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Shannon Childs, Personal Financial Planner, SISIP Financial — A weight lifted in 2021 when individual investors saw a rebound in their portfolios from the downturn of 2020. With a sense of normal returning to the world, people started to feel at ease: unknowing that 2022 would bring strong headwinds. Seeing the largest rate hike in over 40 years caused even risk-adverse individuals to feel significant losses. It felt as if no one’s investments were safe. The volatility seen in 2022 is a good reminder of how quickly and drastically the market and funds can change. With losses in our portfolio, we saw substantial cuts to transfer values upon early release. Cash values were nonexistent or reduced to minimal amounts. Many of us rely on these values as a buffer in the transition to the next stage, as a down payment for property or retirement, as other employers may not provide retirement plans. For some, postponing release can be an option; for others – current opportunities or challenges can force our hand. A stressful process now turns into a larger, more complicated decision. Knowing the pension options and benefits and understanding your immediate and future tax consequences will assist you in making informed decisions. History has shown periods of volatility run short. If we hold strong, avoid looking at our statements and continue our contributions, we will benefit from the discounted prices and rebound that follows volatility patterns. Automatic contributions over time provide the benefit of dollar cost averaging, the practice of investing a fixed dollar amount at regular, pre-determined intervals. Since the amount is fixed, you buy fewer units when the prices are higher and more units when prices decrease. This provides the benefit of growth over time, a consistent plan and spreads funds over multiple pay periods. As uncertainty in the...

Roger is a voice communications proword which means ‘received and understood’, i.e., “The formation will transit Haro Strait at 0900”. Reply: “Roger”. Proword is short for procedures words and describes the specific words and phrases used in radiotelephone communications. Roger being as commonplace as it is today, it is strange how most people have yet to learn the derivation of the term. One explanation of its origin is a tidy piece of folklore which states ROGER is an acronym meaning ‘Received Order Given Expect Results’. Alternatively, there is a more logical explanation of how Roger began to be used in the 1940s when the name ‘Roger’ was the ‘spelling alphabet’ equivalent for ‘R’, the first letter in the word ‘received’. Roger is a commonly used proword that leaks from the voice communications world to a sailor’s everyday jargon, i.e., “Bloggins, will you pass me the navy gravy?” Bloggins: “Roger”. In voice communications, Roger is often combined with the prowords over or out, such as ‘Roger over’ or ‘Roger out’. Over is used when a reply is expected. Out is used when no response is expected or required. The phrase ‘over and out’ is something you may hear in popular culture, but it is never used in actual practice. Other common prowords are Wilco, which means, ‘I understand and will comply’; Say again, used to request a message be repeated; and Correction, which means, “I made an error in this transmission. Transmission will continue with the last word correctly sent”. While Roger is a method of verbal acknowledgement, the correct way to respond to an order given by a superior is Aye Aye, which means, “I understand the command and hasten to comply with the order”. While the word Aye is derived from the Olde English ‘ay’, which means ‘ever’, it...

[caption id="attachment_31727" align="aligncenter" width="596"] (Left) Sergeant Martin Ouellet; Jennifer Bolster, Paramedic Practice Leader; Sergeant Sonya March; Warrant Officer Nicolas D’anjou; Warrant Officer Scott Rose; Chris Millar, Advance Care Paramedic; Jennifer Taronga, Honour Guard. Photo: Acting Sub-Lieutenant Ty Pellerin, Base PA.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Warrant Officer (WO) Nicolas D’anjou is convinced real-life superheroes walk among us. His comments come while recalling the fateful moment when three colleagues from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron rushed to his aid and performed lifesaving Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). “My heart would stop beating on three separate occasions that night, but I was in the right place at the right time,” WO D’anjou, 49, said. “Although my friends will say the opposite, they are my personal superheroes, my Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.” WO D’anjou previously worked as a maintenance manager at the helicopter squadron and was on hand to congratulate his friends at a Jan. 15 awards ceremony at Victoria’s BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) headquarters. The ceremony honoured his co-workers WO Scott Rose, Sergeant (Sgt) Sonya Marchand and Sgt Martin Ouellet with a BCEHS Vital Link Award. The award his friends received recognizes the skilful actions of one or more bystanders during a cardiac arrest emergency. “It’s nice to be recognized with this award, but the greatest reward for us is to spend time with our friend, Nicolas,” said WO Rose, who works as an Air Maintenance Superintendent. Springing into Action During a telephone interview, D’anjou recalled the night of Jan. 10, 2020, when all four friends had gathered at a local pub in Esquimalt. Soon after arriving, Nicolas collapsed in his chair and went into cardiac arrest. He says that moment would change his life forever. It was the quick action of WO Rose and his fellow 443 Squadron members who performed CPR and helped save his life. “Nick was telling a story to us, and he is fairly animated so when he stopped talking at first, I thought he was joking around,” said...

  [caption id="attachment_31708" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Leading Seaman Justine Boivin (left) and Leading Seaman Alexy Thibault pose for a photo onboard HMCS Kingston before deployment in 2018. Photo: Sergeant Shilo Adamson, Canadian Forces Recruiting Group Headquarters.[/caption] Sailor Third Class Robyn Oliver  — When I was growing up in Edmonton, Alta, my next-door neighbours were in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). As a child, watching them come home in their uniforms every day was equal parts intimidating and awe-inspiring. One of them was a woman. One time, as my sister and I picked strawberries from her yard, she approached unnoticed and picked us up by our ankles. The moment, filled with giggling and sheer surprise, is a very wholesome memory. It was also a nod to her incredible physical strength. For lack of a better word, she was a total ‘badass’. She was strong, kind, hard-working, and well-known throughout my neighbourhood. She was an Infantry Officer in the Army, a position typically held by men, especially at that time. But she kept up. She did just as many push-ups, lifted just as many sandbags, and outdid some of her coworkers in the number of pull-ups she could do. She was strong. I joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) two years ago, and am continually inspired by the awesome, hard-working women I work with. Women are now able to enroll in any position or trade in the CAF and RCN, but it wasn’t always that way. Women originally served in nursing positions as civilians during the Northwest Rebellion in 1885. In 1942, female paramilitary groups were created. New divisions such as the Women’s Royal Canadian Army Corps (WRENs), Women’s Canadian Army Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division allowed women to serve and fulfill positions in the CAF. They were limited to...

Piping is a traditional method of passing orders in a naval setting. A verbal pipe is often replaced with the sound of a boatswain’s call, which can convey specific orders. Naval lore states the use of a boatswain’s call in English ships can be traced back to AD 1248. The call can be worn as a symbol of rank, mainly because it can be used for passing orders. Until 1562 it was worn as a badge of office of the Lord High Admiral of England. In today’s navy, the boatswain’s call and chain are worn by the Chief Boatswain’s Mate, Quartermaster, and Boatswain’s Mate. A boatswain’s call is played by holding it between your index finger and thumb, the latter laying along the bottom of the pipe, referred to as the gun. The orb-shaped buoy rests against the palm, and the fingers are used to throttle the air exit from the hole in the top of the buoy. The boatswain’s call is relatively easy to master, as there are only two main notes; low and high, and three tones; plain, warble and trill. The low note is produced by blowing steadily into the gun with the hole of the buoy unobstructed by the fingers. The high note is made by moving the fingers over the buoy and partially throttling the exit of air. A warble is produced by repeatedly moving the fingers from the high to the low position. The trill is produced by vibrating the tongue, similar to how you roll the letter ‘R’. Pipe the side is a 12-second pipe with very smooth transitions from low to high and back to low. It is used when a Commanding Officer arrives onboard, for Royalty, the accused when entering a Court Martial, or for the Officer of the Guard when the guard is formed. The still, a high note held for eight seconds, calls all hands to attention as a mark of respect or to order silence. If done correctly,...

[caption id="attachment_31699" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Holy Rood Church in Wool, England. Photo: englandexpected.wordpress.com[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — A long-standing mystery of who has been placing Canadian flags on the graves of First World War soldiers in Southern England has been solved. For the past ten years, tiny maple leaf flags have been appearing at the headstones of two 1st Canadian Tank Battalion members at Holy Rood Church in Wool around Remembrance Day. Lance Corporal Vernon Ward and Private Ivan Tremayne Green were buried in the churchyard in Dorset, England, in October 1918. The Canadian flags first caught the attention of Lieutenant-Commander (ret’d) Rick Wall of Campbell River, B.C. “My brother-in-law and I were amazed that someone continues to care for and place small Canadian flags in front of the graves, even though these soldiers died over a hundred years ago and were buried five thousand kilometres from Canada,” Wall said. He sent pictures of the flags on the graves to The Trumpeter, a Royal Canadian Hussars Association newsletter. Current and former members of the armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Army Reserves publish it. They issued a story in their December 2022 edition and asked their readers who were behind the good deed. “We do not know who is following the tradition of placing flags on the graves in Wool churchyard but if we did, we would commend them for this act of remembrance,” wrote Master Corporal (ret’d) Louis Lamarre. Canada Connections The mystery has since unravelled. The flag placer is Rod Webb, a retired Royal Fleet Auxiliary Senior Radio Officer. He and his late wife Gill Webb started placing the flags on the Canadian soldiers’ graves in 2013. “My wife had discovered her Canadian family and we both thought this would be a good thing to do for Remembrance Day,” Webb wrote via email. Gill found out her father was a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and served in the Canadian Army in 1939 as an Intelligence Officer...

[caption id="attachment_31693" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Mina Purewal.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — After a hard day’s work, Mina and Sukhi Purewal say they are incredibly proud of their work. The two sisters and their staff operate two tailor shops, their flagship retail store A&B Tailor Shop is located in the heart of downtown Victoria. Their retail outlet at the Base, Mia’s Tailor Shop, is inside the CANEX building in Naden. It specializes in naval mess kits and provides alterations for Commissionaires, CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue, local police, firefighters and corrections officers, and even garment alterations to non-military clothing. “Our shops bring customers the most experienced tailors in Victoria,” Mina says. “When other tailors turn away extraordinary jobs, we take on the challenge to make it possible. We have plenty of regular customers but also see new faces in our shops every day.” The Purewals and their staff also work as contractors at the Base Logistics (BLog) Building in Dockyard, where they adjust and fit uniforms to the requirements of military personnel. They began working as contractors for BLog in January 2018 and purchased Mia’s Tailor Shop from founder Mia Larsen before her death in 2019. Mina and Sukhi are the third generation of tailors from their family, with their grandmother starting in the trade back in 1935 in India. Their family moved to Vancouver in 1993. Mina and Sukhi have operated A&B Tailor Shop inside The Bay Centre (formally Eaton Centre) since 2001. Their work includes everything from tapering, custom-fitting and removing pleats to altering bridal and graduation dresses and replica clothing. 1. What are the qualities that make a good tailor? Excellent hand-eye coordination and decades of experience make a good tailor. In the military, everything needs to be measured to the millimetre and precisely to regulation, but we have...

Craig York, Financial Counsellor, SISIP Financial, CFMWS — If you fear the arrival of your January credit card bill after purchasing Christmas gifts and Boxing Day sales, now is the time to make a resolution to improve your financial well-being in 2023 and avoid a ‘holiday hangover’ in the future. First, it’s important to separate wants from needs, and clearly define what it means to ‘save’ money. The sales in January can be tempting. Before you start shopping, consider if what you plan to buy is a ‘want’ or a ‘need’, and whether you can afford it. If you are putting ‘that great deal’ onto a credit card that you are unable to pay off immediately, the amount you are saving on the item quickly disappears with any interest that accumulates. Consider how your shopping affects your long-term financial goals. Your spending habits should reveal what you value most. If you want to buy a house in the future, ask yourself if you would rather put that money into the down payment fund. Second, start your savings plan now. Include two types of savings into your monthly expenses to create a more sustainable budget: Expenses you know will happen throughout the year. Start planning now by putting aside money every paycheck for gifts – Christmas will always be in December. It is much easier to put aside a little bit every paycheck than trying to afford everything all at once. Automate your savings to save time and money. With better preparation, financial emergencies become only financial inconveniences. Expenses that are likely to come up throughout the year, such as vehicle repairs, home maintenance, clothing, shoes, vet bills, etc. You may have to estimate how much you should save, but it will lead to being better prepared for the unexpected. Third, understand...

Ryan Cane, Senior Manager Recreation Program and Community Services, PSP HQ — Soldier On is launching an initiative that provides new opportunities for ill and injured serving and Veteran soldiers, sailors and aviators. Soldier On members and their family and friends can participate in different events, ranging from bowling to skating and even horseback riding! “Military families are the strength behind the uniform,” Joe Kiraly, National Manager for Soldier On, says. “Soldier On Family and Friend Days presented by The Personal Insurance Company will bring together the Soldier On community. We hope it will offer everyone a chance to connect and experience the wider benefits of the program.” Since 2007, Soldier On has supported over 10,000 ill and injured members using sports, recreational, and creative activities to enable social support, build confidence in their abilities and realize their full potential. Soldier On provides members with a safe environment to challenge themselves and become inspired in ways they may not have thought possible, contributing to and providing a gateway to enhance one’s well-being. This re-introduction to an active lifestyle offers opportunities to develop new skills, build confidence and meet peers with similar challenges. “We hope these events will help Solider On families to build the connections that will be helpful for the long haul. We are so grateful to our sponsor The Personal Insurance Company,” Joe Kiraly added. Personal Insurance has been the official home and auto insurance provider for Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services since 1986. It continues to deliver a partnership beneficial to those who serve – CAF members, Veterans and their families. Personal Insurance offers customized home and auto insurance options specific to the needs of the Canadian Defence Community. “The Personal Insurance Company is proud to continue supporting the Defence community by giving ill and injured members a fun, interactive way to spend time with their family and friends,” says Tiffany Marinacci, Senior National Manager – Partnership Development, The Personal Insurance Company. For any Soldier On members interested...

[caption id="attachment_31646" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Lisa deWit, former national and local Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group civilian co-chair.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — A Senior Project Manager at CFB Esquimalt has been hailed by the Chief of Defence Staff. Lisa deWit of Formation Review was recognized for her contributions as National Civilian Co-Chair to the Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group (DAAG) in an open letter dated Dec. 16 from General (Gen) Wayne Eyre, Chief of Defence Staff, and Bill Matthews, Deputy Defence Minister. “I recognize the importance of communicating how volunteers of this organization are being change-makers and was glad the other Defence Advisory Groups (DAGs) were also highlighted,” deWit said about the recognition. Gen Eyre said deWit was being recognized for her work toward building a more inclusive Defence team and “steadfast advocacy, providing voice, counsel and support to leadership and helping foster deeper relationships between the Indigenous community and the Department of National Defence Canadian Armed Forces”. deWit has worked as a Department of National Defence (DND) civilian employee since 2010, beginning her DAAG membership in 2011. She is a proud member of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation of British Columbia. Both deWit and military co-chair Master Warrant Officer (retired) Simon Linklater, a former DAAG Military Co-Chair, completed their terms on the national DAAG in December 2022. In reaction to the General’s congratulatory letter, the Lookout engaged deWit for her thoughts on being recognized and the scope of her work involving the DAAG and the military’s senior leadership. Q: What specific projects or tasks have you been involved in that led to this recognition? A: Both Linklater and I were conduits for the DAAGs across the country as we aimed to raise the voices of Indigenous Peoples in DND/Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Typical engagements included meeting with heads of various departments, sitting in on Indigenous-related events hosted by political dignitaries, and advising all levels of leaders across the country. We met annually with other National DAG leaders and hosted an annual gathering of...

[caption id="attachment_31567" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photo: Peter Mallet, Lookout staff[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — A  non-profit that awards medals to children of deployed Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) sailors will expand its reach to Eastern Canada by the end of this year. Medals for Children, an initiative launched in 2021 by Earl Phillips of Grande Prairie, Alta., will award medals to children of parents deployed aboard Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) vessels HMCS Fredericton and HMCS Montreal. “Many of these children don’t know a life any different than Mom or Dad being away for long periods of time and all the challenges that creates,” Phillips said. “We want to see this program flourish so we can honour them.” Phillips said the medals are a way to honour the children’s service and sacrifice during deployments. His daughter, Lieutenant (Navy) Anne Day of HMCS Montreal, is a military parent with three children. Phillips is employed by the Regional Cadet Support Unit (RCSU) Northwest. Phillips said the success of the medals program is based on its popularity with recipients. Proof of this played out when dozens of children with parents aboard HMCS Winnipeg and HMCS Vancouver were reunited with their parents and loved ones at the Dec. 5 homecoming in Esquimalt. Many children were delighted to receive the medals from their mothers and fathers, supplied by Phillips through the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC). Some of the medals were presented by The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, and Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander Royal Canadian Navy. The front of the blue and bronze medal features a child’s hand reaching toward the hands of an adult sailor, and the reverse side has the ship’s name and deployment dates. It also includes a red and white ribbon. Phillips will add bars to the awards system, with red-coloured bars affixed to a child’s medal following each deployment instead of awarding a child a separate medal for each one. Phillips’ first batch of medals for HMCS Winnipeg’s 2021...

[caption id="attachment_31578" align="aligncenter" width="595"] RCN cooks mixing rum into a Christmas pudding.[/caption] Clare Sharpe, CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum — From the Archives: Stories from the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum At the heart of many longstanding holiday traditions in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is the desire to build camaraderie, ease loneliness, lift people’s spirits, and create a sense of togetherness. One well-loved practice in the RCN is making the youngest sailor ‘Captain for the day’ while temporarily demoting the highest-ranking officer. The custom, which can also involve senior personnel serving a festive meal to those of lower rank, has its roots in the Roman festival of Saturnalia. Saturnalia is also the origin of many traditions now closely associated with Christmas, including lighting candles, feasting and gift exchanges. Another custom sees the youngest member of the ship’s company ringing in the New Year by ringing the ship’s bell 16 times, eight for the old year and eight for the new—the only time in the year the bell could be sounded more than eight times at once. Another old festive custom in RCN ships and shore establishments is decorating with wreaths and greenery. Even during wartime, RCN sailors celebrated the holidays at sea by festooning bulkheads and messes with foraged Christmas trees and boughs hoisted up the funnel and placed around the ship. In recent years, ship crews have decorated their vessels with Christmas lights and brought delight to their local communities with these dazzling displays. Often such ship light-up occasions were a chance for some friendly competition between ships and an opportunity to fundraise for charitable organizations. Also customary is a large loaf of bread pinned to the table with a bayonet as a central decoration of sailors’ mess tables in Canadian warships observing the full naval Christmas tradition. Beside the loaf would be placed a neatly printed inscription ‘The staff of life, at the point of death’. A drink that is still popular in many Christmas messes...

Kateryna Bandura, Lookout Editor — Christmas cookies crumble onto HMCS Ottawa’s deck as seven daze-eyed children observe Sailor First Class (S1) Deryck Kent, a Marine Technician, in the Machinery Control Room (MCR). “This is what makes the ship run,” he says, pointing into a hole in the floor. Beneath – a propulsion system that can take the Halifax-class frigate up to 30 knots (56 km/h). A little boy bravely peeks into the void, his cookie in hand, and returns with a silent ‘wow’. While S1 Kent describes the ship’s pneumonic mechanism, Lieutenant (Navy) Luis Lemus, Ottawa’s Assistant Logistics Officer and event’s organizer, says the crew is excited to have the children onboard. “The aim was to make this a fun day,” he says. “Some of the kids might come from disadvantaged families, and today might be the only time they get a present.” Twenty-five children arrived here on Dec. 12 for an early Christmas celebration, courtesy of Esquimalt Lions Club. Thirty-five years ago, the Club helped HMCS Protecteur host a children’s Christmas onboard. Then HMCS Calgary took over the ropes. This year, the honour fell to HMCS Ottawa. Lin McPhee from the Esquimalt Lions Club says the Club cherishes opportunities such as this one. “It’s wonderful the Base steps up every year to help us continue this tradition,” McPhee said. “We can’t do it without them and it’s definitely a thrill for these children.” She reached out to elementary schools in the Victoria School District 61 for a list of presents, and then coordinated with the Base to get them delivered to the ship. The Ottawa was responsible for 50 per cent of gifts costs, acquired from the ship’s fund. Some presents already await under the Christmas tree in the Junior Ranks Mess; others will arrive with Santa. The ship opened up four spaces for the children to visit: the MCR, the After Section Base (ASB), the Bridge, and the Operations Room (Ops Room). Four groups of youngsters rotate throughout the...

[caption id="attachment_31584" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Master Sailor Dylan McGinn, Sailor First Class Nahom Beyene and Chief Petty Officer Second Class Trevor Moore of HMCS Regina deliver toys and gifts to Victoria General Hospital staff on Nov. 24. The gifts for patients in the Children’s Life Services Department were paid for through funds raised in the Dave Barber Charity Golf Tournament. Photo: HMCS Regina.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — HMCS Regina’s crew made this Christmas extra special for young patients at Victoria General Hospital. Sailors of the Halifax-class frigate stopped by the Children’s Life Department at the hospital ahead of the Christmas break to donate $3,600 in presents and gift cards. Volunteers delivered over 100 gifts for children, including toys, crafts, and colouring books. “Traditions like this matter, and knowing we support the community and help others in need allows us to reflect on our situations and realize how fortunate we are,” said Sailor First Class (S1) Nahom Beyene, a Weapons Engineering Technician and Fire Control Technician on Regina. He was the organizer of this year’s charity drive. The gifts were paid for with money raised through the ship’s annual charity event, the Dave Barber Golf Tournament. The tournament is named in memory of Master Sailor Dave Barber, a Fire Control and Radar Technician who worked onboard Regina before passing away from leukemia in 1997. This year’s nine-hole golf tournament was held on Aug. 30 at the Metchosin Golf & Country Club. S1 Beyene also delivered a cash donation to help the hospital staff when supplies of crafts, pencil crayons, markers and colouring books run out. Making the delivery to the hospital was the sweetest part of the journey, he said, especially hearing from hospital staff how happy the gifts would make the children. “Knowing what these children are experiencing and being able...

[caption id="attachment_31577" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Jake Douglas (Joiner in shop 122) assists during the setting of crush caps at FMF Cape Breton dry dock. Photo supplied.[/caption] Ashley Evans, Strategic Communications Officer, FMF CB/CS — On a rainy November afternoon, while filming interviews at the bottom of the Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Breton’s (CB) dry dock, we noticed a group of Shipwrights working away at the opposite end. They were working to prepare the dry dock for the docking of HMCS Ottawa scheduled for Jan 4. The team was replacing ‘crush caps’ on top of keel blocks, steel blocks with wood caps that run down the centre of the dry dock bottom. These ‘crush caps’ take the settling and crushing force from the ship while docking, sparing the wood beneath. Replacing the ‘crush caps’ is more challenging than it may initially appear. The team used a Theodolite, a surveying instrument that measures vertical and horizontal angles, to ensure the blocks follow the same slope as the dock bottom. This slope directs water to the pumps located at the north end of the dry dock. The crush caps are used twice – once per side – and are then discarded. For every consecutive dry dock docking, the Shipwright shop replaces the blocks and re-secures the packing and caps to the keel block bases. The team recently adopted a new banding process, where the packing and caps are secured to the keel block bases using three-quarter-inch banding and duplex nails. The keel blocks are positioned based on a docking plan that ensures they are spaced to avoid underwater hull openings or equipment. After the keel blocks are set, the dock is ready for docking. “Docking ships is satisfying work for the whole shop; we all have a great sense of accomplishment at the end...

[caption id="attachment_31570" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Vancouver and HMCS Winnipeg return home after 173 days at sea. Photo Corporal Tristan Walach.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff writer — A look at the Lookout Newspaper’s top news events of 2022: January CAF Members continue their support to federal, provincial and territorial governments as part of Operation Vector. Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton and the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) unveil a navy-themed paint pattern for their sleds used at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.  Naval Reserve Unit recognizes its 100th anniversary by unveiling a new morale patch designed by S1 Joseph Demayuga. [caption id="attachment_31571" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Illustration of a bobsleigh designed after HMCS Regina’s dazzle paintjob.[/caption] February CAF announces the implementation of modernized, inclusive French language ranks. Canadian Pacific Fleet announces HMCS Vancouver Boatswain S2 Jesse Roberts as its Sailor of the Year for 2021. HMCS Saskatoon and HMCS Yellowknife deploy in the international drug interdiction mission Operation Caribbe. March HMCS Brandon participates in United States-led cold-weather warfare Exercise Arctic Edge 2022 in Alaska. Wounded Warriors relay team concludes 800 km relay-style run on Vancouver Island to raise funds and awareness of support programs for military and first responders. CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum introduces Tatiana Robinson as its new curator following the retirement of Debbie Towell. April The first of four Sea-to-Shore connector barges designed to serve the needs of the RCN’s future Joint Support Ships is delivered to Esquimalt. HMCS Vancouver, HMCS Calgary, HMCS Brandon and HMCS Edmonton participate in Vancouver’s Fleet Week. HMCS Saskatoon marks RCN’s first-ever visit to Ecuador after arriving in Manta on April 18. May In separate Change of Command Ceremonies, VAdm Angus Topshee becomes Commander RCN, succeeding VAdm Craig Baines; RAdm Christopher Robinson succeeds VAdm Topshee as Commander MARPAC. Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) HMCS Max Bernays launched following a naming ceremony at Irving Ship Building in Halifax. Sailors from RCN and MARPAC commemorate the 77th anniversary of The Battle of the Atlantic with marching contingents and a ceremony...

From the Archives: Stories from the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum — Christmas 1943 was just another routine day at sea for the Tribal-class destroyer HMCS Athabaskan during the Battle of the Atlantic. The festive holiday found the ship’s company and her Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) John Stubbs, bucking heavy seas while accompanying Convoy RA-55A somewhere northwest of Bear Island, Norway. The crew were tired, fed up, had not received any mail, and their nerves were stretched taut as they waited for a possible attack. On Dec. 23, 1943, Athabaskan left Kola Inlet with her sister escorts. They were tasked with shepherding a convoy of 22 merchant ships and sailed westbound to Loch Ewe, Scotland. As this group of vessels moved slowly north through the Arctic night into the Barents Sea, the sailors on board were unaware that the convoy was acting as a piece in a giant chess game. This strategic battle resulted in the sinking of the German warship Scharnhorst. Scharnhorst was one of the most dangerous German ships in the conflict, one of the Allies’ most wanted warships, and the last of her kind. In late December 1943, she was sunk in the Battle of North Cape after attempting to intercept two Arctic convoys. HMCS Athabaskan did not participate directly in Scharnhorst’s destruction; the ship may have been side-lined due to ongoing condenser problems. LCdr Stubbs was disappointed; he had confidence in his ship and crew and knew that Athabaskan could have contributed significantly to the battle. Yet, with the major enemy threat destroyed, men could celebrate a belated Christmas. In an account of this impromptu party by Len Burrows, author of “Unlucky Lady – The Life and Death of HMCS Athabaskan”, he notes: “….makeshift Christmas trees were put up in different places and simple gifts were...

Members of MARPAC/JTFP Defence Team, we hope your holidays are filled with joy, generosity, and memorable celebrations. CPO1 Lee, the Formation Chief Petty Officer, and I wish everyone a fantastic holiday season with friends and family, and applaud your resiliency and dedication in these demanding times. The lingering effects of COVID-19 have continued to affect our daily routines both at work and home; however, the MARPAC/JTFP Defence Team’s approach to the ongoing challenges reflects our determination and tenacity as an organization. Chief Lee and I are very proud of how you have adapted to provide safe working environments while sustaining operational effectiveness. To meet the Government of Canada’s objectives, we have continued to deploy ships and personnel to stay strong at home, secure in North America and engaged in the world. At home, our ships and patrol craft have maintained our presence in our local waters to safeguard against threats and improve working relationships with Indigenous, federal, and territorial governments. HMCS Ottawa in particular has been a regular sight in the waters close to home as it conducted exercises and trials. Our defence team, in conjunction with our Coast Guard partners, has helped make Canada a safer place to live by conducting over 2,500 search and rescue missions. In North America, as part of Op Caribbe, HMCS Saskatoon and Yellowknife, working in conjunction with partners, helped seize 872 kilograms of drugs in February. We have continued to be engaged in the world with Op Projection in the Indo-Pacific region, where our ships have conducted training, exercises, and engagements with foreign navies and other international security partners. HMCS Vancouver and Winnipeg sailed to the international waters of the East and South China Seas in August conducting port visits throughout South East Asia and the USA. HMCS Vancouver moved on to Op...

The coming of a new year is often seen as a moment to pause and take stock – celebrating our accomplishments and reflecting on our challenges. As I look back over this year, I am full of appreciation for the work of the Defence Team here at CFB Esquimalt. Successful deployments in the Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific have seen us strengthening partnerships with our allies and partners abroad, monitoring United Nations Security Council sanctions, and disrupting illicit drug trafficking. These successes at sea and stability for families at home while loved ones are deployed would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our One Navy Base team here in Esquimalt. This year also saw us return to fulfilling our ceremonial duties in person, including Remembrance Day and respectfully marking the passing of our monarch, Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We connected with our community through important outreach initiatives such as Defence on the Dock, Military Appreciation Nights, and local celebrations. I recognize that our participation in these events requires considerable effort, and I want to express my gratitude to everyone who took the time to help share what we do with our community. As we move into 2023, be assured that the Base Chief Petty Officer and I are laser-focused on ensuring that we’re doing the right ceremonial activities for the right reasons and with the least footprint with which the mission can be accomplished so that extracurricular duties are reduced as much as possible. While there is a lot to be proud of, we are all aware that much work lies ahead. It’s no secret that our organization is in the midst of great change that will have implications for years. That change must be a positive one. Our No. 1 priority remains a shift...

To all members of the Royal Canadian Navy Team, Chief Petty Officer First Class Tom Lizotte and I wish you the very best this holiday season. This past year has been a busy and often challenging one. Despite those challenges, we have achieved a lot this year thanks to your hard work and dedication. The Chief and I cannot emphasize this point enough – we are extremely grateful for the tremendous work that you do to contribute to the Navy each and every day.  As you all know, we have been experiencing significant personnel shortages over the past few years and the pandemic has exacerbated the situation. When combined with the other challenges imposed by the pandemic, as well as cost of living increases and the demands of the troubling geo-strategic situation, we know that we have placed a tremendous burden directly on you and your families. Yet, you continue to rise to the occasion in service of Canada and your fellow Canadians. Know that our gratitude is heartfelt, and that addressing the personnel situation is our top priority. There is no quick fix, but we do have some exciting programs in the works, which we will be able to tell you more about in the New Year. We are determined that you will see meaningful and tangible progress on this front in 2023. For those of you in the Regular and Reserve force, the pride you take in wearing your uniform is evident and it is wonderful to see so many of you embrace the changes adopted back in September. And to our civilian employees, our successes this year could not have been realized without your direct involvement. No matter where you work, your commitment to getting the job done is second to none. Whether Regular Force, Reservist or civilian employee, the work you have done this year has been tremendous and you have demonstrated time and again that we are ready to Help, Lead, Fight. Please take this...

Kateryna Bandura, Lookout Editor — During their Christmas decorating contest, the Naval Fleet School (Pacific) members dressed the school in the holiday spirit this past week. Acting Sub-Lieutenant Anthony Latka, Sailor First Class Charlotte Dennis and Marsha Hurrell, Administrative Assistant to the School’s Commandant, took charge of the festivities and formed a small committee to plan and decorate the school while bringing joy to their Unit. “We quickly planned a meeting to discuss what ideas we each had, and settled on our favourite three that would spread holiday cheer,” Hurrell said. The ideas included a door-decorating contest titled Operation Deck the Halls, ornament-making, and holiday bingo. The committee has put together two gift baskets as prizes; one will be awarded to the holiday bingo winner. All participants of the door-decorating and ornament-making contests will be entered into a draw for the second gift basket. Everyone was welcome to put up an ornament they made for the ‘family tree’ at the School, and the section with the winning door and winning ornament will each win a small prize.

[caption id="attachment_31478" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Ordinary Seaman William Bain, youngest sailor in the fleet, exchanges ranks with Commander Annick Fortin, Commanding Officer of Naval Fleet School (Pacific) in 2019.[/caption] — The holiday season is a special time in an HMC ship or base. Seasonal decorations have been popular for decades and include traditions such as raising an evergreen up a ship’s yardarm or festooning the upper decks with pine boughs and coloured lights. In modern times, there is often a competition to see which ship has the best decorations. The sailors’ Christmas celebrations became a relaxed routine, pranks and frivolity throughout the years. Today, a ship’s company’s holiday celebration includes a tradition where the youngest sailor changes places with the Commanding Officer for the day. They may even exchange tunics in a distant throwback to the ancient Roman custom of exchanging clothes and duties during Saturnalia. The honorary Commanding Officer for the day is often allowed to inspect the ship and issue orders, usually done in a lighthearted way. The celebration is capped by a lavish holiday feast consisting of turkey with all the trimmings, wine, plenty of side dishes, and a helping of duff, traditionally a Christmas pudding. For the sailors, the best part of the dinner is that it is served by the officers, done so as a thank you for the hard work and accomplishments of the previous twelve months. The holiday season can be a quiet moment for HMC ships as there tends to be a scheduled leave period. However, for the ships in the HMC dockyard, there is a tradition that occurs at midnight on New Year’s Eve when the youngest member, sailor or officer is tasked to ring the bell eight times for the outgoing year and eight times for the New Year. Bells ringing...

Rear-Admiral (retired) Ian Mack has been recognized for his unequalled contribution to Canada in the naval ship procurement sphere. Following his retirement from the Navy in 2007, Ian served ten years as the Director-General of Major Projects (Land and Sea) for National Defence. Since leaving the government in 2017, he has shared his international shipbuilding and project management perspectives and has authored numerous papers on related subjects. He made great efforts to set the National Shipbuilding Strategy in place and to promote the application of complex project management principles to naval ship procurement. His leadership and vision have contributed to revitalizing the Canadian shipbuilding industry and implementing the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship and Joint Support Ship projects. With the Canadian Surface Combatant project now well into the project definition phase, Ian’s work has set in motion the renewal of the Royal Canadian Navy for the next half-century.

[caption id="attachment_31464" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Petty Officer Blair Black poses with the precious cargo. Photo: supplied[/caption] Capt Christine MacNeil, HMCS Winnipeg PAO — Up in the fo’c’sle, among the hawsers, the capstan compartment, fenders, paint stores and other nautical items is something unusual. Something rarely found on a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) vessel – a sealed whisky barrel. Full of single malt whisky from a distillery in Vernon, this barrel has been a silent passenger during HMCS Winnipeg’s six-month deployment on Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) and Operation Projection. This project is the brainchild of Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Blair Black, the Warehouse Supervisor on HMCS Winnipeg. Several years ago, PO2 Black sampled a bottle of Jefferson’s Bourbon called ‘Aged at Sea’. Enjoying the taste and intrigued by the name, he looked into the story behind the name and discovered that Jefferson’s had loaded whiskey barrels onto the ocean research vessel MV Ocearch, and the barrels travelled around the world while the ship’s company conducted research. According to Jefferson’s website, ‘the constant movement of the ocean and extreme temperature fluctuations as the ship traversed the globe completely transformed the whiskey’. Posted ashore at the time, PO2 Black could only think about what a neat idea it would be to have an RCN ship do something similar. As fate would have it, PO2 Black was posted aboard HMCS Winnipeg in 2022, where he floated the idea of aging whisky at sea to the ship’s fund committee. The idea was met with enthusiasm, and the team went to work exploring the possibility and the requirements to make it happen. Lieutenant (Navy) Travis Jensen, the ship’s Logistics Officer, liaised with Fleet Non-Public Funds (NPF) staff, who then verified with Formation Logistics Staff to determine if this was possible within the confines of the...

[caption id="attachment_31455" align="aligncenter" width="596"] Gerald Pash, Acting President of the Rotary Club of Victoria, presents Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson with a citation and honorary membership certificate.[/caption] Gerald Pash, Acting President, Rotary Club of Victoria — Rear-Admiral (RAdm) Christopher Robinson, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) and Joint Task Force Pacific (JTF(P)), was inducted as an honorary member of the 109-year-old Rotary Club of Victoria in a ceremony at the Union Club of B.C. on Nov. 24. “Appointing the Commander is a recognition of the contribution made to the building of this community by Forces personnel since the establishment of the Esquimalt Naval Base and Garrison,” said Gerald Pash, Club Acting President. For several decades, it has been the practice of the Rotary Club of Victoria to have the Lieutenant Governor and the Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific as honorary members. The appointment citation states the following: “For more than 175 years, leaders of the Sovereign’s Maritime forces, the Royal Navy, the Canadian Naval Service, and the Royal Canadian Navy have enhanced the business and social life of Greater Victoria. “Successive Commanders-in-Chief of the Royal Navy Pacific Station, Commanders of the Canadian Maritime Forces Pacific, officers commanding ships afloat and the shore establishment, today known as Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, have led thousands of men and women who have served Canada professionally and simultaneously contributed individually to this city and surrounding municipalities. “In recognition of that legacy, Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, is hereby named an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Victoria and is entitled to all the associated rights and privileges.” In addition to the citation, RAdm Robinson was presented with a membership certificate, lapel badge, and name tag. Following the induction, he spoke to the Club about current operations and the work to renew the fleet by introducing new...

[caption id="attachment_31452" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Petty Officer First Class Meghan Worsnop as she practices her violin on HMCS Montreal. Photo: Corporal Jadin Gaudett
, Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Technician (OJE)[/caption] Capt Trevor Young, Public Affairs Officer, HMCS Montréal — Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Meghan Worsnop finds it easier to play her violin on the frigate than on solid land. Tucked away in a small room clad in metal pipes and endless wiring, PO1 Worsnop has claimed it as one of the only places on Halifax-class frigate HMCS Montréal she could find to play her violin in relative peace. “Dvořák is one of my favorites to play; he travelled the world, you know,” she says. Swaying in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, in a sea state that could turn even the strongest of stomachs, she cites the freedom she has away from the daily tasks of shore life such as commuting, cooking, and cleaning. PO1 Worsnop has served with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) for 20 years and three months as a Marine Technician. She first joined after having been laid off from her civilian job. It had never occurred to her to join the military until she saw a job post for a Marine Electrician and gave the number a call. “A grouchy old man answered,” she said, “and he told me ‘you’ll never make it in the Navy!’ So, anyways, I applied in person and got the job right away.” She knew early on she had found her place. She loved the training style as it was more dynamic and interactive than she was used to in civilian jobs. “Serving in the Navy has given me a different perspective. It’s hard to imagine what I would be like otherwise,” she says. PO1 Worsnop loves Canada’s North, which she explored...

[caption id="attachment_31446" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Major (Maj) Patrick Levis. Photo supplied.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Military personnel and civilian employees from CFB Esquimalt took part in a wheelchair basketball lesson and game on Dec. 2 in recognition of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). The recreational, non-competitive game organizers hoped it would shed light on the barriers facing people living with a disability and create a broader understanding of this pervasive issue. “When able-bodied people first jump into a wheelchair and see how difficult it is to control the ball, let alone play a game of basketball, they may consider how difficult it is to live in a wheelchair every day,” said Major (Maj) Patrick Levis, Military Co-Chair for the MARPAC Defence Advisory Group for Persons With Disabilities (DAGPWD) and the Deputy Commanding Officer of the Canadian Scottish Regiment. The game occurred in the gymnasium at the Naden Athletic Centre, where Maj Levis said everyone had great fun learning a new sport.  “The wheelchair basketball game was intended to be a fun and engaging event,” Maj Levis said. “But, we also hoped it would help educate about both visible and invisible barriers for people with disabilities.” Maj Levis knows first-hand about barriers and adjusting to life in a wheelchair. In 2019, he underwent cancer surgery which left him paralyzed in his right leg and quadriceps. Still, his paralysis hasn’t kept him from being an athlete. In April 2021, he represented Canada at the Invictus Games at The Hague. He competed in wheelchair racing, indoor rowing, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball and wheelchair rugby. He also competed in the Canadian National Rowing Championship and Canadian National Wheelchair Tennis Championship in more recent months. Next spring, Maj Levis hopes to begin the qualification process for the World Para Rowing Championships in Italy and then – the 2024 Paralympic Games. He said the barriers he and other people with disabilities face can include anything physical or technological or result from a policy or...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Hundreds of teddy bears are now available at the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) for the comfort of children, thanks to the generosity and kindness of one Victoria resident. Brett Delaney, who operates three seasonal pop-up stores in malls around the Greater Victoria Area, distributed approximately 2,000 teddy bears as part of Calendar Club’s support-a-local-charity initiative. “I can’t think of a better way to support military families,” Delaney said. “I know how difficult their lives can be, including the unpleasant reality of mommies and daddies being away or being constantly on the move.” MFRC is one of many teddy bear destinations: the 53-year-old also donates teddy bears to Victoria General Hospital and the Saanich Police Department. Delaney said that when Calendar Club began their campaign last year, he immediately thought children from military families would be the perfect recipients. He said his relationship with the MFRC is a long-term partnership. “The teddy bears have been so popular with the children and are much-loved,” said Jackie Carlé, Esquimalt MFRC Executive Director. “It is such a lovely gesture and so well-received by our families.” The MFRC distributes the teddy bears at its Children’s Deployment Workshops, ship departures, or to any child in a military family who needs extra comfort. Delaney’s father was an RCMP officer, and his brother, Lieutenant (Navy) Jason Delaney, is a Royal Canadian Navy member based in Ottawa. He spent some of his childhood years in Nova Scotia, living close to CFB Shearwater, and many of his friends were from military families. The father of one said he gets emotional when he sees photos of his teddy bears comforting others. “When I see photos of children from military families holding one of my bears and saying goodbye to mommy or daddy, or participating in a deployment workshop, I get all choked up,” he said. “Teddy bears are a great way to spread some joy.”

Kateryna Bandura, Lookout Editor — The Western Region of the Naval Reserves (NAVRES) held a simulated training scenario of maritime drug interdiction operations for the first time ever. The Small Boat Exercise (SBEX) was held Nov. 19-20 in English Bay outside Vancouver. The exercise scenario followed the work performed in Operation Caribbe, a core operation that NAVRES sailors participate in several times annually in partnership with other nations. “The simulated training scenario provided our sailors with skills and training experiences that lend themselves to one of the flagship operations conducted by the Naval Reserve,” said Lieutenant (Navy) John Foster, NAVRES Western Region Public Affairs Officer. SBEX is a large-scale training exercise held two to four times per fiscal year. It sees sailors from all ranks and trades conduct simultaneous operations coordinated around a central exercise scenario with on and off-the-water components. “The purpose of this exercise was to provide real-life experience-based training and development for our sailors in a safe and secure learning environment, both on land and at sea,” Lt(N) Foster said. The training also enhanced the collaboration between the Navy and Army, as over 100 sailors and Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) members trained alongside the 39 and 41 Canadian Brigades. Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Matthew Luipasco, Recruiter at HMCS Tecumseh and the Exercise Coxswain, said exercises such as these greatly enhance the skills of Canadian sailors. “We can employ members in exciting real-world training while also offering them time to experience the world class city of Vancouver. The work-life balance of events like these are second to none,” he said. PO1 Luipasco said the exercise went well. “We could employ members in their specific occupations in a meaningful, real-world scenario that encompassed different layers of both operational and tactical planning and execution,” he said. The next SBEX will...

[caption id="attachment_31435" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Commander RCN (retired) Peter Chance cuts his birthday cake alongside Commander Mike Stefanson of HMCS Venture. Photo: LCdr Paul Seguna, RCN (retired) NAC-VI.[/caption] Paul Seguna, Naval Association of Canada – Vancouver Island — On Nov. 24, the Naval Association of Canada - Vancouver Island (NAC-VI) branch held its monthly luncheon meeting and celebrated the 102nd birthday of one of its members – Peter Chance, Commander (Cmdr) Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) (Ret’d), whose birthday fell coincidentally on that same day. Peter is a well-known and admired Battle of the Atlantic veteran who actively participates in naval affairs. During the event, Cmdr Mike Stefanson, Commanding Officer of HMCS Venture, addressed the audience on the newly established Naval Officer Training Group. Also during the event Commander RCN (Ret’d) Steve White, NAC-VI Branch President, presented Cmdr Stefanson with a kisbee ring from the previous namesake training organization.