News

[caption id="attachment_11972" align="alignnone" width="296"] Rear-Admiral Gilles CouturierCommander MARPAC/JTFP[/caption] HMCS Winnipeg welcome homeOn Feb. 23 HMCS Winnipeg returns to be re-united with families and friends after an extremely successful eight-and-a-half month deployment.I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to the entire crew of HMCS Winnipeg for your devotion to duty, excellence at sea, and resilience in the face of many challenges. You have come together as a ship’s company and demonstrated to all our allies the Royal Canadian Navy’s capability and commitment to international maritime security.The focus of your mission was the six-months spent on Operation Reassurance, during which time you served with two Standing NATO Maritime Groups in support of NATO’s mission to build maritime situational awareness in the Mediterranean Sea and European waters. Your work on Reassurance has strengthened our reputation in NATO as a dependable ally and skilled fighting force.It is also important to recognise that you were engaged in operations both before and after Operation Reassurance. Upon the start of the deployment, you conducted surveillance patrols in the eastern Pacific Ocean in support of Operation Caribbe, and on your return transit to Canada, you participated in counterterrorism and maritime security operations in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean in support of Operation Artemis.During the final month of your deployment, you continued to further Canada’s Strategic interests through port visits in India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan. During your visits you promoted Canada’s security and national interests and advanced the RCN’s interoperability with other navies.Since starting this extensive mission in June 2015, you have circumnavigated the globe and sailed more than 53,875 nautical miles, spent 254 days at sea, operated with 102 ships from 20 other navies, and visited 17 different countries. Your ship’s CH-124 Sea King Helicopter flew more than 200 sorties totalling more than 500 flying hours.I...

[caption id="attachment_11930" align="alignnone" width="300"] Stuart Hodgson speaks with an Inuit mother and daughter at Grise Fiord on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut.[/caption]Lt(N) Gwil Roberts, HMCS Discovery ~A memorial service was held for a Canadian legend, Stuart M. Hodgson at HMCS Discovery in Vancouver Jan. 14.Hodgson was grandfather to Able Seaman Evan Hodgson, a naval reservist.The large gathering of family, friends, dignitaries, colleagues, military and RCMP members was an opportunity to commemorate the man who believed so strongly in one ideal: service to Canada.While best known for his time as the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories (1967-1979); Hodgson also served as the Chairman of B.C. Transit and B.C. Ferries, and was a citizenship judge, and before all those careers, a sailor in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).He was born in east Vancouver in 1924. He dropped out of high school to work as a labourer in a local plywood mill. In 1942, at the age of 17, he joined the navy, much to the dismay of his Quaker father, but to the delight of his Anglican mother. Recruited at HMCS Discovery, Stuart was trained as a naval gunner and sent to Northern Ireland for convoy duty on board HMCS Monnow, which included the harrowing and bitterly cold Murmansk run.“It was there that he got a taste for the Arctic air,” quipped the Honourable Suzanne Anton, Attorney General and Minister of Justice for British Columbia.The Monnow was credited with sinking a German U-boat and Hodgson’s gunner crew downed a German Junkers Ju 88 aircraft. That action and the ensuing death of a German survivor would affect Hodgson for decades to come.Discharged at Discovery as a Petty Officer in 1945, he returned to work at a south Vancouver plywood mill.“The navy set the course for the rest of his life,” said Commodore Marta Mulkins, Commander...

Whether you’re a beginner or an old pro, a membership in the CFB Esquimalt Golf Association has many advantages.The club has corporate membership at Olympic View, Arbutus Ridge and Glen Meadows Golf Clubs. In addition, thanks to local golf courses, club members enjoy reduced rates at Bear Mountain, Cowichan and many more golf courses. The end result is reduced green fees and membership privileges making the game of golf more accessible and affordable to the MARPAC/DND community. “I think we are the best kept secret on the base. And thus, I want people to know that anybody can become a member of our club,” says club president Lt(N) Mohamed Ali Gudal. “More than anything else our club allows you to enjoy the game at greatly discounted rates and also make new friends and socialize.”Also included with the membership is an opportunity to become BCGA and Golf Canada member for only $20, giving members an opportunity to post scores online and track an official handicap with the governing body.The 500-member club is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and the club’s incoming president is calling on all MARPAC military, DND public servants, veterans, serving RCMP and Honorary Colonels and  Captain(N)s and their families to join their ranks in 2016.The three-tiered annual membership begins at $35.The club organizes a season opening tournament in early May, an annual road trip in early June – this year in the Whistler B.C. area, and an annual championship tournament in early September. The club subsidizes these events, thus enabling its members to enjoy more golf at a reduced rate. In addition, every tournament participant wins a prize, or two.To find out more about the CFBEGA visit their website at: www.cfbega.ca

Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~It’s expected on Feb. 24 that a sea of pink wearing runners will trot the five kilometre fleet run route.To support National Anti-Bullying Day in Canada, the Fleet Run has moved from its usual Thursday time slot to Wednesday, and everyone across the Formation can wear pink to work, the colour that represents taking a stand against bullying.  “The pink t-shirt identifies those participating as part of organized opposition to bullying,” says Michael Holt, Director of the Civilian Human Resources Centre (Pacific).Holt believes the run is a crucial step for CFB Esquimalt to promote the importance of having a safe and respectful workplace for all.“I think it’s necessary to understand that a respectful workplace really does involve everyone,” says Holt. “So having that endorsement from the Formation for people to wear pink really shows a demonstrated effort to support the cause.”In order to accommodate the pink civilian wear for military members, Dress with a Difference Day will move from Friday, Feb. 26 to the 24.Special anti-bullying pink t-shirts can be purchased at London Drugs for $9.80. Net proceeds from the sale will go to the Boys and Girls Club of Victoria.  As per its usual route and time, the fleet run begins at A Jetty at 8:30 a.m. and finishes at the Dockyard gym. Snacks will be provided at the gym for runners.The genesis of Pink Shirt Day:Anti-Bullying Day or Pink Shirt day is a day when people wear a pink shirt to symbolize a stand against bullying, an idea that originated in Canada. It is celebrated on various dates around the world.The original event was organized by David Shepherd and Travis Price of Berwick, Nova Scotia, who in 2007 bought and distributed 50 pink shirts after Grade nine student Charles McNeill was bullied for wearing a pink shirt during the first day of school.Bullying continues to be a major problem in our schools, workplaces, homes, and over the Internet. On Pink T-Shirt Day wear something...

[caption id="attachment_11919" align="alignnone" width="300"] Capt(N) Steve Waddell, Base Commander, readies for the ceremonial opening puck drop at the Oldtimers Pacific Region hockey finals. Taking the drop is Tritons’ LCdr Bill Ansell and Capt Roger for the Silver Totems.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Men’s Senior Tritons hockey squad are kings of the Pacific region, and now have a shot at national glory.The Senior Tritons scored a convincing 6-1 win in game three of their best-of-three series against the Comox Silver Totems, Feb 10 at Wurtele Arena.With the victory, the Tritons now advance to the Canadian Armed Forces Oldtimers Hockey Championship, which will be hosted on base March 6 to 10.The Tritons started the regional playoffs strong with a 3-1 victory in the series opener on Feb. 9, but their up-island rivals made them sweat in the second game when they leveled a 4-3 overtime win in game two later that day.“We came out flat in that game and we took a ton of bad penalties which Comox capitalized on,” said Senior Tritons assistant coach MS Andrew Johnston. “We got our discipline back for game three and returned to doing many of the crucial things it takes to be successful in hockey, like staying disciplined and buying into our system and game plan.”MS Johnston credited the game three turnaround to some standout play by CPO2 Ken Simoneau, along with some good “chemistry” between forwards RAdm Gilles Couturier, LCol Gordon Peckham, and Capt(N) Jason Boyd.MS Johnston is remaining up-beat about the fortunes for this year’s national tournament chances despite a fifth place finish at last year’s nationals at CFB Borden in Angus.“I think we can compete with the competition at this year’s finals,” said MS Johnston. “But we will need to play with greater intensity from the opening puck drop to the final...

MARPAC Health & Welness Expo from Lookout on Vimeo. Katelyn Moores, MARPAC PA ~Members of the Defence community and their families crowded the Naden Athletic Centre last Thursday for the MARPAC Health and Wellness Expo. This annual event was organized by the Lookout Newspaper and the MARPAC Health and Wellness Strategy team, and showcased over 100 local vendors specializing in education, fitness, recreation and health services.Last week’s Expo is just one of the ways the MARPAC Health and Wellness Strategy team works to promote a culture of health and wellness within the Formation. The team consists of six working groups that concentrate on five key priorities: active living, addiction free living, healthy nutrition and weight wellness, organizational wellness, and social and mental wellness.One of their main goals is to break down barriers that might prevent people from improving their mental and physical health.In April 2015, they worked with senior leadership to introduce a new smoking policy that brought MARPAC in compliance with the Non-Smokers Health Act. CFB Esquimalt was one of the first military bases to align with this policy, which prohibits smoking on DND property except in designated smoking areas. According to Maryse Neilson, Health Promotion Manager and strategy team member, there were over 240 areas on base that allowed smoking prior to the new policy. This number has since been reduced to 39 designated areas.“If it was simply about education we wouldn’t have the issues we see, so we know there are cultural issues as well,” says Neilson. “It’s not about shaming a person who smokes, but about creating a culture that promotes healthy choices.” In addition to the new smoking policy, the team has also significantly increased the number of healthy food options available within the Formation. These changes included increasing the number of fruit and vegetable options available...

[caption id="attachment_11907" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lt(N) Haley van Poorten in HMCS Vancouver’s engine room.[/caption]Katelyn Moores, MARPAC PA ~“This is awesome!” That was Lieutenant(Navy) Haley van Poorten’s reaction the first time she went on board a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) frigate when it was alongside Vancouver in 2011.She was taken on a tour of HMCS Winnipeg by a friend, a Maritime Surface and Sub-Surface Officer, who wanted to show her the ship after telling her for years she should join the navy.After working for six years as a structural engineer in Victoria and Vancouver, the Ontario native was ready for a change. She decided to join the RCN three-and-a-half years ago.“With my last job, every year I would  think about moving to a different company until I realized it wasn’t the company’s fault, I just wasn’t enjoying what I was doing,” says Lt(N) van Poorten, now an Assistant Marine Systems Engineering Officer. “I don’t think that at all now. Every day I come to work with a smile, just happy to be here, and that’s what was missing before.”She is currently posted to HMCS Vancouver, completing a year-long training billet to become a Marine Systems Engineering Officer.The Marine Systems Engineering department is responsible for the readiness, operation and maintenance of all the ship’s systems not involved in combat or reconnaissance. These include propulsion systems, power generation and distribution, ship and machinery control systems, ship stability, and damage control.“Basically, we are responsible for everything that allows the ship to become a home, and that allows it to move through the water,” explains Lt(N) van Poorten.She had a wealth of useful knowledge with a Master of Engineering in Structural Engineering, but lacked the in-depth understanding of specific marine systems that her new position required. To gain this knowledge she completed an intensive two-year training...

Katelyn Moores, MARPAC PA ~Members of CFB Esquimalt gathered last Thursday to mark the conclusion of this year’s Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC).With a drum roll playing, Captain (N) Steve Waddell, Base Commander and Chair of the 2015 GCWCC, unveiled the large cheque that declared a total of $448,000 has been raised.This money will help support the United Way, HealthPartners and a number of other registered Canadian charities, including Esquimalt’s Military Family Resource Centre.Capt(N) Waddell presented the cheque to Patricia Jelinski, CEO of United Way Greater Victoria, and Therese Boullard, HealthPartners B.C. representative, and expressed his appreciation for the phenomenal contributions made this year by the Defence community.“I’d like to recognize everyone who participated in the campaign, including the dedicated volunteers,” said Capt(N) Waddell. “Once again, we have achieved success, and all of these funds will go to communities we are attached to, and to the people each of you were thinking about when you made your donations.”Part of the success of this year’s campaign can be attributed to the outstanding involvement of the Formation, with all individual units and ships throwing their own GCWCC kick-off events and developing unique fundraising options that made it easy for members to participate in the campaign.These events included weekly soup challenges, barbecues, Dress with a Difference Fridays and 50/50 raffles. In addition, Canadian Armed Forces members, including Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, joined forces with the Victoria Royals in October for a charity hockey game that packed the rink with over 200 fans. From senior leadership to crews away at sea, the entire Defence Team came together during this campaign to help those in need.“Your dedication to public service is evident, not only your service to your country, but in the $448,000 you have raised,” remarked Therese Boullard.Taking place...

[caption id="attachment_11870" align="alignnone" width="300"] Dental Hygienist Reine RIcher Laflech prepares for a patient at the Dockyard Dental Clinic, a few weeks before she retired.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Dockyard dental hygienist Reine Richer Lafleche, 61, estimates she has uttered that familiar phrase “open wide” more than 50,000 times in her 42-year military and civilian career.But at the end of her last shift on Jan. 28 Reine said the catch phrase for the last time, officially putting down her scalers, polishers and hand mouth mirror.She says it was time to let go of the physically demanding task of providing oral hygiene services to military members and head into retirement.The difficult part was saying that last goodbye to her patients.“I love working with people on a one-to-one basis and helping them, so I will definitely miss this,” said Lafleche “I mentioned to my patients that this will be their last teeth cleaning done by me and they were disappointed, but I know it’s time for me to move on.” Hence, it is always better to get professional dentist checkup from Vinterbro TannlegesenterA trip to the dentist can often make the bravest of sailors, soldiers and air men and air women cringe in fear. But her co-worker WO Marla Buchanan, senior dental hygienist, says Lafleche was a “steadying” figure for her patients.“I don’t know how she was able to continue working as a hygienist for so many years,” she says. “It’s a very demanding job, physically taxing on the back, arms, hands and wrists.”It’s a trade that can easily lead to over-usage injuries such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and back and neck problems, but Lafleche says she owes her longevity in her trade to a healthy lifestyle and the satisfaction she got from patients.   During her career, she estimates she has inspected and maintained somewhere...

[caption id="attachment_11866" align="alignnone" width="300"] Above: Leanne Harel, MFRC Childcare Supervisor, reads aloud a children’s book to a group of five to eight year olds in accordance with Mary Gordon’s Seeds and Roots of Empathy philosophy.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~ Founder of the Seeds and Roots of Empathy program, Mary Gordon, toured the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) daycare Jan. 25, where she viewed a literacy circle of three-to-five year olds.Both Seeds of Empathy and Roots of Empathy foster social and emotional competence and literacy skills in children, and reduce aggression in children while increasing empathy.Both programs have been run by the MFRC for 10 years. Seeds of Empathy is done in the MFRC’s three-to-five year old daycare. Roots of Empathy is facilitated by the MFRC in a kindergarten class at Crystal View Elementary School. Children between three and five years of age begin to discover empathy, and the program accelerates this learning through creative exercises such as literacy circles, art and drama activities.“To have a program that puts children in touch with how they feel, and how other people feel gives children personal power that enables them to build lasting relationships,” says Gordon.At the beginning of the Seeds of Empathy program, an infant is brought into the class to interact with the preschoolers. Gordon says the baby is the teacher and modeller of emotions, and the preschoolers learn to label feelings by watching the baby.“Children learn their own emotional literacy by recognizing emotions on the baby’s face, and then are able to recognize the feelings of others, such as in the faces of characters found in books shared during literacy circles,” explains Leanne Harel, MFRC Childcare Supervisor, who has been teaching the program for six years.The program is especially crucial to children of military members who may be facing additional...

[caption id="attachment_11861" align="alignnone" width="300"] Help continues for homeless Veterans[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff writer ~Front line volunteers working to get Victoria’s homeless veterans off the streets are applauding a recent policy switch by the new federal government.Along with plans by the Liberal government to reopen nine Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) regional offices, hire 400 additional staff, and create two centres of excellence, including one specializing in mental health, PTSD, and related issues, there is also a pledge by the VAC’s new minister Kent Hehr to tackle the “unacceptable” problem of homelessness amongst veterans.“We are developing a homelessness strategy in collaboration with partners and stakeholders that will identify gaps in existing policies and programs, and will propose evidence-based mechanisms that will focus on the elimination of veteran homelessness,” Hehr said in a statement. “Area offices are strengthening partnerships with community organizations across the country and coordinating efforts to identify homeless veterans, and use the community housing and support services to help them.”Employment and Social Development Canada recently released a report that paints a picture of the state of homelessness among veterans. It states that 2,250 former CAF personnel account for 2.7 per cent of nation’s homeless population of 150,000.  The study surveyed occupants at 60 homeless shelters across Canada and found that 16 per cent of female veterans reported being homeless on more than one occasion, and the average age for homeless veterans staying at shelters is 52, compared with an overall average of age of 37.Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Jonathan Vance, was equally concerned with the report’s findings, stating, “It’s shocking in Canada that we would have a veteran who is homeless, but it is a sad reality.”Angus Stanfield is the Royal Canadian Legion’s Yukon/B.C. Command president and founding director of Cockrell House, a group that helps homeless veterans.He says...

[caption id="attachment_11857" align="alignnone" width="300"] In the final stages of its disposal process, the former HMCS Protecteur in Dockyard’s C Jetty, Feb. 3.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~ The former HMCS Protecteur is entering the final stages of the disposal process when it leaves Esquimalt Harbour in the next few weeks.The disposal process, at large, involves removing all electronics, communications, weaponry and other equipment onboard the vessel in accordance with the Surplus Crown Assets Act and the Treasury Board Directive on Disposal of Surplus Material.Plans are underway to have the ship leave in February to be towed to Nova Scotia for final disposal.  The 171.9-metre long vessel is undergoing preparations in Dockyard’s C Jetty before it begins the 7,600 nautical mile journey down the Pacific coast, through the Panama Canal and then onwards to Atlantic Canada.“These preparations also include removing large quantities of liquids, ensuring the platform stability is correct, handling security concerns and reviewing contractual remits,” said Lindsay Tessier, from ADM (PA).Protecteur’s final destination is R.J. MacIsaac Construction Limited’s (RJMI) facilities in Port Mersey (Liverpool), Nova Scotia. RJMI won the $39-million scrapping contract for Protecteur and Algonquin.Algonquin, an Iroquois-class destroyer, was paid off June 11, 2015, and is currently undergoing a similar disposal process with an expected departure date targeted for April 2016.

DND ~Understanding the need to fully and properly recognize serving and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and their families, the CAF will transition from the record of service card (NDI75) to the CFOne Card as the recognition card of choice.As part of this transition, the CAF will cease processing of the NDI 75 effective Feb. 1.The CFOne Card will be available to all serving and former members of the CAF and their families. Veterans of the CAF will receive a specially designed card that rightfully distinguishes them as a veteran of the CAF. Details for how to obtain a CFOne Card are available through CFMWS and at the website located at www.cf1fc.caWhile the NDI 75 card will no longer be in production, the certificate of service documentation (DND 2279 or CF 707 and CF 54) will continue to be provided to all retiring and transitioning members of the CAF as they finalize their administrative requirements prior to departing the CAF.Respective URS will continue to provide the DND 2279 and CF 707 documents for members with less than 10 years of service and DMCA will continue to provide CF 54 for members with more than 10 years of service. For more details please refer to Commander MPC web page of the military human resources records procedures publication (MHRRP) http://upkprod.desc.mil.ca/hrmsp/eng/data/toc.htmlRequests for information regarding the new CFOne Card will be redirected to CFMWS who will provide more details within the coming weeks.

The contest runs the duration of Security Awareness Week, from Feb. 8 to 12In support of Security Awareness Week, Robert Whitwall, N61-2 Headquarters Security Officer, has set up a fake single person cubicle on the third floor of D100 with an array of physical and IT security infractions for D100 personnel and visitors to discover.Physical security infractions can include leaving protected documents on an unattended desk, or not properly securing sensitive documents and passwords. IT security infractions include using unauthorized drives in workplace computers and leaving computers logged on while unattended.“Security is everybody’s business, not just people in the security world,” says Whitwall. “We should all be aware of our surroundings and if we see something that is out of place or looks wrong, it should be mentioned. The more people are aware of their security environments, the safer our work environments will be.”Whoever spots the highest number of infractions will receive a prize.  The contest runs the duration of Security Awareness Week, from Feb. 8 to 12. Anyone interested in participating can stop by the cubicle and fill out a form provided citing the infractions they notice.On the Naden side, Base Administration Branch personnel can review a mock workstation in N30 Base Orderly Room, and list all security infractions. There is also a security quiz located in the lobbies of the Wardroom, Nelles, and the Naden gym. Please note restricted areas require you to ensure all personnel are escorted accordingly.  If successful in any of the above exercises, you could be the winner of some cool prizes.

[caption id="attachment_11875" align="alignnone" width="300"] The Men’s Senior Tritons hockey team.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Men’s Senior Tritons hockey team are putting on hold any grandiose dreams of national home-ice hockey glory, at least for now.In order to qualify for the Canadian Armed Forces Oldtimers Hockey Championship, to be held at CFB Esquimalt March 6 to 10, the Tritons will first need to defeat up-island rivals the Comox Flyers this week in a best-of-three regional championship series at the Wurtele Arena.The official puck drop for game one on Tuesday, Feb. 9 is at 9 a.m., with game two at 7:30 p.m., and if necessary a game three tie-breaker Feb. 10 at 2:30 p.m. The players and coaching staff hope hockey fans at the base lend their support at both games.“It would be terrific to get some support and get the fans out to Naden and behind us for the regional championships,” said MS Andrew Johnston, assistant coach.“We know it’s really tough for people to get away from work during the day, but the amount of fan support can really make a big difference for us.”The winner of this week’s series advances to represent the Pacific region in the Canadian Armed Forces Oldtimers Hockey Championship, competing against Quebec, Prairie, Ontario and Atlantic region teams.CFB Valcartier won last year’s five-team national finals held at CFB Borden in Angus, Ont. while the Tritons placed fifth.Top players on this year’s Esquimalt squad include winger LCdr Bill Ansell, Capt(N) Jason Boyd who plays centre, and play-making winger RAdm Gilles Couturier.“We have many senior officers on our team, but as far as hockey is concerned, as soon as a player enters our dressing room everyone’s an equal member of the team,” said MS Johnston. “That’s why being part of this team is all about the hockey experience,...

[caption id="attachment_11833" align="alignnone" width="300"] Brigadier-General Nicolas Eldaoud and Colonel Dan Harris present the Military Family Coin to Scott Murray during the launch of the Calian Military Family Doctor Network at Toronto’s Military Family Resource Centre Jan. 20.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Calian Health, a national healthcare services company and Canadian military healthcare provider for over 10 years under the HSSC contract, announced the launch of its Military Family Doctor Network Jan. 20.The company collaborated with Military Family Services to develop the program, which aims to improve access to family physicians for families of serving Canadian Armed Forces members.“A healthy family means a healthy serving member, which means a healthy and strong Canadian Armed Forces,” says Scott Murray, Vice President of Health Services at Calian.While military members are provided health services in the military healthcare system, military family members must rely on provincial healthcare systems. As a result, military family members have difficulty finding family physicians following postings.“An estimated four million Canadians still do not have a family doctor, so it’s not an entirely unique problem for the military, but it is compounded by the fact that military families move around so much,” says Murray.Murray says Calian considered how they could improve this situation for military family members.“We have a network of 145 clinics that we manage on behalf of Loblaw at store locations across Canada, including No Frills and Real Canadian Superstores. As a result, we have pre-existing relationships with the roughly 400 family physicians practicing at these clinics; so we asked our network of physicians to consider opening spots at their practice to military families.”To make use of the program, military family members need only visit their local Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC), where they fill out a form requesting information about their healthcare needs. Calian then reaches into its...

[caption id="attachment_11823" align="alignnone" width="211"] Family members of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel and veterans can now make use of DFIT.ca For Families.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~ Family members of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel and veterans can now make use of DFIT.ca For Families.It is a newly opened portal on the DFIT website that provides access to fitness and health programming previously only available to serving members.“Supporting the culture of fitness in the CAF has meant providing military members with the tools and resources they need to be fit and fight,” says Daryl Allard, Director of Fitness, Sport, and Health Promotion at CF Morale and Welfare Services in Ottawa. “But if we really want to impact the culture of fitness, we have to support family members of those serving.”The DFIT website was launched October 2012 in an effort to broaden the reach of fitness programming to military members, as part of the Canadian Armed Forces health and physical fitness strategy.“The DFIT website generated quite a bit of momentum initially,” says Allard, who adds that within the first six months of the launch about 10,000 people had registered with the site, eventually increasing to 28,000 registered users. “But momentum has slowed down, so we wanted to move beyond Regular Force members and cater to the community that is one million strong, including family members and veterans.”Allard and his team partnered with the programming company Kinduct Technologies to re-develop the original DFIT site, making it more mobile-friendly, quicker to load, and easier to manoeuver, meaning users can access the site to follow workouts on their phone while at the gym.New upgrades include a specialized fitness program generator that allows a member preparing for deployment to enter his or her health and fitness information into a system to produce an individualized fitness program.“You can enter the number of weeks you have until deployment, how many weeks you’d like to work out, whether or not you have access to fitness equipment, and your level...

[caption id="attachment_11820" align="alignnone" width="300"] A/SLt Song has developed a logo and podcast website, and has recorded 15 podcasts to be uploaded on her website[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Four weeks ago, a close friend of Acting Sub-Lieutenant Melinda Song, 27, encouraged the podcast-lover to go on air.Fast forward to now, that idea has turned into a reality.A/SLt Song has developed a logo and podcast website, and has recorded 15 podcasts to be uploaded on her website, iTunes, and other Android podcast apps, such as Pocket Casts, Podcast Republic, and PodOmatic for her “Mission: Possible. A Podcast of Young People, By Young People, For Young People.”Podcasts are short, episodic recordings of interviews, talk shows, and other forms of digital media that can be downloaded for free on the Internet. Users can subscribe to hundreds or even thousands of podcasts depending on their personal interests, and can upload them to devices such as the laptop or cellphone.The benefit of podcasts, says A/SLt Song, is that a user can listen to them while doing most daily activities, spicing up chores, a long drive, or a workout.Each of A/SLt Song’s bi-weekly podcasts feature an interview with a different inspirational guest speaker. The overall goal, says A/SLt Song, is to bring together stories and conversations about what life is like for curious millennials in a world full of possibility and change.“When I stepped into the real world after university, there was a phase where I was lost and confused and not sure what I wanted to do,” she says. “I realized it wasn’t an issue that only I had, but that it is a prevalent problem many people face.”After using her Facebook connections to find podcast guests, A/SLt Song has interviewed inspiring and adventurous young people such as local musician Jesse Roper, Miss British Columbia Globe...

[caption id="attachment_12036" align="alignnone" width="300"] MARPAC’s Health and Wellness Strategy Team[/caption]Joanne Baxter, Health Promotion ~To kick off Nutrition Month on March 1, MARPAC’s Health and Wellness Strategy Team will be handing out fruit at the Naden and Dockyard gates.The yummy treat is a reminder to all members of the defence team that they need seven servings of fruit and vegetables each day.It’s also one of the initiatives the base will be taking throughout March to encourage everyone to eat a little healthier.The Wardroom, Venture and Nelles Block will be promoting healthy choices by offering a healthy side salad to cash paying customers:Week 1 - Spinach Mandarin saladWeek 2 - Garden Tossed saladWeek 3 – Fruit Salad  Week 4 – Marinated VegetablesThe message is that small and consistent changes can lead to better choices. It’s part of the Dietitians of Canada 2016 campaign, “Take the 100 Meal Journey: Make small changes one meal at a time.”To help Canadians enact this change, the campaign features a five-week action plan:Week 1: Get ready. Visit the website (www.dietitians.ca), make the pledge, set small goals.Week 2: Quality counts. Cook more meals, focus on nutrient rich ingredients.Week 3: Prioritize portion size. Strategies for realistic portions.Week 4: Try something new. Tasty new flavors make choices easy.Week 5: Make it stick. Doable strategies for inevitable detours.Week 1: Getting ReadySelf-monitoring - Tracking your eating habits builds awareness about food intake and eating patterns. It helps identify areas where you can make change and helps you stay on track.Stimulus Control - Many messages within our environments signal for us to eat. Examine your own personal environment and find ways to make choosing the healthier options easier.Goal Setting - Make your goals SMART: Specific, Measureable, Action-Oriented, Realistic and Time-Framed.Planning - Plan ahead to help set yourself up for mealtime success.Visit www.dietitians.ca/gettheapps, to download three apps designed to help you along the way:Cookspiration: find dietician approved recipes.eaTipster: Get a dietician approved nutrition tip every day.eaTracker: Consumers can enter foods and activities, set goals...

[caption id="attachment_11817" align="alignnone" width="200"] Transition out of the military may be challenging for some families in a way people might not have anticipated.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Military members who are medically releasing, and in need of support for themselves and their families in the transition to civilian life, can now turn to the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) for assistance.The recently launched Veterans Family Program is a four-year pilot project that extends the services of the MFRC to meet the needs of veterans and their family members.Any medically releasing military member or medically released veteran can use services at the MFRC for two years post-release, says Colleen Cahoon, Family Navigator Program Coordinator and Veteran Family Coordinator at the Esquimalt MFRC.  Once a member contacts their local MFRC, staff will work the family to assess their needs, provide assistance, and help direct the family to any appropriate community agencies.The Veterans Family Program might provide counselling or emergency respite child care to one participant, or help another search for a family doctor. The program will also connect veterans with resources or other community programs, such as Living Life to the Full, a resiliency based program that helps people deal with everyday life challenges by learning better self-management skills.“That transition (out of the military) may be challenging for some families and sometimes it’s challenging in a way people might not have anticipated,” says Cahoon. “This big life change adds a whole level of complexity to the lives of members and their families. By helping ease the member’s transition, we can help both them and their family feel assisted throughout the journey.”  A newly released member can make use of the program for a maximum of two years. Anyone who has released since Nov. 30,  2014, onwards is eligible.The four-year project is currently being...

[caption id="attachment_11814" align="alignnone" width="300"] Hudson Mack, best known as the face of TV news on Vancouver Island, has released his autobiography Unsinkable Anchor.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Hudson Mack, best known as the face of TV news on Vancouver Island, has released his autobiography Unsinkable Anchor.The new book fills the void for those missing the news anchor on the nightly news cast.Released Oct. 3, 2015, by Harbour Publishing, Unsinkable Anchor traces the steps of the award-winning journalist from his early life in Calgary to his 34-year career in broadcasting, which saw stops in Kamloops, and Prince George  before a 19-year run in Victoria with CHEK and A-Channel News (CTV).Mack offers a nostalgic insider’s view of small-town Canadian broadcasting from the 1960s and 70s to present day.  He is able to keep the reader’s attention by not focusing too much on the journalism and his personal life, but instead recounts the more hilarious, embarrassing and monumental moments of his career.One  moment being Prince Philips’s “awkward” interaction with Mack’s wife Patty during Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Victoria in 2002, part of the monarch’s Golden Jubilee Tour of Canada.Mack writes how meeting the Queen and emceeing a luncheon for Her Majesty  and Prince Philip at the Fairmont Empress Hotel was one of the “biggest thrills” of his life. However, he still chuckles at what followed during a ceremony at the B.C. legislature, an incident he dubs the “Philip gaffe.”There were other interesting encounters with heads of state and world leaders including meeting former United States President George W. Bush at the White House in 2005, and emceeing a home-town event with former president Bill Clinton in attendance the following year.Mack also confesses to some hard lessons learned such as his on-air slip-up on CHEK in 1985. He proclaimed during a newscast that the best thing about his former hometown of Prince George was Highway 97 south.The comments did not sit well with Prince George councillor Monica Becott.While many quirky anecdotes made the final edit,...

[caption id="attachment_11804" align="alignnone" width="600"] Base Commander, Captain (N) Steve Waddell tries the new debit and credit card payment options at Nelles with the assistance of Food Service Attendant Leah Stewart. CPO1 Gino Spinelli, Base Chief Petty Officer, stands next in line.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~ By the end of February, galleys at Nelles, the Wardroom, Venture, and at the Damage Control School will offer a full range of payment options including cash, reloadable   pay-as-you-go cards, and at last - debit and credit cards.This latest customer service improvement at Base Food Services offers the convenience of electronic payments for those who rarely carry cash or pay-as-you-go cards.“As we’ve evolved, we’ve had a lot of customers from different organizations on base visit the galleys, resulting in more requests for debit and credit use,” says Petty Officer First Class Bill Cameron, Base Food Services.  The new debit and credit card systems have been on trial at Nelles Block since Jan. 20, as Base Food Services continues to develop standard operating procedures for the additional work required to process the new transactions.The Base Foods team are programming new terminals to accommodate credit and debit cards in the galleys, and are training galley staff on their use.He still encourages military members and civilians to use the pay-as-you-go card, which can be loaded up with a chosen amount of funds and used at any of the galleys. The cards can be loaded at the Base Foods Administration Cell, Room 129 in Nelles Block, through Petty Officer Second Class Jason Auer.PO1 Cameron would like to extend special thanks to Karen Kang, Base Accommodations Finance Clerk, and Master Corporal Vincenzo Agius-Mantello, who both helped to implement the new systems.

[caption id="attachment_11799" align="alignnone" width="600"] Six Second World War veterans were awarded one of France’s highest awards – the French Legion of Honour on Jan. 21. At the Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead Jack Porter, 92, Bill Capek, 93, Ken Parton, 93, Geoff Lesueur, 92, Philip Jeffrey, 94, and the oldest of the six Earl Clark, 99 were presented their medals by Cmdre Marla Mulkins, Commander Naval Reserves, and CPO1 Mike Feltham, Formation Chief.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Six Second World War veterans were awarded one of France’s highest awards – the French Legion of Honour on Jan. 21.At the Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead, in a standing room only gathering, Jack Porter, 92, Bill Capek, 93, Ken Parton, 93, Geoff Lesueur, 92, Philip Jeffrey, 94, and the oldest of the six Earl Clark, 99, listened as O Canada and La Marseilles, the national anthem of France, played.Then the four residents from the lodge and two (clients) from Veterans Health Centre were presented their medals by Cmdre Marla Mulkins, Commander Naval Reserves, and CPO1 Mike Feltham, Formation Chief.“By order of the President of the Republic of France you have been awarded the rank of Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour,” proclaimed Cmdre Mulkins on behalf of the French government. “This distinction, which is the highest national order of France, illustrates the profound gratitude that France would like to express, and is awarded in recognition of your personal involvement in the liberation of France during World War Two.”In 2014, French president Francois Hollande, on the 70th anniversary of D-Day, pledged that all servicemen who fought alongside France would receive the nation’s highest honour.It was well worth the wait says 92-year-old recipient Jack Porter, a member of the South Alberta Reserve Regiment who landed on the beaches of Normandy...

[caption id="attachment_11783" align="alignnone" width="600"] Crew members from HMCS OTTAWA, Able Seaman Marotte (left), Ordinary Seaman Moore (center), and Ordinary Seaman Thompson (right) prepare to hoist flags on the ship's Flag Deck during preparations to depart Esquimalt Harbour for the first time following the frigate’s Halifax Class Modernization Project refit.[/caption]SLt Michael Donder, HMCS Ottawa – Last month, HMCS Ottawa achieved another significant milestone by breaking free of Esquimalt harbour, and setting sail after 25 months alongside undergoing its Halifax-class Modernization / Frigate Life Extension upgrade.The ship has gone through an extensive refit program placing it amongst the most capable modern warships in the world.The ship came out of dry dock May 15, 2015, and in the months that followed, the crew worked tirelessly towards getting it back to sea.From the onset, and having only cleared Scroggs Rocks, the team was put to the test.In the ship’s first week back at sea, the crew enlisted the help of Sea Training Pacific to facilitate the Restricted Readiness Inspections (RRIs), and certify the ship and crew safe at sea.Sea Training staff tested and strengthened the crew’s teamwork, fighting spirit and resolve.As OS Halliwell, Hull Technician, put it, “We do all the training alongside, going to Damage Control School, but the best learning experience is to do it at sea on a ship.”The ship’s company pulled through five long days of multiple and daily emergencies, and damage control exercises testing the various organizations, and learning to work as a team in the process.  The crew also learned the value of building trust, which is a vital part of being an effective fighting force.Following RRIs, Ottawa and crew took the Sea Acceptance Trials (SATs) head on, where all the ship’s mechanical and combat systems are put through their paces to ensure their functionality and operation within...

[caption id="attachment_11780" align="alignnone" width="600"] Cdr Pascal Belhumeur, the out-going Commanding Officer of HMCS Winnipeg, bids farewell to the ship’s company as they man the ship’s side following a Change of Command ceremony in Penang, Malaysia.[/caption]SLt Jamie Tobin, HMCS Winnipeg – After more than two and half years at the helm of one of the Royal Canadian Navy’s forward deployed ships, Commander Pascal Belhumeur turned over command of HMCS Winnipeg to Cdr J. Jeffrey Hutchinson on Jan. 18.The ceremony took place on the ship’s flight deck under the hot Penang, Malaysia, sun and was presided over by Commodore J.B. Zwick, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific.The ship’s company stood on parade to bid farewell to Cdr Belhumeur, who was joined by his wife Karen and two children for his final day in command. “This is a great crew and I owe my success to them,” said Cdr Belhumeur. “We brought this ship from its mid-life refit and took it on the journey to high-readiness before embarking on a successful operational deployment. This would not have been possible without the support of this incredible team.”Cdr Belhumeur assumed command of Winnipeg July 2, 2013, and led the crew through modernized Halifax-class frigate training and the tiered readiness program before deploying on Operation Reassurance June 15, 2015.Cdr Hutchinson was joined by his wife Jin for his first day in command of Winnipeg, and as he took the watch the in-coming Commanding Officer made his intentions very clear.“Our mission is to get Winnipeg safely back to Esquimalt so that we can reunite the crew with their families. Husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters have been waiting for the ship’s return for more than seven months and it is time to go home,” said Cdr Hutchinson.Following the service, the crew bid farewell to Cdr Belhumeur by manning...

[caption id="attachment_11766" align="alignnone" width="300"] Cadet Kieran Waterous from 204 Black Maria Air Cadet Squadron in Kamloops starts his race in the Cadet Male Youth division during the 2016 Zone 3 Biathlon Championship held at Sovereign Lake in Vernon Jan. 16. Cadets completed a two kilometre ski loop and shoot course for the opportunity to participate in the Provincial Cadet Biathlon Championship at Mt Washington in February.[/caption]Regional Cadet Support Unit (Pacific) - Cadets from 204 Black Maria Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron (RCACS) took several gold medals in the cadet zone biathlon competition held at Sovereign Lake in Vernon Jan.16.  The Cadets encountered tough weather conditions as they completed the ski loop and shoot competition. The event proved to be a test of physical strength, concentration, and perseverance as the cadets battled the elements and competed against their peers.  Cadets competed in three divisions based on age: Cadet Junior (ages 12-13), Cadet Senior (ages 14-16) and Cadet Youth (ages 17-18). The following cadets from 204 RCACS earned Gold medals:Cadet Kieran WaterousMale YouthCadet Chase JervisMale SeniorCadet Preston Bodo Male JuniorCadet Halo Cui Female JuniorOnce results from competitions around the province are published, the Cadets will learn who will attend the Provincial Biathlon Competition to be held at Mount Washington in February.  The cadet biathlon program is a recreational activity that has produced Olympians such as Jean-Philippe Le Guellec, and World Cup competitors such as B.C.’s Emma Lunder.

[caption id="attachment_11763" align="alignnone" width="298"] Looking for a fun and productive way to get outside? Interested in growing your own food? Try the Work Point Garden Club.[/caption]Sadie Quintal, Contributor - Looking for a fun and productive way to get outside? Interested in growing your own food? Try the Work Point Garden Club.Vancouver Island is blessed with a climate that permits gardening year-round. Mild winters let us keep vegetables such a kale, cabbage, broccoli, and even root crops such as carrots and beets in the ground right through until spring. However, our mild coastal summers make growing heat-loving vegetables such a peppers a challenge, unless located in a warm backyard or under a season extender such as a mini hoop-house.Growing your own food is a rewarding activity in more ways than one. Gardening gives us the opportunity to grow nutrient-dense fresh vegetables and live an active, healthy lifestyle.Gardening reduces our carbon footprint by providing vegetables close to home, and can also save money on the grocery bill after a small initial investment. Kids love being outdoors and a garden is a great opportunity for exploration and learning.Work Point Garden Club welcomes both experienced gardeners and beginners. You can contact the club at workpointgardenclub@gmail.com Resources for Gardner'sVictoria Compost Education Centre:Offers workshops for both adults and kids on a variety of topics including composting, gardening, and rainwater harvesting. Sells some composting products, locally sourced seeds, and has a great plant sale every spring. http://compost.bc.ca/West Coast Seeds:Online seed store based out of the lower mainland with very valuable “How to Grow” information for all types of vegetables. https://www.westcoastseeds.com/Salt Spring Seeds: Local seed company that sources all seeds from Vancouver Island or the Gulf Islands. http://www.saltspringseeds.com/Full Circle Seeds: Local seed company that grows almost all of their seeds right in Sooke.  http://www.fullcircleseeds.com/

[caption id="attachment_11759" align="alignnone" width="288"] LCdr (Ret’d) Margaret Brooke passed away peacefully on Jan. 9, 2016, at the age of 100, surrounded by loved ones in Victoria.[/caption]DND - Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, issued the following statement on the passing of naval hero Lieutenant Commander (Ret’d) Margaret Brooke, MBE, PhD:“On behalf of the entire Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Armed Forces, my deepest condolences are extended to the family and friends of LCdr (Ret’d) Margaret Brooke, who passed away peacefully on Jan. 9, 2016, at the age of 100, surrounded by loved ones in Victoria, British Columbia.“LCdr Brooke was a true Canadian naval hero. A Royal Canadian Navy Nursing Sister during the Second World War, then-Sub-Lieutenant Brooke was named a Member (Military Division) of the Order of the British Empire for her valiant actions following the torpedoing and subsequent sinking of the ferry SS Caribou on October 14, 1942, in the Cabot Strait off Newfoundland. Fighting for her own survival, she attempted to save the life of her colleague and friend, Nursing Sister Sub-Lieutenant Agnes Wilkie, by holding on to her with one arm, while clinging to ropes on a capsized lifeboat. Despite LCdr Brooke’s heroic efforts, her friend succumbed to the frigid water. LCdr Brooke continued to serve in the RCN until her retirement in 1962, at which point she went on to a successful civilian career in academia, achieving her PhD in paleontology.“The Royal Canadian Navy was extremely pleased to acknowledge Margaret Brooke’s great legacy with the announcement in April 2015 that one of the upcoming Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships would be named Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Margaret Brooke in her honour. Members of the RCN had the great fortune to visit LCdr Brooke and her family at the time of the announcement, which was also on the occasion of her 100th birthday. It was a wonderful opportunity to thank LCdr Brooke for her 20 years of military service to Canada, and...

[caption id="attachment_11753" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of HMCS Winnipeg present clothing donations collected by the ship during its Holiday Clothing Drive to the Joe Nafuma Refugee Centre in Rome, Italy.[/caption]SLt Jamie Tobin, HMCS Winnipeg -Despite being deployed over the holiday season, the more than 250 sailors, soldiers and air force personnel on board HMCS Winnipeg spread holiday cheer to those less fortunate with some very successful community outreach endeavours.The most successful of the campaigns was the ship’s holiday toy drive where members of the crew purchased toys that were donated to a worthy cause in the ship’s holiday port of call of Rome.“It is incredibly overwhelming to see the ship’s company collaborate together and purchase a variety of children’s toys and donate clothing for those in need,” said Master Seaman Joan Emode, a reserve force Resource Management Support Clerk serving in Winnipeg. “I am also proud to be a member of the Master Seaman and Below mess that contributed so much of their time and effort to support this important cause.”Two days before Christmas representatives from the ship visited the Joe Nafuma Refugee Centre in Rome to drop off clothing and hygiene products donations that had been collected by the crew. The facility provides meals and daytime services to refugees living in the vicinity of Rome, and the team from the ship had a brief opportunity to meet with some of the centre’s staff and clientele to learn about the support programs and employment opportunities they provide.On Christmas Eve, a large group from the ship’s company visited the Community of Sant’Egidio School of Peace in Rome with toy donations that had been collected during the campaign. The donations consisted of store bought toys and games, as well as handcrafted wooden boats that were constructed by the ship’s hull technician section.The Community...

The B.C. Government, ICBC, and DND are supporting transitioning military personnel and retired veterans by transferring their truck driving credentials to commercial licences,  and by removing any requirement for additional testing.This will provide transitioning military personnel and recently retired veterans with a marketable qualification and new career opportunities in the commercial trucking industry.“Military members transitioning out of the Canadian Armed Forces into civilian life can face many challenges as they seek out new employment. The announcement by the B.C. government and ICBC eliminates one of those key hurdles for many of our current and former serving members,” said Rear Admiral Gilles Couturier, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific. “I thank the Province of British Columbia, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, and Helmets to Hardhats for working so closely with us to support the men and women who serve, by recognizing military driver’s license as a valid professional qualification in the province.”This agreement allows retired and active members with a DND driver’s licence to obtain an equivalent B.C. commercial licence (class 1, 2, 3 or 4). The streamlined approach allows applicants with prior DND credentials to drive semi-tractors, large trucks, buses and limousines. To further support military driver transition, B.C. will also issue class 5 or 7 passenger vehicle licences without additional testing to drivers with equivalent DND credentials.The newly signed agreement by the B.C. government, ICBC, and DND goes into effect Jan. 25.Removing this hurdle for military personnel and veterans in B.C. is part of an initiative spearheaded by the national non-profit group, Helmets to Hardhats Canada.Helmets to Hardhats Canada is focused on providing members of the Canadian Armed Forces with opportunities for apprenticeship training and/or careers, with good wages and benefits in Canada’s unionized building, construction and maintenance industries.“We are happy to help current and retired Canadian Forces members...