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Logan Rode hopes his latest flying drone creates a big buzz when it lands at the Naden Drill Hall during the Sept. 17  CFB Esquimalt Industrial Supplier Trade Show.“We are really excited about coming to CFB Esquimalt and connecting with military and department of defence staff,” says Rode.“It’s a great opportunity for our company to do some networking and get some feedback from people in the military about our product.”The X-Bot, a remote controlled, unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and a consumer grade drone will be showcased by the 35-year-old Victoria-born entrepreneur at the trade show.Rode is founder and president of ProPhotoUAV Technology Corp.He describes his company’s latest invention – the X-Bot- as a “sophisticated eye in the sky” or “flying robot”, and sees it as key development in the rapidly-expanding field of UAVs.“It’s definitely not a fad; the X-Bot is the next wave in high-tech, compact flying technology,” he says.Rode warns the X-Bot is not to be confused with increasingly popular recreational UAVs used by amateur hobbyists, and adds it can be used to perform a variety of tasks.“The sky is the limit in terms of applications of this technology for military, emergency services and search and rescue purposes,” says Rode.“Unfortunately, most of the media coverage surrounding UAV’s has been primarily focused on the negative aspects of this technology such as privacy issues, but the X-Bot doesn’t really fall into that category.”The X-Bot is not a toy, he says.  It was designed to capture high-resolution video, infrared, thermal and other images, and can be controlled from a tablet, Google maps or a standard handheld controller.The four-quad prop UAV features a three-axis stabilized gyro for the delivery of stable HD images.Its body is made of light carbon fiber and normally weighs about five kilograms, depending on the payload. It has a...

[caption id="attachment_10721" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sgt Marji Fischer gives Kairi Playle, 6, a positive ticket for wearing a helmet with when riding her bike.[/caption]Police ticketing of youth has a new purpose on base and around the city.Police personnel within the south island police services area, including Military Police from Military Police Unit Esquimalt, are rewarding youth demonstrating good behaviour with “Positive Tickets.”Good deeds such as skateboarding with a helmet and bicycling safely, picking up litter, staying drug free, and helping others will be noticed, and Military Police may reward youth with a ticket.  The tickets are the size of a hockey trading card and earn youth free drop-in admission to a recreational centre within the Greater Victoria Capital Regional District, including the Naden Athletic Centre. At the NAC, they can be redeemed for one free access to the gymnasium, pool, weight and cardio rooms (15+ years), and arena.However, the number of the tickets is limited, so there will be some discretion as to when they are issued.  While conducting proactive patrols in the military communities, Military Police will not only be canvassing individuals for breaking the law, but will also look for good deeds and positive behaviours by community youth. The intent of the program is to reduce juvenile problems in the community, boost self-esteem and improve community relations with youth. “Our military police patrols interact with youth residing within the eight residential housing unit sites located within a 25 kilometre radius of CFB Esquimalt,” says Major Michael Lemire, Commanding Officer of the Military Police Unit Esquimalt.“The act of giving out the positive tickets will help further build relationships between youth and the Military Police. We always strive to have positive interactions with those we provide law enforcement and Force Protection services to, and this program helps us do that.”  The...

In 1943, at the pinnacle of the Second World War, Margaret “Greet” Ferguson, a graduate nurse trained in a Toronto hospital, found herself treating wounded Canadian sailors at the base in Newfoundland.She was one among 99 other nurses chosen as Canada’s first contingent of Naval Nursing Sisters.“I always had wanted to be a math teacher,” says Ferguson, 97.“But my brother and I ended up being in Grade 12 together, and my dad couldn’t afford to send us both to college when we graduated at the same time, so it was proposed that I try nursing school, which was free.”Ferguson, who grew up in the tiny hamlet of Inverness, Nova Scotia, was accepted into St. Michaels, a strict Catholic nursing hospital in the heart of bustling Toronto.She says she still remembers the immaculate tile halls of the hospital and the scratching from her stiffly starched white collar as she worked.“But I just kept wondering: is the war going to be over by the time I finally finish the three years of my training?”By the end of her final year, Ferguson had accepted a position in the obstetrics ward at St. Michaels.It was then that the Minister of National Defence, Angus MacDonald, put out a call to the country for 100 naval nurses.Before then, nurses could only join the air force or army.“I desperately wanted a change at that point in my life,” says Ferguson.Minister MacDonald, once the Premier of Nova Scotia, had been born and raised in Inverness.One phone call to MacDonald, and Ferguson found herself with a tentative offer that she might be one of the first naval nurses to serve.“A few days after I called Angus, I got a call from a commander at the recruiting base in Toronto, HMCS York.He said: ‘I don’t know who the heck you...

A team of volunteers are getting set to huff, puff, and put some wind into the sails of this year’s Mobility Cup.The Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA) located at Munroe Head on the north side of Esquimalt Harbour is host to the 24th annual edition of Canada’s international regatta for sailors with disabilities, Sept. 7 to 11. “We have been working all year to get our club ready for this event,” said Bill Macdonald, Disabled Sailing Association representative for CFSA. “It is a big effort, but it is also a lot of rote because we have done this so often before.”CFSA hosted the Mobility Cup in 1995 and again in 2001. Macdonald says this year’s regatta will require over 150 volunteers to help welcome 42 competitors from across the United States and Canada.Most volunteer positions have been filled, but Macdonald says they are still looking for a few good men and women to assist. CFB Esquimalt is providing tents, chairs, tables and several other support items. He says the CFSA are expecting a crowd of 300 to 400 people for the five-day event.“It is just incredible and truly amazing that they have opened their doors to us again,” said Emily Boardman, Coordinator of Services at Recreation Integration Victoria.“The ramps and washrooms at the CFSA are easily accessible and have been redone, which will make the experience for participants much easier.”CFB Esquimalt renovated all the heads and wash places to make them accessible in 2001, and a new ramp to the docks was installed in 2008 Macdonald and Boardman both say the salt water course, which runs to the south of Royal Roads University in nearby Colwood, will pose unique challenges for some sailors. “Esquimalt Harbour can be quite fluky and unpredictable the way the wind is constantly changing as it...

So far, Second World War veteran Rudi Hoenson has given away $4 million of his fortune, but says his latest donation may be his most meaningful.Earlier this month the 92-year-old Victoria philanthropist, and atomic bomb survivor, announced he would match donations of up to $200,000 to help cover the costs of new overhead lifts in all the rooms at The Lodge at Broadmead. The Lodge at Broadmead is a 229-bed residential care facility with 115 priority access beds for veterans, 110 beds for seniors in the community, and four respite care beds for veterans.The Lodge is the primary priority access bed facility for veterans on Vancouver Island.“This is a complete game-changer and is also critically important for care at The Lodge at Broadmead,” said Jennifer Jasechko, Broadmead Care’s Fund Development Consultant.“Residents will be able to get out of bed more often and easily, so it’s much faster, more dignified, comfortable, and also saves injuries to our staff.”Previously, Jasechko says residents had been forced to wait for caregivers to arrive with portable lift units and then move them into wheelchairs or commodes.The new lifts cost $5,300 each and will make life “considerably easier” for both residents and care-givers. “I am veteran myself so I feel quite an association with the people here at the Lodge at Broadmead because I know what many of them went through,” said Hoenson.“Many people who live here are war veterans or fought in World War Two as I did. I think it’s a good place to give back some money and make their lives here better.”Hoenson was just 1.9 kilometres away from ground zero when the second atomic bomb ever used in warfare was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.Surviving that experience, he says, gave him a “greater understanding” of humanity and also helped him gain insight into...

Want to get to from point A to B quickly, in style, off road, and use green transportation?Segways are the total solution.Not sure what a Segway is?No worries, vendor Ride the Glide - Segway Tours and Events, the self-balancing specialists, will be showcasing the personal transporters at the Sept. 17 CFB Esquimalt Industrial Supplier Trade Show. “We love the fact that they are green technology with their rechargeable lithium ion batteries,” says Corinne Besler, co-owner of Ride the Glide Segway Tours and Events, Victoria.“Rather than hop in your car, you can hop on a Segway. Plus it’s just so much fun,” Besler says Segways and other self-balancing products are a great form of travel for the average person who needs to commute a short distance, such as to and from work. Segways are a staple in warehouses, airports, and can assist anyone who owns a large property to get around quickly. “They actually decrease the fatigue of people who need to get from point A to point B multiple times a day; so they can increase productivity as well,” she says. On display at the tradeshow will be the Segway x2, an off road model that can travel between 15 to 19 kilometres on one charge, and has large wheels that are perfect for traversing multiple terrains on a property.Also showcased will be the Segway i2, which can carry a person between 30 and 38 kilometres on one charge, and the Chinese version of the Segway, the Ninebot Elite, which has smaller wheels and a more streamlined shape for commuters. Also on display, the NinebotOne, an electric unicycle that uses Segway technology. “They are all highly maneuverable and take up about as much space as your own personal body space. Plus, they can stop on a dime or go as...

Preparation is the key to operational excellence.Sailors devote countless hours to sharpening their skills in order to maintain readiness throughout the fleet.As the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) continues its high pace of operations and prepares to receive the future fleet, it is vital this readiness is maintained through training of its sailors.Since 2010, over 150 RCN members have participated in the Regulus Program that facilitates exchanges with partner navies from around the world, providing unique training opportunities and exposing sailors to the diverse cultures of many allied navies.Recently, Petty Officer Second Class Tony Goodwin was sailing with the Royal Navy aboard a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker.With 10 years of experience serving on the recently paid off Protecteur-class supply ships, PO2 Goodwin was assisting in the development of replenishment at sea (RAS) training opportunities for RCN sailors.“I was identifying training opportunities for Royal Canadian Navy sailors onboard the Royal Fleet Auxiliary to help prepare our navy to receive the joint support ships and to help strengthen the already excellent ties we have with the Royal Navy,” said PO2 Goodwin.While sharpening sailor’s skills, the Regulus program is also helping to strengthen relationships with allied nations, increasing interoperability and reinforcing the navy’s commitment to international peace and security.“This growing interoperability is vital to sustaining a relevant, world-class navy,” said Lieutenant (Navy) Arthur Halpenny, Regulus Personnel Coordinator.“The Royal Canadian Navy is now more agile and capable to operate with partner navies, as the program not only builds relationships at the candidate level, but at the staff level as well.”Canada is currently one of 10 countries participating in the program, which includes Australia, Chile, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.Originally implemented as a way to get more RCN sailors to sea during a period of reduced sailing opportunities...

A hawk circled high in the bright blue sky and a family of otters splashed and frolicked by the shoreline as Sgt Moogly Tetrault-Hamel and paddlers from the Songhees nation headed for an inlet off Esquimalt harbour in a traditional Coast Salish family canoe last Wednesday.In his hands was the Canadian Armed Forces Eagle Staff, a highly honoured and sacred icon of First Nations’ people, similar to a nation’s flag.The military had brought their Eagle Staff for the Raven graduation, but before it could be used, First Nation protocol dictates that permission must be sought and accepted to bring the Eagle Staff into the traditional territories of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.    “It’s really encouraging and important that members of the Canadian Armed Forces asked our people for permission to come ashore, and that they showed such a willingness to follow our traditions,” said Songhees Nation Elder, Elmer George.“The Eagle Staff came by water and canoe because this is the traditional way of meeting outsiders coming into our community.”At 2 p.m. the canoe arrived on the shoreline behind the Esquimalt Nation’s administrative office.About 50 onlookers from both communities looked on from a rocky bluff as Sgt Tetrault-Hamel asked Elmer George for permission to come ashore.He gave his permission and then took a moment for prayer as the Eagle Staff made its official entrance into the territory of the Coast Salish Peoples.“It was a great honour and I felt very blessed when I was asked to do this. It was hard to feel anything but pride as I walked ashore,” said Sgt Tetrault-Hamel.The Eagle Staff has great spiritual and cultural relevance for the people of Turtle Island (North America) MWO Grant Greyeyes, Aboriginal advisor with Army Headquarters, described it as a “highly honoured and consecrated object” and a “conduit of prayer”...

Youth wanting that last summer camping trip – with no parents –  should look no further than the Tri-Cadets Camp-Out at Albert Head.From Sept. 1 to 3, youth can camp out in tented bivouac sites and participate in air rifle marksmanship, canoeing, orienteering activities, hiking, and a range of sports, and discover what the cadet program is all about.“The camp out’s goal is simple: to promote fun, challenge, and making friends,” says Lt(N) Cynthia Lawless, Commanding Officer of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets Corps 263 and core organizer of the camp. “We are looking to develop teamwork and esprit de corps as well, all components of a well-rounded cadet.”Lt(N) Lawless says the value of the camp lies in its blending of activities from each of the three cadet elements: air, land, and sea.Participants will learn basic bush living and be challenged to adjust to life in a large group with very little access to technology and amenities.Senior cadets from across the island will help instruct the youth who are completely unfamiliar with cadet activities or skills, making it a truly youth-led event.“Cadets excel the most through play and learning, whether on the water, in the bush, or on the field,” says Lt (N) Lawless. “So these youth are going to thrive off the energy of each other during those three days.”Rachel Lallouz Staff Writer (more…)

[caption id="attachment_10607" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Philippe Asselin[/caption]He traded in his trumpet for a Fullbore rifle and now WO Philippe Asselin is making beautiful sounds on the shooting range.“There are so many similarities; playing trumpet and shooting are both about breathing control and concentration,” says WO Asselin, a member of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets National Rifle Team (RCAC NRT).  “While it’s super important to hit the right notes in a wind instrument, for shooting you need to get your breathing right to get your site perfectly centered.”That insight has helped the International Baccalaureate Grade 12 student at Esquimalt’s École Victor-Brodeur flourish as a competitive marksman.WO Asselin returned from England’s prestigious Bisley Imperial Meeting (July 9 to 18) with a 7th place finish in the Chairman’s Final portion of the competition, competing against a pool of 500 shooters from around the world.“I didn’t get too excited because you can’t get distracted with how well you are doing in this sport or it will throw you off entirely, and I still had more events to compete in,” says the cadet with the 2483 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI).Before his success on the shooting range, there was always music. He had been a band member since joining the cadets in 2012 and was awarded Most Proficient Musician in the 2483 PPCLI in both 2013 and 2014.But the life-long fan of Dizzy Gillespie who describes his trumpet as an “old friend” decided to give up music before heading to Bisley.“It was kind of heart breaking for me, but the music just took up too much of my time and I was no longer able to participate,” he said.The decision to take a temporary break from music came last year after he made the RCAC NRT. It took three years to build his qualifications for...

[caption id="attachment_10604" align="aligncenter" width="224"] Bob Buckley[/caption]Seated far back in the crowd at the bustling Ladner Band Festival last June, Bob Buckley was entranced by the perfectly played music of the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy.“They were unbelievable that day,” says Buckley. “They are probably one of the best wind ensembles I’ve ever heard in the world.”Buckley, a Canadian composer who has written hundreds of scores for television shows and movies, approached Director of Music for the Naden Band, Lieutenant (Navy) Matthew Clark after the show, proposing the two collaborate on a musical project.“When Bob came up to me, I told him, ‘we have played your music before’,” says Lt(N) Clark. “From there we started a conversation about working together.”Lt(N) Clark wound up commissioning Buckley to write a piece for their 2014 Christmas concert. From there, the two agreed to pair their individual experience to record and produce a CD.“It was always my dream to be a serious composer,” says Buckley, who studied composition at the University of Washington and the University of British Columbia. “But then I got seduced by rock and roll for 20 years.”He has conducted and arranged for major artists such as Michael Bublé, Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Our Lady Peace, Simple Plan and Aerosmith, to name a few.His musical genius has led him to play in more than a few rock bands, and even a wind ensemble in Holland. Buckley has published at least 60 different wind band compositions with North American and Dutch music publishers.For the CD, he agreed to compose a number of original pieces, and Lt(N) Clark worked with the band to rehearse and polish Buckley’s music.The CD, “Undercurrents”, is comprised of 15 tracks of contemporary wind music. It features a range of tones and styles, from jazz and classical to...

[caption id="attachment_10597" align="aligncenter" width="300"] LS Jessica Spence (left), Base Foods; Katerina Stewart, Canadian Forces Fleet School Esquimalt; and Sgt Moogly Tetrault Hamel, 39 Service Battalion, pose with the Raven statue as the troops fall in during the Raven program’s career day at Work Point Aug. 14.[/caption]As recruits in this year’s Raven program prepare to soar into adulthood, they are learning why a career in the Canadian Armed Forces may be the right flight-path for them.On the morning of Aug. 7, participants in this year’s Aboriginal youth employment program received words of inspiration and encouragement from CPO2 Gus Greer and six other guest speakers during a career day at Work Point’s Nixon building.“Nothing but good can come from being part of the Raven program,” said CPO2 Greer of HMCS Calgary.“You got out of your comfort zone, got off the ‘res’ or your small town and saw how the rest of the world operates. When you get back to your community you have more tools in your tool kit to deal with life.”CPO2 Greer grew up in Creighton Mine, a small mining town southwest of Sudbury, Ont.  Many of his days were spent with his grandparents and other family members on a nearby reserve. He told the group he understands why leaving their tightly knit communities is both a “challenging” and “completely new experience” for most of them.A former Raven recruit also spoke to the youth. LS Jessica Spence, Galley Manager for Base Foods, grew up on the Peguis First Nation reserve, 140 kilometres north of Winnipeg.She was a member of the Raven program in 2006, before joining the military in March 2009 as a cook. She encouraged this year’s class to appreciate the significance of their Raven experience.“Ravens this is your family right now,” said LS Spence. “You spent the summer with...

After 50 hours submerged in the choppy, wind-blown waters of Cowichan Lake an exhausted Cpl Alex Cape decided to call it quits.She swam a remarkable 94 kilometres in the large freshwater lake over the August long weekend, but fell two kilometers short of the world record for longest continuous open-water swim.“I swam pretty freaking far. I still can’t completely wrap my brain around it,” said Cpl Cape, 35.“There have been 12 people who have walked on the moon, but only four have swum this distance before, solo and unassisted.”On Sunday evening around the supper hour, Cpl Cape and her support crew in nearby escort boats decided to end her aquatic marathon due to safety concerns.Cpl Cape, an experienced swimmer who works as a medical technician at CFB Esquimalt’s clinic, says she doesn’t consider the result a failure.She and her swimming partner Susan Simmons, 50, set off from the shores of Municipal Beach on the southern shores of the lake on Friday July 31 at 4 p.m., with an aim to swim 105 kilometers.Simmons has multiple sclerosis, so her goal to smash distance swimmer Vicki Keith’s 1987 benchmark was even more incredible.The two Victoria Masters Swim Club members took on the challenge to raise funds for Special Olympics and MS and to raise awareness about the website ‘What’s Your 105?’Simmons previously swam the English Channel and the Georgia Strait and was aware of the daunting challenge she faced this time around.In 2014, the two completed a 70 km swim of Cowichan Lake, but this time around the weather conditions were much less favourable with higher winds and waves.By midmorning on Saturday, Simmons had covered 44 km before her MS had the final say about how far she could push her body.Vertigo, vomiting and the inability to keep vital nutrients in her...

Peruvian volunteer firefighters Estefania Moraves, 21, and Marco Abad, 23, tried on fire fighting gear, examined emergency supplies and travelled through the narrow passageways of HMCS Calgary on July 31.The tour of the Canadian warship focussed on fire safety precautions and gear used on board a Royal Canadian Navy frigate.Ship firefighter, Sgt Veron Atkinson led the two through every nook and cranny of the ship, from the Officer’s Mess to the machinery control rooms.“I’ve learned a lot since arriving in Canada,” says Abad.“I’m paying attention to skills that are different here that I can bring back to Peru to improve my own firefighting techniques.”The two were invited for a visit to Canada by Firefighters Without Borders member Stephanie Dunlop, the Fire Chief of the Metchosin Fire Department. Moraves and Abad spent three weeks touring fire halls in Langley, Burnaby, Sidney, Central Saanich, and Oak Bay, before crossing the brow of Calgary.When Firefighters Without Borders members visited fire stations in Callao, Peru, three years ago to teach skills courses to volunteers, Dunlop was introduced to the two, who were eager to expand their knowledge of fire fighting with a trip to Canada.When a big brush fire broke out in Metchosin at the end of July, the two were put on the line and helped get the fire under control.They were given extrication training and high rescue rope training in Sooke, and have done ride-alongs with the Langford and Salt Spring Island Fire Halls.The two also toured CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue Fire Hall.As volunteer firefighters, both Moraves and Abad must meet a required number of hours spent in their fire halls each month.Moraves dashes from her classes as an engineering student to her fire hall multiple times a week, for a total of 31 hours per month.Abad, who is also studying engineering,...

After sailing as HMCS Oriole’s Captain for almost four-and-a-half years, LCdr Kibble handed over command to LCdr Michael Wills July 30. The new Commanding Officer is junior to him in age, but carries equal confidence and capacity to bear the responsibly of skippering the 94-year-old sailing ketch. Oriole was designed and built in 1921 as a racing platform. It was eventually commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 1952. LCdr Kibble says all but a few really understand the true power of this ship, both as a racing/training vessel and a floating ambassador. “HMCS Oriole packs a wallop for Canadians in general, and the RCN in particular wherever we go. We draw huge crowds of young and old alike, and we are center stage.” He adds, “She’s a better ship now than when she was first built,” referencing the vast changes that only a commissioned vessel in the navy can receive through the decades.During his four years at the helm, LCdr Kibble has witnessed the “oohhs and aahhs” from sailors and the public as they tour the vessel, or take part in sailing it around Vancouver Island waters.  “Sailors hailing from every nation flock to have a look at her and talk to her crew. On behalf of Canada, she gives us a resonating voice with the public, and it’s an experience they never forget.”First taught to sail by his father, LCdr Kibble then honed his skills aboard the Golden Hinde, a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship. From there his schooling included two 140 foot top sail schooners, Winston Churchill, and Malcom Miller. As a professional mariner, the next step in his progression was joining the RCN.   LCdr Kibble was scoffed at when he boldly declared to a Navy Selection Board he had his crosshairs set on Oriole....

After months of trials, high-readiness preparations, and many personnel and equipment related challenges, HMCS Winnipeg officially joined Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, July 15.Winnipeg joined the task group as part of Operation Reassurance, Canada’s commitment to NATO assurance measures in Central and Eastern Europe. “Our team lives by the ship’s motto ‘one with the strength of many’ and I am proud to say that Winnipeg’s strength now extends to our NATO allies,” said Commander (Cdr) Pascal Belhumeur, Commanding Officer of Winnipeg.While in Palma de Mallorca, Winnipeg’s crew and command team met with SNMG2 Command (flag) ship, Federal German Ship (FGS) Hamburg, as well as Spanish Ship (SPS) Cantabria and SPS Santa Maria for the first time.In addition to holding planning meetings, FGS Hamburg crew hosted the task group’s first diplomatic engagement event, and all SNMG2 ships were open for public tours to local residents and tourists.“It was an honour to meet with all of the international SNMG2 ships that we will be working with,” said Rear-Admiral (RAdm)  Jorg Klein, Commander of SNMG2.“Our assembly in Palma de Mallorca marks the start of our efforts as a team and I am certain that our working relationships will grow stronger over the coming months.”Each ship sailed into Palma harbour on July 15 as individual units, and on July 20, SNMG2 sailed out of Palma harbour as a well-disciplined and professional NATO task group.SNMG2 is now in the Mediterranean Sea conducting fleet integration training to build team cohesiveness and they stand ready to provide necessary support to our NATO Allies.SLt Jamie TobinHMCS Winnipeg

“Brutal, Mad, Xciting!” blared one newspaper headline after the 2012 summer Olympic men’s quarter-finals in BMX racing resulted in 10 crashes involving 21 riders.But that’s not how members of the Greater Victoria BMX Association would describe their local version of the sport.Speaking with some of the civilian and military members of the club, the words you hear are inclusive, friendly, family-oriented and fun.Yes, there are similarities between local racing and the extreme event.While elite tracks ramp-up the level of difficulty, all tracks share the same basic features.They’re about 1,000 feet long with an elevated start gate, banked switchback turns, and straights that present a variety of obstacles – hills, really – for riders to pedal over, “manual” on one wheel, or jump.Each track also has a “rhythm section,” a closely spaced series of small hills, or “rollers,” designed to develop pumping skills.It’s a compact course that demands riders use a whole repertoire of cycling techniques, all in the 30 to 40 seconds it takes to race one lap.“It’s just a great place for kids to learn, to be confident riders on their bikes, which translates to commuting on the road or to any other cycling discipline. And they can learn these skills in a controlled environment,” says Cam Smith, President of Greater Victoria BMX and storesman within the Environmental Materials Section of Base Logistics at CFB Esquimalt.“Even friends of mine who race bikes and know bikes can’t believe how proficient our kids are at riding.”  It’s no surprise, he adds, that Sir Chris Hoy, one of Britain’s most decorated track cyclists started in BMX racing, as did mountain-biking champion Anne-Caroline Chausson, who returned to BMX for the sport’s debut in the 2008 Olympics, winning gold for France.Greater Victoria BMX has produced its own share of top riders, including Brandon Reid,...

[caption id="attachment_10521" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Commanding Officer of HMCS Nanaimo LCdr Jeff Hopkins reviews an electronic map on board the ship’s bridge in preparation for Operation Nanook.[/caption]On Tuesday, HMCS Nanaimo and HMCS Saskatoon left the shelter of Esquimalt Harbour for six weeks of work in the ice laden waters of the Arctic.The two ships will make the 3,500 mile journey to Tuktoyaktuk in the Northwest Territories for the annual Operation Nanook, where they will conduct surveillance and presence activities in the area.Operation Nanook is the Canadian Armed Force’s largest annual northern training and sovereignty activity, working alongside other government departments to establish a visible federal presence in our northern communities.This year’s operation marks the first deployment north of the 60th parallel for a Pacific Fleet ship since HMCS Cedarwood in 1949.“This particular Operation Nanook is special,” says Lieutenant-Commander Brad Henderson, Commanding Officer of Saskatoon.“In the past, ships participating in Operation Nanook left from the East Coast, so this is the first time we are entering the Arctic from the West.”The operation will help to prepare the stage for more extensive operations to be conducted in the future by Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships.Training in the northern environment is anticipated to iron out logistical and operating challenges posed by remoteness and harsher environmental conditions in the North.The exercise will also play a key role in establishing a federal presence in Canada’s northern communities, which LCdr Jeff Hopkins, Commanding Officer of Nanaimo, says is integral to supporting Canada’s Northern Strategy.“But apart from that, we’ll be providing valuable operating time for our sailors in a more challenging environment,” says LCdr Hopkins.Nanaimo’s crew will operate a towed side-scan sonar system, which will capture high definition images below the water. The device is used to efficiently create an image of large areas of the sea floor.Once in...

[caption id="attachment_10459" align="aligncenter" width="300"] LS M. Sevigny of Base Foods and Cpl Raymond Sam of 39 Service Battalion work the grill in one of the Mobile Kitchen Trailers.[/caption]They cooked enough food to feed an army and now members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are receiving a heartfelt salute from the 2015 B.C. Elders Gathering.“The support of the Canadian Forces at our event was both inspiring and encouraging,” said Mavis Underwood of the Elders Gathering Planning Committee and elder with the Tsawout Nation.“It built bridges between our communities and truly was a very powerful happening for everyone in our community from our youth to our elders.”Military cooks from CFB Esquimalt’s Base Foods joined forces with 39 Service Battalion and First Nations cooks to provide food for 5,000 people at the 39th Annual   B.C. Elders Gathering at the Panorama Recreation Centre in North Saanich earlier this month.The CAF supplied three kitchen trailers staffed with 10 Cooks, to supplement the Tsawout Kitchen staff and volunteers at the annual event.Working side by side, military and First Nations cooks prepared western European cuisine such as soup, sandwiches and chicken, as well as traditional aboriginal dishes including smoked salmon and bannock.The gathering gave Esquimlt’s cooks the rare opportunity to train for cooking in Field Kitchens in a remote environment.“Their main area of expertise is in static kitchens or in galleys on ships,” said Sgt Barbara Lane of Base Foods.“Although they didn’t get the full field experience because they had access to electricity and water, they did get a better understanding of both what will happen when they work remotely and the actual physical work environment in a field kitchen.”Sgt Moogly Tetrault-Hamel helped facilitate the military involvement in this year’s gathering and began planning for it in November 2014.During the event, he was the overall Operation...

[caption id="attachment_10456" align="aligncenter" width="300"] "Our letter mail volumes have decreased considerably over the last few years, and that decline is not going stop..."[/caption]By the end of 2015, Canada Post anticipates that Residential Housing Units (RHU) associated with CFB Esquimalt will be converted from the individual mailing system to community mailbox delivery.Andrew Graves, an advisor for Canada Post’s Communication Services, says the conversion is a result of newly emerging trends in the mailing needs of Canadian households.“Our letter mail volumes have decreased considerably over the last few years, and that decline is not going stop as Canadians move to digital communications,” says Graves.“Canadians sent 1.4 billion fewer letters in 2014 than they did in 2006. At the same time, we are seeing growth in our parcel volumes, but it is still not enough to compensate for the loss in our lettermail business.”The new community mailboxes will feature individual locked compartments for each household.These compartments are large enough to accommodate magazines without having to be rolled up as well as parcels of the same size.Eighty per cent of parcels currently delivered by Canada Post will fit in the newly redesigned boxes.Large parcel compartments will be located at each community mailbox station, allowing members of a household to access their packages without travelling to a post office or having them left on the doorstep.Residents of communities converting to the new system are asked to fill out surveys early in the process to share their priorities and preferences when it comes to the conversion.“Because every community is a little bit different, we approach each community separately,” says Graves.“Teams across the country in every community are trained as experts to find the most suitable places for the mailboxes in a given neighborhood.”Using this feedback, CFB Esquimalt and Canada Post worked together to develop a community...

[caption id="attachment_10452" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The crew of HMCS Vancouver practices Replenishment at Sea manouvers with Chilean Navy ship Almirante Montt.[/caption]To prepare HMCS Vancouver for its ongoing Replenishment at Sea (RAS) operations with the Chilean Navy, the Commander of Sea Training (Pacific), Cdr Chris Peschke, and a team of eight instructors have designed and implemented at-sea training for participating sailors.“We use the expression ‘showing people what right looks like’ to explain how we take a ship’s crew and help build their skills to a certain level so they can continue with training and development on their own,” says Cdr Peschke.“Sea Training opens the door and the ship does the rest.”On any work-up or at-sea training period, Sea Training instructors board a ship to provide individualized overview, instruction and debriefing on basic seamanship, navigation, exit from the harbour, and a range of safety precautions such as man overboard procedures.The training aims to bring a crew’s capability to multi-threat warfare or serious damage control.“We assess the threats a ship is going to face, the area of the world she’s going to be operating in, and then we develop a specific training work up so the ship is comfortable operating when it gets there.”In HMCS Vancouver’s work with Almirante Montt, Cdr Peschke says his team has faced the challenge of training for the specifics of RAS operations.Though routine, the operation is risky.It involves stringing steel cables under 5,000 pounds of tension between a replenishment tanker and a receiving ship.Then heavy pallet loads are sent across with food, fuel and ammunition.Cdr Peschke and his team utilized the Sea Training Guide, Combat Readiness Requirements and past experience to design a program that increases in complexity as the training goes on.“We started off with two ‘dry hook-ups’ where hoses were passed from [Chilean ship] Almirante Montt to...

Maritime Forces Pacific’s (MARPAC) new commander, RAdm Gilles Couturier, endeared himself to hockey fans at CFB Esquimalt when he introduced himself during a change of command ceremony on A-jetty on July 14.During his opening address, RAdm Couturier drew parallels between Canada’s national sport and its navy.“The reason I use the analogy of hockey is because I believe in the concept of team sports where success is dependent on teamwork and team spirit,” he said. “On the ice, it’s the goal-scorer, the playmaker, the stay-at-home defenceman or the grinder, but within the navy it’s the officers, the non-commissioned members, the operators, the technicians and the civilians that ensure the success of the team.”In his 32-year naval career, RAdm Couturier has applied the lessons learned in the hockey arena as a player, coach and referee to create success for himself and his teams in the navy.Among his biggest achievements was being selected as the Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) in 2014 for Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), the largest maritime exercise in the world. This was the first time a Canadian had taken on the role.This isn’t RAdm Couturier’s first posting to the West Coast. He served on Pacific Fleet ships early in his career and later commanded Maritime Operations Group Four. Then in 2008, he served as the Maritime Component Commander for Operation Podium, the Canadian Armed Forces contribution to the overall security effort for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.“I am thrilled to be back on this coast,” he said.Speaking about the issues currently facing today’s navy, RAdm Couturier emphasized the importance of stamping out sexual discrimination and harassment and said the navy will have to deal with this issue “as a team with the MARPAC leadership fully engaged.”He said the Royal Canadian Navy’s code of...

For 40 days, Chilean replenishment ship AO-52 Almirante Montt will be conducting at-sea training with Pacific Fleet sailors to prepare for the arrival of Canada’s new Queenston-class supply ships.Partnering with Montt are HMC Ships Vancouver and Calgary, which will practice Replenishment-at-Sea (RAS) operations.The collaboration was formalized by a Mutual Logistic Support Arrangement (MLSA) between the Chilean Navy and Royal Canadian Navy following Vice-Admiral Mark Norman’s 2014 announcement that the Protecteur-class supply ships would be retired.“This is a particularly significant moment for the navy because we’re finding a new and alternative method to maintain a core skills set and we’re doing it with the help of our allies,” says Vancouver’s Commanding Officer Cdr Clive Butler. “It speaks to what we can achieve through collaboration.”Two waves of sailors, mostly boatswains, from CFB Esquimalt will be on board Montt throughout the summer for a few weeks at a time. While the Canadians are on board, Chilean Navy personnel will provide instruction and review on operating the RAS vessel. They will conduct practice RAS operations daily, with the majority carried out off the west coast of Vancouver Island.The RAS operations involve maneuvering two ships alongside each other at a range of 50 yards, passing lines between the vessels, allowing for the transfer of fuel or other loads, including ammunition, food and water.“So far, we’ve practiced night fueling, day fueling and one two-point RAS operation, which means transferring both fuel and solid stores,” says Cdr Butler. “We’re getting the opportunity to practice this on a regular basis in a way we haven’t been able to without the tanker [the former HMCS Protecteur].”Protecteur, the west coast fleet’s only supply ship, was taken out of service after a debilitating engine room fire during its transit back to Victoria from Hawaii last summer.Safety procedures related to RAS operations...

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Rocky Point Ammunition Depot, Commanding Officer LCdr Jason Cheney and Ammunition Maintenance Facility Senior Supervisor Glenda Larocque are preserving a little slice of 2015 for future generations of workers.Anniversary celebrations on July 21 and 22 at the depot will see the unveiling of a time capsule during a ceremony on the second day.“Originally, I just thought a time capsule would be an interesting little project to carry out,” says Larocque. “But as we began to organize the project, it took on its own significance as we saw history passing before us.”Rocky Point had long ago come into possession of a Second World War projectile and it had been sitting near the facility’s gun mount. When refurbishment of the shell began, it was discovered to be hollow.At 15 inches in diameter, four feet high and 66 inches deep, the shell sparked inspiration for Larocque, who saw an opportunity to store artifacts inside of it and make it a permanent piece of the landscape.Even without anything inside, the projectile has a story to tell.It was once an APC BL shell with a ballistic cap and weighed 1,920 pounds. It was carried by HMS Warspite, which was heavily damaged on May 22, 1941 during a German air attack of Crete.As the ship passed through Esquimalt on its way to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for repair, the shell, which was cracked, was offloaded at the Colwood Magazine. It was moved to CFAD Rocky Point in 1955 where it was used to proof detonators out on the range.LCdr Cheney says he and Larocque invited CFAD workers to bring items that signified something about Rocky Point. They then placed the artifacts in two ammunitions containers inside the shell casing.Only contributors know what they have placed inside. No one will know the entire contents of the capsule until it is opened 40 years from now.“We wanted to keep those personal mementos a secret until it is opened,” says LCdr Cheney.Two...

[caption id="attachment_10379" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Warrant Officer Tammy Negraeff.[/caption]Never utter the words “it can’t be done” to Warrant Officer Tammy Negraeff.Whenever Canada’s first-ever female Search and Rescue Technician (SAR tech) hears this, an unwavering feeling of determination to disprove the doubters overtakes her.A month ago, her 25-year military career ended with a retirement party, and a moment of reflection on breaking a barrier for women. “I wanted to be a SAR Tech no matter what, whether I was the first female didn’t matter at all to me,” says WO Negraeff. “But the fact that it set a trailblazing precedent is super.”Her career began in 1988 while fighting forest fires in Nelson, B.C., as a student employee with Ministry of Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations. Rumour of a recruiting officer coming to town drifted to her ears.She immediately signed up for a meeting.The recruiter, having never encountered a woman in the SAR trade, doubted her capability.“He was a little old school,” she says.“The recruiter looked at me and had a smirk on his face while remarking he didn’t think I understood what I was getting into.”Two years later she pledged her service to Canada.Seven years after that she was selected to attend a SAR Tech training course at CFB Comox.The learning curve was sharp and the physical and psychological testing “highly challenging” she recalls.From a pool of approximately 30 applicants each year only about 10 to 15 make the grade.A determined Negraeff would eventually prove the recruiting officer wrong, breaking the SAR Tech gender barrier in 1998 when she graduated as a Master Corporal.“She instantly fit right in,” says Negraeff’s search and rescue partner WO Lance Teichrib.“She didn’t expect to be treated differently and excelled in her training.”Real life SAR Tech work began fairly quickly after graduation.It was a cold mid-winter day...

[caption id="attachment_10376" align="aligncenter" width="199"] WO Kevin Legg takes a rest after the MARPAC Nijmegen team completes a 40 kilometers trek from Roche Cove to CFB Esquimalt on Friday, June 27.[/caption]Every painful step, every laboured breath will draw WO Kevin Legg, 42, closer to his dream of completing the Four Days International Marches Nijmegen next week.The soldier is unlike any of his MARPAC teammates.He marches with a barrage of physical scars incurred during his tour in Afghanistan seven years ago, including damaged lungs and a permanent limp in his left leg.But tenacity and perseverance during tryouts earned WO Legg a coveted spot on the MARPAC team.“He’s a pretty stellar dude,” said MARPAC marching team leader, Lt(N) Paul LePrieur.“He is the epitome of what Nijmegen is all about. He is so inspirational for so many others doubting themselves while going through rehab.”WO Legg’s story of survival began moments after he flicked a switch on an air-handling unit he was repairing while deployed in Afghanistan. After that everything in his world went black.“The last thing I can remember was burning and then waking up in the hospital,” he recalls.“When the explosion occurred I was working on the ground because it was an unusually hot day. It was close to 50 Celsius so I was sitting that way because a fan underneath the unit was cooling me.”A locally employed individual who worked on the military base had planted an Improvised Explosive Device on the unit.WO Legg says if he weren’t sitting down at the moment the bomb detonated, he wouldn’t be alive today.Although it didn’t take his life, the explosion changed him forever.The lower portion of his lungs were burned and permanently damaged, and he says the resulting pulmonary edema (build up of fluid in his lungs) could have been fatal.He now depends on...

[caption id="attachment_10371" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The crew of HMCS Winnipeg gathers on the flight deck to celebrate the ship's 20th anniversary during Operation Caribbe on June 23.[/caption]For many sailors, celebrating a birthday at sea is not always their first choice to mark the occasion.However, for a warship such as HMCS Winnipeg, celebrating its 20th birthday June 23, there was no better way to mark the occasion than on the ocean.“Although at-sea traditions have changed over the years, the operational tenacity of the ship and its crew has not,” said Cdr Pascal Belhumeur, Winnipeg’s Commanding Officer.“In this, its 20th year of service, Winnipeg will spend the next eight months as the forward deployed vanguard unit, along with the Royal Canadian Navy’s first deployed Enhanced Naval Boarding Party Team, and its embarked CH-124 Sea King.”Winnipeg and its crew are currently conducting surveillance operations in support of Operation Caribbe, Canada’s participation in the multinational campaign against illicit trafficking by transnational organized crime in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.They are also en route to Operation Reassurance, Canada’s contribution to NATO assurance measures in Central and Eastern Europe.The ship’s company celebrated the occasion with a Banyan (barbeque) and a birthday cake that was cut by the command team with three traditional naval swords that are used on ceremonial occasions and celebrations.Despite the ship’s dress regulations, one crew member connected with the ship’s history by wearing a t-shirt that was issued to the crew when the ship was commissioned on June 23, 1995.“When I was departing my last job, a colleague gifted me with this shirt, hoping to pass on some of the HMCS Winnipeg legacy he helped build,” said Lt(N) Dusan Brestovansky, assistant combat systems engineer officer.“I was honoured when he explained the history behind it, and even though it’s a little worn,...

[caption id="attachment_10333" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Canadian Tire representative Landon French presented RAdm Bill Truelove with a paddle representing their donation to the CFB Esquimalt PSP Recreation program in support of military families. Joining the Admiral in the presentation were CPO1 Mike Feltham, Capt(N) Steve Waddell and Olympian Malcolm Howard.[/caption]Canadian Tire has donated $300,000 worth of sporting equipment in support of military families.The donation is a component of their longstanding partnership with Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS).“We believe in the power of sport to inspire Canadians to spend quality, active time together,” said Landon French, Executive Director of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and Vice-president of Community Relations.“We are honoured to contribute to the military community to help members and their families.”Donated equipment includes over 100 canoes and kayaks, boat safety kits, and personal flotation devices.The donation provides resources to military families that can be used long-term to maintain healthy lifestyles.“I know we all welcome this generous donation,” said Commodore Mark Watson, Director General Morale and Welfare Services. “Sports can help our members stay mentally healthy, while increasing overall unit morale and workplace efficiency.”To celebrate the donation, representatives from Canadian Tire toured six bases this past June, the month designated to be the military’s official recreation month.Representatives enjoyed hot dogs at CFB Petawawa’s family barbeque, helped set up CFB Edmonton’s community garage sale, and cheered on runners at CFB Esquimalt’s Navy Run on June 21, to name a few of the engagements.Helping raise awareness at the Navy Run was professional rower Malcom Howard, who was a 2008 gold medalist at the Bejing Olympics, and silver medalist at the 2012 games in London, England. As a sponsor of the Canadian Olympics, Canadian Tire has supported athletes such as Howard in achieving their goals. Canadian Tire’s partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces seeks...

Looming before me is the colossal hull of a warship.From the vantage of my kayak, which is level with the ocean, the water mirrors the ship in a wrinkled gray reflection.I crane my neck to see the portholes and then the bow high above.The ship is berthed at one of the jetties in dockyard at CFB Esquimalt.Tethered to another jetty is the long black body of a partially submerged submarine bobbing eerily in the dark water.My destination today is the pebbly shore of Fisgard Lighthouse across the harbour.I dip my paddle into the water and pull the kayak forward.I feel the water resist and my uncertainty grow to navigate the distance.This is only one of a handful of times I have eased my body into the tiny cockpit and clutched the double-ended paddle.But that novelty will dwindle today as I am taking part in the Pacific Fleet Kayak Club’s introductory course – a two-phase course that starts in a pool and ends on the ocean.Before launching my kayak into Esquimalt harbour from the Naden boat launch, I and five other rookie kayakers were taught basic safety skills and manoeuvres in the morning at the Naden pool.Corporal Aaron Miller, lead instructor for the club, started us with a wet exit. We had to self-tip, and while upside-down under the water, unlatch ourselves from the kayak and swim to the surface.I paddled to the shallow end and steadied my kayak.With a deep inhale I threw my weight to one side and tipped over.I kept my eyes tightly closed underwater to guard against the chlorine, and felt for the latch on the rubbery skirt.I pulled it back and freed myself from the kayak. When I came to the surface, I realized my paddle was not in my hand.Perfecting this maneuver would have to...

[caption id="attachment_10323" align="aligncenter" width="229"] Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr.[/caption]German film-maker Judith Voelker spent three days in June at CFB Esquimalt filming a segment for her latest documentary called The Great Impostor.With the help of a local Victoria film crew from Gamut Productions, she researched Ferdinand Waldo Demara at the CFB Esqumalt Naval and Military Museum, filmed scenic shots around the base, and interviewed Retired Commander Peter Chance, who met the impostor during the Korean War.Demara masqueraded as many people over his life, but his most infamous was as a ship’s surgeon on board HMCS Cayuga. After meeting a young doctor named Joseph C. Cyr in Maine, he took his identity and boarded the Royal Canadian Navy destroyer.Peter Chance’s first encounter with the “Medical Officer” was in 1951 when he needed his infected toe looked at before shipping out in Cayuga.“I went down to the ship, and met this affable, round-faced and beaming man who took a look at my foot and assured me that he would take care of it,” says Cdr Chance, 94.Rather than treat the toe right away, Demara requested the small operation take place the next morning. Unbeknownst to the young Chance, Demara spent the night pouring over medical textbooks.“The next day he injected my foot with freezing medicine, cleared up the infection, wrapped my foot up, and sent me on my way with crutches,” says Cdr Chance. “He knew exactly what he was doing, and he didn’t hesitate or falter at all. It healed perfectly.”Cayuga deployed shortly after, taking Demara and Chance with it. Bound for west of the Yalu River, Cayuga was sent as part of a United Nations Task force of commonwealth naval allies poised to fight in the Korean War.“Joe, as we called him, continued to get along well with all the men on...