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Rear-Admiral (Retired) Barry Keeler, Last Post Fund ~On a cold night in December 1908, an unconscious homeless man was taken by two police officers to the Montreal General Hospital. Allegedly inebriated, he was left in a room to sleep it off.A while later the Head Orderly Arthur Hair, a ­veteran of the South African War, noticed an envelope sticking out of the poor man’s coat pocket. It contained an honourable discharge certificate issued to Trooper James Daly by the Great Britain War Office. Daly had served for 21 years under the British flag and this document was his sole possession.Trooper Daly was not drunk but suffering from malnutrition and hypothermia. He died two days later at age 53. His unclaimed body would be turned over to medical researchers before disposal in a pauper’s field.Deeply shocked by the Empire’s disregard for its veterans, Hair raised money from friends and colleagues to give the soldier a dignified burial worthy of his many years of patriotic service.This was the catalyst for the creation of the Last Post Fund in 1909.The early work of the Last Post Fund was exclusively supported by private donations. Then in 1921, it was federally incorporated and began receiving regular financial support from the Canadian Government.Since its humble beginnings, the Last Post Fund has ensured that no eligible veteran is deprived of a dignified funeral, burial and headstone for lack of financial resources. Its primary mandate is to deliver the funeral and burial program on behalf of Veterans Affairs Canada. To date, over 160,000 veterans from across Canada have received financial assistance under this Program.Eligible Veterans include:A former member of the Canadian Forces;A Canadian Merchant Navy Veteran; andAn Allied Veteran who meets certain conditions.In addition, the Last Post Fund owns and operates the National Field of Honour located in...

[caption id="attachment_17429" align="alignnone" width="450"] Canadian Pilgrims at the 59th International Military Pilgrimage at Lourdes, France, enjoyed friendly sports competition with other nations. Photo by Sgt George Jones, Army Public Affairs[/caption]DND ~The 60th International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes, France will be held May 18-20, 2018. Over 12,000 military members from over 40 countries will be represented. Canada has sent a delegation of pilgrims to this event for many years.The International Military Pilgrimage is an ecumenical and interfaith event. CAF members and veterans (Regular Force and Reservists) are welcome to attend whether healthy, wounded, ill or injured. Those who are motivated by a personal spirituality to participate are encouraged to apply.Funding is available from a variety of sources, including Support our Troops, to support serving Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and veterans to take part in this unique opportunity.ABOUT THE PILGRIMAGEAt the end of the Second World War, Lourdes was a place where French and German soldiers sought to physically and spiritually heal together. The first International Military Pilgrimage was held in 1958. Forty-two other nations have since joined in this act of healing and reconciliation.Lourdes is a very famous and frequently visited pilgrimage site for Roman Catholics and for people from many other faiths and spiritual experiences. It is visited by people seeking healing and renewal.Activities at the Pilgrimage include worship opportunities, a parade through the town of Lourdes culminating in a ceremony at the local war memorial, a candle light vigil, a visit to the baths for immersion in the healing waters of the Lourdes site and a sports afternoon involving a friendly competition among the different nations.In Esquimalt, you can access further info or an application form by contacting the Senior Fleet Chaplain, Padre Jeannine Friesen at Jeannine.Friesen2@forces.gc.ca or Padre Joachim Nnanna at Joachim.Nnanna@forces.gc.ca. Application deadline is Nov. 24.

[caption id="attachment_17414" align="alignnone" width="400"] Hockey rink at Kandahar Airfield, December 2016, before a few boards were brought to Canada. Photo credit: Greg Dempsey[/caption]Captain Nicola LaMarre, CJOC PA ~Sport has long been known as a vital contributor to fitness, morale and esprit de corps of troops during times of conflict. From the fabled football matches between the British and German armies on a Christmas Day during the First World War to Canadian soldiers carving a hockey rink on a frozen river in Korea.Fast forward to 2017.When the Canadian Armed Forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 2014, a well-used ball hockey rink built by Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) engineers in 2006 at Kandahar Airfield was left behind.The wood of the hockey boards was rough, blemished with scuffs, scrapes and the tell-tale black marks left by countless jet black hockey pucks. The red paint on the Canadian Flag was barely visible in places, bleached by the relentless Afghanistan sun.Two sections of the Kandahar floor hockey rink boards were brought back to Canada with one section donated to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, and the other to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa where it will become part of the permanent Afghanistan display.Before being turned into a permanent exhibit, the War Museum brought it to the Invictus Games Athletes’ Village at the Sheraton Hotel, in Toronto. Access to see the boards was restricted to the athletes, friends and family and team coaches and support staff.For Corporal Mimi Poulin of Team Canada, seeing the Kandahar hockey boards took her right back to Afghanistan.“All of those chips, the worn paint, it was us, we put them there. I remember each night we would all lean against those boards to watch the game.”For many men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces the rink provided a...

[caption id="attachment_17421" align="alignnone" width="450"] United States Coast Guard members were lowered to the deck of B.C. Ferries' Coastal Renaissance. Photo by Corporal Nathan Spence[/caption]Lt(N) Melissa J Kia, MARPAC/JTFP Public Affairs ~On the morning of Oct. 25, B.C. Ferries’ Coastal Renaissance was far outside its usual route as it sailed between Salt Spring and Galiano Islands.The diversion from its standard trek was part of a multi-agency emergency response training exercise that involved 14 agencies in the region including the Canadian Armed Forces.Shortly after 8 a.m., residents surrounding the Trincomali Channel could see the beginning of Exercise Salish Sea 17.The “Mayday” went out over marine traffic services and 97 actors from Joint Task Force (Pacific) (JTFP), representing the ferry’s guests and crew, began their evacuation as sirens blared on board, and a simulated fire erupted on the car decks below.As the Coastal Renaissance enacted a full passenger evacuation by deploying escape slides and life rafts, JTFP and Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) assets sprang into action by deploying over 15 vessels including the ready duty ship HMCS Regina and an Orca-class patrol training craft from CFB Esquimalt.Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Victoria quickly called in air support from CFB Comox and 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, who launched helicopter and fixed wing aircraft to the aid of the stricken ferry, along with a crew of search and rescue technicians. Assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard came in the form of one of their ships and a Dolphin rescue helicopter to hoist passengers off the ferry’s upper decks. Once clear of the ferry, passengers were transported to a staging area on Salt Spring Island. British Columbia Emergency Health Services’ set to work helping the wounded. Teams of paramedics bent to the task of triaging and treating fictional injured, who sported life-like makeup simulating serious injuries and...

[caption id="attachment_17426" align="alignnone" width="450"] HMCS Venture graduate retired Capt(N) Wilf Lund displays the Venture Book of Remembrance in the Welland Room at Work Point. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~An unpretentious black, hard-covered book resides in a glass display case in the Welland Room at the Naval Officer Training Centre’s Kingsmill Building.Etched in gold and white letters on the cover it reads: HMCS Venture, In Remembrance.The book has 13 pages, each bearing the name of a pilot lost in the line of duty. These are 12 Venture graduates and one staff officer.The original was a moldy, moth-eaten item forgotten and buried in storage after the closing of Venture decades ago. It contained only eight names and had not been updated since 1968 when the original HMCS Venture closed.Discovered by Retired Captain (Navy) Ken Scott, the Collier Simulator Manager, in 1999, it was eventually recreated and updated by Retired Captain (Navy) Wilf Lund, HMCS Venture Association historian.“Having a Remembrance Book that remembers our fallen brothers is very important to us,” says Lund. “There is a cost of serving, even in peacetime there is a cost of serving.”A year ahead of Venture’s 2009 class reunion, Lund began piecing together the book by reviewing official records and consulting classmates and other Venture pilots close to 13 fallen military members.His intent was to confirm the data on the original eight and to identity any other Venture graduates killed in the line of duty since 1968.The job of identifying the fallen and retrieving accurate information on the individual crashes was not an easy one. The task was complicated as naval pilots were dispersed throughout Air Command after integration. But he applied strict historical research procedures to sift the evidence and remained objective in his research. In many cases there was conflicting...

[caption id="attachment_17417" align="alignnone" width="450"] Seguna works inside his Oak Bay solarium on one of his latest projects.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~When Lieutenant Commander (Retired) Paul Seguna sits in front of his easel, blank canvas before him, he draws on his 42-year military career as inspiration for his next piece of art.Four decades of service has brought him postings in 14 warships on both coasts, and deployments on Canadian Armed Forces operations in Rwanda, Bosnia and Kosovo.This is why much of his work pays homage to bygone eras of military activity, in peace and in war time, at sea and on land. “If you have an artistic bent and are creative, you apply your life experiences in the art you create,” he says.His artistry comes naturally, with no formal training, just a desire to release that burning idea onto the canvas. A set of pencils and sketchbook have never been far from him, even as a child growing up in Sydney, Australia.“I was continuously drawing everything and anything in my school note books,” he recalls. “It was a form of self-expression for me back then, and also today. People who have any kind of interest in art or music just seem to gravitate to expressing their creativity; it’s a natural process for me.”His paintings have been showcased in high-profile public art displays including the National Aviation Museum and National Archives of Canada.His preferred paints are acrylic and oil-based; his preferred canvas size 24” x 36”. Like other artists Seguna uses photographs as reference, but the end result is his vision.“Art can fill a role in visually telling the story; a role it shares with photography,” he says. “But art can also create those scenes that you might not get with a photograph. The power of the visual medium and the artist’s composition...

[caption id="attachment_17402" align="alignnone" width="450"] Master Corporal Phil Groleau, a fire fighter from HMCS Algonquin, works as FLYCO on board HMCS Winnipeg. Photo by Corporal Dave Payne[/caption]Major Jim Hutcheson, RCAF PA ~In January 2014, a joint Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) – Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) initiative was launched to transfer the vital role of helicopter crash rescue firefighting (HCRFF) on board RCN ships from fire fighters to hull technicians.The aim was to improve personnel efficiency, given Defence Renewal targets and the reduced crew space available on new ships.Since that time, Phase I of the transition has progressed smoothly and ahead of schedule. Hull technicians at the ordinary seaman/leading seaman levels have been fully trained and qualified to the required helicopter crash rescue firefighting standards, and they have now assumed this operational role on board all Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships.The initiative has recently entered Phase II, in which the sector commander (a master corporal) and flying coordinator (FLYCO) (a sergeant) leadership positions will be transitioned to the RCN. Adding to the complexity of the transition, the hull technician occupation is ending and personnel transferred to a new marine technician (MAR TECH) occupation that will incorporate the helicopter crash rescue firefighting skills and training. This will actually benefit the transition by providing a greater pool of candidates to assume these duties.“The RCN is committed to ensuring training requirements for HCRFF, sector commander and FLYCO are maintained during the transition to the MAR TECH occupation,” said Chief Petty Officer First Class Earl Weir, previously a marine technician occupation manager in Halifax, Nova Scotia.Chief Warrant Officer Gerard Slaunwhite, from the Office of the Canadian Forces Fire Marshal (CFFM), has been impressed by the progress of the transition.“The leading seaman crash rescue operations training and the petty officer 2nd class/master seaman FLYCO mentorship have both...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The legacies of two First World War heroes from Victoria will be the focus during a presentation by military historian MWO (Retired) Bart Armstrong’s at the Centennial Library in Saanich, Nov 1 at 1 p.m.Armstrong, a former member of Victoria’s 11th Service Battalion, Toronto Scottish (then the Princess Louise Fusiliers at Halifax, will speak at the branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library located on Tillicum Rd.Armstrong has re­searched and written extensively about Canadians who have received the Medal of Honor in the United States along with Canadian military history. His appearance is part of the Saanich Remembers World War One historical project.During the one-hour address he will discuss the legacy of Victoria’s well-known war hero and Victoria Cross recipient Lieutenant Commander Rowland Bourque of Canada’s Naval Reserves, who saved the lives of 40 men from drowning in Belgium. He will also focus on the mostly unheralded and forgotten war hero, Private Robert Gilbert of the Canadian Mounted Riffles. Gilbert who was black and fought at Vimy was never properly acknowledged for his bravery by Canadian or British military authorities, Armstrong says.Saanich Remembers World War One historical project is focussed on commemorating residents of Saanich who served for Canada in the First World War.Free registration at gvpl.ca/events.For more information, visit their website here.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Victoria Royals are offering free tickets to Defence team personnel for their Nov. 10 regular season game against the Edmonton Oil Kings.An initial block of 290 tickets are being released to the Base Chief for distribution and will be divided up equally amongst units for the Royals’ annual National Defence Team Appreciation Night game.Defence team members have until Nov. 3 to claim tickets requested through their unit representatives. Unclaimed tickets will go back into the pool of available tickets for sale.If demand outstrips supply, the Western Hockey League club will make more tickets available. For those unable to get their hands on free tickets, discounted $15 seats will be available to all Department of National Defence employees.Opening puck drop at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre is 7:05 p.m. Multiple military units and civilian support organizations will have displays at the game including 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, Naval Reserves, N3 Chief of Staff Plans and Operations, Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific), Regional Cadet Support Unit (Pacific), Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton, 5th (BC) Field Artillery Regiment, Personnel Support Programs, and the Military Family Resource Centre.National Defence Appreciation Night with the Royals will also include a metal-hockey-stick giveaway by FMF and displays that include a Vindicator aerial drone and boat by N3, dive truck from FDU and a Howitzer from 5th Field regiment, plus a 50-50 draw conducted by the Military Family Resource Centre.

[caption id="attachment_17389" align="alignnone" width="450"] Soldiers take down potential insurgents during a road block scenario. Photos by LS David Gariepy, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Capt Jeff Manney, 39 Signal Regiment PAO ~A Reserve communications unit based in British Columbia has won Exercise Jimmy West 2017.The team from 39 Signal Regiment, with squadrons in Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna and Nanaimo, emerged victorious – and drenched – following the Oct. 21 competition at CFB Esquimalt’s Albert Head and Heals Range facilities. Signallers from 38 Signal Regiment, including those from as far away as Thunder Bay, as well as troops from Edmonton-based 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG) also competed. Nearly 100 soldiers in all took part in the exercise.“It’s an amazing accomplishment for our Reservists,” says Maj John Perry, 39 Signal Regiment’s deputy commanding officer. “Despite competing against signallers who come to work every day, these Reservists, who train just one night per week, showed they can still compete at a high level. It’s proof we train – and can fight – to the very same standard.”The competition was built around six different events, testing basic soldiering skills and trade-specific competencies. Marksmanship, first aid, and the vehicle checkpoint stand – where signallers had to discern between locals and belligerents approaching a village – covered off skills any soldier must possess. Establishing a command post, running communication lines and rapidly setting up a mobile radio rebroadcast unit tested those skills at the core of the signaller’s function.The result, says Maj Perry, is a snapshot of the differing skill sets of signallers from across Western Canada.“Competitions like this provide commanders a better understanding of how their troops compare to others,” he says. “Sure, there’s bragging rights, but more importantly there are concrete examples of where units are strong or where more training is required.”There’s another benefit for the signallers...

[caption id="attachment_17386" align="alignnone" width="450"] Rosemary and Howard Shillingford, left, are greeted by GAC personnel and members of HMCS St. John’s Sea King detachment in Dominica to be airlifted to Douglas-Charles Airport on Sept. 24. Photo by HMCS St.John’s Air Detachment[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~The Commanding Officer of HMCS St. John’s says his ship’s company was able to provide much-needed help, including the rescue of Canadians, while deployed to the Caribbean Islands ravaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria.The ship returned to Halifax Oct. 1 after about three weeks in the region on Operation Renaissance, which saw St. John’s sail first to South Caicos and then to the island nation of Dominica.“When we got to the island of Dominica, it was obvious we were in a life-saving situation. We needed to get in there and rescue people who had been trapped because of the storm in outlying communities, so that was an immediate task for us when we arrived,” says Cdr Gordon Noseworthy.He described the damage to the Island as catastrophic, with once vibrant communities littered with overturned cars, heavily damaged structures and blocked or flooded roadways, and rural areas stripped of their greenery and buried in downed trees, branches and other debris.Work parties from the ship quickly got to shore to assist with debris cleanup and clearing roads. Technicians were able to help restore power to numerous generators and running water in some areas, and on board St. John’s, the ship’s reverse osmosis machines were used to make more than 27,000 litres of clean water that was brought to shore via Sea King helicopter.“The water was very much needed in that area, and we had locals waiting on land to immediately get those big bottles and start distributing it to people who needed it,” Cdr Noseworthy says.A highlight of the mission...

Sixty-four sea cadets from Ontario, the Prairies and B.C. sailed through the Gulf Islands for seamanship deployments aboard the Orca Class Patrol Craft Training vessels Raven and Caribou Oct. 15-28.During each of the one-week deployments, cadets learned navigation, engineering, maintenance and emergency response, including fire and man-overboard drills.Seamanship deployments are offered to senior sea cadets who have demonstrated leadership and knowledge at their home corps. The deployment also offers cadets an opportunity to learn from and work alongside Canadian Armed Forces members, an experience they cannot get anywhere else.This once-in-a-lifetime experience is provided at no cost to the cadets. The Cadet Program is Canada’s largest government-funded youth program and aims to develop in youth ages 12-18 the attributes of good citizenship and leadership, promote physical fitness and stimulate the interest of youth in sea, land and air activities of the Canadian Armed Forces.

[caption id="attachment_17377" align="alignnone" width="450"] Canadian Armed Forces members participate in a Cricket game during the National Sports Day on Oct 20. Photo by LS David Gariepy, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Fun was the true measure of victory as employees at the base ran, jumped, and volleyed their way into the win column during the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Sports Day tabloid on Oct. 20.The day’s activities for both military and civilian personnel kicked off with a five-kilometre CAF Sports Day Run.Despite the cool wet conditions, Leading Seaman Matt Walsh of Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) had a top run time of 17:55 on a race course that started at the Naden Drill Deck and wound through Dockyard and back.This was followed by a sports tabloid, which was a series of educational, fun drills for basketball, volleyball, squash, cricket, spin, swimming and rowing.Base Commander, Captain Jason Boyd, an avid sportsman and hockey player, took part in many of the day’s activities. He said everyone who participated in the event was a winner, while also noting it was plain to see everyone who came out for Sports Day thoroughly enjoyed themselves.“National Sports Day is the perfect reminder of how important sports and fitness are to all of us in the CAF. I was very proud to participate alongside so many fellow Defence team members in all the activities that were set up throughout the day. With all of the different sports available there really was something for everyone.”Approximately 350 participants turned out for the Personal Support Programs-led event.The weather and soggy sports field conditions put a stop to slo-pitch and seven-aside soccer tournaments.

[caption id="attachment_17348" align="alignnone" width="450"] Canadian Armed Forces CISM Men’s Epee Team, from left: Cpl Hugues Boisvert-Simard, SLt Kyle Deveau, and Cpl Clement Feminias-Metivet.[/caption] SLt Terence Kazimierczak, HMCS Vancouver Public Affairs Officer ~When SLt Kyle Deveau competed in last month’s CISM World Military Fencing Championships, it represented a means to honour not just the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) but also his father.In March, SLt Deveau’s father, MWO (Ret’d) Jackie Deveau, died in a hit and run. The elder Deveau played hockey throughout his 35-year career as an Avionics Technician in the Royal Canadian Air Force; he always said it was a great way to maintain friendships and strengthen the bonds within the military family.“After meeting many of the members my dad had played hockey with, it became clear to me how important the sport was to him and the people in his life,” said SLt Deveau. “I decided to rediscover a similar sense of purpose and the same sort or friendships that can only emerge as a result of sport.”Two weeks after his father’s funeral, SLt Deveau was fencing competitively again.Inspired by his father’s example, SLt Deveau set a goal: to get on the CAF CISM Fencing Team. After showcasing his talents at Provincials in Vancouver, B.C., he was accepted onto the team and began preparing for the 45th CISM World Military Fencing Championships in Acireale, Italy, held from Sept. 13-17.The CAF Fencing Team had no illusions about how challenging this event would be. Several athletes from other nations were Olympic medalists, and most of the Canadians had never competed at such a high level.“If it wasn’t for the CISM program, I would never have had the opportunity to represent my country on the international stage. I’ve watched these guys on YouTube, fencing at the Olympics and at World Cups. I...

Every year, as part of the National Veterans’ Week Speakers Program, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members give presentations at schools and other organizations across Canada.The key to the program’s success is the enthusiastic participation of Regular and Reserve Force members.The theme of this year’s program is “In Service to Canada.” By volunteering to be a speaker, you can share your story of service with Canadians of all ages.Anyone who would like to take part in the program can register at http://admpaapp.mil.ca/en/vet/speaker-form.asp.The site provides prepared presentations for various age groups, useful information on preparing your own speeches, and guidance on using social media.Last year, CAF members gave over 2,100 presentations, reaching more than 555,000 Canadians during Veterans’ Week.If you have any questions, contact René Coignaud, coordinator of the program, at 613-943-6145 or by email at rene.coignaud@forces.gc.ca or MARPAC OPI, Vicki Kellsey at 250-363-5566 / vicki.kellsey@forces.gc.ca.

[caption id="attachment_17340" align="alignnone" width="450"] Canadian pilot Larry Ricker soars high above the Saanich Peninsula during an Oct. 13 flight demonstration for the Vimy Flight: Birth of A Nation tour. Credit: Heath Moffatt Photography[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Those magnificent men and their First World War flying machines made one last flight, soaring high over the British Columbia Aviation Museum, located near the Victoria International Airport.Over the Oct. 14 weekend, Captain (Retired) Larry Ricker, lead pilot in the Vimy Flight: Birth of A Nation tour, delighted onlookers with demonstration flights in his replica Nieuport 11, a First-World-War-era bi-plane.Over 200 spectators attended the event that was the final stop in the group of 10 volunteer pilot’s 33 city, cross-country tour that began in May.Ricker is a pilot for Air Canada and says he marvels at the simplicity of the planes every time he steps in the cockpit.“The Nieuport is a true delight to fly, it’s a pilot’s aircraft,” he said after a smooth landing back at the museum. “You need to have your hands on the ­controls all the time when you are flying or you will get into trouble fairly quickly. It’s a challenging aircraft, probably the smallest I have ever flown.”Prior to embarking on their pan-Canadian tour in the spring, the Vimy Flight group loaded four Nieuports 11s, two Sopwith Pups, and one SE5A from the Canadian Flight Museum in Surrey into a Canadian Forces C-17 Cargo plane in Comox, which transported them to France. Vimy Flight pilots then performed before an international audience in a commemorative fly-past during 100th Anniversary commemorative events for the Battle of Vimy Ridge on April 9.Now their travelling air show is coming to an end with a final non-flying appearance at the Rooms Museum in St. John’s, Newfoundland on Nov. 11.“Now that we can see...

[caption id="attachment_17336" align="alignnone" width="450"] Members of the Royal Danish Navy’s Boarding Party climb-up HMCS Charlottetown as part of a cross-nation training exercise during Operation Reassurance on Sept. 18. Photo by Corporal J.W.S. Houck, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Lt(N) Meghan Jacques and LS Richard DonafeldOperation Reassurance Maritime Task Force ~Taking advantage of their time operating closely with NATO allies, the enhanced naval boarding party deployed in HMCS Charlottetown recently facilitated a combined team training exercise for the Royal Danish Navy’s boarding team from Her Danish Majesty’s Ship (HDMS) Niels Juel.Royal Canadian Navy ships each have a boarding party made up of crew members who have other primary duties. An enhanced naval boarding party is an additional team with specialized skills. It works with the regular boarding party to enhance the ship’s maritime interdiction operation capability.During this exercise, the enhanced naval boarding party worked with Charlottetown’s boarding party and the Danish boarding party, sharing knowledge while learning a different perspective.“This combined training with our Danish counterparts expands our team’s way of thinking and problem solving, while allowing us to see challenges in the maritime environment from a different angle and cultural perspective,” said Lieutenant (Navy) Jacob Killawee, Enhanced Naval Boarding Party Team Lead.“The Danish sailors are a class act bunch and were always eager to learn more. Meeting new people from different countries is always a great part about our job, as we get to go to work and be presented with new challenges every day,” he added.The Royal Danish Navy’s boarding team has 10 members, including one boarding officer and one assistant boarding officer. They visited Charlottetown on Sept. 18 and 19 to participate in the exercise.The training consisted of round-robin style stations, spanning topics including medical considerations, close-quarter battle, tactical movement, personnel handling, small arms weapons training and search techniques. As part...

[caption id="attachment_17332" align="alignnone" width="450"] The crew of Dark Star from CFSA prepare for one of the races held during the CFSA Regatta weekend under the watchful eye of skipper and race organizer Neil Porter. Photo by: Trina L Holt[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA) claimed the overall team title and earned three top individual finishes in this year’s Vancouver Island Racing Series (VIRS).This year’s edition of VIRS competition began in April and involved over 200 teams of sailors from sailing clubs across the Island competing in 13 regattas. Competition wrapped up with the Thermopylae Regatta hosted by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club Oct. 14 and 15.The CFSA had the top combined point total of any club in the competition. Three sailors led the way in the individual awards with LCdr (Retired) Graham Heath skippering his five-man crew aboard their yacht Pitoraq, amassing a combined total of 164 points. CFSA skippers Master Seaman Clay Mills and his Jaguar team, and Kerry Blaauw’s Final Dash team, took the other top spots finishing with 147 and 145 points respectively.This is the second consecutive year the CFSA has won the overall points total with skipper Anthony Zegers scoring the top individual score in last year’s series. LCdr Chris Maier of Naval Fleet School (Pacific) serves as the CFSA Commodore and says the victory bolsters the club’s strong reputation throughout the Vancouver Island sailing community.“Our reputation as a very competitive sailing club is well deserved and this win is a big deal,” said LCdr Maier. “We are the small club. We have a smaller membership and smaller budgets than many of our competitors, but our sailors know how to use sail, and sail fast.”The scoring system for the regattas allots different ratings for different classes of competing boats. Points in the...

[caption id="attachment_17327" align="alignnone" width="450"] Scott Maxwell – Executive Director, Wounded Warriors Canada. Credit: John's Photography[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A ground-breaking support program for military personnel, veterans and first responders suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other forms of trauma has launched in Victoria.With the new B.C. Afghanistan Memorial at Pioneer Square as a backdrop, Wounded Warriors Canada announced the introduction of its Trauma Resiliency Program (TRP).The Oct. 12 announcement came a day prior to the kick-off of the group-based training program in Sooke, the opening phase of an intensive eight-day trauma-resilient skills development training program.Developed by Dr. Tim Black, Associate Professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of Victoria, the program is being administered by the non-profit charity.The program is designed for people diagnosed with trauma-related injuries.Scott Maxwell, Executive Director of Wounded Warriors Canada, says all 60 spots for the roll-out at four separate trial sites were taken within a few days of the program’s introduction.“This is a completely new and first-of-its kind program,” said Maxwell. “The demand in the country for TRP is significant, and with our launch complete we now need to focus our efforts on making the program available to anyone who needs it.”The initial phase of the TRP, called Regulation for Recovery Training, is a three-day course on the nature of trauma-related injuries. The opening phase is designed to educate attendees on the delivery models of the program.The second and final phase of the course, Advanced Recovery Training, requires five consecutive days of intensive study with groups of approximately six people. At this phase they will develop skills, tools and resources needed in their recovery.“The program is trying to teach people resiliency through their injury and learn the skills and tools to manage it,” says Maxwell. “There are all sorts of recovery tools available, but...

[caption id="attachment_17300" align="alignnone" width="450"] The ship’s company of HMCS Montréal marches through the gates of Plouescat Cemetery. Photo by LS Dan Bard, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Lieutenant(N) Linda Coleman, Public Affairs Officer ~Crew members from HMCS Montréal recently took time from their operation to honour and remember the officers and sailors of HMCS Athabaskan who were lost at sea when the ship was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of France during the Second World War.The ship’s company and staff members from Canadian Fleet Atlantic embarked in Montréal for Neptune Trident 17-02 laid wreaths at the cenotaph at Plouescat Cemetery, France where 59 of the 128 sailors from HMCS Athabaskan are buried.The next day, as the ship transited north, crew members laid a wreath at sea over the area where HMCS Athabaskan sank. The wreath was laid by those who served in HMCS Athabaskan III, as they have a close connection to the ship and its history.“When I was at the cemetery yesterday, I was struck, as I usually am when I visit a war cemetery, by the age of the fallen,” said Cdr Sherban, Montréal’s commanding officer, during the at-sea wreath-laying ceremony.“Now imagine that you’re 18 to 20 years old – the same age as many of the sailors in the Athabaskan and indeed all of the fighting ships of the navy,” he said. “A year ago, you were finishing school, working on your family’s farm, trying to find a date for the next dance and suffering from all of that angst and awkwardness that sometimes afflict those who are young. Now you’re fighting for your life off a foreign coast wondering if you’re going to live or die. Imagine you at that age.”Cdr Sherban’s remarks served as a reminder of the horrors of war, the sacrifices made, and the importance...

[caption id="attachment_17310" align="alignnone" width="450"] Corporal Mark-Andre Bertrand-Bigras, a Medical Technician with Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific), administers a flu shot to his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Peckham, during a flu shot clinic in Dockyard. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]As flu season begins, military members are encouraged to get their flu shot to minimize the spread of the flu to co-workers and family members.The flu vaccine available to military personnel for the 2017/18 flu season is Fluzone, an inactivated vaccine containing four different strains of the flu virus. The vaccine is available now to all military personnel at the immunization clinic or in your Integrated Health Team.Military personnel have dynamic jobs, which can include national and international travel and living in close quarters with others. This can lead to increased exposure to viruses. We can all experience stress and overwork at times, which can also weaken our immune systems. You can even get the flu virus and not have any symptoms, but still spread it to others.Getting vaccinated means you are much less likely to get sick this winter, which in turn means you remain an effective member of your team. It also protects others in our community who have weakened immune systems from getting the flu such as children and the elderly.What is the flu?The flu is an illness most commonly caused by the influenza virus types A and B. Some people get mildly ill, while others get very sick.Flu symptoms usually include the sudden appearance of:high fever (39°C and above)coughmuscle achesOther common symptoms include:headachechillsloss of appetitefatigue (tiredness)sore throatrunny or stuffy noseSome people, especially children, may also experience:a stomach achediarrheanausea and vomitingIt takes one to four days for flu symptoms to appear after exposure to the virus. Most people recover from the flu in seven to 10 days....

[caption id="attachment_17303" align="alignnone" width="450"] LCdr Collin Forsberg, HMCS Brandon’s Commanding Officer, presents a cheque for $1,100 to Judy Sieb of Food for Thought, a charity that ensures all school children receive a healthy breakfast. Photo Credit: Lori Truscott, CFB Shilo Public Affairs Officer[/caption]LS Sydney Huyghe, HMCS Brandon ~Far from a traditional port visit, sailors from HMCS Brandon travelled to the middle of Canada to visit their namesake city in late September.The journey was made by Brandon’s Commanding Officer, LCdr Collin Forsberg, as well as MS Donald Merlo and LS Sydney Huyghe (a native of Manitoba). This was the first namesake city visit for all three sailors.The first day in Brandon included coffee with a reporter from the Brandon Sun newspaper and serving lunch at the Helping Hand Soup Kitchen. The soup kitchen experience proved to be a rewarding part of the trip for all three sailors, allowing them to represent their ship and the navy while giving back to the community. Later that afternoon, the three ship’s representatives visited New Era Elementary School where they spoke to Grade 1/2 split and Grade 5/6 split classes. The students had many interesting and sometimes amusing questions with most of the children having little to no experience with life at sea.Brandon’s ship’s sponsor, Betty Coleman, accompanied the crew during their second day in the city. Their first stop was the office of Rick Chrest, Mayor of Brandon, a visit that further developed the already close relationship between the city and its ship. Afterward, the crew were special guests at a Brandon Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Brandon’s delegation learned how the city’s small business owners are focused on attracting more young people and families.The crew was also given a tour of the 12th Manitoba Dragoons and 26th Field Regiment Museum. The tour was informative and allowed...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Athletes of all levels at CFB Esquimalt are gearing up for Canadian Armed Forces Sports Day.On Oct. 20, the Canadian military’s annual celebration of all things sport happens at bases across the country and around the world. The purpose of CAF Sports Day has little to do with wins and losses. Instead, the event is meant to be inclusive and has more to do with the “fun factor”, explains Heather Catte, Personnel Support Programs Sports Coordinator.“The real purpose of this event is for people of all levels of skill and experience to get out there and participate,” she says. “Sports Day is a great way to be physically active, try new sports and activities, develop new skills, build teamwork and camaraderie, and meet new people.”This year’s Sports Day includes three main components: a 5 kilometre National Sports Day Run, a sports tabloid and a variety of mini-tournaments.The action begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Naden Drill Shed with the National Sports Day Run. Participants are encouraged to arrive early, with proper Department of National Defence identification, to complete the registration process.At 10:30 a.m., the Naden Athletic Centre (NAC) will be the stage for the seven-event sports tabloid, which features basketball, volleyball, squash, cricket, spin, swimming and rowing.Mini tournaments also begin at 10:30 a.m. and involve slo-pitch, three-on-three hockey and seven-aside soccer. Registration for the mini tournaments closes on Oct. 16. To register, email Heather Catte at heather.catte@forces.gc.ca with your team name.Civilian employees at the base are also eligible to take part in the sports tabloid and mini tournaments, but will be required to sign an injury waiver before taking part.Those who take part in the sports tabloid or the mini tournaments can use participation credits earned as points for their unit’s Cock of The Walk team.Three...

On Oct. 19 at 10:19 a.m. CFB Esquimalt will take part in the 2017 BC Shakeout, a province-wide earthquake drill.The goal of the drill is to improve awareness and preparedness for major earthquakes. It encourages everyone to be better prepared on what to do before, during and after an earthquake.Vancouver Island sits next to the Juan de Fuca plate, which is subducting itself under the North American plate at the Cascadia subduction zone. This is the second largest tectonically active fault system in North America, and extends from northern California to Vancouver Island.The last large earthquake to hit this region was around 1700. That quake is estimated to have measured  8.7 to 9.2 on the richter scale.Though scientists are continually learning more about tectonic plates and the causes of earthquakes, they can’t predict when the “Big One” will come.This annual earthquake exercise provides an opportunity to check our preparations not only on base, but at home as well.Prepare to be without resources for at least 72 hours and quite possibly longer in the event of a large scale disaster.Prior to the exercise, all personnel should take the time to review the following procedures:Visit the BC Shakeout website for some great information: www.shakeoutbc.caFamiliarize yourself with the location of your building’s E-Box muster area. Locations are available on the DND intranet at: http://esquimalt.mil.ca/bcomd/baseops/Diasters%20and%20Emergencies.htmEnsure you have a personal emergency kit under your desk. Report any deficiencies to your Chain of commandWhen the exercise begins, personnel from Base Operations will activate the Emergency Operations Centre and take reports from the E-Boxes and outstations.Information on preparedness, assessing personal risk, family reunification, and more can be found at Emergency Management BC: www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~For three weekends this fall sailors from HMCS Calgary and volunteers from Boomer’s Legacy Foundation gave up their personal time and transformed themselves into heroes.Approximately 20 sailors from the warship and others recruited by the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) charitable fund grabbed their steel toed boots and tool belts and went to work for local charity HeroWork in a close to $300,000 renovation project at Anawim House.The downtown shelter serves as a day house and residence for the homeless and people living in poverty. It was the beneficiary of a HeroWork Radical Renovation, a project that brings together both skilled and non-skilled labourers in a project similar to an old-fashioned barn raising.During the weekends of Sept. 23, 30 and Oct. 7, civilian and military volunteers worked side-by-side and completed the renovation project.Work included: building a new nurses room, office, outdoor deck and bike repair shop. Volunteers also upgraded the kitchen and storage area, refurbished a large outdoor shed, and made extensive painting and landscaping improvements.HeroWork Founder and Executive Director Paul Latour said the project was completed without any major hitches or surprises. He was pleased the group was also able to achieve more than expected. Bonuses included extra landscaping work, a new staircase and a new roof for the outdoor shed.Latour noted the crucial role military volunteers have played since HeroWork was founded in 2012, including renovation projects for Rainbow Kitchen, the Mustard Seed Food Bank, Power to Be and others. He says whether military personnel are performing skilled or unskilled tasks they always bring something special to the table.“HeroWork is so impressed with the work ethic, intelligence and cooperation of military personnel and their ability to form teams and take direction or give direction when appropriate,” said Latour. “You immediately see that...

[caption id="attachment_17294" align="alignnone" width="450"] The 2017 San Francisco Fleet Week Iconic Photo representing the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the Royal Canadian Navy and the United States Marines. Photo by Elena Zhukova[/caption]Lt(N) Ellie Aminaie, HMCS Winnipeg ~Last week, HMCS Winnipeg attended Fleet Week in San Francisco, California. This six-day event was filled with activities and community relations events with Winnipeg actively participating in numerous engagements.Winnipeg also supported the Canadian Leaders at Sea (CLAS) program, where 23 community leaders, members of parliament and entrepreneurs sailed onboard the ship to San Francisco and back.During the three-day transit, the ship put its capabilities in warfare and damage control on full display. CLAS participants were particularly impressed by the skill and professionalism of Winnipeg’s sailors.Once alongside San Francisco, a group of Winnipeg sailors volunteered at St. Anthony’s Foundation, a non-profit organization that feeds and clothes those in need. The crew sorted clothing donations and served food in the dining room.They enjoyed the opportunity to share a meal with the 1,500 people who were served that day and to hear their personal stories.“It was a very rewarding experience for me to serve food and to have an opportunity to interact with the less fortunate,” said LS Pelletier, who served meals at the event. “It is a humbling experience to see so many people in need of a hot meal and it made me appreciate what I have.”During the Parade of Ships event, during which all participating ships sailed under the Golden Gate bridge in formation, Winnipeg had 60 guests embarked, including members of the United States Auxiliary Coast Guard, the San Francisco Police Department, the Port Authority and other members of the community.It was an especially great experience for the 12 children embarked who thoroughly enjoyed sailing onboard a warship. They got...

[caption id="attachment_17277" align="alignnone" width="550"] Photo by LS David Gariepy, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]HMCS Nanaimo left CFB Esquimalt on Sept. 28 to deploy on Operation Caribbe, Canada’s contribution to the campaign against criminal organizations in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. Nanaimo will conduct Intermediate Single Ship Readiness Training on its way to San Diego before embarking a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment and beginning operational patrols. This is Canada’s eleventh year participating in Operation Caribbe. Nanaimo will return to Esquimalt in December.

[caption id="attachment_17273" align="alignnone" width="550"] Left to right: Lieutenant Commander Tung Siu, Fleet Support Medical Officer, Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific), Chief Warrant Officer Mark Dankwerth, Fleet Senior Human Resources Manager, Base Commander Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd, Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Peckham, Commanding Officer Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific), Rear-Admiral Art McDonald, Commanding Officer of Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC). Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific) kicked off their annual Flu Shot Campaign for military personnel at the base by hosting a flu shot clinic at Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) headquarters in Dockyard on Oct. 4. Flu shots are not mandatory but highly encouraged for all members of the military. For more information about future clinics and drop-in appointments at the base immunization clinic follow CFB Esquimalt’s base intranet splash pages or call 250-363-4140.

[caption id="attachment_17270" align="alignnone" width="400"] LS (Ret’d) Mike Stevens[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A 13-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy has made an unconventional transition to the civilian work force, trading in the screens of a Naval Electronics Sensor Operator for a film director’s chair.With his first film selected for screening in the upcoming New West Film Festival in Vancouver, it seems Leading Seaman (Ret’d) Mike Stevens’ new career is a bright one.When it became clear in 2016 that his career in the navy was coming to an end for medical reasons, he had the option of returning to work in security or pursuing his decade-long desire to become a filmmaker. His wife Shannon encouraged him to follow his passion.So Stevens began attending the film program at Victoria’s Pacific Design Academy in September 2016 under the Department of National Defence Vocational Rehabilitation Program.Less than a year later, as part of his course requirements, he had produced the film Dee, an eight-minute suspense/thriller. To have it included in a festival is an affirming experience, he says.“For me to be part of the film festival is a huge shot in the arm just when I needed it the most,” says Stevens. “What it means to me is vindication and validation for the film, but also for the decision that I made to set out onto the new and unfamiliar path of filmmaking.”Stevens’ military career included working aboard warships as an Electronic Warfare and Above-Water Warfare specialist for six years before spending the last six at Regional Joint Operations Centre as a Watch Supervisor. He says the 12-hour shifts sitting in dark rooms in front of computer screens coupled with health problems eventually spelled an end to his days in the navy.Choosing the uncertainty of a completely new career over the guarantee of a...

[caption id="attachment_17266" align="alignnone" width="450"] Allied ships under Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) move into formation during Operation Reassurance. Photos by Corporal J.W.S. Houck - Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Lt(N) Meghan Jacques, Public Affairs ~In August 2017, HMCS Charlottetown deployed to the Baltic Sea on Operation Reassurance, joining the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1).The SNMG1 is a naval force made up of ships from NATO countries that are working together to reassure allies in the region of NATO’s ability to support stability and security in the region.“As part of routine SNMG1 operations, HMCS Charlottetown conducts patrols to improve awareness, which is used to monitor patterns of maritime and air traffic in the area of operations,” said Commander Nathan Decicco, Commanding Officer of Charlottetown.Part of the routine work of maintaining awareness is monitoring routine foreign naval and air activities.In early September, during Russia’s preparations for ZAPAD 17, Charlottetown and the embarked CH-124 Sea King Helicopter observed routine Russian air and naval activity while sailing in the Baltic.Charlottetown’s professional posture while observing Russian warships and aircraft was integral to maintaining situational awareness, maritime security, and stability in the Baltic region.“HMCS Charlottetown also participates in regular training serials with SNMG1 consorts, improving overall interoperability and is integrated in larger coordinated national and NATO exercises including Exercise Northern Coast in the Baltic Sea and Exercise Brilliant Mariner in the Mediterranean Sea;” said Cdr Decicco.Charlottetown excels at maintaining accurate real-time awareness while participating in concurrent advanced training serials. The concurrent tasks requires Charlottetown’s Operations Team to manage multiple simultaneous scenarios and maintain succinct and accurate tactical communications.