News

Kateryna Bandura Editor — Junior Officers and junior sailors in between formal courses at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt completed On the Job training packages in an initiative between a frigate and three ORCA vessels. “Because ORCA ships are smaller and less complex to operate, they help better focus on developing the basic skills in a safe environment, and training can occur at a reasonable speed to allow proper absorption,” said Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) Louis-Phillippe Trudel, the Officer in Tactical Command of the three ORCA vessels, and for Officers in Charge (OIC) training development on PCTU Cougar. The Force Generation sail, organized by HMCS Calgary and ORCA ships Cougar, Grizzly, and Raven, prepared 72 participants, including four in Navigation training, three in OIC training, and 20 for basic Naval Warfare Officer training. This is a first in a long time the fleet employed the ORCA vessels for Force Generation training. LCdr Trudel said normally ORCAs are used by the Naval Officer Training Centre Venture and by Naval Reserves on weekends. The idea behind the initiative was to allow junior officers to progress their training, to mentor future navigators and OICs, and to support the training of junior sailors at sea. “The program offered training to junior members in a safe and practical environment, while allowing qualified personnel to build their skills and progress to the next levels of their careers,” LCdr Trudel said. The ships trained over three weeks from June 13-30 in the Gulf Islands, Strait of Georgia, and Puget Sound. A navigator in HMCS Calgary and the project’s architect, Lieutenant (Navy) Taylor Workman said training such as this could take two to three times longer on ships whose mission is not solely Force Generation. Sometimes Force Generation sails can be extremely challenging, but Lt(N) Workman said at least four people asked if there would be another similar sail. “We got to show junior sailors they could have fun while doing the business at sea,” he said. “I personally haven’t seen...

[caption id="attachment_30116" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Victoria Police Department Deputy Chief Colin Watson presents a Civic Award to (left) Kate Roland and Alison Perry-Davies during a June 23 ceremony at Police Headquarters. Photo: Victoria Police Department[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A Victoria-based author attributes a suicide awareness workshop for helping her save a person in distress on a bridge in Victoria. “I am crying when I think about this incident and how I managed to save a life that day,” said Alison Perry-Davies. “I am still amazed I was at the right place in the right moment.” Perry-Davies, 62, is a former Disability Case Manager for the BC Aboriginal Network. She is also an author of three books. Being a military spouse, Perry-Davies heard about the Mental Fitness and Suicide Awareness workshop offered by PSP Health Promotions. What she learned in the workshop was crucial that day, she said. According to the Victoria Police Department spokesperson Bowen Osoko, Alison Perry-Davies and Kate Roland were crossing a local bridge  when they encountered a person in distress. They both approached the person, and, relying in part on previous training and experience, were able to help de-escalate the situation and then provide care and comfort until officers arrived and brought the person to medical care, said Osoko. Following the incident, the Victoria Police Department recognized Perry-Davies and Roland with a Civic Service Award in a ceremony at police headquarters on June 23. The award recognizes outstanding service to the communities of Esquimalt and Victoria. The award and the commemorative plaque were presented to Perry-Davies and Roland by Deputy Chief Colin Watson. Life-saving skills PSP Health Promotion Manager Maryse Neilson said the Mental Fitness and Suicide Awareness workshop is a suicide first aid course. “It is incredibly heart-warming to learn Alison valued the workshop so much...

[caption id="attachment_30113" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Lieutenant Commander Michael Halpin (Royal Australian Navy) and Lieutenant (Navy) Irene Doucette (Royal Canadian Navy), under the guidance of Directing Staff Lieutenant Commander Rebecca Ainsworth (Royal Australian Navy), provide triage to a simulated casualty during a CFB Esquimalt-held Submarine Medicine Course’s final Submarine Search, Escape and Rescue Exercise (SMASHEX) in June 2022.[/caption] Hadley Parsons Public Affairs Office — Physicians and Physician Assistants from the Royal Canadian Navy and several allied nations came together for a Submarine Medicine course at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt last month. “The international community of medical personnel with these skill sets is small, but the training is very important to ensure navies can meet the demands of underwater operations,” said Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) Kaighley Brett, the Assistant Course Director and Head of the Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment School of Operational Medicine. The Submarine Medicine course is normally held once a year but, due to the COVID pandemic, this was the first one since 2019. The course allowed military members from Canada, Australia, Israel, the Netherlands and Singapore to study the challenges of practicing medicine in the confined and pressurized spaces of submarines. During the submarine Search, Escape and Rescue Exercise (SMASHEX), Canadian Armed Forces sailors simulated submariners escaping a distressed submarine, while the students ran them through triage and simulated treatment techniques learned on the course. The SMASHEX also provided an opportunity to coordinate with and learn from non-medical personnel, like submariners and divers, who will be critical in submarine emergency situations. On the course, students learned how physicians, physician assistants, and divers can work together to recompress escapees of distressed submarines using recompression chambers, also known as hyperbaric chambers. These chambers recreate high-pressure environments normally experienced at deep sea and are used for treating submariners with decompression sickness. On top of learning submarine medicine, the course taught the students about international naval vessels and operating procedures, helping prepare for future potential multi-national submarine rescues, in conjunction with the International Submarine Escape and Rescue...

[caption id="attachment_30108" align="aligncenter" width="596"] USAR team members work together to conduct a 30-ton heavy lift and move exercise. Photo: Sub-Lieutenant Wilson Ho – USAR Team Member[/caption] Sub-Lieutenant Wilson Ho MARPAC Public Affairs Urban Search and Rescue Team — Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson, signed a Maritime Forces Pacific Order (MARPACORD) in June of this year, officially establishing the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team as a unit at CFB Esquimalt. “The signing of the MARPACORD last month is a great step forward for the team,” said Glenn Cooper, the CFB Esquimalt USAR Team Commander. “The team has been operational for over 22 years and we’re looking forward to seeing how they continue to grow and develop, and become a mainstay for the base, the Canadian Armed Forces, and the general public.” The USAR Team has been an integral part of CFB Esquimalt for years before the MARPACORD took effect. The Team conducted its monthly training on June 29 at the USAR Compound near Naval Officer Training Centre Venture in Esquimalt. The training allows team members to practice search and rescue skills and techniques in a variety of complex scenarios. The team was split into two with the objective to conduct a 30-ton heavy lift from one area to another, and conduct a patient package and vertical lift extraction, where a member is hoisted down, packs up a patient in a stretcher, and then is extracted back up together with the patient. These types of scenarios allow the USAR Team to train in a realistic and challenging environment. All USAR members get trained in hazard and structural assessments, structural collapse rescue, confined space rescue and low/high angle rope rescues. The Team was conceived after CFB Esquimalt found a critical need for self-recovery capability in the event of an earthquake on the West Coast. While USAR supports the Joint Task Force (Pacific) (JTF(P)) operations, their primary responsibility is to conduct rescue operations for CFB Esquimalt in the...

[caption id="attachment_30103" align="aligncenter" width="596"] A few members from the HMCS Winnipeg crew practise their boxing skills on the flight deck for physical training. Photos: Sailor First Class Melissa Gonzalez[/caption] Kateryna Bandura Editor — Nothing beats boxing under infinite sky at sea – that’s according to one Marine Technician aboard HMCS Winnipeg. Finding time to exercise on a deployed ship can be challenging, Sailor First Class (S1) Adrian Cordari says, so a solid fitness routine during a deployment is a must. “A Marine Technician’s job onboard a ship is very demanding,” he says. “Eating healthy on ship can be occasionally challenging but the cooks are very accommodating; you are more than capable of limiting your duff intake.” HMCS Winnipeg is currently deployed on the Rim of the Pacific 2022 exercise with HMCS Vancouver. This is S1 Cordari’s first deployment after two years. S1 Cordari grew up learning karate and jujitsu in southern Ontario, but found his way towards boxing when he moved to Victoria. He says hearing about and seeing sparring clubs on ships encouraged him to join up with other sailors to start boxing classes during this deployment. Various HMCS Winnipeg sailors attend boxing classes every second morning at 8 a.m. to beat the day’s heat. A typical session consists of 20-30 minutes of skill development geared towards each participant’s capabilities, followed by sparring for those who wish to practice more. [caption id="attachment_30104" align="aligncenter" width="595"] A few members from the HMCS Winnipeg crew practise their boxing skills on the flight deck for physical training. Photos: Sailor First Class Melissa Gonzalez[/caption] The movement of the ship at sea poses an additional challenge and requires another level of awareness, said Captain Christine MacNeil, Public Affairs Officer aboard HMCS Winnipeg. “Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of those participating is important. We want people to be challenged and to learn, but not be overwhelmed,” she says. “It’s important to find an activity you enjoy so you are more likely to keep at it.” Capt MacNeil...

The Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific) in Esquimalt will soon become home for a one-of-a-kind commemorative artwork.

  [caption id="attachment_30048" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Welby ‘Ike” Isaacs with the USS Arizona Medal of Freedom. Photo Supplied[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer  — A Canadian Armed Forces veteran is the proud first recipient of a medal commemorating the iconic Second World War battleship USS Arizona and its crew. Lance Corporal (retired) Welby ‘Ike’ Isaacs was presented with the USS Arizona Medal of Freedom during an unveiling ceremony on June 23 at Natural Resources Canada lab CanmetMATERIALS in Hamilton, Ont. “Receiving this medal means so much to me and to my family,” Isaacs said. Isaacs is a member of the Six Nations of the Grand River and served seven years in the Canadian Armed Forces during the Cold War era. He says being chosen as the first to receive the commemorative medal was one of the biggest honours in his life. The USS Arizona was destroyed in Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. Six of the 1,177 crew members who died that day were born in Canada. Ed McGrath, Executive Director of the Lauren F. Bruner USS Arizona Memorial Foundation, said the medal recognizes Indigenous Canadians who have served in Canada’s military. “So often the contributions of First Nations people in the United States and Canada are ignored. Ike was selected by our foundation to honour all Canadian military members and first [nations] Canadians,” he said. Isaacs joined the Canadian Army in 1959 and served with the Royal Canadian Dragoons regiment in Petawawa. He worked as a radio operator in tanks and other vehicles with deployments to Germany and Egypt. He retired from the military in 1966. Two Indigenous elders conducted a blessing of the commemorative medal and pieces of steel artifacts from USS Arizona, during the ceremony. The elders were Garry Sault, an Ojibway elder and US Navy Veteran from the Mississauga of the Credit First Nation; and Pat Oakes, an elder from the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne. Also present at the ceremony was Senior Naval Reserve Chaplain of HMCS Prevost...

Captain Simpson, from Ladner, B.C., has been flying with the Royal Canadian Air Force for seven years and has previous experience flying as an air cadet. This is also his second deployment on board an Canadian warship with the Cyclone. It was that experience he drew upon to help land on Almirante Lynch.

[caption id="attachment_30040" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Sailor First Class Amanda Polus of the Personnel Coordination Centre Pacific displays a Sentinel Patch that will soon be affixed to her service uniform. Photo: Peter Mallett/Lookout[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer  — The inspiration to join the Sentinel program has much to do with being a self-described ‘people’ person, says one of the newest Sentinels on the west coast. “If I think back to all the greatest experiences I have had in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), along with the worst experiences in the CAF, they all have to do with people,” says Sailor First Class (S1) Amanda Polus. “I don’t think there are any two people with the same exact problem; all are uniquely different.” The Royal Canadian Chaplain Service Sentinel Program is an alternative to chaplains’ counselling and care, established in 2007 as a peer support network. Trained and supervised volunteers of all ranks connect members in need with support and resources in the CAF and external organizations. Sentinels are easily identifiable by the patch on either of their arms, inscribed with the word ‘Sentinel’. S1 Polus is one of over 3,000 qualified Sentinels across the CAF. She is also a full-time reservist and Human Resources Administrator with the Personnel Coordination Centre Pacific. She officially joined the program on May 9 after training with her unit’s padre Lieutenant (Navy) Peter Han. Lt(N) Han’s instruction involved advice on listening intently to a member’s concerns, and then discussing solutions for crisis and hardships. “Finding solutions to member’s problems is not as easy as it seems, especially when you really want to make the person feel better but do not immediately know the right thing to say,” S1 Polus says. So far, she has offered her care and support to three peers, and says the experience has been...

[caption id="attachment_30035" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Map showing Bentinck Island. Photo by Lookout Navy News[/caption] Kateryna Bandura, Editor — This past week, regular and reserve force boatswains from the west coast got to detonate explosives at the site of a former leper colony. Eleven students participated in demolition training on the Bentinck Island range June 27-30, under the watchful eye of highly trained instructors. The Rank Qualification Sailor Third Class (RQS3) course marks the beginning of the Boatswain trade training. Chief Petty Officer Second Class (CPO2) Scott Colburn, Sea Division Chief Petty Officer, said the training went very well. “The group was highly motivated, even during a short training pause for a pod of Southern Vancouver Island resident killer whales passing through the area,” he said. During the demolition training, boatswains learn to carefully use explosives so that once employed on a ship, they can use these techniques to safely sink a derelict boat or a half-sunk shipping container, said CPO2 Colburn. The training is conducted throughout the year as part of the Boatswain trade. Before entering live demolition training, all students must pass the safety exam with a threshold passing grade of 100 per cent. CPO2 Colburn said demolition training ranges from the rudimentary to more complex concepts. “It starts with identifying the basic parts and pieces, safety and safe handling procedures, and then moves on to basic charge creation using visual aids and dummy training aids,” he said. All safety precautions are taken around the training, he assured. “Highly trained supervisors from Naval Fleet School (Pacific)’s (NFS(P)) Seamanship Division ensure training is carried out safely,” he said. “Personnel is properly trained. Appropriate safety arcs and distances are accurately calculated and observed based on the size of the charge and the type of material being demolished.” Furthermore, CPO2 Colburn said, safety boats are posted off Bentinck Island to ensure no civilian boats cross the safety perimeter while the range is live. NFS(P) also works closely with Formation Safety and Environment (FSE) to...

On June 26, five members of the Defence Team Pride Advisory Organization (DTPAO) and Positive Space Working Group attended the Victoria Pride Festival 2022 non-uniform, per the Victoria Pride Society’s request.

[caption id="attachment_30023" align="aligncenter" width="595"] The Okanagan Military Tattoo. Photo provided[/caption] Get ready for two hours of heart-pounding, fast-paced family entertainment when the 7th annual Okanagan Military Tattoo returns to Vernon in July. The Okanagan Military Tattoo will stir your heart and feed your soul. It is Vernon’s largest annual indoor event and Western Canada’s only military tattoo. The Tattoo will take place at Kal Tire Place with an evening performance on Saturday, July 23 at 7:00 p.m., and a matinee on Sunday, July 24 at 2:00 p.m. Over 400 performers will take part, including First Nations, massed pipes and drums, highland dancers, military and civilian bands, cultural troops, precision drills, singers, and the poignant refrain of the Lone Piper against the stunning backdrop of “the Castle”. Plans for the 2022 Okanagan Military Tattoo include the 35 member Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Pipes & Drums of the Canadian Scottish Regiment. The Langley Ukelele Ensemble will wow the audience, as will the Okanagan Tattoo Dancers. The annual “Tribute to the Veterans” segment of the program will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid. Tickets are now on sale at Ticketseller in Vernon 250-549-7469, toll free 1-866-311-1011 or online at ticketseller.ca. Special ticket pricing is available for seniors, veterans and groups of 10 people or more. Second World War and Korean War veterans are invited to attend free of charge with their partner or caregiver. All seating is reserved and the shows are indoors with air conditioning.  For more information, check out the Okanagan Military Tattoo website at OkanaganTattoo.ca

[caption id="attachment_30018" align="aligncenter" width="595"] The Haida, an Indigenous group, has traditionally occupied Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), an archipelago off the coast of British Columbia, for over 12,000 years. Photo submitted.[/caption] Royal Canadian Navy Public Affairs — It’s a long way from Haida Gwaii, B.C., to Halifax – both in distance and culture, but that did not stop a member of the Haida from joining the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Sailor Third Class (S3) Jesse Ryan comes from a proud family of Haidas who have made it their home for generations. His decision to join the RCN opened up a world of new possibilities. “Our family’s livelihood comes from living off the land and embracing what nature has provided,” he says. “I was a commercial fisherman before I joined the navy, much like the rest of my immediate family.” S3 Ryan joined the RCN just over a year ago and is training as a Weapons Engineering Technician in Halifax. Leaving his 450-person home village of Skidegate in Haida Gwaii, where Indigenous people make up most of the community, was a culture shock. “I have to remind myself a lot of Canada didn’t grow up working alongside or interacting with Indigenous people. Sometimes they don’t know how to approach someone of a visible minority or ask a question about their culture appropriately” S3 Ryan says. “It’s nice so many fellow members of the navy are interested in my culture and would like to know more.” S3 Ryan is aware of the unique Raven Program, hosted by the RCN for Indigenous youth from across Canada. This national program is designed to build bridges with Indigenous communities throughout the country and offers youth the potential for part-time or full-time employment with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) upon completion. Whether or not graduates choose to...

[caption id="attachment_30015" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Members from the Royal Canadian Navy mentor Caribbean divers in search techniques training during Exercise TradeWinds 22 in the Caribbean Sea.Corporal Hugo Montpetit, Canadian Forces Combat Camera[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A team of five divers fans out across the Caribbean Sea floor. The divers follow GPS coordinates of possible contraband locations, provided by the United States Coast Guard. With no special equipment on hand, they must rely on their eyes to scan the ocean floor. Two Clearance Divers of Fleet Diving Unit Pacific (FDU(P)) track the progress overhead on a Mamba inflatable boat. “Our purpose was to show other nations how we conduct our operations, from initial planning to completing a task at hand,” says Sailor First Class (S1) Brooks Robinson. S1 Robinson and S1 Michael Raco were part of a 13-member dive team of the Canadian Armed Forces personnel participating in the United-States-led training Exercise TradeWinds 2022 (TW22) in Belize, May 7 to 21. The team also included six clearance divers from Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic), a port inspection diver, an engineer, a supply technician, a medical technician, and doctor of the Canadian Forces Health Services Group. The training scenario represents a typical mission of Clearance Divers to recover contraband, explosives, and other debris on the ocean floor, says S1 Raco. S1 Raco and S1 Robinson trained diving teams from Belize, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Barbados on the proper procedures of underwater search and recovery techniques. These included line-and-circle searches and developing a mission plan to locate items. “It’s always wonderful to have the opportunity to increase someone else’s skill by sharing your own knowledge and mentorship. The learning was a two-way street; I found it beneficial,” he says. The diving training was one component of TW22. The multi-dimensional exercise is led by the U.S. Southern Command, with the goal to build the capacity of partner nations to counter organized crime and conduct humanitarian disaster relief operations. [caption...

Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A trailblazing female runner from Nanaimo not only took the title for the women’s category in this year’s Navy Run’s 10KM race, but also left the majority of her male competitors in the dust “This is a big deal, it is very hard racing against the men and it made me so happy when I finished the race and realized, yes, I am right up there with the top male finishers,” said Natasha Parsons following her victory.    Parsons took fifth place among all competitors, with a scorching time of 38:27. The 36-year-old private school teacher began running races three years ago after moving to Canada with her husband Henry Parsons, formerly a member of the British Military Royal Engineers. Since then she has competed and won multiple road races, triathlons and duathlons. In 2019, Parsons won the B.C. Provincial Duathlon Championships in Penticton, B.C. That qualified her for the ITU World Championships in Standard Distance Duathlon in 2020, but the event was cancelled due to COVID-19. Recently, she won multiple races in the Vancouver Island Race Series, and a Vancouver Island Trail Series 17KM race at Westwood Lake. Parsons says her victory came because she ‘just ran’. “Normally in races I try to find a guy who is running slightly faster than me as this keeps me more motivated,” she said. “But the guy I was running with in the Navy Run was not fast enough.” Parsons tried to narrow the gap throughout but was still nearly four minutes slower than the top finishing male in the race. “I was not fast enough to catch up with the lead pack of four men, so I ran most of the race on my own, which was difficult with nobody to pace against,” she said. A sea of...

Ashley Evans Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton/Cape Scott — Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton Electrical Apprentices have been working hard gearing up for the upcoming summer student work term. The term will see an influx of students to the facility’s production floor. In preparation for incoming students, Electrical Apprentices at the facility were tasked with creating an electrical project for students, complete with detailed instructions. Second year Electrical Apprentice Desere Sophonew shared the process behind creating her project, an Electric Motor. When planning for this student apprentice project, Sophonew quickly opted for a battery and copper wire motor. The building process was quite fluid as she used her knowledge and work experience, along with comments and suggestions from curious by-passers within her shop. One suggestion she considered was adding more weight to the magnet to encourage the motor to spin faster. After a few trial-and-error processes, Sophonew completed a working motor. Her next step was providing step-by-step instructions, complete with images. She included websites about how electric motors work, descriptions of armatures and commutators, and required tools and materials such as rare earth magnets and alligator clip test leads. She also included a list specific production floor shops where students could collect them. Thank you, Desere Sophonew, and to all the Electrical Apprentices, for your hard work on these projects! Fun Fact: The copper wire is one long wire folded in half, wrapped around until there is only 12” left on each side.

Peter Mallett Staff Writer — The Victoria HarbourCats want to take you out to the ball game. The West Coast League baseball team is inviting military members and staff to their Friday, July 8 game against the Kamloops Northpaws. “The HarbourCats’ Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Appreciation Event is a great opportunity for the public to interact with and learn more about the Royal Canadian Navy and Canada’s military,” says Matt Carlson, CFB Esquimalt Projects Officer. The summer-collegiate baseball team will host Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Appreciation Event at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria. A limited number of complimentary tickets will also be made available to military members and civilian staff through their unit chief. Discounted general admission tickets can be purchased online by entering the promo code FORCES 2022 at https://harbourcats.com/events-promotions   Event perks: Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt Base Commander Captain (Navy) Jeff Hutchinson will throw the game’s opening pitch. The Regional Cadet Support Unit will provide a colour party for the game’s opening ceremony. The Naden Band will perform O Canada. Other military units from Victoria will provide interactive and dynamic displays, including 443 Squadron, CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum, HMCS Malahat, and N35 Target Cell. The Search and Recovery Dog Association of Victoria dogs and handlers, and CFB Esquimalt’s Urban Search and Rescue team will provide demonstrations for fans in attendance. The Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre will be facilitating the 50/50 draw.      

[caption id="attachment_29977" align="alignnone" width="595"] Master Corporal Bridget Cucksey puts final touches onto her painting Red Geraniums she created for the Steel Spirit Gallery. Credit: MCpl Bridget Cucksey[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Master Corporal Bridget Cucksey remembers facing Cluster Suiciden Headaches  for the first time during a 2010 deployment to Afghanistan. “I woke up in the middle of the night and just started repeating, I want to die,” she says. “My roommate hopped out of bed and got our Warrant Officer to rush me to the hospital.” MCpl Cucksey is a Communications System Technician at the Communications and Information Systems Specialist branch at Canadian Forces Station Leitrim in Ottawa. Doctors could not diagnose her until 2019, after she endured a year of chronic headache attacks. Cluster Suicide Headaches affect less than 0.1 per cent of the population. They cause severe, one-sided pain, typically concentrated around the eye and the temple, but can sometimes spread to other areas. While suicide is rare, those with cluster headaches may experience suicidal thoughts, giving them their name. “It’s unknown where they come from and how they start, and the triggers are different for most people,” she says. “You probably wouldn’t know I had this illness if you met me.” While she takes prescription medication and almost always carries an oxygen tank, she found art and yoga to be great coping mechanisms. In 2021, she picked up a coloured pencils for the first time in over a decade and completed her first colour drawing of a chicken. Since then, MCpl Cucksey has stuck with art again. “Art has had a huge impact on keeping my mental health intact,” she says. “When I’m present in my art, it allows my brain to pause, and all I think about in the moment is finding shapes and combining colours.”...

[caption id="attachment_29973" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Malahat’s Sailor Second Class Tristan Cornett watches some of the 115 yachts during the 77th Swiftsure International Yacht Race on May 28.[/caption] Sub-Lieutanant Donald Den HMCS Malahat — The end of May marked the holding of the 77th Swiftsure International Yacht Race off the coast of Clover Point in Victoria. The race was the first one since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Swiftsure is the largest sailing race on North America’s west coast, drawing hundreds of participants and boats to Esquimalt, with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) onsite for support. This year, the RCN team included HMCS Brandon, the Naval Security Team from Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, and a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat from HMCS Malahat, Victoria’s Naval Reserve Unit. The boat served as the official “Jury Boat” of the race, transporting Swiftsure jury officials and a photographer amidst 115 yachts and their respective crews. HMCS Brandon served as one end of the anchored start line; the ship also transported several event officials and guests, and marked the commencement of the different races with either a horn or a blast from the ceremonial on-deck cannon. For one HMCS Malahat sailor, the event was an experience to remember. “It is definitely surreal to be out here and just see the ocean all around you and so many different ships,” says Sailor Second Class (S2) Tristan Cornett. Newly arrived from HMCS Tecumseh, Calgary’s Naval Reserve Unit, S2 Cornett noted the immediate difference of operating in Esquimalt waters. “You certainly don’t get this much open water in Alberta,” he said. Commanding Officer  of HMCS Malahat, Commander Cameron Miller says the RCN presence is beneficial to the sailors as well as the participants. “By supporting local on-water events like Swiftsure, not only are our sailors able to practise their...

While Pride events take place all year round, Pride Season typically refers to the wide range of events that take place over the summer months (June to September). Beyond parades and summer festivals, it brings together LGBTQ2+ communities and allies worldwide to spotlight the resilience, celebrate the talent, and recognize the contributions of LGBTQ2+ communities. Pride Season is the perfect time to reflect on ways that you can be a leader in promoting a workplace environment of diversity, inclusion, and respect, and in creating safe spaces for people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions to be their authentic selves while contributing to our institutional efforts. The National Defence Identification Services has reviewed how it handles information on sex and gender for Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces identification cards (NDI cards). Studies have shown that people who have identity documents that do not correspond with their lived gender are more likely to face discrimination and violence. By removing the sex data field from the NDI cards, we are taking action in promoting the respect, inclusion and personal safety of transgender, non-binary and two-spirit people. We have also integrated inclusive behaviours measurements within existing performance evaluation frameworks for all CAF and DND Public Service employees. This is an important step forward in our Conduct and Culture efforts to build a more inclusive Defence Team. When we empower our members to bring their authentic selves to the workplace, we all benefit from the full range of their creativity, innovation, and talent – which ultimately leads to greater operational effectiveness. You can find examples, information and resources related to Inclusive behaviours within the Defence Team (accessible only on the National Defence network) on the DWAN. I encourage all members of the Defence Team to participate in Pride events happening...

Lt(N) Joshua Ehnisz Public Affairs Officer, MARPAC — Families bid farewell to their loved ones in HMCS Vancouver and HMCS Winnipeg as the ships conducted a sail past near Esquimalt Lagoon and Clover Point on Tuesday. The warships then left for exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, held yearly in the Indo-Pacific. Before the six-month deployment, captains of both ships spoke to families at A Jetty. “I am extremely grateful to our families and friends for their unwavering support and inherent resiliency – you are the source of our strength.” said Commander Annick Fortin of HMCS Winnipeg. “Thank you to our families, friends, loved ones, and to the greater Defence community, for your support in getting us here – our team will represent you, the Canadian Armed Forces and all Canadians, with professionalism during our six-month deployment,” said Commander Kevin Whiteside of HMCS Vancouver. This year’s RIMPAC will see about 25,000 personnel, including 38 surface vessels, four submarines, 170 aircraft and land forces from 26 nations. All participating nations will exercise a range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. After RIMPAC, both warships will continue on to Operation Projection. The operation enhances relationships with Canada’s allies and partners, and demonstrate the Royal Canadian Navy’s readiness to defend Canada’s interests around the world. HMCS Vancouver will also support Operation Neon, Canada’s contribution to the implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea. Both ships will be deployed over the course of the next six-months and will be returning to Esquimalt in December 2022. Families and friends can stay updated on relevant social media accounts.

[caption id="attachment_29962" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Members of Queens’ Harbour Master and Patrol Craft Training Unit secure the Current Buster 2 system to a craft. Photo: Peter Mallett/Lookout Newspaper[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Members of Queen’s Harbour Master’s Auxiliary Fleet and the Patrol Craft Training Unit (PCTU) tested a new piece of oil spill response equipment in a simulated oil spill response drill on June 14-15 in the Colwood harbour. Marine Environment and Emergency Response Officer Lyle Fairley said the Current Buster 2 is a positive evolution of standard containment booms used in spill response. “With traditional booms the wave, chop and currents in the water created the potential for a lot of [oil] escape,” Fairley said during last week’s training session on D Jetty in Colwood. “The Current Buster 2 is a sweep system designed to be more aggressive, durable and resistant to changes in sea state compared to the tradition boom.” The equipment was purchased and is owned by Port Operations and Emergency Services Branch. It was previously employed during spill response efforts for the Deepwater Horizon Oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Fairley says the Current Buster 2 is more portable than the older system, easily deployable and ideal for collecting more commonplace-sized local spills. The training, provided by Darren Trites, Director of Dartmouth-based DSS Marine Incorporated, included unpacking the Current Buster 2 from its storage reel located inside a 10-foot ISO container and getting it safely into the water. The process involved unrolling a protective mat called a “chafer mat” followed by the Current Buster 2 High Speed Sweep System. The Current Buster 2 consists of a Front Sweep that guides the oil into and through a Tapered Channel and into a Separator located at the back of the system. The Current Buster 2 System was inflated using two high-capacity air blowers that come with the system. Members of the PCTU warmly received the kit. “Past methods of oil collection using booms were very time...

Yves Bélanger Servir Reporter —Over the past year, retired Sergeant Roger Chabot has retraced the path of Canadian soldiers who took part in the Italian Campaign during the Second World War. His goal: bringing to life these important events in our military history in a documentary that should see the light of day in 2023. It was in 2019 that the veteran started working on this project. “The pandemic has slowed me down, but it has still been beneficial. I was able to promote the project more and get more funding. This documentary has thus become the most important project of my life,” he says. The idea was born in recent years, following a first trip to Italy. “I visited some historic World War II sites and found the Italians were very fond of the Canadians and were very grateful.” The former member of the Royal 22e Régiment also realized he did not know his regimental history well. “That's why I had the idea to shoot this documentary, which will have 14 episodes lasting 20 minutes each.” SHOOTING IN NOVEMBER 2021 Initially, the shooting was to be done in two parts. “We had to shoot in the summer to represent the deployment in Sicily and then we had to return during the fall for filming in the rest of the country, especially in the North.” The pandemic forced the team to change their plans, so they decided to do it all in one trip. Chabot knew how to surround himself with good collaborators to carry out his project. John Serviss was the main cameraman and editor, and retired Sergeant Georges Janes was second cameraman and drone pilot. Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Comeau was responsible for logistics. Steve Gregory from the Operation Husky Foundation facilitated contacts with resource persons and expert historians in Sicily....

[caption id="attachment_29933" align="aligncenter" width="595"] On June 7, Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) Alena Mondelli (right) relinquished her appointment as Base Chief Petty Officer to CPO1 Troy Beazley during a Change of Appointment ceremony at Juno Tower 3 Mess at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax. Base Commander Captain (Navy) Sean Williams presided over the ceremony. Photo: Trident Newspaper.[/caption] Joanie Veitch Trident Staff — Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax welcomed the 24th Base Chief at a Chief Change of Appointment ceremony on June 7. Outgoing Base Chief, Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) Alena Mondelli said CPO1 Troy Beazley will be working with ‘an amazing team of professionals’. “They know the base inside and out, they know where to find information, and are wizards of organization and administration,” CPO1 Mondelli said of the Base Administration personnel. “They look after each other and lift each other up, which means they will also lift you up.” CPO1 Beazley comes to CFB Halifax after recently serving as the Naval Strategic Readiness CPO1 and Royal Canadian Navy Succession Manager. He is also a former Coxswain of HMCS Charlottetown. CPO1 Mondelli made history for the second time in less than a year when she became the first woman Base Chief to be appointed Formation Chief for Maritime Forces Atlantic at a ceremony the day before. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we are not a ‘new Navy’ every time a significant event challenges our old beliefs and way of being,” she said. “We’re evolving. Let’s be the change we want to see.” Thanking CPO1 Mondelli for her service as Base Chief, Captain (Navy) Sean Williams, Base Commander of CFB Halifax, praised her ability to empower the people she works with. “Alena gives people a voice and the opportunity to make a difference. She empowers...

[caption id="attachment_29926" align="aligncenter" width="595"] (Left) Lieutenant (Navy) Catherine Norris, Captain (Navy) Blair Saltel and Lieutenant (Navy) Benjamin Van Slyke sign certificates during a Change of Command Ceremony for the Naden Band at the Wardroom on June 7. Photos: Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — The conductor’s baton of the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) officially passed to a new Director of Music and Commanding Officer. Lieutenant (Navy) Catherine Norris relinquished her position to Lt(N) Benjamin Van Slyke in a June 7 Change of Command Ceremony at Esquimalt’s Wardroom. Chief of Staff, Maritime Forces Pacific, Captain (Navy) Blair Saltel presided over the ceremony. “The Naden Band is the first band I have commanded during my military career, so it will always be special to me,” says Lt(N) Norris. “It has been a great and challenging experience, from learning a new role to leading through a pandemic.” The Naden Band was founded in 1940 and is one of six bands of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Its 35 band members are regular force full-time professional musicians whose primary role is supporting naval operations, ceremonial events and public outreach initiatives. Lt(N) Norris is the first female Commanding Officer of the Naden Band, and an extraordinary flute and piccolo player. She took the role in July 2018. New Leader Lt(N) Van Slyke says he connected to the Naden Band during his childhood in Vancouver. “The Naden Band was the first Regular Force band I saw as a child, so it seems fitting I get to become its Director of Music,” he says. “Despite the changeover, I want the unit to continue building on its recent successes and find new ways to support the RCN and its operations musically.” As the Band’s new Musical Director, the first piece Lt(N) Van Slyke chose to conduct during the ceremony was the Concert Band classic Psalm for Band by Vincent Persichetti. The Change of Command ceremony was also the final performance for Chief Petty...

Sub-Lieutenant Donald Den HMCS Malahat Public Affairs Officer, and Chief Petty Officer Second Class (ret’d) Randy Young — This year’s annual Ceremonial Divisions at Victoria’s Naval Reserve Division, HMCS Malahat, included a new award. [...]

Royal Canadian Navy public servants,  I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation to each member of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Public Servant workforce. Over the past two years, we have been living in unprecedented times brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The perseverance, dedication and professionalism that you have displayed in spite of these challenges has been simply outstanding. Your resiliency, flexibility and the quality of work that you perform on a daily basis has been exemplary. You should be very proud. You are vital members of the RCN Team. You provide the critical expertise, stability and continuity that is integral to enabling the RCN’s operational output. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, and throughout the past two years, you have supported the RCN in deploying ships and submarines to sea, meeting our NATO commitments and continuing to work with our allies around the world. The RCN has a wide and diverse public servant workforce that belongs to nine separate unions and is employed in 30 different occupational groups. Without the contributions from all of you, from frontline operational workers to behind-the-scenes support staff, the RCN’s success at home and abroad would not be possible. Your hard work does not go unnoticed. On behalf of the entire RCN leadership team, thank you for all that you do for the Royal Canadian Navy, the Department of National Defence and your fellow Canadians. Yours Aye,Vice-Admiral Angus TopsheeCommander Royal Canadian Navy

[caption id="attachment_29912" align="aligncenter" width="596"] Deputy Commanding Officer, Canadian Scottish Regiment, and Invictus Games athlete Major Patrick Lévis (right). Photo supplied.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A determined athlete from Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt is aiming for a spot on Canada’s 2024 Paralympic team. Since competing at April’s Invictus Games in The Hague, Major Patrick Lévis has been spending up to 20 hours per week at Victoria City Rowing Club, working toward his new goal. “With my results and steady improvement in training, for the first time I am beginning to believe a spot on Canada’s Paralympic team can happen,” he says. Maj Lévis has served 30 years in the Canadian Army and is the Deputy Commanding Officer of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s). He was diagnosed with PTSD following a deployment to Afghanistan in 2009. During a surgery to remove a cancerous tumour in his abdomen, his femoral nerve was damaged, and he was left with permanent mobility disability in his legs. The diagnosis following surgery was like a bombshell, he says. “I was cancer-free but missing out on my active lifestyle, the esprit de corps, and the camaraderie with other members. This created a feeling of emptiness in me,” he says. Filling the Void Instead of giving up on himself, Maj Lévis turned to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Soldier On program, which contributes to CAF members’ recovery through recreational and creative activities. Soldier On also manages Canada’s Invictus Games team. Maj Lévis’ first Soldier On experience was a scuba diving camp. Soon he learned he wanted more. “I kept bothering Soldier On about the Invictus Games team, and it worked,” he said. “They called last year and said they have an opening for me if I play wheelchair basketball and two other events. I was so happy.” Maj Lévis competed in five sports at this year’s Games: wheelchair racing, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, sitting volleyball and indoor rowing. His experience did wonders for his mental and physical well-being. “Walking...

[caption id="attachment_29907" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Master Corporal Joe Cornolius, Meteorological Technician with HMCS Ottawa, and Petty Officer Second Class Robert Allard, Meteorological Office Supervisor, measure wind speed on the foc’sle of HMCS Ottawa with an anemometer. Photo: Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper.[/caption] A  new season in weather forecasting begins this week for meteorological technicians serving in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Robert Allard will become the first navy Meteorological Technician (Met Tech) to sail in active service on HMCS Ottawa. “To have someone on board in a navy uniform making forecasts is something new,” says PO2 Allard. The Met Tech trade has existed within the Royal Canadian Air Force for decades, but in 2011 the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) opened the trade to all elements. Last year, the RCN started seeking candidates for senior positions on frigates. So far, only PO2 Allard and Petty Officer First Class Amanda Pond joined, with PO2 Allard being the first to set sail. PO2 Allard says his posting marks the start of a closer relationship between the RCN and the Met Tech trade. Met Techs observe and forecast weather in support of operations at various facilities in all three elements. They record, process, and analyze meteorological information, operate and maintain equipment, and brief personnel on weather conditions. PO2 Allard works as a Supervisor with the Meteorology and Oceanography department of Maritime Force Pacific. On board ships, he notes, the trade is playfully referred to as ‘weather witches’. Met Techs have other responsibilities, including maintenance work, keeping the ship’s stores and ammunition fully stocked, and processing mail. The Met Tech cohort sailing on ships will increase over time. Uniformed Met Techs need to reach the rank needed to fill senior positions. Occupational training takes six months, with additional six months of advanced...

[caption id="attachment_29884" align="aligncenter" width="595"] World War Two veteran Alex Polowin. Photo Supplied[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — One of Alex Polowin’s favourite pastimes is telling school children the story of his military service. Polowin turned 98 on April 15. He is the last surviving crew member of the Tribal-class destroyer HMCS Huron. He and his crewmates, who served during the Battle of the Atlantic, were in the thick of it during the Second World War. Some of their key contributions to the war effort included protecting convoys of cargo ships, supporting Operation Neptune, and D-Day landings at Normandy, along with the sinking of the mighty German battleship Scharnhorst. For most of his talks to schools and community organizations, Polowin proudly displays his impressive rack of medals on his service jacket. They include the Atlantic Star, Diamond Jubilee, Arctic Star, Russian Peace Medal, Order of Ushakov, and The French Legion of Honour. There have also been other honours too. In Sept. 2021, Alex Polowin was given a guided tour of HMCS Haida, now a Government of Canada historic site located in Hamilton, Ont. He says he was treated like royalty. “Me, a former Able Seaman, they piped me onboard the ship and everyone on board saluted me,” he recalls. “Wow, I thought, if my friends onboard the Huron could see me now.” The 98-year-old retired Ottawa resident has much to tell about his military days. The Holocaust Alex Polowin is a former non-commissioned member, who hails from a family of immigrants. He was born in Lithuania in April 1924 and moved to Ottawa with family when he was three years old. When not in school, he would often work with his father, who was a door-to-door salesman. He watched in horror how the Holocaust unfolded during the war in Europe. “I used to watch my mother cry when she would learn her brothers and sisters have been murdered,” he said. “That’s when I started thinking of ways I could help the war...