/SLt Michelle Scott ~January 16, 2020 was a momentous day for the Royal Canadian Navy when a keel-laying ceremony was held for the future HMCS Protecteur, the first of two Joint Support Ships (JSS) being built at Vancouver shipyards.A keel laying event represents a significant milestone in the construction of a ship as it marks the birth of the vessel. As part of the ceremonial event, a newly minted coin is laid near the keel where it remains for the life of the vessel and is thought to bring the ship and crew good luck.The ceremony was presided over by Vice-Admiral Art McDonald, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, on behalf of Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan, and CEO of Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards Mark Lamarre.The lucky coin, which was laid by long-time Seaspan employee Jeff Smith, was jointly designed by the RCN and Seaspan and features the badge of the future HMCS Protecteur above a rendering of the new ship. Mr. Smith placed the coin near the centre section of the ship as the design of the JSS does not have a traditional keel.“Today’s ceremony marks another critical milestone in the renewal of the RCN Fleet via Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy,” explained VAdm McDonald during the ceremony. “Once delivered, these warships will be strategic assets that will once again afford Canada the sovereign capacity to deliver – even in harm’s way an enduring at-sea replenishment…as well as significant Humanitarian and Assistance and Disaster Relief capacity.”The future HMCS Protecteur is one...

[caption id="attachment_22347" align="alignnone" width="593"] MS Firat Ataman, Forward Fire Control Supervisor, mentors OS Walker Grant as he becomes familiar with the Forward Fire Control Radar Console onboard HMCS Ottawa during Operation Projection. Photo by LS Victoria Ioganov[/caption]Captain Jenn Jackson, HMCS Ottawa PAO ~Located two decks below the bridge of HMCS Ottawa, in a room with restricted access to maintain security of the information contained within, is the Operations Room – the central hub of the ship. Due to the need to maintain operational security, the Operations Room (Ops Room) is cloaked in mystery for the uninitiated, as access is on an as needed basis. Contained within are dedicated sailors who maintain a 24/7 watch at sea ensuring the ship is ready to fight.“When you think of a ship, the bridge is the eyes, the Machinery Control Room is the heart and the Operations Room is the brain,” explains Lieutenant Commander Will Chong, HMCS Ottawa Operations Officer. “All data from our sensors and communications flows to the Operations Room where it is analysed so decisions can be made determining the best course of action to support the current tactical situation.”Divided into two sides based on function, the starboard side focuses on underwater warfare while the port side is configured to support above-water warfare. In the centre of the room is the Operations Room Officer (ORO) who has overall responsibility for running the Ops Room, working in parallel with the Officer of the Watch to maintain the operational tempo.“The ORO is in the middle of the action, taking reports from three directors, the Ops Room Supervisor, the Officer of the Watch, and other outstations, while assessing the information, liaising with command, and then driving a plan,” says Lieutenant(N) Eric Dignard, Ottawa’s Tactics Officer and an ORO. “You have a team around you that...

Lt(N) Stephen Oxley, HMCS Whitehorse ~A few weeks before Christmas, HMCS Whitehorse sent a contingent from the ship’s company, including the command team, to the City of Whitehorse for a namesake city visit. Their objective was to let the people of Whitehorse know what activities “their” ship had participated in and what the ship’s company had accomplished over the year since their last visit. They also wanted to educate the community on what the Royal Canadian Navy does for both Canada and the international community, and to let people know what employment opportunities exist within the navy. Lastly, they wanted to establish ties with the newly-formed “Friends of HMCS Whitehorse” committee set-up by the ship’s sponsor Ione Christensen (otherwise known as “Mom”).  The “Friends of HMCS Whitehorse” committee has been tasked with taking over many of “Mom’s” activities on behalf of the ship as this former city mayor, Commissioner of Yukon, and Canadian senator begins to free up her incredibly active schedule and enjoy a slower pace of life.  The visit included:a meeting with the city’s Deputy-Mayor and select councillors;a meet-and-greet with the “Friends of HMCS Whitehorse” Committee;  attending the commemoration service for the 30th anniversary of the École Polytechnique tragedy; meeting with the Speaker of the House of the Yukon Legislative Assembly and  touring the assembly hall; meeting with the Commanding Officer of the local RCMP Detachment; a meeting with the local Joint Task Force North (JTFN) detachment OIC; liaising with the President and Board of the local Legion; and,the presentation of a cheque to the Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre. The Faulkner Women’s Centre is a safe and respectful space where all self-identified women can connect with one another, access support and services, and work together to create positive change for women and the community. They are committed to promoting women’s...

[caption id="attachment_22341" align="alignnone" width="593"] Lt(N) Stephen Tomlinson with his wife Stephanie, daughter Sophia, and son Seth during a family outing in Victoria. Photo credit: Tiffany Champagne[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A training officer at Naval Fleet School (Pacific) who defied the odds and beat cancer is sharing his inspirational story with a new self-published book. Onward is Lieutenant (Navy) Stephen Tomlinson’s blow-by-blow account of his full-scale, life-or-death war against cancer, now available through online publisher inkshares.com. Lt(N) Tomlinson traces his “agonizing” battle against testicular cancer, recalling how the disease aggressively spread throughout his body to his lymph nodes, lungs and brain after his initial diagnosis in July 2017. His fight included 350 hours of chemotherapy, 11 radiation treatments, a seizure, and five surgeries that produced multiple low points where he says he almost gave up all hope of survival.The Naval Warfare Officer sailed aboard HMCS Protecteur and HMCS Calgary before his cancer diagnosis and faced multiple battles with the disease. Just prior to his final and ultimately successful surgery in November 2018 to remove a plum-sized tumour from his brain, an exhausted and withered Lt(N) Tomlinson admits he was a shadow of his former self. His physician had given him low odds of survival and suggested he start making funeral arrangements with his wife. “I had almost come to the point of accepting that life was going south on me and I was given a one-in-ten shot by my doctor that I would live to Christmas,” says Tomlinson. “I did the final surgery and as soon as they pulled that tumour out of my brain it was like I became a new person.”Fast-forward to July 8, 2019, two years after his initial cancer diagnosis, and his saga would reach a joyous conclusion. That’s when he returned to work after his doctor called him into her office and told him he was 100 per cent cancer free. “Thankfully my story has a happy ending and today I’m at Venture and working my way back...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A 19th Century spyglass once owned by an officer of the Royal Navy is the latest notable historical artifact found during ongoing remedial dredging operations in Esquimalt Harbour. The small telescope had been preserved in the cold water and sediment for over 137 years before the bucket of a large crane barge plucked the item from the seabed of Constance Cove on Dec. 10. Archaeological monitors aboard a neighboring floating processing plant discovered the telescope as they sorted through the large barge load of sediment. An inscription on the spyglass revealed it was owned by Sub-Lieutenant Midshipman Bertram Chambers. Spyglasses were an essential maritime tool of naval officers and captains of the 17th, 18th, and 19th century and were used to see land and other ships, and to prepare for attacks by pirates or enemy vessels. It’s not the first historical artifact found during remediation work, but is one of the most exciting says Esquimalt Harbour Remediation Officer Michael Bodman from Formation Safety Environment.“It is not often that we find a personal item belonging to someone who has a certain level of fame and an influential role in the Royal Navy (RN),” he said. “Now the head scratches at the question of how it ended up on the floor of Esquimalt Harbour and more importantly what other vessels and sights did he see through the spyglass as he traversed the globe?” During his time in Esquimalt, Chambers served aboard HMS Satellite, a Corvette that operated from the Royal Navy’s Pacific Station - the forerunner of CFB Esquimalt - from 1883 to 1886. Chambers also served the RN at their base in Halifax and Australia and would eventually retire in 1926 with the rank of Admiral. A team of conservationists at the Royal B.C. Museum are currently attempting to confirm...

DNDAs part of Strong, Secure, Engaged, (SSE 7), the Government of Canada is modernizing the Canadian Armed Forces Honours and Awards system to ensure military members’ service to Canada is recognized in a timelier and appropriate manner. This initiative encompasses the modernization of the overseas service recognition framework. The objective is to make service medals more accessible and flexible to ensure that Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members receive appropriate recognition for their participation in, and direct support to, operations.As part of this initiative, changes to the eligibility list for the Special Service Medal with NATO bar, and a reduction of the time criteria to 45 days for both the NATO and Expedition bars to that same medal, were announced on Feb. 18, 2018, in CANFORGEN 001/20.The government has now recently approved a number of additional measures to meet the stated intent. The time criteria for the General Campaign Star (GCS), General Service Medal (GSM) and Operational Service Medal (OSM) have been reduced to ensure recognition remains attainable to participants in light of new deployment patterns where CAF members more often deploy for short periods of time. Each ribbon for those medals has a new time criteria beginning with an appropriate recent (post-Afghanistan) operational date as per the table to the right. There are transition measures that ensure anyone who serves at least one eligible day after the stated date is allowed to cumulate any previously accrued time towards the new criteria for the medal. The criteria for the rotation bars will not be affected by these changes meaning that the first bar will continue to be awarded after a total of 210 eligible days while subsequent bars are awarded for every period of 180 eligible days thereafter.The Special Service Medal, which had up to now been reserved for CAF members, has been amended to expand eligibility to Canadian civilians and members of allied forces working for the CAF from April 29, 2014. The intention is to align this medal with...

[caption id="attachment_22312" align="alignnone" width="593"] Captain (Navy) Sam Sader, Base Commander, and his wife Irena Sader, and son, Armand Sader, pose for a family photo at the Wardroom. Photo by Master Corporal André Maillet, MARPAC Imaging[/caption]This is a very special time of the year when all members of the Defence Team are encouraged to take some well-deserved rest while connecting with loved ones and friends. I hope you are able to enjoy the festive season to recharge from what has been a busy and highly successful year.Since taking command of CFB Esquimalt last June, I have been consistently impressed by the leadership capacity and mission focus of personnel at all levels of our organization. I want to thank each of you for contributing to our overall mission success. As I look back on 2019, I see so many accomplishments worthy of note. Foremost is the stellar support to deployed operations, highlighted by the sustainment provided to enable the recent deployment of HMCS Ottawa. Closer to home, the Esquimalt Harbour Remediation Project and ongoing construction of B-jetty have continued to progress as planned. These important projects will ensure we have the infrastructure to support a modernized fleet as we move into the future. I am also very proud of our community efforts and generosity toward the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign. There were many enjoyable events organized at the unit level, as well as formation wide initiatives. From tug-o-wars to chilli cook-offs, everyone has had the chance to get in on the fun while giving to charities. I encourage you all to continue your generosity throughout the year as every little bit you contribute makes a big difference for those in need. In terms of giving, I would also like to highlight the countless volunteer hours Defence team members, both civilians and...

[caption id="attachment_22308" align="alignnone" width="593"] Rear-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, and his family pose for a photo at the Admiral’s Residence. From left to right: Michael Auchterlonie, Ciarra Grant, RAdm Bob Auchterlonie, Tammy Auchterlonie, Fraser Auchterlonie, and Gabrielle Polard. Photo by Leading Seaman Mike Goluboff, MARPAC Imaging[/caption]It has been a joy seeing first hand all of our successes doing the nation’s business at-sea and ashore in 2019.HMCS Regina completed a successful deployment early in the year, while HMCS Whitehorse and HMCS Yellowknife wrapped-up another rotation of Operation Caribbe. Soon the crew of HMCS Ottawa will return home from Operation Projection in time to celebrate the holidays.Every year I am proud of the Defence Team’s professionalism in all that they do to ensure our international and domestic operations run so smoothly. I encourage you all to take the time over the holidays to celebrate and rejoice with friends and family. You’ve earned it!Of course, many of our colleagues will continue working through this magical season, including the search and rescue crews responding to emergencies in B.C., or the gunners on Operation Palaci making sure the TransCanada is safe from avalanches for those travelling through Rogers Pass. I am grateful for their willing service, putting duty first to keep us all safe as we enjoy the serenity of the season.But for those in need, this time of year is not one filled with joy, companionship and comfort; however, what warms my heart is the outpouring of charity, of generosity, both in time and money, from my colleagues and shipmates at Maritime Forces Pacific and CFB Esquimalt, that the dark winter days become just a bit brighter.From my family to yours, wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.Rear-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie and Family 

[caption id="attachment_22304" align="alignnone" width="593"] PO2 Sebastien St-Pierre monitors the Senior Sonar Operator Console aboard HMCS Ottawa.Photo by LS Victoria Ioganov, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Capt Jenn Jackson, HMCS Ottawa PAO ~It is one thing to listen, but for Sonar Operators listening is an art form. That is because they have to interpret what they hear to determine what is occupying the waters surrounding their vessel; particularly if that “what” may be an enemy submarine. With 2020 marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic, Sonar Operators today continue to be the core of naval anti-submarine warfare.Developed in the early 20th century, and initially used for anti-submarine warfare at the latter part of the First World War, sonar became a cornerstone for convoys by allowing them to detect enemy submarines during the Battle of the Atlantic. Ally convoys were under constant threat and often attacked by U-Boat “Wolf Packs”, and early detection of enemy submarines often meant the difference between crucial supplies and personnel reaching Britain or being lost to the sea.“Being a sonar operator means I have to always be looking beyond,” says Petty Officer First Class Joseph Rempel, Senior Sonar Operator in HMCS Ottawa. “You have to set yourself up for success. Know where you think the submarine is and if you locate it, be able to anticipate its movements to track it.”A small specialized trade, sonar operators (SonarOps) are employed in both the Halifax-Class frigates and Victoria-Class submarines, with the majority working in the surface fleet. All SonarOps receive the same core occupation training, but approximately one or two choose to complete submariner training following their basic qualification course. In the end, the work is similar, but the environment is extremely different.“The initial trade course for a SonarOp is approximately four months and focuses on acoustic analysis, oceanography, and...

[caption id="attachment_22299" align="alignnone" width="593"] A participant in the Oiled Wildlife Preparedness Response Training Course practices proper handling skills after capturing a decoy duck with his net during the hands-on portion of the course. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Armed with large nets, a group of government employees fanned out across a field at Work Point in search of oil-covered waterfowl.However, they weren’t searching for real-life, oil-soaked birds, but instead three plastic decoy ducks; the activity was part of an Oiled Wildlife Preparedness and Response Training Course led by instructors from environmental firm Focus Wildlife Canada.The two-day course was attended by both civilian employees from the base, including members of Port Operations and Emergency Services Branch (POESB), a representative from Canadian Fleet Pacific, and workers from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Western Canada Marine Response Corporation. “This training course explored the framework of oiled wildlife response plans and also gave us an opportunity to discuss how our agencies would work together in the event of a spill,” said Lorraine Crinkley, POESB Branch Environment Officer. After the well-hidden decoys were uncovered hiding in tall clumps of grass, attendees then broke into groups of two to cast their nets on a much bigger challenge - capturing Robo Duck, a fast-moving decoy strapped to a remote control toy truck and operated by the instructor. “It might seem sort of silly that we are out here searching for duck decoys with nets but we are actually practicing a fundamental and important skill,” said Megan Willie, Pacific Wildlife Emergency Response Co-ordinator for the Canadian Wildlife Service. “We have a lot of biologists on our team that have these sorts of field skills for the research they do, but they have never had to apply these skills in a spill situation,...

MCpl Robert Allard, HMCS Calgary ~HMCS Calgary is hard at work preparing for its upcoming deployment in spring 2020. In a process similar to the way professional sports teams hold training camps to prepare for the regular season, Calgary is conducting what the Royal Canadian Navy calls Intermediate Multi-ship Readiness Training or IMSRT. Everything the ship’s company does during the month-long period is aimed at taking a group of sailors with varying levels of experience, and training them in a supervised and systematic way to ensure they are ready for almost anything.HMCS Calgary is currently in southern California following a directed program of training designed to develop the skills of everyone on board, from the newest ordinary seamen going to sea for the first time, all the way up to the captain himself.All of this hard work is being guided by a specialized unit called Sea Training Pacific, who act like experienced coaches evaluating, mentoring, and challenging the ship’s team.When Canada sends a warship overseas to conduct operations in support of international commitments, there are plenty of dangers that can present emergencies, such as fires or other damage to the ship. Every person on board is trained over and over again until responding to emergencies becomes second nature.The navy has learned countless lessons over the last 110 years and that real world experience goes into the training.On a typical day, sailors wake up and start their daily routine. Often there is a full schedule of maintenance, planning, cleaning, studying and preparing. At random times, the staff from Sea Training initiate a simulated scenario such as a missile or torpedo attack resulting in fires, floods, and casualties. All throughout the ship, HMCS Calgary’s sailors respond as if it were the real thing. This can go on for a couple of hours depending...

[caption id="attachment_22293" align="alignnone" width="593"] A view of Colwood’s crowded ‘F’ Jetty on Dec. 6. The western end of Esquimalt Harbour was home to five commissioned ships of the Royal Canadian Navy with Halifax-class frigates HMCS Winnipeg and HMCS Regina to the left, and to the right of the Jetty Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels HMC Ships Brandon, Edmonton, and Yellowknife. A fuel barge from the Auxilliary Fleet is in the foreground. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~It was a rare full house of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships at Colwood’s F Jetty for a few days last week, with five commissioned vessels of the Royal Canadian Navy berthed there.The tenants were Halifax-Class frigates HMCS Winnipeg and HMCS Regina joined by Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels HMC Ships Edmonton, Brandon, and Yellowknife from Dec. 6 to Dec. 8. It’s the first time in decades this many commissioned vessels have been alongside at the western end of Esquimalt Harbour, says Ian Wiggs Harbour Control Officer for Port Operations and Emergency Services Branch. Wiggs is one of the people who directs ship traffic through his two-way radio and has a bird’s eye view of the entire harbour from the control room in dockyard’s Queen’s Harbour Master building. “I am a former naval reservist and began my time here at CFB Esquimalt back in 1981,” says Wiggs. “I and a few others around the department have been racking our brains and we honestly can’t recall another moment when there were that many ships at F Jetty. Although, the five Bay Class Minesweepers did berth at D Jetty on a regular basis.”On Dec. 5, Regina defueled some fuel to F Jetty and Winnipeg fuelled the rest of Regina’s fuel the next day. The Colwood-side of the base is also home to the fuel farm and refuelling...

[caption id="attachment_22289" align="alignnone" width="594"] Members of Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) throw Commodore Angus Topshee into Esquimalt Harbour from ‘G’ Jetty in Colwood on Dec. 11. The event was part of a fundraiser for the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign. Photos by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Members of Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) won’t be reprimanded for their dubious deed of tossing Commodore Angus Topshee into the chilly waters of Esquimalt Harbour.Just after dawn on the morning of Dec. 11, four clearance divers grabbed the Commanding Officer of Canadian Fleet Pacific by his arms and legs and hurled him off a bridge at Colwood’s G Jetty into the drink. The large crowd of sailors that gathered on the jetty could be heard laughing and cheering as he hit the water.The act of the perpetrators was not an overboard holiday prank or an act of mutiny, but instead part of a fundraiser for the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC). After making a giant cannon-ball splash in the harbour, Cmdre Topshee then surfaced, spit water from his mouth and raised his hand triumphantly. As he treaded water, he announced his stunt had raised $2,200 in donations from across the fleet for the Department of National Defence annual charitable campaign. Cmdre Topshee then challenged his east coast equivalent, Canadian Fleet Atlantic Commanding Officer, Cmdre Richard Feltham to equal or surpass the funds raised by taking a plunge off a jetty in Halifax. “Commodor Feltham, I challenge you to see if your fleet can raise enough money to throw you in the harbour as well.” Cmdre Topshee wasn’t the only one to take the morning plunge. Moments later he had some company in the water with Captain (Navy) Scott Robinson, Lieutenant (Navy) Sonja Maul-Wilson and Private Robert Veerman also being hurled off the jetty....

[caption id="attachment_22273" align="alignnone" width="592"] Leaders at sea – left to right: Dave Doroghy, Chris Scipio, Del Elgersman, Andrée St-Germain, Robin Kerbel, Lucy Sager and Kent Klaufield in the ship’s engine room for a tour.[/caption]Janice Lee, MARPAC Public Affairs ~One by one, seven Canadian community leaders slid out of their “rack” just before the sun crept up over the Pacific Ocean. The civilians were on board HMCS Regina to experience life at sea and earn their sea legs as the warship traversed the waters for three days from Nov. 26 to 28.   A unique Royal Canadian Navy program called Canadian Leaders at Sea brought the upper echelon business leaders on board. As the days at sea progressed, they got an up-close look at a sailor’s experience, which they could bring back and share in their corporate environment. Their first taste of the salty life happened as the ship headed from the safety of Esquimalt Harbour to the open ocean. As Regina slipped into a high-speed manoeuvre demonstration, the civilian sailors were thrust against the frigate’s walls and railings, trying to find their balance with every steep-angle turn. When the ship slowed and righted itself, a small speck in the sky grew as a Cyclone helicopter approached from the air, hovering a few yards away to hoist ship divers. The whirl of rotors heightened the already icy gust on to the spectators. One by one the divers jumped from the Cyclone into the icy water where the ship’s zodiac retrieved them. Completing the outside demonstrations was a person overboard exercise. “Oscar,” a well-stuffed dummy, was tossed to the sea. Within seconds, a team of sailors rushed to their stations to make the rescue.  Moments later Oscar was plucked from the water and brought back on board.Below deck the civilians had to be mindful of...

SLt M.X. Déry, Contributor ~A story ran in a local paper a few weeks back about a Saanich resident riding her bicycle through a Tim Hortons drive-through and being refused service. My first thought when I read the headline was to dismiss it as just a weird B.C. thing, but the more I thought about it, the more I agreed they should have served her.First off, because a bicycle is a vehicle. Under the Motor Vehicle Act (MVA), which is where all the rules on cycling are, a bicycle is a vehicle. It is unique in sometimes having its own lane, but as far as the road goes, it is the same as a scooter, car, or truck.This surprises many when I complain openly to them about poor cyclists who ignore traffic signs and/or seem to think they are entitled to the right of way at intersections. Crosswalks are for pedestrians not timid cyclists who insist on staying atop their vehicles.While I concede the rider could have parked her bicycle and walked into the coffee shop, there are two issues: first, that’s the purpose of the drive-through, to avoid getting out of your vehicle, and second, let’s all just admit there is not enough quality bicycle parking in Greater Victoria. For all the talk of Greater Victoria improving life for cyclists, the main upgrades have all been in the core, with very little around the rest of the city. There are no bike lanes for my entire ride to and from work. Most bicycle racks have a miniscule amount of available spots and space, making a bicycle jut out into pedestrian traffic.The response from the business on this incident is they only accept vehicles insured under the MVA, which is a laughable distinction since drive-throughs don’t verify your car is insured...

[caption id="attachment_22267" align="alignnone" width="593"] Players for the CFB Esquimalt Tritons and Port Hardy’s ‘World War One’ team gather for a group photo following the completion of their two-game series.[/caption]CPO2 Michael Tibbetts, Contributor ~The Senior Tritons travelled to Port Hardy over the Dec. 1 weekend for a special hockey game that furthered the bond between the northern island community and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The Senior Tritons took to the ice against Port Hardy’s World War One. The name was chosen to honour veterans, those who continue to serve, and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The Senior Tritons were represented by members from the base, the fleet, and 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron. The first game Friday night went to the Senior Tritons 6-3, led by a hat trick from PO2 Pat McKernan. After the game, the Tritons team was invited to the Port Hardy room for festive beverages, pizza, and hot dogs. In the second game, the Port Hardy team showed a renewed vigour with members from the Coast Guard and the RCMP in the lineup, and walked away with a well-earned 4-1 win, closed out with an empty net goal. The player of the game for the Tritons was PO2 Marc Bibeau, goaltender from the first game who scored his first ever Senior Tritons goal.The Tritons will reciprocate the hospitality in March with the Port Hardy team invited up for a rematch. 

[caption id="attachment_22263" align="alignnone" width="593"] Participants gather for a group photograph prior to the wheelchair basketball game at the Naden Athletic Centre on Dec. 3. The wheelchair sports event was part of CFB Esquimalt’s recognition of International Day of Disabled Persons 2019. Left: Base Commander Captain (Navy) Sam Sader shares a laugh with Simon Cass, BC Wheelchair Basketball provincial coach, prior to the start of the wheelchair basketball game. Photos by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Base employees shot, dribbled, and passed the basketball up and down the court in an unfamiliar position - sitting in a wheelchair. Approximately 20 military personnel and civilian employees got a new perspective on the intense, athletic competition when they took part in a wheelchair basketball game on Dec. 3 at the Naden Athletic Centre. The event was organized by the Defence Advisory Group Persons with Disability to recognize International Day of Persons With Disabilities.Nicole Schaaf, National Manager Office of Disability Management and Champion for Defence Advisory Group Persons with Disability, helped facilitate the event with non-profit B.C. Wheelchair Basketball. During the pre-event address, she noted that approximately 3.8 million Canadians are living with disabilities, and two per cent of military members and six per cent of DND civilian employees have some form of disability. She also took part in the game and said she was impressed with the enthusiasm and effort exhibited by all participants.“This has been an amazing experience and very humbling for all of us,” said Schaaf. “Many of the athletes who participated are experienced at basketball but were not able to make a shot. I think this was a fantastic eye-opener for the challenges that people with disabilities face.”The wheelchair “greenhorns” were schooled in the skills and techniques needed to operate a wheelchair by Simon Cass, B.C. Wheelchair Basketball Provincial coach,...

[caption id="attachment_22260" align="alignnone" width="593"] A female member of Task Force-Mali’s Canadian Medical Emergency Response Team provides direction during a forward aeromedical evacuation exercise aboard a CH-147F Chinook helicopter in March. Photo by Corporal François Charest, 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (430 Tac Hel Sqn)[/caption]Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs ~As the United Nations and militaries across the world work toward greater female representation in peacekeeping operations, a Canadian researcher is delving into this little-studied area to shed more light on the potential implications.Andrea Lane, a PhD candidate at Dalhousie University, is on a year-long contract at the Canadian Forces College where she has been invited to teach as part of its National Security and Joint Command and Staff programmes.As Director of Dalhousie’s Centre for the Study of Security and Development, she notes she has long-standing research interests in Canadian defence policy and in particular women in the military.As she began research relating to Canada’s part in the UN mission in Mali – where Canadian operations ceased on Aug. 31, 2019 – the federal government rolled out a pilot project in 2017 known as the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations, which seeks to increase women’s meaningful participation in peace operations.While she is generally supportive of efforts to make male-dominated militaries more open to women, Lane said current thinking on women’s roles in peacekeeping may not be entirely beneficial.“There are a whole bunch of assumptions that are largely untested about women as better communicators, as people who are more likely to tone down conflict versus add to conflict – women being seen as warmer and more approachable by civilians,” she explained. “So it sets a different burden on women peacekeepers that is really about singling them out as different than the norm for peacekeeping, which is male.”“On the surface, getting more women into peacekeeping is...

[caption id="attachment_22257" align="alignnone" width="593"] Members of HMCS Regina’s naval boarding party make their way in a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB), to a suspect vessel in the Gulf of Oman. Photo by MCpl Frank Hudec, Canadian Forces Combat Camera[/caption]LCdr Mike Erwin, NFS(P) ~A change took place in the delivery of Naval Boarding Party (NBP) training in October when Naval Fleet School (Pacific) turned over responsibility to the Naval Tactical Operations Group.The turnover was part of an overarching direction that would see all matters concerned with naval boarding fall increasingly under Naval Tactical Operations Group’s purview. As the cutlass was passed from one organization to the other, it marked the end of a decades-long era in which the Fleet School, first as Canadian Forces Fleet School (Esquimalt) and then as Naval Fleet School (Pacific), trained individuals and ship’s teams in the conduct of boardings at sea in support of maritime interdiction operations.About Naval BoardingsThe requirement to board ships is as old as navies themselves. Whether it was to inspect a vessel in support of a naval blockade or to overpower an enemy ship and take it as a prize, warships have always needed to insert teams of personnel into other ships. Literature and film are rife with images of ships bearing down upon one another, as boarding parties swarm over the side and through the rigging to the stirring cry of “Out cutlasses and board!”The Royal Canadian Navy is no exception. One of Canada’s most famous boardings took place in the Caribbean during the Second World War. German U-Boat U-94 had been damaged by United States Navy aircraft, as well as depth charges and gunfire from Canadian corvette HMCS Oakville. As the commanding office of Oakville brought his ship alongside the stricken enemy, only SLt Hal Lawrence and PO Art Powell were...

[caption id="attachment_22254" align="alignnone" width="593"] Dr. Brad Evans, Defence Science and Technology Group Leader, Littoral Sensing and Processing Group, flies a drone to conduct mine detection. Photo by LSIS Kylie Jagiello, Navy Imagery Unit - West[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Members of Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) battled poor visibility and close encounters with local sharks during their participation in a multi-national training exercise in Australia. Exercise Dugong saw teams of Clearance Divers from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States gather at Fleet Base West, near Perth, from Nov. 7 to 22. The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) sent a contingent of 14 personnel to the exercise: nine divers from FDU(P), one diver from Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic), two personnel from Sea Bed Intervention Systems, a White Cell staff, and a Liaison Officer.“It is always great to have the opportunity to work and train with some of the best [Clearance Diving] teams in the world in a setting where we can freely exchange tactics, training and procedures with our partner nations,” said Lieutenant (Navy) Viachaslau Khabian, head of FDU(P) Mine Countermeasures Department.The exercise focused on Very Shallow Water (VSW) Mine Countermeasures at depths of 10 metres or less. VSW Mine Countermeasures are performed in preparation for amphibious landings and are normally done under the cloak of darkness for clandestine purposes. During the exercise, each nation and their divers were given specific lanes near the shoreline to find and dispose of underwater mines. They dove in groups of two and were inserted from inflatable boats at a considerable distance from shore in order to avoid detection.Clearing mines during nighttime operations proved to be challenging, as divers were forced to contend with rough sea conditions, high turbidity, and low light that caused extremely poor visibility, says Lt(N) Khabian. Challenges aside, the exercise provided...

[caption id="attachment_22234" align="alignnone" width="591"] LS (Retired) Allan “Dinger” Bell shows off this year’s special Mooseheads jersey design honouring HMCS Kootenay. Photo by Cpl David Veldman, FIS Halifax.[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~The Halifax Mooseheads weren’t able to get a win over the Drummondville Voltigeurs, but they still put on a great show in front of a military-heavy audience on Nov. 8 for the team’s 16th annual DND Appreciation Night.This year’s game took place in front of over 7,000 fans at the Scotiabank Centre, with the Mooseheads wearing special jerseys to recognize the 50th anniversary of the HMCS Kootenay explosion and those who died. Along with the Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) flag party, the team welcomed Kootenay survivor LS (Retired) Allan “Dinger” Bell and Rear Admiral Craig Baines, Commander MARLANT, on the ice prior to the game for the ceremonial puck drop.RAdm Baines thanked the team and the fans for their continued support over the years, as well as for putting the Kootenay explosion front and centre as the Royal Canadian Navy community continues to recognize that tragedy at sea 50 years ago.“I’m honoured to be standing here in front of you alongside Dinger Bell,” RAdm Baines said to the crowd. He added the annual Mooseheads game serves as a reminder of the close ties between the Canadian Armed Forces in Halifax and the wider community.“It’s one of the reasons that Halifax is the place in Canada to wear a uniform,” he said.The Kootenay crew were also recognized during the regular Canadian Forces Family of the Game segment, with the focus being put on the entirety of the ship’s company and their family members.“We honour them for their bravery in the face of a tragedy that claimed the lives of nine Kootenay member, and forever changed the lives of the survivors and their...