News

[caption id="attachment_9752" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Naval war veteran Gerry Butler holds a framed letter and the Arctic Star medal received from Veteran Affairs Canada.[/caption]Naval war veteran Gerry Butler received an unexpected gift on his 90th birthday.Nearly 70 years after ending his wartime service he has been awarded the Arctic Star.A military honour unveiled by the Government of the United Kingdom in 2012, the Arctic Star is granted for operational service of any length north of the Arctic Circle from Sept. 3, 1939, to May 8, 1945.It commemorates and recognizes the particular severity of the conditions experienced by those who served in the Arctic during the Second World War, and is available to all Commonwealth forces including those from Canada.Butler was overcome by emotion when the medal was delivered to him at his apartment in Montréal March 23.His son-in-law, Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Rick Bowes, a 23-year veteran of the Canadian Army who was instrumental in getting the medal through Veterans Affairs Canada, joined other members of the family to surprise the veteran with the medal.“He had tears running down his face,” says LCol (Ret’d) Bowes.“You know, these old veterans don’t expect anything. They are humble to the core.”During the Second World War, many Canadians served on Allied convoys as they sailed across the Arctic Ocean to deliver vital supplies to Russia.Commonly known as the Murmansk Run, ships departed from North American ports and sailed to the northern Soviet Union in an effort to assist them in their fight against Germany.A young Butler joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942 and served in Her Majesty’s Ship Jamaica through the North and Baltic Seas to Murmansk between June and August 1944.He is one of a few Canadian naval veterans entitled to wear both the Arctic and Pacific Stars as he also served in Her Majesty’s Canadian...

[caption id="attachment_9749" align="aligncenter" width="199"] MS William Dennis proposes to Jenny Clark after arriving back from Operation Caribbe.[/caption]After a five week deployment on Operation Caribbe, in which HMCS Whitehorse and HMCS Nanaimo assisted in seizing a combined six metric tons of cocaine, the two ships arrived home last Wednesday to a crowd of cheering families and loved ones.The ships sailed past Duntze Head for the traditional salute while the Naden Band serenaded the crowd. Waiting loved ones eagerly clutched flowers and balloons as the ramp was slowly lowered, by crane, onto the Y jetty.The first step off the ship was taken by Master Seaman William Dennis of Whitehorse, who proposed to Jenny Clark on the ramp, before the two shared a customary first kiss. Whitehorse and Nanaimo joined the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard on Feb. 23 as Canada’s contribution to the multinational Operation Martillo, which seeks to intercept trafficking by transnational organized crime in the Caribbean Basin and Eastern Pacific. Operation Martillo has been strengthening international partnerships between the Western Hemisphere and European nations in a bid to improve regional security and deter future criminal activity.Historically, interagency cooperation efforts such as Martillo have resulted in yearly seizures of millions of dollars of illicit drugs, while actively disrupting trafficking in international waters and airspaces around South and Central America. “If drugs make it through the easier passages, Mexico for example, they can eventually get to North American markets,” said Whitehorse Commanding Officer, LCdr Christopher Rochon upon the ship’s return home.“There have been traces of these drugs making it to Canada, so it’s good for our ships to be out there.” The two ships acted in a supporting role to the operation, tasked with locating, tracking, and approaching suspect vessels found along the Pacific coast of Central America.The ships were also authorized...

[caption id="attachment_9746" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Students wait for instructions on how to hoist Oriole’s sail.[/caption]As part of HMCS Oriole’s “Youth Adventure Challenge,” 14 high school students from across Canada left their homes to come aboard and sail with the navy crew for five days.Students were selected through a competitive application process organized by the Canadian Student Leadership Association, which invited senior Leadership 11 and 12 students from secondary institutions to apply.Only those applications with glowing academic credentials, extensive volunteer work, and well-crafted application essays were chosen.The high number of applicants was expected, as the entire challenge, apart from transportation, is free of cost.Students travelled from Quebec, Alberta, and the interior of B.C to set sail on April 13 from Esquimalt Harbour, and many had no experience sailing.“Some of them have never seen the ocean,” says Oriole’s Captain LCdr Jeffrey Kibble.“Some of them have never been on a boat, and some of them have never even left their province. So for them to suddenly come to another part of Canada and have an adventure on the West Coast is truly amazing.”As the crew, the students completed tasks normally expected of a fully-trained crew, such as hoisting and lowering the 136 kilogram main sail multiple times a day, helping cook meals, cleaning, and practicing safety training. Students took turns holding different crew positions, acting as the supervisory Buffer, the “Shack” or Chief Cook, and the “Stokes” or Chief Engineer.They also rotated watches, with each student working one mandatory night shift.“They aren’t here for a cruise,” says LCdr Kibble on the first day.“They are here to learn from us, and what we’re going to teach them is that teamwork and leadership are necessary to sail this vessel. The more responsibility they take on, the better.”The young crew is far from daunted, and when the...

      Today, Paul Nichols will mount his horse Zoe on the steps of Victoria’s legislature and begin his first day riding across Canada.Nichols, a retired Corporal who served with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry, and his wife Terry, have created the “Ride Across Canada” campaign to bring to the fore issues surrounding veterans integrating back into civilian life, and to remind Canadians that the profile of veterans is changing from the old to the young.“We are on a mission to change the face of the typically understood Canadian veteran,” says Terry Nichols.“So when Canadians think of veterans, they will also think of women and young men. A veteran could be your car mechanic or a nurse at your hospital. You just can’t tell by looking at someone what their history is; so we want to show communities who these people are. We want to tell their stories, and we hope this will bring the Canadian people a deeper understanding of the military world.”The duo will ride for eight months from Victoria to Newfoundland, and stop at communities along the way to pick up veterans and currently serving Forces members.Over 700 veterans are expected to join the pair who has been working with a small crew for the past nine months to plan the adventure.The couple has organized horse facility administration stations every 150 kilometres nationwide, which will remain stationary for about five days within the various communities. These stations are where people can meet the couple and the horses.  Horses have been in Paul and Terry’s lives for over 20 years.The couple’s farm, Pen-Y-Bryn, just outside of Quesnel, is certified by the British Columbia Therapeutic Riding Association and the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association to provide emotional and mental support to special needs individuals.Horses, says Terry, helped Paul’s transition back into...

       It took only two minutes and one second to send the former Canadian warship Annapolis to the bottom of Halkett Bay Marine Park on April 4.The steam powered destroyer came to rest 31 metres below sea level on the ocean floor – only one metre off of its intended destination. It is now an artificial reef for divers to enjoy, and sea life to call home. Crowded around the sinking site were over 200 private vessels, who cheered as the 14 charges, placed throughout the ship’s hull and engine room, were set off seconds apart, causing the bay to echo with loud booms. Once the charges were tripped and the ship began to fill with water, a small party of former Annapolis Commanding Officers, including retired Captain (Navy) Brian Beaudry and Rick Town and Commander (Retired) Peter Campbell, added their cheers to the chorus around them. As the ship lurched downward, waves sweeping over the flight deck, the officers set their eyes on Annapolis one last time. Annapolis, a 102-metre helicopter-carrying destroyer, was commissioned in 1964 by the Royal Canadian Navy, and decommissioned in 1996.In 2008, it was purchased by the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia from the Federal Government, with the goal to create the largest artificial reef in the Greater Vancouver area.  This is the eighth ship sunk by the Reef Society, and will provide a new habitat for a diverse range of marine life.In the past, sunken vessels have attracted over 100 different types of marine life to a single location.Annapolis will be specifically dedicated to promoting the growth of the rockfish and lingcod species native to the Howe Sound area.With an impressive array of marine life to view, the Reef Society predicts there will be a heavy surge in diving tourists and researchers to the...

       The Sunset Ceremony, to be held April 25, will celebrate 75 years of leadership and learning at Royal Roads – 55 years as a military institution/college and 20 years of Royal Roads growth as a public university.The Ceremony will commence at 7 p.m. on the former parade square, now parking lot 3, below Hatley Castle at Royal Roads University on 2005 Sooke Road.It is open to the public.What is a Sunset Ceremony and why is it being held?Traditionally, a Sunset Ceremony is conducted by military and para-military organizations.However, in recognition of Royal Roads 75th Anniversary, a special Sunset Ceremony will be co-hosted by Royal Roads University and the Vancouver Island Ex-Cadet Club, representing the military period.The military period of Royal Roads started with HMCS Royal Roads in 1940, and developed into the Royal Canadian Naval College Royal Roads, then into the RCN-RCAF College Royal Roads, to the tri-service college/Canadian Service College Royal Roads, and finally, in 1968, to the Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) until it closed in August 1995.The last time a Sunset Ceremony was conducted at Royal Roads was May 12, 1995, as part of the closing ceremonies for RRMC.Who is participating?The ceremony will be conducted on the former parade square and will showcase the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, officer cadets from the Royal Military College of Canada’s Pipes and Drums Band; the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy; the 50-person Vice Regal Guard of Maritime Forces Pacific; cadets from the United States Air Force Academy’s Drum and Bugle Corp; an ex-cadet contingent comprised of ex-cadets who attended Royal Roads between 1940-1995; 105mm guns from the 5th (BC) Field Regiment of the RCA; and regional air, sea and land cadets.The three VIPs for the event will be RAdm Bill Truelove, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific; Dr. Allan Cahoon, President...

[caption id="attachment_9659" align="alignnone" width="252"] Chief Constable Frank Elsner accepts the certificate of recognition for being a supportive employer of reservists. Skip Triplett, Regional Director of the CFLC Vancouver Island, presented the certificate. Major Brendan Le Blanc, nominator of the award, observes the presentation.[/caption]The Victoria Police Department’s unwavering loyalty to military reservist employees was honored this March 31, when the Canadian Forces Liaison Council (CFLC) presented senior police leadership with a formal certificate of recognition for employer support.Dr. Skip Triplett and John Appleby, regional directors of the CFLC, thanked the Victoria Police Department for upholding their longstanding tradition to enable employees in the reserves to attend their frequent training sessions and commitments.Reserve members currently employed by the police department must juggle their training requirements with their workloads. Ongoing reserve training can occur on weekends and occasionally on weekdays.Reservists may also be called upon unexpectedly to deploy for extended periods of time, for situations such as responding to natural disasters and other emergency situations.As such, reserve employees must be ready to place their work duties on hold when their city, province, or country, needs their help.Dr. Triplett emphasized the responsibilities of a reservist can stretch their time and energy thin, meaning they require additional assistance from their employers to succeed both at work and in the military.“Sir Winston Churchill believed that reservists are twice the citizen, because they are constantly balancing a military career with a civilian life. But I like to say they are three times the citizen, because most of them have families too, and that’s a whole other role,” said Dr. Triplett.The CFLC encourages employers to be flexible and accommodating when working with a reservist.For the CFLC, the Victoria Police Department has succeeded in this supportive role, having developed a policy that promotes the development of reservists by facilitating...

[caption id="attachment_9656" align="alignnone" width="300"] Daniel LeBlanc, Chief of Staff-Executive Officer to Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific; Cdr Wes Golden, Base Administration Officer; and SLt (Ret’d) Louis Howard, share stories after an impromptu speech from SLt (Ret’d) Howard.[/caption]A packed lunchtime Weepers crowd at the Wardroom on March 27 was treated to an impromptu speech on by a unique former Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve officer, SLt (Ret’d) Louis Howard.SLt (Ret’d) Howard, 91, is one of only three surviving crew members from HMCS Sarnia, the ship that helped rescue survivors from HMCS Esquimalt, the last RCN vessel sunk during the Battle of the Atlantic.Base Administration Officer, Cdr Wes Golden had the pleasure of introducing SLt (Ret’d) Howard, who spent a few moments telling the story of that fateful sinking and throwing in a few other stories along the way.“We knew something was wrong because we were supposed to meet up with Esquimalt and she never made it,” said SLt (Ret’d) Howard, who was navigating officer and sonar officer in HMCS Sarnia.HMCS Esquimalt was torpedoed by German a U-boat in the approaches to Halifax harbour on April 16, 1945.The warship sank within four minutes, unable to send out a distress message.The surviving members of HMCS Esquimalt’s crew spent six hours adrift before HMCS Sarnia and her 78 crew members rescued them.“From the moment he began telling us his story, I was immediately drawn in,” said Lt(N) Paul Trenholm, who was having lunch at the Wardroom that day.“Standing before us was a living Canadian hero with so much to share and there is only a thin window of time left for us to hear from these veterans.”SLt (Ret’d) Howard and the rest of the crew eventually rescued 27 men and recovered the bodies of 13 others. In total, 44 men were lost.For his actions, he...

[caption id="attachment_9653" align="alignnone" width="300"] Cadets from 195 “Bicknell” RCSCC cheer on their team mates during the final relay of the Regional Inter-Divisional Seamanship Championship.[/caption]More than 100 sea cadets from B.C. and the prairies, all winners of their zone competitions, gathered in Victoria for the Regional Inter-Divisional Seamanship Championship held March 21-22 at the Naden Drill Shed.Over the weekend, cadets practiced and competed in seamanship skills, from tossing heaving lines at targets, to navigation, to semaphore (communicating with flags), to sheer legs (using knots and wood to assemble a lift for heavy loads).Cadets competed in eight-person teams, four each from B.C. and the prairies. The aim of the competition was to encourage cadets to increase their knowledge of seamanship and to provide a friendly competition. Victoria’s own 5 “Rainbow” RCSCC won the championship for B.C. Team captain PO1 Austen Webb said the team practiced four hours each Sunday for several months in preparation for the competition series. 137 “Kamloops” RCSCC from Kamloops won the team spirit award.The weekend ended with a ship-building competition, based on Royal Canadian Navy ships, and a relay that involved hoisting signals and navigation markers, tying knots, completing a puzzle of HMCS Vancouver, and answering naval trivia. Awards were presented by Commodore Bob Autcherlonie, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific.Capt Cheryl MajorRCSU (Pac)Public Affairs Officer

[caption id="attachment_9594" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of the first graduating course of Maritime Tactical Operators from CFB Esquimalt, participate in a security exercise on March 26.[/caption]After three months of intensive round-the-clock training, students on the first Maritime Tactical Operator Course graduated March 26, and will go on to form Enhanced Naval Boarding Party Team 1.The 13 graduates underwent extensive training in advanced naval boarding tactics, including hand-to-hand combat, improvised explosive device identification, close quarters battle, tactical shooting, and tactical questioning.Last Thursday’s graduation marks the delivery of an initial operating capability as directed by the first phase of the Future Naval Boarding Party Capability Development outlined in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Executive Plan.“In less than 10 months we have successfully selected, trained and graduated our first class,” said LCdr Wilfred Lund, Naval Boarding Party 3.0 Project Officer in Charge. “This team is trained and equipped to provide a highly flexible capability that is a testament to the unpredictable and evolving nature of our missions.”Although traditional Naval Boarding Parties are able to perform basic obstructed boardings, feedback from recent operational deployments, such as Operation Caribbe and Artemis, has emphasized the need for a Naval Boarding Party that is capable of meeting a new level of threat.The Enhanced Naval Boarding Party capability will provide the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCN with the agility, flexibility, and tactical expertise to confront and deter a variety of threats in high-risk operational environments.“In terms of our partner allies, the Enhanced Naval Boarding Party is a unique capability,” said LCdr Lund. “We are building on our decades of operational boarding experience in order to fill the gap between what our special forces can do and what we need to do on our own as a navy.”The team will be attach posted to HMCS Winnipeg and will participate...

[caption id="attachment_9590" align="alignnone" width="300"] Smoking huts gone, bike shelters in[/caption]As the base and its employees prepare for the April 1 Base Standing Order Smoking Policy to take effect, which directs smokers to smoke only in designated smoking areas, attention is now being turned towards the smoking sites situated around the base.With healthy lifestyle now a corporate philosophy, what was once a smoker’s refuge from the elements is now a dry place to house bicycles. Taking the lead to transform the huts is Base Chief Petty Officer, CPO1 Shawn Taylor. Upon the suggestion from CPO2 Sean MacUisdin, he is re-purposing these structures in order to accommodate the expanding cyclist population.“It just made sense to re-use already existing structures for bicycle racks, which we don’t have enough of anyways,” he says.The first site to transform is the shelter adjacent to Nelles Block. At least six more shelters are slated to transform.                                 CPO1 Taylor’s project comes on the heels of a change to the base smoking policy, which previously had not been changed in the Base Standing Order since 1989.“The existing policies that were in place then no longer exist,” says CPO1 Taylor. “So I looked at what the rest of the country was doing with smoking policies, what other bases were doing, and what we’re doing locally in terms of municipality rules. After talking with the Base Commander and senior council, we have changed to full compliance with the national law and regional bylaws.”Four teams scoured the base to pinpoint all the smoking locations. More than 450 smoking sites were found, with another 300 potentially being used by smokers.After considering the latest updates on laws, and recommendations from Health Canada, CPO1 Taylor and his staff put together the new smoking policy, which mirrors the new municipal bylaw. New smoking sites, far fewer than...

[caption id="attachment_9586" align="alignnone" width="300"] RAdm Bill Truelove watches over two cadets at the helm of Patrol Craft Training Vessel Moose.[/caption]On an overcast Sunday two weeks ago, Orca training vessels Moose and Raven slipped from the jetty at the Coast Guard Station in Deep Cove.Lining the decks were naval cadets, cameras in hand snapping photos of the choppy gray water and sloping hills on the horizon before them.But this sail wasn’t just for fun; the youth were on board to have the full experience of naval life.At the sound of an alarm echoing throughout Moose, 18 cadets leaped into action. Oscar the man overboard dummy was in need of rescuing and its casualty retrieval was in the hands of the cadets.Most cadets took their cues for action from the experienced crew members, or followed the direction of the older cadets, taking their place at the base of the zodiac crane, or passing out life jackets.Some headed to the bridge, while others unfastened the zodiac for launching. For most on board, this was their first time in an Orca class vessel, and their first experience sailing in the waters off the B.C. coast.“Now I see the practical use of all the training we’ve done at my corps back home,” said Comox resident PO1 Madelaine Desnoyers, 17. “It’s one thing to learn theory and then another thing to actually be on a boat. Now it all makes more sense.”A few hundred metres away Oscar bobbed in the water in a bright orange life jacket as the crew lowered the zodiac from the ship to the ocean. A senior cadet drove the boat to Oscar who was plucked up by the cadet crew and returned to Moose.Back on the bridge, the most senior naval officer on the Pacific Coast, RAdm Bill Truelove watched over...

[caption id="attachment_9557" align="alignnone" width="232"] Michael Moore, a Canadian songwriter, musician, and teacher based in Toronto.[/caption]“I’ve thought about what happened at Dieppe for a long time,” says Michael Moore, a Canadian songwriter, musician, and teacher based in Toronto.“The fact that 6,000 soldiers, when they were crossing, had no idea what was coming, and how the Germans were entrenched in the shore ahead of them. They didn’t know what was about to happen.”For Moore, 6,000 is a precious number.His most recent song, “6,000 Soldiers” refers to the number of allied forces that fought at Dieppe on Aug. 19, 1942.The 5,000 Canadian troops, 1,000 British Commandos, and 50 American rangers that fought the battle are honored in the lyrics of the song, recorded in February of this year in Nashville, and released on YouTube the morning of March 10.Moore has been a musician since he was in seventh grade, where he began playing the trumpet in band class.He continued to play throughout high school and his post-secondary education, eventually graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in music.Though he was trained as a trumpet player, he plays the keyboard and a range of other band instruments.Moore, however, prefers crafting songs to performing on stage.“I mostly like to write,” he says.“I do perform at smaller venues occasionally, but it’s the writing I really enjoy. I’m quite happy to let others do the singing.”Lead vocalist William Ray’s soulful voice helps give the song a country feel, fitting with Moore’s preferred music genre, a blend of folk and country.Moore was raised in Petawawa, Ontario, home to the Garrison Petawawa base. Though he didn’t grow up in the military community, he says he’s always had an interest in Canadian history, and in particular, the wars that Canada has fought.As a music and history teacher, Moore...

[caption id="attachment_9554" align="alignnone" width="252"] WO Stephen Martinelli; Terry Rowsell, President of the Board of Directors for Four Seasons Musical Theatre; Helen Edley, Producer of Shrek: The Musical (Front, from left) Ordinary Seaman Nancy Blais, and Jaymes D. Goodman, Stage Director, pose in front of stage props designed for Shrek: The Musical, slated to run at the Isabelle Reader Theatre from May 22 to 31.[/caption]Shannon Delaney, a military spouse; Stephen Marinelli, a Warrant Officer; and Nancy Blais, an Ordinary Seaman, all understand the challenges experienced when facing a new posting.But all have found solace in the same organization not traditionally associated with the military – musical theatre.Delaney, WO Marinelli, and OS Blais are newcomers to Victoria who have been volunteering with the Four Seasons Musical Theatre Society’s latest production: Shrek: The Musical, slated to run from May 22 to 31 at the Isabelle Reader Theatre in Langford.Delaney, wife of Warrant Officer Scott Miller, says Victoria is her husband’s fifth posting, having recently been transferred from Cairo, Egypt, in July 2014, where he worked at the Canadian Embassy.As a dance teacher, Delaney’s work is portable, and she says it led her to explore the theatre community once the couple arrived in Victoria.But in searching for work, she was also looking to join a community.“With the military, there’s always that built-in community; so whenever we’re posted, my husband has no problem finding his groove right away. He’s with a familiar group of people, even if they are new to him. Theatre is similar to that. Even if you’ve never met a group of theatre volunteers before, you instantly have something in common with them. You find that sense of home and common passion.”She works as the show’s choreographer, where she teaches over 30 cast members, from children to adults, different dance routines, investing...

Plans are well advanced to transform the Dockyard waterfront at CFB Esquimalt into a modern site for ship berthing.Two projects are now beginning to move through the government’s project approval process: replacing “A” and “B” jetties in Constance Cove, and removing contaminated sediment from the harbour seabed.When the design work and the necessary regulatory reviews are finalized, and once project approval is in hand, the A/B Jetty Recapitalization Project and the Esquimalt Harbour Remediation Project (EHRP) will hire the necessary contractors to start the work.Clive Orford, Project Director for Naval Infrastructure in Ottawa, explains the projects are part of the broader master plan for renewal of infrastructure at the base that’s been unfolding over the past two decades.“The A/B Jetty Project is a massive redevelopment of dockyard that has been anticipated for a generation, and is finally about to come to fruition once the final project approvals are in place in Ottawa,” he says.As part of their good neighbour philosophy, DND is holding a Public Information Session for neighbours and those wanting to learn more about the projects on March 25, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Songhees Wellness Centre, 1100 Admirals Road.Questions may be posed to representatives of the project team from both Ottawa and Esquimalt.Also available for viewing at the session will be the artist rendering, and information panels on the two projects. “A” and “B” jetties, originally built during the Second World War, are over 70 years old, which is well beyond their service life, and have many operational limitations.Both structures are made of creosote-treated timber piles and beams, which, due to their age, have structural condition issues.The A/B Jetty Recapitalization Project, which was announced by then Defence Minister Peter MacKay in February 2013, will provide structurally sound and technically appropriate berthing facilities for Canada’s current...

[caption id="attachment_9497" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) stand around the entry and exit hole on an ice diving expedition at Lac Des Roches, north of Kamloops.[/caption]After suiting up in a drysuit, Clearance Diver LS Hector Ladron De Guevara slipped feet first into the icy waters of Lac Des Roches, just North of Kamloops, B.C.For almost an hour he explored the underwater terrain, going as far as his 45-metre umbilical cable would allow. Above him, a frosty pane of ice served as a lid on the lake. His only way out, a hole carved through the ice.The sailor, a member of Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific), took part in this ice diving excursion with 18 other divers. They set up a temporary camp on the ice Feb. 15; their goals: skill development and proficiency training.Lac Des Roches was picked due to its notoriously solid ice build this time of year.A four hour set up preceded the dives, during which three members, all wearing life jackets, went out to the middle of the lake to test for ice thickness.The front individual, wearing a harness, dug a hole and measured the thickness. When the minimum six inches of ice was found, the trio cut a triangular hole through the ice using a chainsaw.Once the hole was cut, the remainder of the team ventured from the shore to set up a military tent around the triangle to protect divers and gear from the wind and weather.LS Ladron De Guevara said the newer divers enjoyed their first forays into ice diving while the more experienced divers honed skills and refined equipment requirements for the labour intensive activity, one necessary for rescue or retrieval missions.Divers entered the water in teams of two, wearing a full-face mask supplied with breathing gas by a 45-metre hose...

[caption id="attachment_9493" align="alignnone" width="199"] Goalie LS Josee Cholette holds her newly awarded Sportsmanship Award, received at the National Women’s Hockey Championships at CFB Borden in February.[/caption]“I’m a fighter – so I always want to win,” says LS Josee Cholette, 43, goalie for CFB Esquimalt’s women’s hockey team.“I always want to give 100 per cent.”LS Cholette, who began playing hockey when she was eight years old, is this year’s recipient of the Sportsmanship Award, presented to her at the National Women’s Championships in Borden, Ontario, on Feb. 26.The team played against the other four regions – Quebec, the Prairies, Ontario, and the Atlantic.LS Cholette was posted to Esquimalt in 2011, but missed nationals from that year until 2012, when she was deployed.She says she had no idea she would win the award, but guesses it may have something to do with the 40 to 50 shots she blocked on average at every game.“I think I won the award because I never give up,” she says. “Even when the other team scores, I’m ready for the next shot, and then the next.”Though CFB Esquimalt placed fifth at nationals this year, LS Cholette isn’t disappointed.“Yes, we lost, but we’re still happy,” she says. “When we play together, we have the best team spirit – we know that everyone gave it their best.”The Sportsmanship Award is given to the best team player out of the five regional teams, and is traditionally awarded to “skaters”.Rachel Lallouz Staff Writer

[caption id="attachment_9489" align="alignnone" width="265"] 10 Year Old Liam Elder[/caption]It has always been10-year-old Liam Elder’s dream to see the ocean, board a navy ship and see the shipyard, as his mother, Christine Harkin, used to serve with the navy.During their visit to Victoria on March 6, Liam’s dream was fulfilled.From the moment he set foot on HMCS Calgary, he made quite an impression to those onboard.Liam visited the ship along with his parents and his nine-year-old brother Benjamin.He came in Naval Combat Dress with the rank of Ordinary Seaman; however, his naval knowledge was soimpressive that he was immediately promoted to Leading Seaman and presented with his Bosun’s Call.He toured the ship and watched a demonstration of the 57mm gun, followed by a naval boarding party display.The tour ended with him becoming an honorary member of the ship’s dive team.He displayed great skills as a sailor and was quickly promoted through the ranks throughout the day.By the end of the visit, he was promoted to the rank of Commander, and then appointed Honorary Captain (Navy) of HMCS Calgary.Liam was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia in March 2011 at the age of six.He underwent harsh chemotherapies every three to four weeks, and in-between he was admitted to hospital many times for bacterial, viral and fungal infections, pneumonia and anaphylaxis, due to his compromised immune system.He completed his protocol in late October 2013 and was completely medication free for nine months.However, Liam relapsed in July 2014 with the same type of cancer, and chemotherapy began immediately.The plan was to bring him to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto for a bone marrow transplant once the cancer was in remission.However, a rare, life-threatening fungal infection was discovered in his nose and palate, which led to having two-thirds of his palate removed, as well...

[caption id="attachment_9422" align="alignnone" width="270"] MS Philippe Burton (far right) joins his fellow Soldier On members in Whistler at the Allied Winter Camp, with Whistler Adaptive Sports Staff (green jackets) in attendance.[/caption]After injuring his leg and shoulder on duty, Master Seaman Philippe Burton was nominated to join a group of 11 serving and retired Canadian Armed Forces members and 16 Allied personnel to spend 10 days in Whistler, from Feb 15 to the 26, to enjoy a range of winter sports as part of Solider On’s Allied Winter Camp program.Despite coming from across Canada, with allies from Australia and Britain, participants had one thing in common – to attempt a return to an active lifestyle.Soldier On is an integral program of the Canadian Armed Forces that supports former and currently serving members with a visible or non-visible illness or injury to adopt an active lifestyle through sport and physically challenging activities.  Since 2007, Soldier On has supported over 1,000 ill and injured serving and retired members through participation in Soldier On Sport Camps, such as the Allied Winter Sports Camp and individual equipment and activity grants.  MS Burton says he stumbled across the program while surfing Facebook one day, and sent a request form in as soon as he could – he decided that if he got it, his main mission on the trip would be to ski.“I used to ski, race, and teach 10 years ago,” he says. “But I ended up being fitted with a leg brace. When I found I was actually able to ski again that was big for me.”Apart from skiing, participants were given opportunities to snowboard, play sledge hockey, cross country ski, zipline and bobsleigh, all with the facilitation of the Whistler Adapted Sports Program staff, and led by Ottawa-based Soldier On staff Maj Jay...

[caption id="attachment_9419" align="alignnone" width="270"] A military funeral was held on Feb. 28 at 19 Wing Comox for Sgt Mark Salesse, a Search and Rescue Technician from 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron.[/caption]Best described as awe-inspiring, the military funeral of Sergeant Mark Salesse drew hundreds of people to 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron at 19 Wing Comox on Saturday, Feb. 28.On a clear, sunny afternoon, the squadron hangar was filled with family, friends and colleagues, both military and civilian, from near and far, who gathered together to pay their respects to a fallen aviator.Sgt Salesse, 44, was killed during a military training exercise at Polar Circus near Banff, Alberta. He and three other search and rescue (SAR) technicians from 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, Winnipeg, Manitoba, had completed their ascent and were on the way down when an avalanche swept Sgt Salesse off the side of a narrow cliff on Feb. 5.His teammates were not affected by the avalanche.Banff Parks Canada led a six-day search that was hindered by continuous poor weather.The mission was reduced from a rescue to a recovery as Parks Canada came to realize neither the conditions, nor the probable fall could be favourable for survival.A motorcade of approximately 20 vehicles was met by the pallbearer party consisting of eight SAR technicians, proudly wearing the SAR orange beret, who gently received the casket and marched smartly to the center of the hangar floor.The men were Sgt Salesse’s SAR technician course mates (Course #38), and came from across Canada to be with their brethren.Described by many as a gentle giant, Sgt Salesse was genuine, honest and giving to all, as evidenced by the emotional comments from his mother, Liz Quinn, his best friend, and Canadian Army colleague, Denise Byrne, and members of the SAR community.“Sgt Salesse had a physical presence...

[caption id="attachment_9416" align="alignnone" width="290"] Defence Minister Jason Kenney speaks with a member of the Guard of Honour at Duntze Head.[/caption]Defence Minister Jason Kenney had his first official visit with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), and first look at the modernized Pacific Fleet, at Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) on Friday, Feb. 27.This first-hand look at the RCN allowed the Minister to see the extensive modernization happening throughout the fleet.A tweet put out by the Minister showed HMCS Vancouver, the newest Halifax-class frigate to have completed the modernization/frigate life extension (HMC/FELEX) program, returning from a week-long sail just as the Minister was arriving on base.On his arrival to the base, Minister Kenney was met by a 50-person Guard of Honour and members of the Naden Band. He was then escorted to a lunch at the Submarine Support Facility where he met with senior leadership, including Commodore David Craig, Commander of the Naval Reserve.Following the lunch, Minister Kenney toured HMCS Chicoutimi, one of the three Victoria-class submarines now in a steady state, which is set to return to the water this month.From there he was taken on a tour of HMCS Calgary, a Halifax-class frigate which, like HMCS Vancouver, has recently been updated through the HCM/FELEX program. Calgary was the workhorse of the Pacific Fleet last year, spending more than 250 days at sea.“It was truly remarkable to see first-hand the hard work and progress made by the RCN in this period of modernization and fleet renewal,” remarked Minister Kenney.The RCN’s fleet upgrades weren’t the only thing that impressed the Minister during his visit. In a news release he stated, “While having the best equipment available is important, even more important are the men and women of the RCN who, through their dedication and professionalism, exemplify the best qualities of our Canadian Armed...

[caption id="attachment_9401" align="alignnone" width="300"] Outgoing Commanding Officer, Cdr Julian Elborne, Cmdre Bob Auchterlonie, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, and incoming Commanding Officer, LCdr Blair Brown sign the Change of Command certificates.[/caption]HMCS Protecteur celebrated the customary turnover Feb. 20 between incoming and outgoing Commanding Officers, as the Auxiliary Oil Replenishment vessel remains alongside in Esquimalt eager for the next chapter in its long and proud history as the supply ship for Canada’s Pacific Naval Fleet.Cdr Julian Elbourne relinquished command of Protecteur to LCdr Blair Brown in a stoic change of command ceremony; the ship’s rich history and tradition, coupled with the myriad stories of sailors past and present, made this event a special one, if not a chance for reminiscence and a reminder to all present of the ship’s contributions to our country.The ceremony got underway just before 11 a.m. on the NOTC Venture Drill Deck, with Cmdre Bob Auchterlonie, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, presiding, and the Naden Band performing the customary musical accompaniment with aplomb.A reception followed in the Venture Gunroom, with outgoing Cdr Elbourne receiving tributes from his Junior Ranks, Chiefs and Petty Officers, and Officers in honour of the leadership and character he demonstrated while in Protecteur.LCdr  Brown, incoming Commanding Officer, will now take the helm in Protecteur, having served as the ship’s Executive Officer since 2014; no stranger to his current position, he assumed command of HMCS Edmonton in 2013 and brings a wealth of experience into this new role.  Commissioned Aug. 30, 1969, Protecteur served the fleet on both coasts, participating in numerous operations based out of Halifax from the 1970s until 1993, including Standing Naval Force Atlantic (SNFL) in 1973 with HMCS Margaree, and Operation Friction, the multi-national contribution to United Nations’ response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990-91.The ship’s mandate shifted to west...

[caption id="attachment_9398" align="alignnone" width="300"] The United States Navy awards Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) TORONTO the Meritorious Unit Commendation for their efforts resulting in seizures of significant caches of illicit narcotics.[/caption]Crewmembers from HMCS Toronto stood on parade Feb. 20 at HMCS Scotian to receive a rare commendation from the U.S. Navy - the Meritorious Unit Commendation.U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert presented the commendation and praised the personnel of Toronto for meritorious service and continued support of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) from February 2013 to 2014.“In the history of the commendation, we’ve given it to five units, which includes only two ships, this is the second. This event is very special in that it marks the fifth occurrence of such a decoration in the last 45 years,” said Admiral Greenert.While deployed, The Halifax-class frigate significantly disrupted the flow of drugs, criminal and terrorist activities in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.Toronto’s responsibilities included tracking, boarding and searching maritime contacts of interest to CTF-150 resulting in an impressive string of narcotics seizures, including more than 1,300 kilograms of heroin and over 6,000 kilograms of hashish.By disrupting the flow of narcotics to such a significant extent, Toronto severely impacted the funding of terrorist and criminal activities.“An honour such as this continues to demonstrate the world-class capabilities of the Royal Canadian Navy’s ships and their crews,” said Vice Admiral Mark Norman, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.“I would like to thank Admiral Greenert for bestowing this honour on HMCS Toronto and her crew, and I congratulate the officers and sailors receiving this commendation today for modelling what duty and dedication entails, and for upholding the Royal Canadian Navy’s tremendous reputation for excellence at sea.”Among the attended at HMCS Scotian were the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Bruce Heyman, and several...

[caption id="attachment_9395" align="alignnone" width="300"] In a moment of excitement at completing her 3,000 kilometre journey, SLt Marianne Knai, powerlifts her bike.[/caption]While many people were lounging around their living rooms on Boxing Day, helping themselves to Christmas dinner leftovers, or heading out to the malls to shop, SLt Marianne Knai was cycling solo down a rainy highway in Seattle.Cold and wet, she would not be deterred on the first day of her month-long cycling journey down the Pacific Coast to the Mexican border to raise funds for mental health.“On my first day, I was cycling down the highway, I had turkey in my belly, and I was vibrating with excitement,” she says.Her mission originated as a response to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association’s (ALS) ice bucket challenge, in which the public was invited by the ALS to film themselves being dumped over the head with buckets of ice water.The association encouraged participants to post their videos on social media afterwards.While SLt Knai saw the heart of the challenge as important, she wanted to find an alternative way to raise funds for a social justice cause, without further wasting a precious resource.She chose to focus her fundraising on mental health, an issue key to her role as Psychosocial Team Lead at the Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific). Included among the charities she chose was the Canadian Association for Mental Health, the Kids Help Line, and local mental health organizations.“I wanted to do the ride so that I could contribute to my community in way that got people together – both civilians and military members – with the common ground being a conversation about mental health,” says SLt Knai.After a minor setback – a flat tire 80 kilometres in, SLt Knai cut across Washington State to the Oregon coast, where she experienced...

 CPO2 Nathalie Scalabrini knows should her 10-year-old daughter Alexandra ever encounter an emergency medical situation, the she has the skills to appropriately address the situation.Her confidence is derived from training received through St. John Ambulance.Alexandra has reached the level of Cadet in the free first-aid based St. John Youth Program, after two years of committed volunteering.Both mother and daughter are involved in the program; Chief Scalabrini is the Administrative Officer for the St. John Ambulance 61C Colonel Michael Allen Division.“My daughter was coming to an age where it was very important for me to have her to join the community as an active member, but I wasn’t sure how to make that happen,” says CPO2 Scalabrini. “So I brought her to one session, and she fell in love with it.”Their division first formed in May 1977, and provides leadership opportunities to youth ages six to 18. For two hours every Monday night, over 25 participants – Juniors, Cadets, Crusaders, and Officers – gather to practice first aid skills in a team-like, supportive setting.Parents often line the sides of the room, watching their children learn how to clean wounds, care for broken bones, practice CPR, check vital signs, and act out emergency scene management –  to name just a few of the skills practiced. Those viewing the session are often invited to play the victims – a necessary role for a room full of budding first aid practitioners.CPO2 Scalabrini’s initial participation took the form of observing, but soon, she says, she began taking on higher levels of responsibility, which didn’t surprise her. At least half of the organization’s key officers and instructors are military members.Every week, a new chapter from the St. John Ambulance First Aid manual is taught by an instructor possessing Standard First Aid, CPR-C certificate, and often, the...

[caption id="attachment_9317" align="alignnone" width="200"] Sergeant Mark Salesse[/caption]Sergeant Mark Salesse had a physical presence that made people notice him, but it was his natural tendency to reach out and help others that made him a person others could call a brother or a friend.Last seen alive by three of his search and rescue brethren from 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sergeant Salesse, 44, was in his element on Thursday, Feb. 5, before an avalanche swept him away, leaving him buried in the snows covering Polar Circus in Banff National Park, Alberta.Initial search efforts by his climbing partner immediately after the avalanche, and subsequent searches by Parks Canada Visitor Safety Specialists, were made more difficult by poor weather conditions that increased the risk of more avalanches.Finally, on Wednesday, Feb. 11 Sgt Salesse’s remains were recovered from the treacherous terrain.“Our consolation is that Mark has died doing what he loved most, in the majestic mountains that so beckoned him. He chose his final resting place. He is at peace,” said his mother, Liz Quinn.Originally from Bathurst, New Brunswick, where his father Maurice still resides, Sgt Salesse joined the Canadian Armed Forces in the fall of 1989 at the age of 18 as a member of the Governor General Foot Guards (GGFG), a Primary Reserve infantry unit in Ottawa, Ontario.  After serving with the Foot Guards for a year, he moved to British Columbia and joined the British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own), an armoured reconnaissance reserve unit in Vancouver, British Columbia.His love of outdoor sports and physical challenge lent themselves well to life in British Columbia. With the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean at his doorstep, Sergeant Salesse pursued his interests in mountaineering, rock climbing, ice climbing, and SCUBA diving. Encouraged by his training in the Canadian Army,...

In light of two recent targeted, malicious acts against CFB Esquimalt’s recreational facilities I feel that I must bring this issue to the attention of the local community.Since 2012 unknown persons have been vandalizing the Base sports fields, specifically the ball diamonds and soccer pitch located near Naden on Colville Road.  I use the word vandalism but that really does not adequately describe the extent of it. Hundreds of metal spikes and pieces of barbed wire have been buried in the surface of these fields.  Clearly this is more than just a prank meant to inconvenience users.Military members utilize these fields to keep fit through sporting activity. The fields are also made available to local sports leagues and teams from the Greater Victoria community; it is not uncommon to see children and families engage in a soccer match or ball game on DND fields.I have no idea why someone would repeatedly carry out such a despicable act. If that someone is reading this letter, then I ask you to stop and consider your actions, and the potential harm that might come from it. If you are not happy with how the soccer pitch and ball diamonds are being used, or if you have other grievances, then put pen to paper and send me a letter.Our Military Police are actively investigating these unlawful acts; however, I also need the community’s help in finding the perpetrator(s) and ensure that they are held accountable.  If you see any suspicious activity or have any information that you think would aid us in our investigation please contact the 24/7 Military Police dispatch phone line at 250-363-4032.  To submit a tip anonymously contact either the Military Police tip line at 250-363-TIPS (8477) or Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).These images show the size and nature of...

To kick off this year’s anti-bullying campaign, the Maritime Forces Pacific Health and Wellness Team (MHWT) will be hosting “Cyber-bullying: Perceptions and Responses,” a talk by Dr. Brett Holfeld, a cyber-bullying researcher at the University of Victoria.This free event will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 24 from 10:30-11:45 a.m. at the Upstairs Lounge of the Pacific Fleet Club and is open to the Defence Community and their families.Bullying is not a new phenomenon, but cyber-bullying – the use of the internet to harass, embarrass and/or threaten others – is. In contrast to other methods of bullying, it can occur 24 hours a day and is often permanently available once on the internet.Public Safety Canada reports that this relentless form of bullying can compound feelings of fear, humiliation, social isolation and other negative emotions.“Because the material can be posted online at any time of the day or night, and can reach an unlimited audience, it can be more distressing than traditional forms of bullying,” explains Dr. Holfeld.Not only has cyber-bullying altered the experience of victims, but it has also changed the profile of bullies.Hiding behind technology, bullies do not witness their victim’s reaction, which makes it easier for them to become more aggressive. A 2008 cyber-bullying survey by the University of Toronto found that 74 per cent of participants who admitted to cyber-bullying others had not bullied others in person, suggesting that this passive form of bullying has increased the number of people willing to target others. For more information on this study, visit http://www.governmentevents.ca/ypo2008/presentations/634.pdf .Although young people are the most common targets of cyber-bullying, adults are also affected. The Canadian Institute of Health Research reports that 40 per cent of Canadian workers experience bullying on a weekly basis. This workplace bullying can lead to an increase in absenteeism, turnover and...

[caption id="attachment_9273" align="alignnone" width="300"] Harry Jerome crosses the finish line at a dual meet with the University of Oregon and Oregon State University, circa 1961.[/caption]As Canada celebrates Black History Month and the Year of Sport, the time has never been better to honour the legacies that “Army” Howard and Harry Jerome left to our country, on the track and off.These outstanding black athletes challenged the discrimination of their times and serve as role models to Canadian youth on the power of believing in yourself. Canada’s first black Olympian, John “Army” Howard, and his grandchildren, Olympians Harry and Valerie Jerome, leave a legacy of courage to all Canadians.While the name John Armstrong “Army” Howard may not be familiar to most Canadians, perhaps it should be.The Winnipeg-raised First World War veteran dominated Canadian sprinting from 1912 to1915. Not only does Howard appear to be Canada’s first black Olympian, he passed on his passion for running to his grandchildren, Olympians Harry and Valerie Jerome. Howard was born on Oct. 6, 1888. Trained as a mechanic, the tall handsome athlete eventually made his mark on the Canadian scene as a sprinter. Howard easily qualified for the 1912 Olympics held in Sweden, but the path to Stockholm was not smooth. The playing field that was Canadian society in the 1910s was far from level for black Canadians.“My grandfather headed off to Stockholm enveloped in controversy,” said Ms. Jerome, noting for example the Olympic sprinting team’s coach, Walter Knox, described Howard to the press as outspoken and disobedient. She added that when the Canadian Olympic team mustered in Montreal before setting sail for Stockholm, Howard was barred from staying at the same hotel as the white athletes. In addition, when traveling by boat to Sweden, he was not allowed to eat in the dining room with...

[caption id="attachment_9280" align="alignnone" width="300"] The ships will be known as the Harry DeWolf Class, named after Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf, a Canadian naval hero of the Second World War.[/caption]The build contract for the construction of six Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) has been announced.Irving Shipbuilding Inc. has the contract, valued at $2.3 billion, which marks the start of the construction phase under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS). The contract has been designed to ensure that risks are properly managed and shared throughout the build process. It provides strong incentives for Irving Shipbuilding to take full advantage of its state-of-the-art facilities and to pass any efficiency savings on to Canada.This will ensure best value for taxpayers, and sets out the plan for the delivery of six ships within a ceiling price. AOPS has been designed to provide the RCN with a platform to conduct year-round patrols out to the limits of Canada’s economic exclusive zone in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and most importantly in the Arctic during the navigable season.The ships will provide active surveillance, perform constabulary duties, and respond to any urgent situation as required. One of the most important capabilities AOPS will possess is its ability to navigate in ice, critical for ships that operate in the Arctic. The ships will be known as the Harry DeWolf Class, named after Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf, a Canadian naval hero of the Second World War.Construction of an initial block is scheduled for the summer, while full production will commence in September 2015. Delivery of the first AOPS is expected in 2018.  DND