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Canada and the Battle of Vimy Ridge, 9-12 April 1917, a 149-page resource about the historic battle and those who fought in it, is available for free in e-book format.The e-book version of the work, which was originally authored by Brereton Greenhous and Dr. Stephen Harris, includes additional content by Department of National Defence historian Jean Martin. This vivid recollection of the experiences of Canadian soldiers in France is available for download in both official languages.The book may be used as an educational resource for those interested in learning more about this most significant period in our military history.You can find the e-book here: www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/docs/Vimy_e.pdf

[caption id="attachment_15751" align="alignnone" width="550"] Team Canada athletes gather for a group photo as they kick off their training camp at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence, April 3, ahead of the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Canada’s 2017 Invictus games athletes converged in Victoria last week for a training camp.Dressed in their black track suits and red Team Canada jerseys, approximately 90 current and former ill or injured military members filed off three Canadian Armed Forces buses April 3 to attend the kickoff at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE).They were then joined by coaches and support staff for an official welcoming in the main auditorium.“You are incredible athletes and human beings,” said Commodore Jeff Zwick, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, who spoke on behalf of RAdm Art McDonald. “Your courage and perseverance is an inspiration to us all. Our commitment to you this week is to help provide you with a first-class training experience.”More words of encouragement came from Michael Burns, CEO of Invictus Games Toronto 2017; Canadian Olympic Committee Vice President and 2016 Invictus Coach Peter Lawless; and PISE CEO Robert Bettauer.Athletes are training for Invictus Games Toronto 2017, to be held Sept. 23 to 30. More than 550 competitors from 17 nations will participate in 12 adaptive sports: archery, athletics, cycling, golf, powerlifting, indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis and a (Land Rover) driving challenge.Founded by Prince Harry, the Games have been gaining in popularity after the inaugural 2014 Games in London, England, and last year’s event in Orlando, Florida.Canada’s 2017 athletes were housed in CFB Esquimalt’s Work Point barracks for the duration of their stay. They also used the Naden Athletic Centre gymnasium for training and fitness evaluation.On the afternoon of April 5, Minister of National Defence...

[caption id="attachment_15745" align="alignnone" width="450"] LCdr Nicholas Marasco proposes to Stacey Brine on C Jetty.[/caption] Will Chaster, MARPAC PA ~ Proposals can occur in many different ways and places. From mountain tops to scuba dives, and anything in-between; the ways in which one can pop “the question” are endless. Last week that uniqueness unfolded in dockyard. As Stacey Brine stood at Duntze Head to watch HMCS Chicoutimi sail by, bringing home her boyfriend LCdr Nicholas Marasco after a deployment at sea, she saw an unusual sight. A line of submariners stood on the submarine’s surfaced hull holding up signs that spelled “Will you marry me?” Waiting in the wings to hear the response was Lt(N) John Pischedda. When she said “yes” he hollered to those waiting by the port flag halyard to raise the signal flags spelling out the affirmative response. “I knew something was up,” said Stacey “He’s got a really bad poker face.” When Chicoutimi came alongside C jetty, an eager, grinning LCdr Marasco climbed the gangway and dropped to one knee, in his hands, the traditional box with diamond ring. As the couple embraced the crowd of submariners and onlookers cheered. The two have known each other since age nine and have always kept in touch. “Things just went from there,” says Stacey. Now the couple are reviewing the calendar to pick a date for their wedding It may include a signal flag or two.

[caption id="attachment_15715" align="alignnone" width="425"] LS William Hull[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~One of the most generous givers of blood admits he cringes each time he sees a needle being cocked to penetrate his flesh, and that he doesn’t like the sight of his own blood.But that hasn’t stopped LS William Hull, a 50-year-old Naval Communicator with Base Information Services, from rolling up his sleeve and offering up a pint. On April 10, at the Chiefs’ and Petty Officers’ Mess, he will make his 474th donation to the Canadian Blood Services.“I totally hate it, every single time the needle goes in I look away and grit my teeth,” he says. “But I realize every time I give blood I am getting the chance to help someone, to save their life, or give them badly needed medical attention.”To give blood many people need to overcome needle phobia. LS Hull vividly remembers the first time he gave blood in 1984; he was 18 years old at the Canadian Red Cross on Wicklow Street in St. John’s, Nfld.“The first time is always the most anxious,” he says. “It can be overcome, and like many things inhibiting our dreams and aspirations in life it’s all about overcoming your fear and realizing the good that will come out of your action.”Following that turning point, LS Hull has made 209 White Blood Donations, the traditional way of donating a pint of blood containing red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma at one time, and 264 Platelet Donations, a procedure that produces blood transfusions beneficial to cancer patients.Patricia Willms, Canadian Blood Services Event Coordinator, characterizes LS Hull’s donation tally as “an amazing legacy of dedication”, while Territory Manager Ann Chabert describe donation No. 474 as a “huge milestone.”Others, including BIS Branch Petty Officer, CPO1 Darrel Downey also...

[caption id="attachment_15712" align="alignnone" width="450"] Rob Larman and Tiffany Ross lay a rose at the grave of Curley Christian (inset) to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and pay tribute to the war amputee veterans who started The War Amps.[/caption]War Amps ~The Battle of Vimy Ridge may have been 100 years ago, but it continues to have modern-day lessons for amputees like Rob Larman and Tiffany Ross of Toronto.Larman, who lost his leg at the age of 14 when friends dared him to jump a train, now directs The War Amps PLAYSAFE Program, while Tiffany Ross, 10, was born a left arm amputee and is now a member of the The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program.To mark the Vimy anniversary, they laid a rose at the grave of Ethelbert “Curley” Christian at Toronto’s Prospect Cemetery, in honour of the remarkable sacrifice Christian made at Vimy that continues to inspire young amputees today.Christian lost all four limbs in the Vimy Battle and is believed to be the only quadruple amputee to have survived the First World War. Despite his grievous injuries, he became a leading member of the newly established War Amputations of Canada and even returned to the battlefield for the dedication of the Vimy Memorial in 1936.“Curley Christian passed away in 1954, but he continues to have a legendary status in The War Amps for how he overcame his amputations, particularly at a time when disability was very much a hidden and taboo subject,” says Larman.He adds that laying a rose at Christian’s grave on behalf of The War Amps is both a way to honour him as a tremendous role model for amputees, and to put a face to the many Canadian soldiers who lost limbs at Vimy Ridge.“These young men showed great bravery,...

The family of Petty Officer First Class Wesley Gerald Derhak are profoundly saddened to announce his sudden and tragic demise on the 23th of March, 2017, while on vacation in Cuba.Wesley was a funny and fun-filled guy who lived his life to the fullest always seeking out his next adventure. He had a heart of gold and wasn’t ashamed or afraid to offer assistance to anyone who needed a helping hand, an attentive ear or a soft shoulder.He was truly loved and admired by his immediate, extended and military families, friends and co-workers, which is evident by the demonstration of positive messages of condolence through Facebook and other personal missives.He was deeply loved by his siblings and cherished favourite Uncle/Great-Uncle to his many nieces and nephews; he always took the time to maintain a connection with them through an email, a text or a quick call.Wesley was also a dedicated, loyal and courageous Airman/Soldier/Sailor with the Canadian Armed Forces. His long career began in October 1984 and was unique in that he proudly wore all three environmental uniforms while serving with the Regular Force as a Steward (Air Force/ Navy) and as a Land Communications Information Systems Technician with the Army Primary Reserve Force.He proudly served at Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters (MARPAC HQ) and Canadian Forces Fleet School (CFFS) in Esquimalt, B.C.; in HMC Ships Calgary, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Protecteur, Cowichan, Preserver, NCSM Skeena; at Canadian Forces Bases Calgary, Cold Lake, Halifax and Esquimalt; 1 Service Battalion Calgary, 741 Communications Squadron Victoria, B.C.; and Royal Roads Military College Victoria, B.C.Wesley is survived and will be sadly missed by his loving daughters Mellisa Derhak, Natasha Reardon and Sierra Moriaty; his mother Marilyn Derhak (Guelph, ON); pre-deceased by his father Morley Derhak (1999); and siblings Karl Derhak (Sharron) (Aylesford, NS), Romaine (Keith Rowe)...

[caption id="attachment_15706" align="alignnone" width="425"] Captain Zweng with her bike at Victoria’s Inner Harbour. She is leading a team of 20 Victoria-based cyclists in the Wounded Warriors Canada’s Battlefield Bike Ride. Photo by Jimmy Tran[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A team of 20 Victoria-based cyclists are supporting Wounded Warriors Canada with an April 9 Spin-O-Thon. The stationary ride fundraiser is part of the larger Wounded Warriors’ Battlefield Bike Ride from June 9 to 17, which will take the cyclists on a tour of Europe’s famous First World War battle sites.But before their trip across the pond riders must raise $4,000 each in support of the non-profit organization that assists former and current soldiers and emergency service workers suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and operational stress injuries.The Spin-O-Thon runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Uptown Shopping Centre’s Central Plaza. Taking turns, cyclists will keep their stationary wheels spinning for eight hours while counting on the goodwill of shoppers and passers-by to help them meet their fundraising target.Spin-O-Thon organizer Captain Jacqueline Zweng says the monies raised for this fundraising initiative go directly to Wounded Warriors Canada; the riders pay for the costs of their cycling tour.This year’s Battlefield Bike Ride will involve 150 military and civilian cyclists from across Canada converging for a 600-kilometre cycling tour through some of France and Belgium’s most famous battlefields, including Flanders Fields, The Somme, and Ypres Salient, with the conclusion at Vimy Ridge.Capt Zweng says most of the riders on her team, including herself, have a personal stake in making sure Wounded Warriors is supported in their mission.“PTSD and mental illness effects every single person in the military in some form, and the first responder’s community,” she says. “Everyone can relate to the issues of depression, anxiety or know someone who is suffering.”For her...

[caption id="attachment_15696" align="alignnone" width="550"] General Jon Vance (right), Chief of the Defence Staff, and Rear-Admiral Art McDonald (left), Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, take a moment for a quick photo Monday, March 27 in the Admiral’s office. Photo by Cpl Blaine Sewell, Formation Imaging Esquimalt[/caption] [caption id="attachment_15698" align="alignnone" width="550"] General Vance salutes the Colour Party (right) before inspecting the Guard of Honour at Duntze Head. Photo by Cpl Blaine Sewell, Formation Imaging Esquimalt[/caption] [caption id="attachment_15699" align="alignnone" width="550"] General Vance is welcomed to the base by Chief Petty Officer First Class Gilles Grégoire, MARPAC Chief Petty Officer. Photo by Cpl Blaine Sewell, Formation Imaging Esquimalt[/caption] [caption id="attachment_15700" align="alignnone" width="550"] Master Seaman Edwards receives a CDS coin for her support to Naval Training System transformation from General Vance. CDS coins are presented by the Chief of the Defence Staff to members for demonstrating hard work and outstanding contribution to the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Armed Forces. Photo by Cpl Blaine Sewell, Formation Imaging Esquimalt[/caption] [caption id="attachment_15702" align="alignnone" width="550"] General Vance talks about policy change in the Canadian Armed Forces during a town hall at the Pacific Fleet Club. Photo by Cpl Blaine Sewell, Formation Imaging Esquimalt[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_15693" align="alignnone" width="425"] The main drill hall at the Bay Street Armoury during the building’s 100 Anniversary celebrations in November 2015. Photos by John Azar[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Military Reserve units of Vancouver Island will cap off tributes to the 100th Anniversary of The Battle Vimy Ridge with an April 9 open house at the historic Bay Street Armoury.The Open House runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free to the public. It will pay tribute to the Island’s reserve units: The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) and the 5th (BC) Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery, 11 (Victoria) Field Ambulance, 39 Service Battalion, and 39 Signal Regiment, plus local cadet units.LCol Stephen Sawyer, Vimy 100 Open House Co-Chair and Commanding Officer Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s), says the event is family-themed and helps the Canadian Armed Forces educate and build stronger ties with the community.“Many people who drive down Blanshard Street or Bay Street see our Armoury, which looks like a castle, but nobody really knows what’s inside,” says LCol Sawyer. “We love having the opportunity to open up the doors and have an open house that commemorates one of the most significant moments in Canadian history. It is an excellent way for reservists on Vancouver Island to connect with the community.”Inspired by a military “Then and Now” theme, the Open House will include displays by military units and over 35 local museums, archives and history and heritage groups, a tea party featuring costumes and dress of the day, demonstrations, and performances from three military bands, and other musicians taking part in commemorative music programs throughout the day.At 12:30 p.m., there will be a brief ceremony for the arrival of Guest of Honour Brigadier General (Ret’d) J.E.L. Gollner.“Our event really speaks to the major impact the First World...

[caption id="attachment_15690" align="alignnone" width="450"] A Nation Soars Producer Tim Joyce of Sound Venture Production (left) and Canadian comedian/actor Dan Aykroyd, who worked as an English narrator on the three-part documentary series that highlights the work of the Vimy Flight Group and the role of aviators in The Battle of Vimy Ridge. Photo credit: A Nation Soars[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~On April 9, when five First World War replica aircraft soar high above Vimy Ridge marking the centennial of the famous battle, a Canadian film crew will be there to document the moment.Ottawa producer/filmmaker Tim Joyce of Sound Venture Productions and The Royal Canadian Geographical Society are behind a Department of Canadian Heritage sponsored trilogy of films commemorating the largely unheralded contribution Canadian aviators played in the Allies’ victory in the First World War.As the replica Nieuport 11 biplanes fly over the battle site tiny GoPro cameras affixed to the wings, cockpits and helmets of the pilots will provide what Joyce calls “spectacular coverage of the event.” They will also capture the fly-over from great vantage points on the ground at the actual ceremony site.This, along with footage captured with the pilots throughout the Vimy 100 week, will be the final scenes for their third documentary entitled Flight Path of Heroes, which is targeted for release November 2017 on the Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC).The A Nation Soars trilogy showcases the bravery of Canadian pilots and soldiers who fought in France. The final episode will present the history side to the story, along with a chronology of the commemorative squadron Vimy Flight, who will show off their magnificent flying machines to a crowd of over 20,000.“A Nation Soars and all its parts is by far the most ambitious project I have ever worked on, and filming the final documentary at this...

DND ~The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence laid to rest Second World War airman Sergeant Wilfred Lawson of the Royal Air Force at the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery on March 16.The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) assisted in the identification of this missing British airman when his remains were found three years ago.Sergeant Lawson was killed the night of Jan. 27-28, 1944, when his Lancaster II bomber, LL721 from 426 Squadron, was shot down near Berlin. Six other crew members were with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Three of them survived and were taken prisoner; two died and were buried in the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. The remaining two crew members (Sergeant Lawson and RCAF Pilot Officer Alfred Carlson) were declared missing.On Aug. 16, 2014, parts of the bomber were recovered in Germany, with the remains of one crew member, believed to be Sergeant Lawson. When DNA testing with one of Sergeant Lawson’s descendants proved inconclusive, DND offered to arrange a test with a descendant of Pilot Officer Carlson. The result excluded him as a match, allowing for the positive identification of Sergeant Lawson’s remains. As a result, he could be laid to rest with a name by his unit.The families of both Sergeant Lawson and Pilot Officer Carlson were invited to attend the funeral service.

[caption id="attachment_15651" align="alignnone" width="550"] Members of HMCS Winnipeg carry out helicopter drills with crewmembers from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron. Photo by Cpl Carbe Orellana, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]HMC Ships Winnipeg and Ottawa are on a six-month deployment to the Indo-Asian Pacific Region for Poseidon Cutlass 17. The deployment includes numerous opportunities to exercise with regional partner navies at sea, as well as take part in key events and engagements in ports across the region.

[caption id="attachment_15648" align="alignnone" width="425"] Vancouver Island Racing Series 2016 champion Antony Zegers, from the Canadian Forces Sailing Association, with his 25-foot sailboat Ducati. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~One of the Canadian Forces Sailing Association’s (CFSA) most successful competitive sailors is 40-year-old Antony Zegers, a former researcher with Defence Research and Development Canada.As skipper of Team Ducati, Zegers and his four teammates claimed first place in last year’s Vancouver Island Racing Series (VIRS) involving approximately 200 teams sailing in a series of regattas and races held throughout the calendar year, including the cornerstone event, the Swiftsure International Yacht Race.Team Ducati was one three teams from CFSA to finish in the top five. Plus CFSA captured the VIRS Best Team Trophy awarded to the club with the best overall point total.“I felt very proud and appreciative of the whole team. We had a good crew and lots of people worked together to do it, so winning was a very satisfying experience,” says Zegers. “The whole process of competing in the regatta series is highly rewarding, interesting and a true challenge because sailing is something you are constantly trying to improve on.”Club members involved in the racing series were honoured during the CFSA annual awards banquet in February.The other two top finishers were Team Jaguar skippered by MS Clayton Mills who tallied 84 points to finish third, and Team Pitoraq led by Graham Heath who finished in fifth place.Zegers grew up in Kingston, ON, and learned to sail from his father Tony, a former competitive sailor who once tried out for the 1976 Montreal Olympics.Zegers said he drifted away from sailing in his early 20s after education and work took up most of his time. Then in 2006, when his work took him to CFB Esquimalt, he reconnected with...

[caption id="attachment_15642" align="alignnone" width="425"] Captain Brent Handy, an RCAF pilot from 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, will fly Bill O’Reilly’s Nieuport IIs in the historic flypast during the main ceremony at Vimy Ridge next month. Photo by Major Dave Wood[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~At the moment when five replica First World War planes make a symbolic pass over Vimy Ridge Memorial April 9, Major (Retired) Paul O'Reilly says he will be choking back tears.The fly over is part of the Veterans Affairs Canada-led ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and retired military pilots and one from the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will be in the cockpit.Two Sopwith Pups, four Nieuport 11s, and one SE5 were placed into a CC-177 Globemaster III and flown to France March 15. The Sopwith Pup replicas, built by Canadian Museum of Flight volunteers along with air cadets from 746 Lightening Hawk Squadron at Langley, British Columbia, will be used for static displays.One of those Nieuports belongs to O'Reilly. The single seat French fighter plane is affectionately nicknamed Bébé by French pilots, but re-dubbed Pokey by O'Reilly. With careful precision the planes were loaded into the belly of the massive transport aircraft as proud owners closely watched.“My wife Nancy could see I was really getting choked up because it was like seeing a dream come to fruition and realizing this was actually happening. Attending the ceremony will be a far more emotional moment for me,” says O’Reilly.The 69-year-old Brentwood Bay resident enjoyed a 34-year military career as a Sea King pilot with the RCAF, and later as a flight instructor. He also worked at CFB Esquimalt from 1995 to 1999 in an administrative position with the Maritime Air Group Detachment (Pacific).“After I retired from the military I mistakenly thought...

[caption id="attachment_15639" align="alignnone" width="425"] HMCS Scotian, located on the Halifax waterfront, has been home to Naval Reservists for the past 70 years.[/caption]Lt(N) Sean Ritchie, HMCS Scotian ~Friends old and new are invited to share in the celebration of HMCS Scotian’s 70th year of service to the Royal Canadian Navy and the Halifax region this April.With a storied and rich history, the celebratory weekend will be one of fond memories as we honour our past and look towards our future.The 70th Anniversary weekend will be highlighted by a gala held in the newly christened Tribute Tower at CFB Halifax on Saturday, April 22. The evening will begin with cocktails at 6 p.m. followed by a dinner at 7 p.m. Diners will enjoy their meal while the music of the Stadacona Band satisfies their eardrums.At 9 p.m. there will be a dance with music provided by Halifax’s own Satori.Tickets went on sale March 15, at a cost of $60 per person. If you are interested in attending contact SCO70th@forces.gc.ca by April 1 in order to secure your spot. Dress is semi-formal with an option to wear Mess Kit.A limited edition coin will be also be sold to commemorate the milestone. Further updates will be provided on the HMCS Scotian Facebook page, which will highlight the unit’s history each Wednesday leading up to the event. We hope to see you there.

[caption id="attachment_15633" align="alignnone" width="425"] Lieutenant-Commander Paul Smith, Commanding Officer of HMCS Summerside, hands out donations to students from St. Edwards Primary School in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Photo by MCpl Pat Blanchard, Canadian Forces Combat Camera, DND[/caption]Alex Calder, MARLANT ~While off the west coast of Africa on Neptune Trident 17-01, HMC Ships Moncton and Summerside came alongside Freetown, Sierra Leone, for a port visit.The two Kingston-Class ships set sail for Africa Feb. 18. While deployed they will work with regional allies and partners by contributing to maritime security, capacity building and enhancing mutual understanding in the Gulf of Guinea region, off the West Coast of Africa.“This is a new mission for the RCN (Royal Canadian Navy) to send two of our patrol ships to Africa to work with a number of partner countries,” said Rear-Admiral John Newton, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic, before the ships departed. “We do this kind of business with the United States and with our allies in NATO, and I think these young sailors and ships are perfect for the mission of helping the zones along the African coast of reaching a higher level of competency.“We are asked by the government to respond to world crises on a regular basis. What has changed is our ability to communicate, and our ability to put things into the context of capacity building worldwide, helping other navies, like this mission, and responding to humanitarian disasters.”The visit to Freetown was one of many strategic engagements the ships will make during their deployment.“The City of Freetown was settled by Nova Scotians. Freed slaves from the American Revolution that migrated to Nova Scotia lived here, and then in 1792 1,500 of them headed out on two ships to settle Freetown,” said LCdr Paul Smith, Commanding Officer of Summerside.“To be a part of that history,...

[caption id="attachment_15630" align="alignnone" width="425"] Team Canada captain Bruno Guevremont (centre) holds the Invictus Games flag at the conclusion of the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, Fla. The flag was passed to Guevremont to introduce the 2017 Invictus Games, which will be held in Toronto in September.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Next week 90 athletes for Canada’s 2017 Invictus Games team will use CFB Esquimalt as their preparatory training camp.The athletes, along with 11 coaches and support staff, are preparing for the international athletic competition for ill or injured current and former military members, to be held Sept. 23 to 30 in Toronto.The third Invictus Games Toronto 2017 will bring together 550 athletes from 17 nations to compete in archery, athletics, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, and golf.Team Canada athletes will be housed in Work Point barracks for the duration of their stay.“The team is really excited to be gathering at CFB Esquimalt for the first time as Team Canada to meet their peers, coaches and other members of the support staff,” said Greg Lagacé, Team Canada Manager. “We’re eager to get going and Victoria is the ideal location in Canada at this time of the year to provide necessary training opportunities for these incredible athletes.”Naden Athletic Centre, the Pacific Institute of Sports Excellence, Commonwealth Pool, Victoria Bowmen Archery Club, and four area golf clubs will serve as training venues for the athletes.Morning and afternoon fitness evaluations and training sessions will take place in the gymnasiums along with team practice sessions for power lifting and sitting volleyball.Lt(N) Krista Seguin, a Naval Logistics Officer who works in the Clothing and Small Arms Office in Dockyard, will be competing in her first Invictus Games. Lt(N) Seguin will compete in the sitting volleyball and power lifting events. In...

Since 2014 the Government of France has been awarding their highest medal, the Legion of Honour, to Canadian veterans that participated in the liberation of France in 1944.Many veterans have now received this great honour; however, many veterans may not even know it’s available.The Legion of Honour is a significant official medal equal to the Order of Canada. Living Canadian veterans who saw service in France or directly supported the liberation campaign between June 6, 1944, and Aug. 30, 1944, may be eligible.There is no cost or fee involved. If you would like to apply there is a one-page application form on the Veterans Affairs Canada website or you can contact Guy Black at korea19501953@yahoo.com and use the subject, Canadian Veteran, or send a letter addressed to Legion of Honour C/O 515 – 95 Moody Street, Port Moody, BC V3H 0H2.

[caption id="attachment_15562" align="alignnone" width="425"] LS Spencer Baldwin is at the helm of Sea Smoke, a Bavaria 38 Cruiser, during the Route Halifax Saint Pierre Ocean Race in 2016.[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff ~Being out at sea in HMCS Charlottetown is normally easy-peasy for LS Spencer Baldwin.But change out the warship for a racing sailboat, and then add 40-knot winds and a shorthanded crew to the mix, and easy-peasy is gone with the wind.That was the case last summer when LS Baldwin joined Skipper Captain Mike Evans, a weapons tactics analyst at CFB Halifax’s Trinity, and sport sailing veteran, on his Bavaria 38 Cruiser Sea Smoke to compete in the Route Halifax Saint Pierre Ocean Race.The world-class event is held every two years, with participants racing 365 nautical miles from Halifax to Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a set of French colony islands off the coast of Newfoundland.LS Baldwin is a second generation Royal Canadian Navy sailor, and he’s taking after his father, PO1 (Retired) Dean Baldwin, who has also been active in the offshore racing community.LS Baldwin said he’s been sailing recreationally since he was a child, and had been planning for years to try his hand at an ocean race. When he came back East after a posting to Esquimalt, the timing was right and he linked up with Capt Evans.“I’ve been doing harbour races all my life and I was just dying to do an offshore race,” he said.Unfortunately, a number of factors added difficulty, and nearly cancelled the race entirely for Capt Evans and his crew. An injury forced a highly experience civilian crewmember out at the last minute, forcing them to take on a sailor who wasn’t familiar with the boat, and during the race itself, seasickness rendered another veteran crewmember unable to play a large role.This left...

[caption id="attachment_15559" align="alignnone" width="425"] Former Su Casa rescue dog Boots looks up from the front door of a playhouse built for him by his owner in his new adopted home.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A Canadian Armed Forces member who spends her spare time caring for abandoned dogs at her Shawnigan Lake home has been told she has to move.The homeowner is putting the house up for sale and Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Alana Power and her dogs have to be out by March 31.The sailor has helped rehabilitate approximately 200 dogs since she started her non-profit Su Casa Rescue in 2013.“My life revolves around the dogs and it doesn’t stop with this move, so this has been hugely disruptive for not only my personal life but the shelter too,” she says.The good news is she’s on the hunt for a house of her own. But she doesn’t have the funds to build a shelter on the property. So she’s turning to the community to help re-build Su Casa Rescue.“I immediately knew I needed help and couldn’t build a shelter myself,” said PO1 Power.In February PO1 Power started a Go Fund Me Campaign and increased posts on her SuCasa Facebook page to drum up the much-needed support.She has plans to build individual living quarters for each animal - “doggie-sized condo” with a window and sleeping area.The support from both the military community and general public has been overwhelming. By early March $7,000 of her $50,000 goal had been met. Two people, one anonymous and one from HMCS Regina, each donated $1,000 and this brought her to tears.“I cried because it made me feel that people value what Su Casa Rescue is doing,” said PO1 Power.It’s not just cash donations she is seeking, but building material donations and pet supplies.She became...

[caption id="attachment_15556" align="alignnone" width="425"] Members of the HMCS Ville de Québec ice canoe-racing team approach the finish line at the Québec Carnival Ice Canoe Race on Feb. 5. Photo by Cpl Eric Girard, Combat Camera[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff ~A team of daring sailors from HMCS Ville de Québec recently competed in what is becoming an annual event for the ship, the Carnaval de Québec Ice Canoe Race.The unique event sees up to 40 teams of five traverse nearly four kilometres of the frozen Saint Lawrence River in their heavy canoes, pushing and paddling through freezing water and over large chunks of ice.HMCS Montcalm sailors, the Naval Reserve unit in Quebec City, have become veterans of the race, training through the winter and entering a team each year. Ville de Québec, however, entered their first five-person crew in 2015, and the team can only manage to squeeze in a couple days of practice each time before the main event.Despite the difficult and sometimes dangerous nature of the sport of ice canoeing, it’s proven popular with the crew over the last three years and sailors have to fight for a chance to be on the team and compete in the race.For the 2017 race, held Feb. 5, the team from Montcalm placed 10th overall, while the Ville De Québec crew were the last group to cross the finish line. But when it comes to ice canoeing, the competitive results are less important than the physical will and tenacity required to complete the frigid course. On that front, both navy teams can claim another successful performance at the Carnaval de Québec.

[caption id="attachment_15553" align="alignnone" width="425"] LS Matt Corbett, a hull technician in Athabaskan, was presented the plaque from the ship’s Junior Rank Mess by CPO1 Fred McCrea, who came back to his former ship for the final day sail on Feb. 8. Photo by Cpl Tony Chand, FIS Halifax[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff ~As the final crew of HMCS Athabaskan prepared to say goodbye to the storied ship, they took it out for a final day sail from Halifax Harbour with more than 100 special guests.Retired sailors, former personnel, and even a few former Commanding Officers took advantage of the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) invitation to spend the day with the crew and head to sea for a last time.This Athabaskan was the third RCN ship to bear that name, and all three ships were represented in some form during the final day sail.Second World War veteran David Stewart, now in his 90s, travelled from Ontario to be on board. A former naval communicator, he sailed during the war, but it was his brother, Signalman Bill Stewart (RCNVR), who was lost at sea when the first Athabaskan was sunk in 1944. He shared the sad memory of coming back to shore and being given the news that his brother’s ship had been downed by a German torpedo. But he said it was a very positive experience to step aboard a modern destroyer, meet some of this generation’s sailors, and feel the rocking of the sea once again.“I’ll remember this day for the rest of my life,” he said.Gordon Stewart, 82, left the navy as a Leading Seaman almost 60 years ago, and his final ship was the second ship to be given the Athabaskan name, a Tribal-class destroyer. Stewart was a Torpedo Anti-Submariner; he was excited to get a glimpse at the...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Ottawa-based Directorate of Fitness Team (DFIT) is looking for 80 volunteers from Esquimalt to take part in a high-tech fitness study beginning next week.Armed with electrodes and heart monitors, members of the DFIT Team will study the heart beats and sleep patterns of approximately 600 Canadian Armed Forces members nationwide this year. It’s all part of an effort by the branch of Personnel Support Programs (PSP) and Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) to improve its current fitness strategy following a February 2015 directive from the Armed Forces Council.Dr. Michael Spivock, Senior Manager Health Promotion Delivery PSP and co-author of the study, is encouraging anyone interested in taking part to enroll during information sessions at Naden Athletic Centre March 28, 29 and 30. Spivock says the latest study is a huge departure from standard data collection methods by DFIT because this new study does not rely on self-reporting methods such as standard health and fitness questionnaires, but instead hard science.“It’s the first objective assessment of people’s true activity patterns,” said Spivock.He noted those participating in the study will do so anonymously. Instead of their name, rank and personal details being collected, they will be given a number when they register with the purpose being to gain a general snapshot of CAF member fitness.“Participants are being advised to be themselves and live their lives as they normally would,” said Spivock. “We tell them it is not a contest to see how physically active they are and how they stack up against others, but that we are trying to get a better sense of their heart rate, sleep patterns and how it relates to physical activity.”Studies have already been completed at bases in Comox, North Bay and Kingston, and one was underway aboard HMCS Montreal during a...

[caption id="attachment_15547" align="alignnone" width="425"] The crew of HMCS Oriole participated in a Pre-Deployment Ceremony at Ship Point in Victoria’s Inner Harbour on March 10. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~An enthusiastic 20-person crew of tall ship HMCS Oriole has begun their historic voyage, setting sail for Canada 150 celebrations on the East Coast later this summer.The navy’s 31-metre ambassadorial sailing ketch departed Esquimalt Harbour March 16, the beginning of a journey southward down the Pacific Coast, through the Panama Canal and on to Charlottetown, PEI.The ambitious voyage is not only a chance to take part in the celebration of confederation and nationhood, but also Oriole’s first voyage to Canada’s East Coast in over 30 years. If all goes according to plan, Oriole will take 14 weeks to complete the voyage and cover 10,000 nautical miles (16,000 kilometres) says the vessel’s Commanding Officer, LCdr Mike Wills.“I have been an avid sailor for most of my life, so I’m extremely excited to be taking part in Oriole’s journey on the high seas. The most exciting parts of this deployment will be taking part in Canada’s 150 celebrations and also the tall ships festival.”Six days prior to their departure, the crew, senior Royal Canadian Navy leadership, representatives from local First Nations communities, and family and friends gathered for a Pre-Deployment Ceremony on March 10 at Victoria Harbour’s Ship Point. Elder Maryanne Thomas and Elder Elmer George of the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations offered a blessing and song ahead of the journey.The two Elders were then presented gifts of appreciation from LCdr Wills and Capt(N) James Clarke of Canadian Fleet Pacific. In naval tradition, Capt(N) Clarke wished the crew “fair winds and following seas”  while at the same time saying he was envious of the crew.“I am a wee bit jealous...

Three female sailors with HMCS Calgary were asked a series of questions in recognition of the March 8 International Women’s Day.Lt(N) Sara Kucher, MARS Officer How long have you been in the CAF/RCN?I have been in the CAF since July 1999; I was a CIC Officer in Alberta and B.C. prior to becoming a MARS Officer in 2011.What made you join the CAF/RCN?I wanted to support my local cadet corps in the best way that I knew how and in order to be the Training Officer for my cadet corps I had to become a CIC Officer. As time progressed I was able to foster my love for travelling and my desire to work on the bridge of a ship. After moving to Victoria I chose to become a MARS Officer and realize a dream that I’d had since I was a teenager.What is your favourite thing about serving in the military?As cliché as it sounds I love the opportunities I have to travel and get a glimpse of the world and other cultures. However, on a day-to-day basis I absolutely love the fact that I get to meet and work with so many new and interesting people. I’ve been able to grow as a person and as a leader from my experiences with the people that I work with; each person has taught me something new and I look forward to meeting many more people in the future.What is your biggest challenge?My biggest challenge is finding a balance between work and family. I love to sail, but I also love watching my children grow and helping them to become the amazing individuals that they are and will be.Do you have any advice for women joining the CAF?My advice to women is no different than my advice to anyone joining the CAF - just be you, everyone has something to offer and once you find what you’re good at and what makes you happy, keep at it. Never stop learning....

[caption id="attachment_15510" align="alignnone" width="400"] Photos courtesy Regional Cadet Support Units (Pacific)[/caption]Capt Peter Fuerbringer, RCSU(P) PAO ~For Johnathan Dimalanta and Matthew Lozhkin, there are few words to describe the wide ranging vistas and diverse landscape of Chile.Dimalanta and Lozhkin were among 18 army cadets from across Canada who travelled to  Chile in February as part of this year’s international expedition to the globe’s southernmost nation.“I experienced sights that absolutely left me with a sense of awe,” said Dimalanta, a Vancouver-based cadet from 72 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps.“I haven’t travelled too much in my life, but experiencing the culture and the terrain in Patagonia are experiences I won’t ever forget.”The International Expedition departed Feb. 10 from the Vancouver International Airport with the group spending 13 days in the country, starting in Punta Arenas and working their way through some of the world’s most beautiful terrain in the Torres Del Paine national park.Dimalanta and Lozhkin were among 18 of the most accomplished army cadets in Canada selected to make the voyage, along with Cadet Leaders Amelie Asboth (Ontario), Meghan MacNeil (Nova Scotia) and expedition leader Jeff Davis (British Columbia).The journey included cultural experiences, challenging hikes, kayaking, and field craft. Every day in Chile brought with it its own set of challenges, unforgettable moments and personal rewards for each cadet.“Chile definitely helped me define my path forward, what’s important to me and what isn’t — things like staying connected with people, nature, and the friends I made on this journey are certainly things that matter in life,” said Lozhkin, a B.C. cadet with 1867 Royal Canadian Cadet Corps in Delta.While the expedition took them to some of the most famous places on earth for outdoor adventurers, including the peaks of Las Torres and the glacial waters of Lago Grey, it was the conversations...

[caption id="attachment_15513" align="alignnone" width="400"] Little Ordinary Cadet Connor Tse couldn’t see over the heads of his Cadet friends until Rear-Admiral McDonald picked him up and held him high above his colleagues. Photo by Deborah Morrow[/caption]Deborah Morrow, Contributor ~This year marks the 100 anniversary of the Navy League in British Columbia, and to kick off the year of celebration cadets from the Navy League Cadet Corps Captain Rankin of Vancouver toured the base and dockyard, and had a sleepover in the Work Point barracks over the March 4 weekend.The weekend included a tour of HMCS Regina, Dockyard, and the base Naval and Military Museum, where the youth received lessons from Navy League Lieutenant Commander Cliff Mah about the history of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).A visit from Rear Admiral Art McDonald, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, was an added bonus. He chatted with the cadets, asking about their program and giving them a sincere navy welcome. Nine-year-old Ordinary Cadet Connor Tse beamed with delight when RAdm McDonald held him up high so he could see over the heads of his colleagues and view the dockyard landscape.“The navy is now real to them,” says LCdr (NL) Mah. “Spending time with working members of the RCN is the only way to give them a firsthand glimpse inside the navy.”On Sunday the cadets travelled back to Vancouver with a lifetime of stories for their families and peers.Over their three days on the base they learned it takes a fleet of ships to make a navy, which not only includes warships, but other types of ships in support roles. The Navy League Officers gave ordinary kids extraordinary opportunities and will lead the path to the next hundred years of British Columbia’s Navy League.About the Navy League of CanadaThe Navy League of Canada was initially formed in...

[caption id="attachment_15506" align="alignnone" width="425"] SLt Vincent Roy, Musical Director of the Naden Band, takes a break while practicing a new arrangement of the national anthem he created for the Music Branch of the Canadian Armed Forces. SLt Roy began working on his one-size-fits-all ensemble in 2012. It is now the official arrangement used by military bands across the country. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~For decades O Canada has been a trusted staple for Canadian Armed Forces bands, but now military musicians will play from slightly different sheet music.The national anthem has been revamped by Sub-Lieutenant Vincent Roy, Commanding Officer of the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, in time for Canada’s 150th celebrations across the country.While he was the bandmaster of 14 Wing Greenwood’s volunteer band in 2012, SLt Roy was approached by the Canadian Armed Forces Supervisor of Music, LCol Stephen Murray, to create a new arrangement that could be used in any given circumstance, such as a parade, a concert or a military tattoo.“The average person may not notice all the differences [from the old version] but a trained musician would,” says SLt Roy. “The biggest change to this arrangement is the switch in key from F to Eb, which makes it more manageable for singers. There are also a few chord changes that give the new version a slightly different colour.”He worked on the updated music on his own time, writing ideas out on paper and then testing them out at the piano to see if they would fit. After years of work, the Music Branch submitted his arrangement for final approval from Ottawa.“I needed to stay close to the conventional version though,” says SLt Roy. “I was excited to work on a new arrangement, but also knew it would be...

[caption id="attachment_15501" align="alignnone" width="425"] Cully, a four-year-old Australian Shepherd.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~It is noon at the MARPAC Health and Wellness Expo and the crowd streaming through the Naden upper and lower gyms is robust and noisy.At one booth in the lower gym an Australian Shepard sits attentively by his owner’s side. Sensing the rise in his anxiety from the activity beyond the booth, the dog gently nudges him, nose to leg. This is the signal it’s time for his owner to take a break and head outside.The dog, Cully, is a specially trained service dog to (retired) Master Seaman Tyson King. The booth they man together is for VI (Vancouver Island) K-9 Consulting and Training Inc, a business that specializes primarily in training service dogs, and also behaviour reconditioning and obedience.For King, his service dog is helping him deal with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) brought on by two back-to-back tours in the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s that included the Battle of Medak Pocket. At the time, he was a reservist from the North Saskatchewan Regiment. He returned to Yugoslavia in 1996 after his direct entry into the 2 Battalion Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry in November 1995. In 1999 he re-mustered to the navy as a marine engineer.Undiagnosed anxiety, hypervigilance (an acute state of detecting perceived threats) and night terrors slowly engulfed his daily life. His mental illness was finally diagnosed in 2014, 20 years after his last tour.“Anything can set it off for me but big crowds, loud noises like gun fire, banging, construction zones, fireworks; the smell of rotten meat and walking on grass can sometimes trigger negative reactions from things that happened to me in Yugoslavia,” explains King. “But Cully has been crucial in my going off medication. He instantly recognizes what I’m going...

[caption id="attachment_15495" align="alignnone" width="400"] Members of Thiepval’s crew maintain the ship’s main armament, a 12-pounder cannon mounted on a platform in the bow. Thiepval’s limited weaponry was sufficient for the ship’s peacetime patrol work. After being transferred to the West Coast from Halifax, Thiepval’s duties included counting seals, patrolling against rum-runners, and ensuring that American fishing boats did not enter Canadian territorial waters. Years after Thiepval’s 1930 sinking, divers raised this gun and placed it on display at nearby Ucluelet, British Columbia. Photo by George Metcalf Archival Collection, Canadian War Museum[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A team of Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) clearance divers travelled to the waters off Ucluelet, B.C., last week to begin remediation work on a First World War ship laying on the sea bed.The wreck of HMCS Thiepval is submerged approximately 15 metres in Parks Canada waters and is believed to contain unexploded ordnance within its cargo.Following service in the First World War, the 44 meter-long Battle Class Trawler was conducting a routine patrol in Barkley Sound near the Broken Island Group on Feb. 27, 1930, when it struck a rock between Turret and Turtle Islands and sank.Lieutenant Commander Chad Naefken, Commanding Officer of the dive unit, says the sunken vessel’s close proximity to shore and its easy accessibility to civilian divers has made it necessary for the Canadian Armed Forces to remediate the site. LCdr Naefken says the remediation project has two main aims.“The protection of our Canadian military heritage, as well as working to safeguard the environment. This is an integral part of our practices at Fleet Diving Unit. Our navy divers continuously demonstrate their ability to effectively keep our marine environment safe for all.”[caption id="attachment_15496" align="alignnone" width="320"] The HMCS Thiepval was a naval trawler built in 1917, the seventh ship built at the Kingston Shipyards. This class of ship was used for antisubmarine patrols. Photo by Canadian War Museum[/caption]From March 6 to 9 a team of five clearance divers and two support staff conducted...