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[caption id="attachment_18092" align="alignnone" width="550"] Team members who attended the official robotics competition startup Jan. 6 in Vancouver hold the base of the robot they put together that day. It has come a very long way since then. Photo courtesy Tina O’Keeffe[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~An organization that inspires students to chart career paths in science and technology is looking for volunteers from the base to help run it’s first-ever B.C. regional robotics competition.FIRST Robotics Canada (FRC) is a non-profit charity affiliated with U.S. parent organization FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology), whose mission it is to inspire high school and elementary school students with hands-on technology experience under the guidance of seasoned tradespeople.Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre is the location for their regional qualifying event March 14, 15 and 16 with winners moving on to this year’s First Robotics World Championship in Houston and Detroit in April.FRC event coordinator Jason Brett is a former high school shop teacher who now teachs electronics and robotics to future shop teachers at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Burnaby.  Brett says he’s excited about the Victoria launch because it means students now have a competition they can call their own.“I have been involved in this event for 15 years and we always had to take the kids from B.C. to other venues,” said Brett. “Now we have a couple of hundred bright talented kids who are converging on Victoria for this challenge, and there are so many people at CFB Esquimalt who are of the same mindset even though they may be a generation or two apart.”Brett says he’s looking for military and civilian volunteers from the base to help mentor teams, judge submissions, and lend a hand in event logistical tasks such as registration and event operations.“I think when word...

[caption id="attachment_18083" align="alignnone" width="575"] Photo by Cpl Tony Chand, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Canadian Armed Forces members currently deployed on board HMCS St. John’s participate in a fitness class lead by Personnel Support Program (PSP) fitness instructor Keira Lee during Operation Reassurance, Feb. 21.

[caption id="attachment_18009" align="alignnone" width="575"] Inset: Members of the Flying Lion Dance Troupe pose for pictures during the 5th International Cultural and Folk Festival held in Concon, Chile.[/caption]Lt(N) Harrison Nguyen, Canadian Submarine Force ~When I was a teenager growing up in Winnipeg I learned Chinese Lion Dance and showcased it during the city’s annual multicultural festival, Folklorama (Twitter: @Folklorama).For those who haven’t experienced Folklorama I highly recommend it. The City of Winnipeg comes alive with over 40 different local communities hosting their own cultural pavilions. What I loved the most was being able to show everyone Chinese Lion Dance and educate people on this important part of Chinese culture.Fifteen years later, I performed for Folklorama again, but this time on the other side of the world.Last September, the President of my dance team asked if I wanted to showcase the Chinese Lion Dance at the 5th International Cultural and Folk Festival in Concon, Chile, Feb. 1 to 4.Excited at the opportunity, I proposed this to my Chain of Command who in turn were more than supportive towards my endeavour.We landed in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 31 where we met with dignitaries from the festival. The whole trip felt like a foreign port visit with the Royal Canadian Navy. There were meetings, gift exchanges, and social events scheduled during our stay.During the four-day festival, my team, the Flying Lion Dance troupe (Twitter: @FlyingLionsWpg) on behalf of Folklorama, represented Chinese Lion Dance Culture by performing four shows in three venues to thousands of people. We were joined by other groups representing cultures from Ukraine, Uruguay, Trinidad & Tobago, Togo, and Argentina.

DND ~Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have a new tool to help facilitate their transition into the civilian workforce.MNET, which officially launched Oct. 16, 2017, is a new, free to use, online career transition tool that matches military occupations with civilian occupations and job openings. MNET is short for Military Occupational Structure ID (MOSID) to National Occupational Classification (NOC) Equivalency Tool.To use MNET, CAF members and Veterans just need to enter information about their military career and a matching civilian occupation with job description, as well as a link to relevant civilian employment opportunities on the Government of Canada’s Job Bank is produced.Employers are also able to use MNET, which can help them to understand a particular military occupation and lets them post forecasted job openings specifically for Veterans.“It is exciting to see the implementation of this great initiative well ahead of schedule. It would not have been possible without the commitment from interdepartmental cooperation throughout this process,” said Brigadier-General Mark Misener, the General Officer leading the creation of the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group. “CAF members often think little of the training and experiences that they have amassed during their careers and the weight it can carry over into the competitive labour market.”MNET is the result of coordinated efforts by the CAF’s Directorate of Casualty Support Management, the Military Personnel Generation Learning Support Centre, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). For example, in order to allow for the translation of military occupations to civilian equivalents, ESDC provided access to its vast catalogue on occupational information in Canada, which categorizes more than 30,000 occupational titles into groups that are organized according to skill types and levels.The online tool, based on a United States Department of Labor application, was created and customized for Canadian...

[caption id="attachment_18080" align="alignnone" width="575"] Photo by Cpl Tony Chand, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Maritime Tactical Operations Group Tiger Team and Royal Canadian Navy Ship’s Boarding Party members conduct pistol training on the flight deck of HMCS St. John’s during Operation Reassurance, off the Norwegian coast Feb. 21.

A new smartphone app is set to turn B.C. bystanders into potential life-savers should a sudden cardiac arrest occurs in a public place.BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) has launched the free PulsePoint application throughout the province. It provides vital information in the case of cardiac arrest, where minutes count in reducing suffering and preventing death.Smartphone users with Pulsepoint are connected to the BCEHS emergency dispatch system. When a sudden cardiac arrest is reported at a p­ublic location through 9-1-1, dispatchers can send the location to people with mobile devices within short walking distance. A user with training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can then go to the patient and begin CPR while paramedics are en route.The smartphone alert also shows users a map pinpointing the location of nearby portable public defibrillators, which are another tool that the general public can use safely before paramedics arrive.British Columbia is the first to have a province-wide program for this public notification service. Pulsepoint also operates in an Ontario municipality and in a number of U.S. counties and cities.The effectiveness of Pulsepoint will be studied in BC and other parts of Canada and the US to determine whether the app increases public participation in cardiac arrest resuscitation. BC is expected to take part in this randomized, controlled research trial starting in 2018.The PulsePoint app can be downloaded from both the Apple Store for iOS and from Google Play Store for Android OSQuick Facts:3 MINUTESThe amount of time after a sudden cardiac arrest in which brain damage occurs if immediate help is not available. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs without notice and leaves patients unconscious.7,101the number of cardiac arrests BCEHS paramedics responded to in 201725%Bystanders performed CPR in approximately 25 per cent of these cases.10%The survival rate beyond 30 days for sudden cardiac arrest in BC is...

[caption id="attachment_17996" align="alignnone" width="575"] The Navy hockey team from HMCS Hunter celebrates their victory with the Grapes Cup on Jan. 20 while participating in the first of what is to be an annual rivalry matchup between Navy players and Army players in Windsor-Essex county.[/caption]A/SLt Moore, HMCS Hunter ~Navy players from HMCS Hunter and the army, featuring players from 31 Canadian Brigade Group (including Essex and Kent Scottish, Windsor Regiment, and 31 Service Battalion), played an outdoor ice hockey game Jan. 20 on the iconic Canadian day known as Hockey Day in Canada.Team Navy quickly seized the lead and eventually went on to win the game 11 – 3 through dominant play.Master Seaman Tyler Thomson, one of Team Navy’s organizers, said the day “went really well. We’re really happy with how it’s going. We’re happy to be able to get out on the ice, to play a friendly game, and to beat Team Army.”This game marked the first annual matchup between the friendly rivals in Windsor Essex. The winner took home the “Grapes Cup,” so named in honour of Don Cherry (“Grapes” is Don Cherry’s nickname).Through its history, Hockey Day in Canada has been about much more than the game of hockey – it has been about bringing the community together. This event successfully did that, bringing dozens of friends, family members, and military personnel together in a time of fun and celebration.Master Seaman Mitchell and Master Seaman Thomson wanted that to be the focus of the match.“Our main priority was to create a fun thing to do - something for families and friends to enjoy while getting to spend time with service members in the public,” said MS Thomson.After the game, guests  enjoyed a public skate. It was an amazing time of strategic outreach and community involvement for the military...

[caption id="attachment_17990" align="alignnone" width="575"] Clockwise from top left: Dana Tremblay displays job opportunities available at B.C. Ferries. Pierre Boucher of the CFB Esquimalt Model Railway Club gets his locomotives on track. Trevor Ball of Fort Street Cycle shows off a bike. Patrons line up at the Deadbeetz food truck for a free lunch. Karl Schneider, Registered Massage Therapist at The Spa at Delta Ocean Pointe Resort, gives a massage. Photos by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Over 120 businesses and community organizations plotted a course for fun and information at the Naden Athletic Centre Feb. 15 at this year’s MARPAC Health and Wellness Expo.Over 1,000 military and DND civilian employees attended this year’s expo held in the upper and lower gymnasium of the sports complex. The annual event features interactive display booths by local non-profits and businesses representing health and wellness, recreation, sports, fitness, outdoor activities, schools and base clubs.One popular feature of the expo were the door prizes offered up by vendors along with the delicious free food samples available to patrons. The first 500 visitors received vouchers for complimentary lunch, courtesy the PSP sponsorship program, for food trucks Deadbeetz and Mai Mai’s Bistro. Those not lucky enough to get their hands on a food voucher could still sate their appetites as Hertels Meats were on hand frying up side and back bacon samples, while Esquimalt’s Melting Moments Catering were offering up sample pasta and desserts, and Serious Coffee provided free coffee and tea to visitors.For those with an appetite for travel they could enter WestJet airlines’ free draw to win a trip to any of its destinations in Canada. This year’s winner was AB Brett Melchior of HMCS Winnipeg.

[caption id="attachment_17987" align="alignnone" width="560"] Left: Hazel Braithwaite, United Way of Greater Victoria Director of Community Campaign; Base Chief, Chief Petty Officer Gino Spinelli; Julie Mills, HealthPartners Accounts Manager; and Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd, Base Commander, display a cheque for $300,000 from the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The MARPAC Health and Wellness Expo was the venue to mark the conclusion of this year’s National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC), which began in October 2017. Through a variety of fundraising initiatives, this year’s campaign raised $300,000 for local charities.Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd, Base Commander, made a brief speech to the crowd and then made a cheque presentation to Hazel Braithwaite, United Way Greater Victoria Director of Community Campaign, and Julie Mills, HealthPartners. Braithwaite congratulated Capt(N) Boyd and CFB Esquimalt’s military and civilian employees for another solid contribution this year, noting the sizable donation will go a long way to funding programs in the community.“We are always impressed with the support we get from CFB Esquimalt and are thrilled to have this sizable donation to put back into the community that will help operate so many programs,” said Braithwaite.Capt(N) Boyd said the charitable campaign also helps to highlight the “tremendous efforts” of military personnel and civilian staff in the community, either through financial support, volunteering, and other acts of goodwill.“The point I really want to make about this year’s NDWCC campaign is that it really wasn’t about the size of your wallets but the size of your hearts,” said Capt(N) Boyd. “We are very pleased with the results of this year’s campaign and are able to celebrate MARPAC’s involvement in the community; we give back a lot.”

[caption id="attachment_17984" align="alignnone" width="560"] It was 20 years in the making, and a mere minute to lose, but it was all worth it in the end. PO1 Darren Peat’s mustache succumbed to a $,6,225 fundraising goal, and the sailor braved the shaved on HMCS Regina’s flight deck. Photo courtesy HMCS Regina[/caption]SLt M.X. Déry, MARPAC PA ~When HMCS Regina’s crew sets out to do something, they get the job done.So when this year’s National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC) season kicked off, Regina’s crew had their sights on surpassing the previous year’s contribution, and they did. They managed to raise $41,525, a 23 per cent increase on last year’s already substantial sum.“I believe the dramatic increase this year was a direct response to the day sail Regina put on for the Chris Knox Foundation,” said Lt(N) Gregory Kuhn, NDWCC co-ordinator in Regina. “Donating this year became personal – you could now put a face to the organization you were donating to.”The Chris Knox Foundation, Regina’s official charity, will get the lion’s share of the funds - over $20,500 - raised through the ship’s handful of fundraising events. But the highlight of the events was the shaving of heads and mustaches on the flight deck.PO1 Lee Richardson helped raise the funds to shave Lt(N) Tracy Tkachuk’s mustache, but soon discovered that Lt(N) Tkachuk had also been raising funds to shave PO1 Richardson’s head.“When you thought I had the best of Tkachuk, I did not,” said PO1 Richardson. “Remember it’s for the children!”PO1 Darren Peat set a high price for his classic mustache, thinking his lofty goal of $5,000 would never be reached.“PO Richardson suggested it [the mustache shave] so I asked my wife; she said ‘no way!’ So I said name a price, and she said $5,000 assuming there was no way...

[caption id="attachment_17968" align="alignnone" width="575"] Lt(N) Stephenie Murray, left, and Lt(N) Andrea Murray, are twin sisters in the Royal Canadian Navy who are both currently Executive Officers in Kingston-class warships. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption] Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~ If you come to HMC Dockyard in Halifax looking for a naval officer named Lt(N) Murray, you need to be very specific. Even if you know she’s the Executive Officer of a Kingston-class ship, you’ll still need more details. That’s because there are two Murrays. Lt(N) Andrea Murray, Executive Officer of HMCS Kingston, and Lt(N) Stephanie Murray, Executive Officer of HMCS Glace Bay, are twin sisters, which is often news even to their dockyard colleagues. The two aren’t identical twins, but the similarities while in uniform are close enough to create some confusion. “There’s a harbour pilot we’ve been working with for a decade who recently realized we weren’t the same person, so we had to let him know. That happens all the time. We also get mistaken for each other on a daily basis,” says Lt(N) Andrea Murray. The two sisters have been members of the Royal Canadian Navy since 2005, and starting with Basic Training, which they completed together, their careers have progressed in lockstep with each other. “We’ve actually done basically all our positions at the same time. We were Operations Officers together, we were Deck Officers, and now we’re both XOs,” says Lt(N) Andrea Murray. Her sister added that growing up, their parents worked hard to ensure they led independent lives, enrolling the sisters in different classes at school or signing them up for different sports teams and activities. “And now here we are doing the same job, in the same place, in the same uniform,” she jokes. The Murrays come from a family with lots...

[caption id="attachment_17965" align="alignnone" width="575"] Runners from the base left: Lieutenant Commander Simon Brown, Master Seaman Steve Deschamps, and Matt Carlson are joined by Wounded Warrior Run B.C. Director, Captain Jacquieline Zweng (second from right) for the launch event at Jim Pattison Subaru in Colwood Feb. 1.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Four runners from CFB Esquimalt are about to set off on the 5th annual Wounded Warrior Run B.C. and face the physically gruelling task of running the length of Vancouver Island.The team will begin pounding the pavement in Port Hardy Feb. 19 and conclude Feb. 25 at the provincial legislature in Victoria.Organized by Wounded Warriors Canada, the purpose of the approximately 600-kilometre relay-style run is to raise public awareness about mental health and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), along with financial support for programs that benefit affected military members and first responders.Joining the seven-person Wounded Warrior team are Lieutenant Commander Simon Brown of Maritime Forces Pacific, Chief Warrant Officer Mark Dankwerth of Base Administration, Master Seaman Steve Deschamps of Canadian Fleet Pacific, and Matt Carlson, Personnel Support Services Community Recreation Coordinator.The Big LaunchRunners and support staff gathered at Jim Pattison Subaru Feb. 1 for the official launch event. They were flanked by first responders from the Colwood Fire Department, West Shore RCMP, a colour guard from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 91, Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton and members of the Victoria Grizzlies junior hockey team, who were there to show their support.Run Director, Captain Jacqueline Zweng works as a Cadet Instructor at the Regional Cadet Support Unit at Work Point. She was a member of last year’s Wounded Warriors team and shared her own her story of overcoming breast cancer, surgery, and a subsequent car accident to become a runner on last year’s team. While not diagnosed with PTSD herself, she...

[caption id="attachment_17962" align="alignnone" width="575"] Alicia Hogue, a Programmer with the Royal Canadian Navy, demonstrates ship tracking software for Commander Seana Routledge of MARLANT’s Base Information Services on Feb. 2 at HMC Dockyard Halifax. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption]Scott Syms, Vessel Monitoring Services, CFB Halifax ~A small navy software development group in Halifax is causing a big splash with NATO.Halifax-based programmers with the Royal Canadian Navy wrote ship tracking software that has helped Canadian industry win NATO contracts worth millions of Euros.Most of the world’s goods are carried by ocean-going vessels, and the greater need to track shipping to ensure global safety and security has generated more data than ever before.But the increase in ship position data creates problems for officers such as LCdr Phillip Mundy, Director of the Regional Joint Operations Centre Atlantic.“Our job is to keep an eye on the ship traffic off the coast of Eastern Canada. As we introduced more data, we had systems choking on millions of position reports; it was affecting our ability to track ships off of Canada’s coasts.”To solve the problem, LCdr Mundy turned to a technical support group embedded with the East Coast Navy. “The amount of data available is outstripping older methods of processing it,” says Alicia Hogue, a programmer with the navy. “To solve LCdr Mundy’s problem, we had to re-think the whole process of gathering and storing data.”The group leveraged components from big data companies such as Google, Uber and Linkedin. The resulting software is capable of processing hundreds of millions of position reports a day and is used on both coasts to manage and visualise ship data.Hogue described Canada’s efforts to colleagues overseas, and they were interested.“All navies were struggling with the same set of problems brought about by new, high-volume data sources,” she says.The interest soon became...

[caption id="attachment_17959" align="alignnone" width="575"] Sailors line the bow of HMCS Athabaskan during the ship’s paying off ceremony on March 10, 2017. Photo by FIS Halifax[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~A contract has been awarded for disposal work on the former HMCS Athabaskan, which means the ship will soon be towed from HMC Dockyard to the Marine Recycling Corporation facilities in Sydney, Nova Scotia, to be dismantled.Public Services and Procurement Canada announced the contract, worth $5.7 million, on Jan.18. Though Marine Recycling Corporation is headquartered in Port Colborne, Ontario, the entirety of the work, including demilitarization of equipment, remediation of hazardous waste, and recycling of any remaining materials, will take place at the company’s Cape Breton site.The dismantling is expected to be completed by summer 2019.HMCS Athabaskan was the last of the Royal Canadian Navy’s four Iroquois-class destroyers in service when it was officially paid off in March 2017. The ships were constructed in the 1970s with highly advanced technologies at the time, including new sonar and infrared technologies and the ability to launch two maritime helicopters at once. Notable deployments for the ship included Operation Friction in 1991 during the Gulf War, as well as relief work in the United States following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in Haiti after the country’s devastating Earthquake in 2010.The lack of destroyers in the fleet has created a temporary capability gap for the navy, but it will be restored with the construction of 15 Canadian Surface Combatants, with the first expected to be delivered in the mid-2020s.

Dear Editor,As 2018 begins to take shape I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible fundraising efforts last year from the crew of HMCS Ottawa under the command of Cdr Sylvain Belair. In particular, I wish to congratulate Sgt Michael Foulkes who was the driving force behind their successful fundraising.In referencing the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre Foundation newsletter Between Us, the article celebrates a gift in the amount of $15,480.54 subsequent to several other donations that were received through United Way. In 2017 HMCS Ottawa raised the extraordinary total amount of $15,642.25! The total cumulative donations from HMCS Ottawa over the last two years stands at $22,192.25.The 2017 donation went towards the overall cost of one therapeutic height adjustable bath system, which will transform one of the most challenging aspects of nursing into a safe and enjoyable experience for both residents and caregivers.The Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre is home to 450 seniors, 250 of whom are Second World War and Korean War veterans. The average age of the Veterans here at the Perley Rideau is now 95. No amount of money can pay the invoice we owe these men and women who gave us the liberties we enjoy today.We are a proud partner with HMCS Ottawa and its crew of dedicated members who, through their actions, have taken up the torch and have clearly stated the Veterans of long ago shall not be forgotten – we are grateful for their caring and for their service to our country.Daniel Clapin, ACFREExecutive DirectorThe Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre Foundation

Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members interested in becoming Clearance Divers will be able to learn more during information sessions being held at bases and wings across Canada during the month of March.“Any CAF member interested in finding out how to become a Clearance Diver is invited to attend,” says Lt(N) Mike St-Pierre, Executive Officer of Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific).It has never been easier to become a Clearance Diver as previous restrictions have been lifted. Voluntary Occupational Transfer is now open to any CAF member from any trade, with or without dive training. Provided you are qualified in your current occupation, meet the medical and fitness requirements, and have 48 months’ continuous service, you are eligible.Clearance Divers are the masters of the underwater domain, and their primary mission is to locate, identify and neutralize explosive devices. They operate in a variety of environments, from the deep sea to the rugged peaks of mountains to dry desert climates to the frigid waters of the Arctic, at home and abroad, and during times of peace and in war.Clearance Divers operate in the most unforgiving environments employing sophisticated equipment and the latest technologies to achieve their mission. They are highly trained specialists who undergo intense, rigorous training, selected from the few who have what it takes to endure extreme conditions to achieve mission success.The Clearance Diver occupation has a long and storied history. The first units were formed during the Second World War to disarm sea mines throughout Europe and the South Pacific.From their auspicious beginnings, Clearance Divers have been at the forefront of Royal Canadian Navy and CAF operations throughout the world, including operations in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and most recently Ukraine.For more information:Information session schedule: esquimalt.mil.ca/fdu/Training requirements: esquimalt.mil.ca/FDU/Training/howtobeCD.htm Become a diver: esquimalt.mil.ca/FDU/Training.htm

[caption id="attachment_17949" align="alignnone" width="575"] Team “Onward” on HMCS Calgary, 57mm main gun in the background. From left to right: Lt(N) Adam Thomson, Lt(N) Sonja Maul-Wilson, SLt Sean Place, Adam Checketts, Team captain Lt(N) Sean Milley, Team captain Warrant Officer Steven Lewington, Lt(N) Cass van Benthem Jutting, Dusty Johnston, and Lt(N) Alex Johnston. Absent: Third team captain Lt(N) Stephen Tomlinson, who is undergoing treatment.[/caption]SLt M.X. Déry, MARPAC Public Affairs ~Some people ride bicycles for charity, while others prefer raising funds by growing mustaches, but on board HMCS Calgary the crew is foregoing libations for the B.C. Cancer Foundation.The 4th annual “Lose the Booze” campaign by the B.C. Cancer Foundation is underway and the top fundraising team in the province is currently “Onward”, the team created by HMCS Calgary, as three of their crew members have been battling cancer this year.“I heard an ad for ‘Lose the Booze’ on the radio,” said Lt(N) Sean Milley, the team’s creator and one of its captains. “I didn’t expect it to turn into what it did.”Lt(N) Milley was the Above Water Warfare Officer in Calgary when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer last year.“The speed on being told to begin treatment was really fast,” he says.The cancer had been caught early and with rapid treatment Lt(N) Milley’s long-term prognosis is good, and he is looking forward to returning to sea.Warrant Officer Steven Lewington was the senior firefighter in Calgary when he was diagnosed last March with thyroid cancer.“We were sailing and I mentioned to the physician’s assistant that I was sweating at night,” he says.Once ashore, it was obvious to his doctor that something was wrong in his neck.“I never thought in a million years that I would have cancer,” said WO Lewington.Surgery took a few months, and treatment is still ongoing, but the situation...

[caption id="attachment_17931" align="alignnone" width="525"] Royal Canadian Navy personnel wave and salute as 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron conducts its final flight with CH-124 Sea King helicopters over Halifax Harbour Jan. 26. Photo by DND[/caption]RCAF Public Affairs ~423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron conducted its final operational flight of CH-124 Sea King helicopters Jan. 26, with a flypast over Halifax Harbour and Shearwater, Nova Scotia.423 MH Squadron personnel will now turn their full attention to transitioning to the CH-148 Cyclone, the Royal Canadian Air Force’s new maritime helicopter.It’s not the last time that residents of the Halifax and Dartmouth area will see the venerable Sea King in flight. 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, located at Patricia Bay, British Columbia, will support Royal Canadian Navy operations on both coasts until the Sea King is formally retired at Patricia Bay at the end of this year. Both 443 and 423 MH Squadrons are part of 12 Wing Shearwater.The Sea King has been in service with the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force for 55 years. The first Cyclone detachments onboard Navy ships are planned for mid-2018.

[caption id="attachment_17928" align="alignnone" width="525"] Treasury Board of Canada President Scott Brison and Dartmouth-Cole Harbour MP Darren Fisher were joined by members of Maritime Forces Atlantic and the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust Jan. 26 as they announced new federal funding for repairs to HMCS Sackville. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~Canada’s last Flower-class corvette HMCS Sackville is set to receive extensive repairs this summer, following the Federal Government’s announcement of a $3.5 million contribution to the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust (CNMT).The news was delivered by Treasury Board Secretary Scott Brison, on behalf of Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, during a small ceremony at CFB Halifax’s HMC Dockyard Jan. 26.Work on the ship will mainly be completed at Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Scott, and the Royal Canadian Navy will be responsible for managing the contribution agreement to cover the repair costs including labour, materials and subcontracting.Brison spoke about the importance of maintaining the ship, which served during the Battle of the Atlantic and famously engaged three German U-boats in a 24-period during the summer of 1942. Sackville was designated Canada’s Naval Memorial in 1985, and is berthed next to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic during summer months, where it hosts tours and supports different naval and community functions.“Being able to board a ship that actually served in these battles, and now exists as a living memorial and treasured museum, is very valuable. People walk along her decks, hold artifacts in their hands, and learn about an important chapter in Canadian history,” said Brison, who was joined at the jetty by Dartmouth Cole Harbour MP Darren Fisher, members of the CNMT, RAdm Craig Baines, Command Maritime Forces Atlantic, and Capt(N) Stéphane Lafond, Commanding Officer of FMF Cape Scott.“But as a vessel commissioned in 1941, and one that served...

[caption id="attachment_17925" align="alignnone" width="525"] Clement Tang of Chinese-language cable specialty channel Fairchild TV (not pictured) interviews Cdr Alex Barlow, Commanding Officer of HMCS Ottawa, on the ship’s bridge. The TV crew sailed aboard the frigate to get an up-close look at life in the navy. Photos courtesy Fairchild TV[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A TV crew has documented life on board a Canadian warship for the Chinese community.A three-person film crew from the news program Magazine 26 set sail from Esquimalt aboard HMCS Ottawa for an overnight sail Jan. 25, reaching their final destination of Canada Place in Vancouver the next morning. The daily news program is available on Canadian specialty cable Fairchild TV, which boasts 500,000 viewers daily and is available in both Mandarin and Cantonese languages.“Everyone on board Ottawa was extremely helpful and accommodating to me and my crew,” said Clement Tang, reporter and anchorman. “I immediately got the impression the navy takes its responsibility of informing and educating the Chinese-Canadian community about its operations and possible career paths very seriously.”To add some flare to the coverage, sailors performed two damage control demonstrations involving firefighting techniques and flood response. Then the crew went into “action stations” for a bridge warning organization, the response the ship takes to small boat attacks. The attacking small boat was simulated by the ship’s RHIB.. To beef up the footage, the crew conducted firing of the 50 calibre machine gun with blank ammunition, line handling, small boat operations, high-speed maneuvering, bridge operations, navigation, seamanship briefings, and dinner in the mess.Four Chinese-Canadian sailors were interviewed to provide a personal touch to the segment.Lt(N) Chow, PO2 Shei, PO1 Tin and SLt Wang spoke candidly of their experiences as sailors in the Royal Canadian Navy.Commander Alex Barlow, the ship’s captain, rounded out the interviews by speaking of the humanitarian...

[caption id="attachment_17921" align="alignnone" width="525"] Photo by MARPAC Imaging[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Canadian Armed Forces’ efforts to beef up the number of women in the military was greatly enhanced by the Achieve Anything Foundation last week.Using HMCS Ottawa as an enticement platform, 120 women and girls of all ages crossed the ship’s brow Jan. 27 for a day sail around Vancouver’s harbour and the Strait of Georgia.For most, this was a first encounter with a Canadian warship and its crew.Sailors were prepared for their guests with special displays laid out in the hangar and in the ship, and an itinerary of tours and spectacles to keep everyone wide-eyed and asking questions.The air force played a role by flying a Sea King helicopter overhead as part of a search and rescue demonstration.“Promoting the navy to future generations is very important to everyone in the defence team,” said Commander Alex Barlow, Ottawa’s Commanding Officer. “Seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces brought great pride to all of the sailors who work aboard Ottawa, and we are hoping those who joined us will share their experiences with friends and family.”The Achieve Anything Foundation was formed to create year-round projects and programs that inspire future female leaders in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and STEM-based fields such as aviation, aerospace, marine and defence. It was founded by Kirsten Brazier, an aviation professional with 25-years’ experience in the commercial aviation industry as a fixed wing aircraft and helicopter pilot. The 47-year-old founded the registered non-profit in 2016, but its roots go back to 2012 with its signature event The Sky’s The Limit – Girls Fly Too! The annual event, held in conjunction with various agency, industry and education partners, is expecting over 20,000 visitors in 2018.Low numbers of women in senior management or command positions...

[caption id="attachment_17918" align="alignnone" width="525"] Team Captain of the Colorado Avalanche Gabriel Landeskog (left) and Vancouver Canucks captain Henrik Sedin are joined by Brigadier General Dave Cochrane (centre) of the Royal Canadian Air Force, and members of 442 Squadron, for the ceremonial opening faceoff during Military Appreciation Night at Rogers Arena, Jan. 30. Photo by Jeff Vinnick, NHLI[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Necks were craned in Vancouver’s Rogers Centre arena last Tuesday, as those in the stands watched Search and Rescue Technicians Sergeant Morgan Boutilier, Master Corporal Daniel Keith, MCpl Zach Holmes, and MCpl Yannyk Daley rappel from the rafters to centre ice.The aerobatic spectacle was part of the Vancouver Canucks military appreciation event, which brought more than 350 military and DND civilian personnel to the venue for an evening of defence appreciation and a hockey game.Evening play began with the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy performing both the Canadian and American national anthems, with Leading Seaman Brandi Sidoryk, a reservist from HMCS Tecumseh, providing the vocal accompaniment.Taking centre ice to perform the ceremonial puck drop between the Canucks and Colorado Avalanche team captains was Brigadier General Dave Cochrane of the Royal Canadian Air Force.“The soldiers, sailors and aviators who attended were true hockey fans; you could tell by the smiles on their faces they really enjoyed the experience,” said Lt(N) Tony Wright, a public affairs officer with Maritime Forces Pacific. “Throughout the game they did tributes to Canadian Forces members on the big [Jumbotron] screen and fans, and many fans, came up and thanked us for our service to our country.”Following the Canucks 4-3 overtime win, Canucks players signed autographs and mingled with their DND visitors before posing for a group photograph. Canucks right-winger Brock Boeser took such interest in the post-game exchange with the guests of honour he...

[caption id="attachment_17910" align="alignnone" width="500"] Team B.C. versus Cold Lake during round robin play. Team B.C. won the game 7-3. Photos courtesy Jeff Gaye, Cold Lake Courier Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallet, Staff Writer ~They went into regional playoffs as the underdog and came out as the top regional women’s hockey team.Team B.C, a mix of female military players from CFB Esquimalt and 19 Wing Comox, hit the ice in the Col J.J. Parr Sports Centre  arena in Cold Lake Jan. 29, set to challenge teams from Canadian Forces Bases Winnipeg, Edmonton and Cold Lake.After round robin play, Team B.C. accumulated enough points to place second, pitting them against the top team from Edmonton for the final playoffs.The game was tight and at the end of three periods the score was tied 3 – 3. It took overtime play to get the final winning goal by Avr Laura Lighthall, earning them the title 2018 CAF Canada West Regional Women’s Hockey Champions.Next on the roster is national playoffs March 4 to 9 at CFB Edmonton where they will be pitted against three other regional teams.This is the second regional sport playoffs under the new Canada West format; basketball was the first.

Ian Alexander Galbraith-McTavishJune 15, 1991 - January 27, 2018It is with great sadness that the family of Able Seaman Ian Galbraith-McTavish announce his passing on 27 January, 2018 in Victoria, B.C.Ian enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 2013 as an Artillery Soldier and transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy as a Boatswain in 2017. He previously served at CFB Gagetown prior to CFB Esquimalt. A dedicated Boatswain who loved mountain climbing and being outdoors, Ian could always be counted on to help out his shipmates with kindness and understanding.Ian will be lovingly remembered by his parents Heather Galbraith and her husband Chuck Uhl, by his father William McTavish,  his siblings Chris and his wife Reese, John, Brian, and Billie McTavish, step-brothers Jacob and Jason Uhl, his nephews Colby and Rylan, and his nieces Layla and Charlie, as well as family and friends across Canada.A military service will be held at Sands Funeral Chapel, 317 Goldstream Avenue, Colwood at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 7 February, 2018 with a visitation scheduled for Tuesday, 6 February between 6-8 p.m.The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Our Place Society, Victoria B.C., www.ourplacesociety.com.

[caption id="attachment_17890" align="alignnone" width="550"] Vincent, left, and Rene De Haître get ready to enjoy some extreme aviation in Las Vegas. Insets: Olympic athlete Vincent De Haître and Military recruit Rene De Haître.[/caption]Darlene Blakeley, Navy Public Affairs Ottawa ~One has dreams of a career as a naval officer, the other has dreams of Olympic gold.Brothers Rene and Vincent De Haître represent Canada in their own unique ways, yet they also offer strong support to each other as they pursue their individual goals, even if they are a world apart.Vincent, a world class long track speed skater, will compete in the PyeongChang Olympic Games next month in both the 1,500 and 1,000-metre races on Feb.13 and 23 respectively, and Rene hopes to graduate from the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in St. Jean, Que, on Feb. 22.Being 15 time zones apart means they won’t be able to support each other in person.Originally, the plan was for Rene to travel to South Korea to see his brother compete, but that was before he learned he would be preparing for a career as a Naval Combat System Engineering Officer in the Royal Canadian Navy.“The thought of joining the navy has always been on the table, but the real decision came in November 2016,” Rene explains. “I have a passion for the naval world, especially shipbuilding. After a few years in the private sector, I felt as though I was in a rut just following the course without too much variation. I felt that it was the best time, being young and without too many responsibilities, to change paths and to serve in an environment that promotes cooperation and team work, as well as representing Canada and its interests at home and abroad.”Rene plans to watch his ­brother’s second Olympic race live online.“I will...

[caption id="attachment_17886" align="alignnone" width="450"] Acting Sub-Lieutenant Ian Marcoux competes during the Admiral’s Cup regatta at the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala, Kerala State. Photo by LCdr Charles Edgeworth[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~It was an initiation to remember for Acting Sub-Lieutenant Ian Marcoux, 22, as he tackled his first international regatta in the Land of Spices.The Naval Warfare Officer trainee travelled to southern India’s Kerala State Dec. 2 to 8, 2017, representing the Royal Canadian Navy in the sailing competition held at Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala.He finished 50th in a field of 55 sailors representing 27 navies from around the world.“It was a fantastic initiation for me into the whole concept of regattas,” said A/SLt Marcoux. “I learned so much in a short time, not only what a real race was like, but I also picked up on so many areas to improve technically as a competitor.”In the opening phase of the regatta, he and the other novice sailors competed in single-person laser-class dinghies against elite-level sailors, some of whom had Olympic experience. “This was my first-ever race. I had learned some basic sailing skills, but now it was all about shifting gears quickly and learning all of the rules and the technical side of the sport that comes with practice and experience,” said A/SLt Marcoux. “As a sportsman I also wanted to live up to all those good Canadian stereotypes [during the competition], and the nature of sailing and right-of-way rules led me to apologizing frequently.”The novice level sailors were eventually demoted to the competition’s lower division for the final two days of the competition.The Russian team looked poised to win the Admiral’s Cup, but organizers ruled they fielded ineligible sailors, leaving the United States the regatta’s overall winners.Members of the Canadian Forces Sailing Association and Naval Fleet School (Pacific)...

[caption id="attachment_17883" align="alignnone" width="450"] MCpl Kathryn Holmberg greets her mother, Linda, in the Nanaimo airport following her flight from Latvia. Holmberg spent seven months in the Baltic Nation with the Canadian-led enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Latvia. Photo by Capt Jeff Manney, 39 Signal Regiment[/caption]Capt Jeff Manney, 39 Signal Regiment PAO ~An international effort to demonstrate collective resolve in Eastern Europe took on a very personal, local flavour with the return of an Army Reservist to Nanaimo two weeks ago.Victoria-based Master Cpl Kathryn Holmberg, a member of 39 Signal Regiment, ended a seven-month deployment to Latvia in the arms of her mother.“She was sobbing, kissing me, telling me loves me, that she missed me.  Having me far away was very hard for her. She thinks Victoria is too far,” said the soldier.MCpl Holmberg, a Reservist since 2011, was in the first rotation of Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to the Canadian-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Latvia. She was one of many Reservists supporting the bulk of the Canadian contingent, comprised primarily of Regular Force troops from the Edmonton-based 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.The Battlegroup, along with similar formations in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland, set itself up in a hurry near Riga, Latvia’s capital, last summer. The deployments came amid NATO concerns about Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its support to rebels in eastern Ukraine.For MCpl Holmberg, a clerk managing soldiers’ pay in the Battlegroup’s orderly room, that urgency translated into 12-hour working days, six, sometimes seven days per week. “There was just so much work to be done,” she recalls. “I’d tell myself, if I go home at the end of the day having done the best I could, then I’d be happy.”An abundance of caution, which eased over time, limited soldiers’ movements off base.  That meant MCpl Holmberg...

[caption id="attachment_17880" align="alignnone" width="450"] Deborah Morrow makes a $5,000 donation to Cockrell House chairman Angus Stanfield, Jan. 19. Morrow donated her cash prize from a Canada Volunteer Award to the West Shore facility that provides transitional housing and other support for homeless and at-risk veterans. Photos by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A one-time donation to a West Shore charity that helps homeless veterans has snowballed into two matching donations.Cockrell House, which provides transitional housing to homeless and at-risk veterans, received a total of $15,000 two weeks ago from three very supportive donors.Deborah Morrow, Verity Health Resources Chief Executive Officer, donated her Canada’s Volunteer Award cash prize to the charity, which was followed up with donations from the West Shore Poppy Fund of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91 and the Greater Victoria Afghanistan Memorial Project.Morrow received her award in Ottawa Dec. 5 on UNESCO’s International Day of the Volunteer for her 35 years championing the cause of youth and homeless veterans. She also volunteers and mentors youth in the Duke Edinburgh’s Award Challenge, the Youth NATO Summit global conference, the Coast Guard, and the Navy League of Canada.“I blurted it out right away, that all of the money would go to Cockrell House,” said Morrow. “About five minutes later I contacted Cockrell House Chairman Angus Stanfield on the phone and told him the news.”With everyone in attendance Jan. 19, Stanfield accepted the money.“It is a great shot in the arm for this organization,” he said. “This money will be put into use immediately to fund our program and assist veterans who need our help now.”The 11-bed multiplex on Sooke Road has provided a place to live, food, counselling, social services and transportation to over 70 residents since it opened its doors in 2009.Supporting Cockrell House seemed a perfect fit...

A/SLt Alex Wood, HMCS York PAO ~More than 100 members from 22 of Canada’s 24 Naval Reserve divisions participated in a two-week exercise aboard four Orca Class training vessels in January.Lead by Officer in Tactical Command, Lieutenant-Commander Trent Nichols (Commanding Officer, HMCS Queen), Naval Reservists from all ranks and trades came together to refresh their skills, progress in individual training, and for several members experience life at sea for the first time.Naval Warfare Officers honed their expertise in navigation and ship handling as they responded to man over board and steering gear breakdown drills.Boatswains, cooks and other crew members worked on firefighting techniques, knot tying and casualty clearing, as well as working with heaving lines and manning the Zodiac.Every mariner knows that weather is a crucial factor when planning for ships going to sea.  In this case, however, weather throughout the country played a direct role. Conditions in Eastern Canada at the beginning of January delayed and even canceled flights for many participants. This resulted in travel times up to 50 hours, requiring exercise planners to adapt the sequence of events and personnel changes in order to ensure valuable training time was not lost.“You are always considering weather when planning any Orca sail, but particularly so at this time of year,” said lead planning officer Lieutenant (Navy) Ron Clancy, HMCS York. “However, while we had several plans in place to mitigate inclement weather on the coast, including alongside training and alternative port visits, we did not expect to have so many people impacted by flight delays on their way here. It certainly called for some creative problem solving.”During week two, the ships were forced to seek shelter and go to anchor in Nanoose Bay as winds in the Strait of Georgia exceeded 30 knots. Despite the foul weather, sailors participated...

[caption id="attachment_17874" align="alignnone" width="450"] Mark MacIntyre, Victoria Police Department Director of Public Affairs, speaks to those gathered about the good work of two CFB Esquimalt sailors, Master Seaman Nathan Charbonneau and Leading Seaman Stephon Mullett, after they were presented with a Community Service Award by and Acting Police Chief Del Manak. Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Two sailors from CFB Esquimalt have been recognized for their quick action that helped police arrest an impaired driver in downtown Victoria last year.Master Seaman Nathan Charbonneau and Leading Seaman Stephon Mullett were among six citizens bestowed with the Civic Service Award at Victoria Police Department headquarters Jan. 22.“It was amazing, great work, and the officers were thankful for what they did,” said Constable Matt Rutherford, spokesperson for the Victoria Police Department.While returning home from a concert in LS Mullett’s vehicle on Nov. 4, 2017, the two sailors spotted a car speeding and going the wrong way down a one-way street in the downtown core.MS Charbonneau called 9-1-1 to report a possible impaired driver, relaying vital information including vehicle description and location to the call taker. LS Mullett followed the suspect vehicle at a safe distance.The sailors said they observed the vehicle run multiple red lights, pass other vehicles in a no-pass zone, and then nearly sideswipe a BC Transit bus. It was at that point they lost sight of it. Police eventually tracked it down, but the driver refused to bring his vehicle to a stop and fled.The vehicle re-appeared near MacCaulay Elementary School in Esquimalt, almost colliding with MS Charboneau and LS Mullett’s car.“He almost hit us head on as it came around a corner,” said LS Mullett. “At that point it occurred to us they had evaded the police,” said LS Mullett.With his car, he boxed the suspect vehicle...