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[caption id="attachment_25931" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Rear-Admiral Angus Topshee, Incoming Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific / Joint Task Force (Pacific) (MARPAC/JTF (P)), assumes command from Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Outgoing Commander, during the Change of Command ceremony for MARPAC/JTF (P) on May 14.[/caption]SLt Joshua EhniszMARPAC PA––The highest rank change of command for Maritime Forces Pacific took place on Friday, albeit a smaller affair then is the usual custom for such a prestigious occasion. With many watching virtually, Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie handed over command of Maritime Forces Pacific/Joint Task Force Pacific to Rear-Admiral Angus Topshee.Overseeing the event virtually was Vice-Admiral Craig Baines from his Commander Royal Canadian Navy office in Ottawa. VAdm Auchterlonie opened the ceremony by focusing on the challenges the Canadian Armed Forces are facing. “In the midst of dynamic social and institutional change here in Canada and our armed forces, the trust and confidence in leadership has been shaken,” he said. “It all starts with respect, ensuring that we respect the dignity of our colleagues and our shipmates. As leaders, we are responsible and accountable to our shipmates for the environment they work in, and we must set the conditions for them to succeed and thrive. We talk all too often in a world where responsibility and accountability have become diffuse, sort of meaningless platitudes. We must bear responsibility for our institution at all costs.”VAdm Baines also weighed in, congratulating the Admiral for his work over the past few years. “Maritime Pacific command is one of the most unique and challenging formation commands in the Canadian Armed Forces,” he said, and then he went on to praise the leadership of Vice-Admiral Auchterlonie in generating countless ships for deployment and implementing positive change for the naval training system and the Naval Reserve force. In addition, he acknowledged VAdm Auchterlonie’s work managing the...

A/SLt Wen GuoBase Administration––There was a seed of doubt in Captain Dominic Lafrenière’s mind when he joined the military to become a chaplain. As he ventured through his military training and chaplain courses at CFB Borden it remained a nagging worry that perhaps he wasn’t good enough. An instructor doused that concern in one sentence.“When I first joined as a RESO (Reserve Entry Scheme - Officers) student in 2001, I was afraid I would be a poor chaplain because as an introvert I am on the quieter end. At the end of the course, the instructor said to me, ‘We have enough chaplains that speak regularly, we need more chaplains who listen’.”So began his career as a Padre in the Canadian Armed Forces, which has led him to his current ministry as a Faith Community Coordinator at CFB Esquimalt. He is originally from Shawinigan, Quebec. His military journey began in 1999 as an Officer of the Cadet Instructors Cadre, and then to the Primary Reserve serving in the military chaplaincy as a student in 2001. He transferred to the Regular Force as a Military Chaplain at CFB Valcartier in 2012, with a degree in Theology from Laval University.Military chaplains work individually and have a special chaplain commission that is different than a regular officer’s commission. They focus on the well-being of military members, which is a goal Capt Lafrenière strives to provide daily.In his role as a Faith Community Coordinator, he oversees the Roman Catholic Our Lady Star of the Sea Chapel and its community. He presides over religious services, spiritual guidance, and provides administrative support to the Formation Chaplain. His role also includes taking care of those who want to share any aspects of their life.“We are versatile, open to all spirituality, and are always open-minded, ready to listen,...

[caption id="attachment_25912" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Lieutenant-Commander Tyler Ravnsgaard[/caption]Captain Sarah HarasymchukOperation Caribbe PAO––Lieutenant-Commander Tyler Ravnsgaard is currently deployed on Operation Caribbe as the Executive Officer on board HMCS Brandon. His role is to advise the Commanding Officer, oversee training on board, and ensure the morale and welfare of the crew. Operation Caribbe is Canada’s participation in the U.S.-led enhanced counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean. Naval warships and aircraft deploy to the region on a rotational basis to support the American-led multinational mission to suppress trafficking in international waters and airspace.Are you the first person in your family to be in the military?No. Both of my parents were in the military, as well as one of my aunts and one of my uncles. I am the first officer in my immediate family. I also have some ancestors on my mother’s side who were in the British and Danish militaries.Why did you choose to join the Navy in particular?My parents were in the Air Force and the Army, so I was somewhat familiar with those worlds. The navy offered something new and a different way of seeing the world. Travel was a big motivator for me to join. If I’m honest, I didn’t really know what I was getting into when I joined, but it ended up being a great choice for me.What is your favourite activity to do in your free time while at sea?There’s really not a lot of free time at sea, but I try to make time for exercise. There’s a lot of administration in my role and if I don’t get away from it for a bit each day my productivity drops. I also like to end my days with a book or TV show to take my mind out of the business...

Peter MallettStaff Writer––An art project by a Second World War veteran and his daughter retraces the heroic steps of Canada’s Perth Regiment through Europe. Former Infantryman Eugene McKinnon, 98, has transformed his wartime memories into window murals with the help of his daughter Catherine. The project began in June 2020 and was completed in August with their installation on 11 exterior windows of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Coronation Branch 286 in Toronto’s Rexdale neighbourhood. “For me, art is very enjoyable and educational. It allows me to teach people about the hardships of war and that many people like me had no choice but to enlist or be conscripted.”He was born Sept. 9, 1922, in Mill Village, Queens County, N.S., and was the fourth in a family of 13 children. As the Second World War raged, and he and his four brothers became of legal age, they all enlisted in the army. He had no time for art during the war, but the memories are heavily entrenched in what he paints. His fondest memories of that time were VE Day and anything and everything afterwards, he says. “That was the day we finally got to come home to our families and forget about the horrors we saw.”Remembering ‘The Perths’McKinnon was part of the Perth Regiment, Fifth Armored Division that sailed out of Halifax on the troop ship Queen Elizabeth. They arrived at the United Kingdom on Nov. 22, 1941. The Perths were mobilized under the code name Exercise Timberwolf and would spend the next two years in England in intensive training.[caption id="attachment_25906" align="aligncenter" width="374"] Eugene McKinnon[/caption]His regiment landed in Italy on Nov. 8, 1943, as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Armoured Division. During their 16-month campaign in Italy, the successes of the Perths mounted, such as being the first regiment to crack The Gothic Line and winning campaigns at the Liri Valley and the Battle of Monte Casino. Their mission eventually disrupted the German’s hold on the Italian capital. In...

[caption id="attachment_25902" align="aligncenter" width="592"] Photo by Master Corporal Brent Kenny, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––HMCS Vancouver returns to sea next month following a two-year extended work period.The ship’s 200-member crew will set sail and operate off Vancouver Island beginning the first week of June for Basic Single Ship Readiness Training (BSSRT), supported by Sea Training Staff. Together, they will test the Halifax-class frigate’s personnel, systems, and equipment following the extended work period, which involved Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards, Fleet Maintenance Facility, and a number of other external agencies.“The main intent of the BSSRT process is to find out what things, from a team and, or equipment perspective aren’t working as expected, and work collaboratively with our friends at Sea Training to improve them,” says Cdr Kevin Whiteside, Vancouver’s Commanding Officer.The success of a warship at sea also depends on how the crew is performing, he adds.“Sailor’s individual skill sets are maintained very well in the Royal Canadian Navy, but the challenge of leadership during the first phase of our tiered readiness program is to have the ship’s company perform as a team.” Basic Single Ship Readiness Training is expected to last two weeks and is the first at-sea step in the warship’s Tiered Readiness Program, with the overall intention to have Vancouver ready for international operations in 2022. The Navigation Officer, Lt(N) Anna Childerhose is crucial to the opening phase of the BSSRT, says Cdr Whiteside. She needs to ensure the ship’s bridge team, navigation suite, and bridge equipment are functioning properly, and work with the ship’s engineers to make sure all engines can provide the power required to the ship’s various systems.“The navigation side of the house will spend a lot of time working with our combat systems engineer Lt(N) Riley Nabigon to make sure the ship’s many combat systems,...

[caption id="attachment_25897" align="aligncenter" width="595"] S3 Ahmad Bitar and S2 Yunus Kurt are both observing Ramadan at sea while on deployment with HMCS Halifax. Photo by: S1 Bryan Underwood[/caption]Muslim sailors observe a month of fasting while on deployment with HMCS HalifaxJoanie VeitchTrident Newspaper––During the month of Ramadan, Sailor Second Class Yunus Kurt gets up every day, an hour before sunrise, to have something to eat before beginning his daily fast. It will be about 16 hours before he will eat or drink anything again.Ramadan is the most sacred time in the Islamic calendar. Muslims around the world fast during daylight hours. For S2 Kurt, along with S3 Ahmad Bitar, both Naval Communicators on deployment with HMCS Halifax, this is a most unusual Ramadan. Their ship left HMC Dockyard in Halifax on Jan. 1, and headed for Europe and a six-month deployment on Operation Reassurance alongside NATO allies.“This is my first deployment and also the first time where I fasted during Ramadan while in the middle of the ocean,” said S2 Kurt.When Ramadan began on April 12, both S2 Kurt and S3 Bitar called their families to wish them well, and have continued to stay in touch using FaceTime and other messaging apps. While Ramadan usually sees families and friends gather to share the Iftar meal and break the fast together as the sun sets, that practice has gone online for many Muslims around the world this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. Using available technology to talk with family and friends from home and read their messages of support has been a huge help, said S2 Kurt. “Fasting on Ramadan while at sea has been harder than I thought, when you don’t have a home to come back to. That is one of the biggest challenges while sailing,” he said. “It is very difficult...

[caption id="attachment_25891" align="aligncenter" width="597"] Lieutenant (Navy) Steve Dyck and Petty Officer First Class Ryan Hart on board HMCS Calgary during Operation Projection.[/caption]Capt Jeff KlassenHMCS Calgary PAO––They’re two of the toughest guys in the Royal Canadian Navy. One was originally going to be an underwater archeologist. The other, a bass clarinetist. Instead, Lieutenant (Navy) Steve Dyck and Petty Officer First Class Ryan Hart joined the navy and are now part of HMCS Calgary’s counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism operation in the Arabian Sea. Calgary arrived in the Combined Maritime Forces area of operations as a part of Canada’s Operation Artemis on April 15. Artemis is the Canadian Armed Forces mission to help stop terrorism and make Middle Eastern waters more secure. The two sailors are members of the ship’s Naval Tactical Operations Group (NTOG) boarding team – call sign Reef. Reef directly contributed to the ship’s recent seizures, including 1,286 kilograms of heroin, the biggest heroin bust in Operation Artemis’ history.“Operation Artemis is the NTOG operator’s Holy Grail,” says PO1 Hart. “This is what every NTOG operator fights to do. This is putting all the hard work that every operator has gone through, from the selection process and right through all the training, to get to the level that my team is at right now. This is what NTOG was designed to do, this specific mission. We are so ready for this.”Lt(N) Dyck was born in Swan River but grew up on Eaglemount Crescent in Winnipeg’s Linden Woods neighbourhood. He worked at Toledo Food Service as he made his way through Kelvin High School in River Heights. After graduating, he obtained an anthropology degree from the University of Manitoba and worked at maritime museums in Florida and Bermuda, and then as a professional shipwreck diver conducting research and salvage. He joined the navy...

[caption id="attachment_25887" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Members of HMCS Calgary stand with 3,350 kilograms of hash seized from a dhow during a counter-smuggling operation on April 30 in the Arabian Sea, as part of Operation Artemis with Combined Task Force 150. Photos by Cpl Lynette Ai Dang, HMC Calgary Imagery Technician[/caption]Combined Maritime Forces––HMCS Calgary has intercepted four more suspicious dhows off the coast of Oman during a string of high-tempo operations, leading to the seizure of illicit narcotics worth over $14.44 million in just three days. The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) warship conducted three back-to-back drug interdiction operations on April 30, seizing 6,836 kg (15,071 lbs) of hashish. Calgary’s operational success continued on May 2 with a high-value interdiction of 520 kg (1,146 lbs) of methamphetamine, 625 kg (1,378 lbs) of hashish, and 5 kg (11 lbs) of heroin. This is the latest in a series of six seizures in just seven days made by Calgary while in direct support of Combined Maritime Forces’ Canadian-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150. “Four more major busts for HMCS Calgary and in only three days. This could not have been done without the incredible around-the-clock effort of the ship’s company and support from Combined Task Force 150,” said Commander Mark O’Donohue, Commanding Officer of HMCS Calgary. “This year, more and more meth is being transported through the region, and it feels good to be taking this very dangerous and lucrative drug out of the hands of criminal and terrorist organizations.”One of the key factors in Calgary’s operational success has been the direct support provided by a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora aircraft based out of the United Arab Emirates, a Combined Maritime Forces partner. The Canadian patrol aircraft provides critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, facilitating the identification of potential smugglers to CTF-150 and to the warship.   “I am incredibly proud of the crew of HMCS Calgary and the tangible impact they have made in the region in such a short space of time,”...

[caption id="attachment_25883" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photo courtesy HMCS Regina[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––A retired U.S Veteran has HMCS Regina to thank for ending his stranded-at-sea predicament. The man was attempting to sail between Port Angeles, Washington, and Anchorage, Alaska, by himself on a 30-foot recreational sail boat. The warship received a request to investigate a sailboat-in-distress call from Esquimalt’s Regional Joint Operations Centre (RJOC) on Saturday May 1.They found him approximately 25 nautical miles west of Nootka Sound, and sent out a search and rescue (SAR) response team in the ship’s RHIB.According to LCdr Dave Dallin, Regina’s Executive Officer, the small sailboat was in poor condition, without electricity or communication capability, had taken on water during a storm, which destroyed his sails, and was gradually drifting southwest into the open ocean. “He was relieved to have assistance but really had no idea the depth of his vessel’s disarray,” said LCdr Dallin. Regina’s SAR Team consisted of SLt Mitch Barr, Naval Boarding Party Officer; PO2 Raymond Moore, Boatswain; Cpl Scott Edney, Medical Technician; S1 Steven Desfosses, Marine Engineer; and Boatswains S1 Michelle Germain and S1 Tommy Mailloux. Cpl Edney determined the man did not require immediate medical attention. He was given a care package of food from the ship’s galley as his supplies were almost gone. Due to COVID-19 protocol, the stranded sailor remained on board while the boat was towed to the nearest safe harbour. Junior Boatswain S2 Germain was lauded by her shipmates for her proficiency driving the tow boat, having only performed the procedure in training. “I am very proud of her work, she did very well, was calm and professional, and exceeded the standards of operation and showed superior seamanship,” said her supervisor PO2 Moore. S2 Germain was assisted in driving the RHIB by S1 Tommy Mailloux as the two took...

[caption id="attachment_25859" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Megan Ilott[/caption]A/SLt Wen Guo Base Administration––Mess Manager Megan Ilott has crushed thinking-outside-the-box this last year when COVID-19 forced the closing of most eateries and bars including the Wardroom and Gunroom.The Wardroom on Signal Hill and the Gun Room in Work Point are the prime locations for military social functions, lunch and dinners, and a drink at the bar. The Wardroom is also the prime spot for hosting weddings and other private events. When the pandemic hit, Ilott and her staff had to pivot and find creative ways to keep the mess membership engaged. Zoom has become a great resource where the Wardroom hosts cooking classes, virtual bingo, and virtual trivia night, among other things. A weekly take-out service was also started along with themed take-out for larger events such as New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day and of course the Mess’s take-out weepers. “We have had to think outside the box to keep our membership engaged, and to provide the much-needed morale boost during this unprecedented time. Members have been thrilled with what has been provided so far and look forward to upcoming events. But everyone looks forward to when we can start having in-house events again,” she says. The Wardoom is like a hotel, with 137 rooms on six floors available for visiting military members to stay. With travel restricted, the rooms were quickly vacant making the Wardroom a prime place to house military members before they embarked on a deployment. To date, they have housed Canadian Armed Forces members and Royal Navy New Zealand members for over 13 months. This special quarantine housing has meant a huge jump in cleanliness. While Ilott is not responsible for this side of the Wardroom, she is part of the planning and discussions with Base Accommodation staff as it affects her staff and workplace. With the downtime, a few long-awaited renovations took place: the floors on the main floor and lower lounge were replaced, and the upper bar walls are undergoing...

Operation Caribbe BoatswainIdentity removed for operational security reasons––Operation Caribbe is one of the most interesting experiences a boatswain can have in his or her naval career. For Reservists specifically, it marks a significant milestone since there are fewer opportunities for them to deploy compared to their Regular Force counterpart. As a boatswain on board HMCS Saskatoon, currently deployed on Op Caribbe, no two days are the same. Tasks vary day-to-day, which ensures an interesting and stimulating experience. Driving boats is an integral part of this deployment. For boatswains, this is a chance to showcase boat driving skills learned through courses and training. The embarkation of a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) gives them the opportunity to demonstrate these skills to an international audience. The countless hours spent performing drills such as sticking, maneuvering, and station keeping, all boils down to this work. On the open ocean, LEDET members rely on their driving skills to execute the mission. Going full throttle and chasing a target of interest across the ocean is one of the most rewarding experiences during the deployment. Weapons handling is another part of the boatswain’s world. Small arms shoots are a weekly occurrence on board Saskatoon. Firearms vary from a 9mm pistol all the way to a .50 calibre heavy machine gun. Each member of the deck department gets a chance to develop their weapon drills, accuracy, and shooting techniques, leading to their small arms proficiency. Demolition, although a rare occurrence, is another skill for deck department members. Demo­lition training serials were conducted to help Saskatoon’s deck team prepare for any demolition tasks during Op Caribbe. Saskatoon was tasked twice to destroy a hazard to navigation and was able to successfully apply its demolition capability. This was a historical milestone since it was the first time a...

SLt Donald DenHMCS Malahat PAO––Amid clear sunny skies and calm waters, HMCS Malahat, Victoria’s Naval Reserve Division, held a successful small boats training exercise with 10 members of its ship’s company on Saturday, April 17.The goal of the day was to give Malahat’s newest recruits an opportunity to experience the hands-on aspects of their sea trade, including driving a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB), practicing boat handling, and navigational skills, as well as person overboard drills. The exercise was conducted in the Race Rocks and Peddar Bay area, about 15 kilometres southwest along the coast from Victoria Harbour. “We had several new Boatswains on board; so, it was a great opportunity to actually bring them out onto the water and get them that first hands-on experience,” said S1 Ben Lenner, Boatswain for Malahat. Conducting training in a COVID-19 environment with increased federal and provincial restrictions, is a challenge Malahat has been adapting to since the pandemic began. “Everyone wears a mask when they are onboard the RHIB and are expected to sanitize regularly with the provided hand sanitizer,” adds S1 Lenner. “In order to allow multiple recruits to have an opportunity to practice driving the RHIB, we had to ensure the helm was sanitized every time we swapped out operators.”In addition to practicing on board the RHIB, Malahat’s sailors also had the opportunity to work with the unit’s Jet Dock. Utilizing the Jet Dock, a standalone floating dock that can lift boats out of the water, allowed for the new recruits to familiarize themselves with how with to both dock and land on a mobile platform in order to perform any required maintenance or other tasks. “Being able to provide our members, especially our newer ones, with much-needed training and on-the-water experience is especially important now in the current COVID-19...

#GetReal about how you feel. Name it, don’t numb it. For 70 years, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) has hosted Mental Health Week and since it’s inception in 2013, the Mental and Social Wellness Working Group of the MARPAC Health and Wellness Strategy has been supporting it. The core objective of Mental Health Week is to promote behaviours and attitudes that foster well-being, support good mental health, and create a culture of understanding and acceptance at MARPAC. This year’s theme is focused on understanding our emotions. We are in a time of unprecedented stress and anxiety, and are experiencing a wide range of emotions. As humans, we are meant to feel an entire spectrum of emotions, be it pleasant or unpleasant. We often try to avoid these unpleasant emotions such as sadness, fear, or anxiety; however, they are just as important as the pleasant ones and can impact our health and wellbeing. In fact, our health is based on a complex interplay of positive and negative emotions, and good physical health is actually promoted when we feel both “the good with the bad”. To better understand our emotions and to reap the health benefits, we have to improve our emotional literacy, which is the ability to recognize how we feel, understand our feelings, label them, and express them. When we are emotionally literate, we are better able to manage, or “regulate”, our emotions. Putting our feelings into words helps us construct and make meaning out of our emotions, and puts the brakes on our emotional responses. This way, we are able to respond thoughtfully rather than react automatically. If you are feeling overwhelmed with emotion, remember the acronym R.A.I.N.R – Recognize what’s going on. Consciously acknowledge and name the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that are affecting you. (“What is happening...

[caption id="attachment_25836" align="aligncenter" width="595"] File photo.[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––A team of university researchers are trying to determine why a disproportionate number of women decide to cut their military careers short.Women’s perception of the Canadian Armed Forces as an obstacle to female retention is an independent study funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Researchers want to find if there is a correlation between women’s perception of CAF culture and their decision to leave the organization. “DND has implemented several measures over the past decades to achieve a more inclusive workplace, especially for women,” says Dr. Isabelle Caron, lead researcher from Dalhousie University. “Therefore, we decided to study the perception women have of the workplace, including organizational culture, to see if it plays a role in their decision to leave the organization.”Caron is currently interviewing women who have left the CAF since January 2010. Most workplace inclusiveness initiatives launched by DND focus on recruitment. Researchers feel it is equally important to explore how to retain CAF women in their jobs. Dr. Stéfanie von Hlatky from Queen’s University and Dr. Stéphane Roussel from École nationale d’administration publique (ENAP) and Dr. Magali Vullierme are assisting Caron in her research.The study was developed following the publication of Canada’s Defence Policy in 2017 that aimed at increasing the percentage of women in the CAF by one percent per annum. The current percentage of women in the armed forces is still low at approximately 16 percent. Researchers are conducting the first phase of the study, a series of in-depth interviews with approximately 30 women, ending in early May. Then in September, they will expand their interviews to capture more women. Interviews are conducted via Zoom with the recorded interviewee’s voice intentionally distorted to protect their identity. The study was approved by Dalhousie University’s Research Ethics Board and...

[caption id="attachment_25833" align="aligncenter" width="595"] File photo.[/caption]Support the next generation of writers. Vote for your favourite youth reporter story between now and May 31 and you can set one young person up with a grand prize package, including a $2,500 scholarship. Every fall, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) newspapers invite young people, ages 13 to 18 years old, from military families and the cadet program, to enter their Youth Reporter Competition. This year’s competition is sponsored by Adobe.Aspiring reporters were asked to submit a story idea about something important in their life or community. CAF newspapers received more than 50 applications from CAF-affiliated youth across Canada and the world. In late January, a selection committee of CAF newspaper editors reviewed applications to select six story ideas with the most editorial merit. Originality and social impact were key considerations.One month later, six finalists were contacted and given a deadline to develop their story idea into an original article. All stories are featured in a special PLAY e-zine edition, published on CAFconnection.ca and in CAF newspapers across Canada.Your vote takes them to the next level. “The youth reporter competition gives young people affiliated with the CAF a chance to have their voices heard and to develop their writing acumen,” says Ryan Cane, National Recreation Manager for Personnel Support Programs. “As a community, we learn a lot by listening to stories that are meaningful to the next generation, and it’s great that CAF newspapers offers this opportunity annually.”Now it’s your turn to connect with these young writers. Read the top six stories and vote for your favourite for a chance to win a participation prize. Voting is open until May 31 (closing at midnight EDT), at CAFconnection.ca/YouthReporter. Voting rules apply.CAF newspapers are managed by Personnel Support Programs, a division of Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare...

[caption id="attachment_25826" align="aligncenter" width="595"] CPO1 (Retired) Sylvain Jaquemot[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––Even though CPO1 Sylvain Jaquemot has retired from the navy – his last post being Fleet Chief – he will continue to support Pacific Fleet sailors and their families, this time out of uniform. The Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) Esquimalt has lured him to a newly created civilian post - that of Base and Fleet Liaison.“As Fleet Chief, Sylvain was an ex-officio member of our Board of Directors and provided sage advice and guidance to the board and to me in my role as Executive Director,” says Jackie Carlé. “He is well respected in this community and has always taken a great interest in supporting military families, especially those impacted by deployments and operations.” With 33 years of service in the Royal Canadian Navy, CPO1 (Retired) Jaquemot is well set to advise the MFRC on the needs of military members. “For me, this is a little payback after such an enjoyable career. It’s my effort to continue to support our sailors, engage with command teams, and liaise with MFRC staff for deployments and activities.”Jaquemot began his military career in 1987 as a Naval Electronic Sensor Operator and spent the majority of his career in Esquimalt. He served aboard HMCS Qu’Appelle, HMCS Mackenzie, HMCS Kootenay, HMCS Algonquin, HMCS Ottawa as part of its commissioning crew, and HMCS Winnipeg as the Above Water Warfare Director. In 2008, he joined the Canadian Fleet Pacific Staff as Chief Naval Electronic Sensor Operator. In 2014, he became Chief Instructor in the Leadership Division of Naval Fleet School Pacific and was promoted to his current rank in 2015. Jaquemot was appointed Fleet Chief in May 2018. He was succeeded as Fleet Chief by CPO1 Arvid Lee in a Change of Appointment Ceremony at Duntze Head on April...

[caption id="attachment_25823" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photos by Capt Jeff Klassen[/caption]Captain Jeff KlassenHMCS Calgary PAO––On the one year anniversary of the Stalker 22 Cyclone helicopter crash, HMCS Calgary’s embarked Cyclone air detachment hosted a solemn ceremony for the ship’s company on the flight deck to honour the six members who perished. This took place in the Arabian Sea where Calgary is currently operating while deployed on Operation Artemis.The six Canadian Armed Forces members lost their lives April 29, 2020, when the Cyclone helicopter crashed in the Ionian Sea while operating with HMCS Fredericton. A memorial for Stalker 22 was also unveiled at 12 Wing Shearwater; however, because of COVID-19 this was mostly presented virtually to ensure physical distancing. “In Calgary we are blessed in the sense that, while the rest of those mourning Stalker 22 had to do so through physical distancing, we were able to shake hands and hug on a day that is quite difficult for many of the air det and others on board,” said Major Rob McMullen, Calgary’s Air Officer.The ceremony started at 5 a.m.“(Today) we remember those who died one year ago in the tragic Cyclone crash in the Ionian Sea. We also gather to honour and uphold the covenant ‘we who serve’ with those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of Canada,” said Maj McMullen at the ceremony.These remarks were followed by a prayer of remembrance by Chaplain Lieutenant (Navy) Wilson Gonese and then a minute of silence. A ceremonial lament was played by bagpiper Sergeant Steven Drinkwalter, and Master Corporal Travis Bliss read the official poem of the Royal Canadian Air Force, High Flight.The ship’s cooks made a commemorative wreath of bread and, with food-coloring, added the words “Stalker 22”. The ceremony ended with the wreath being cast into the sea followed...

[caption id="attachment_25813" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Members of HMCS Calgary stand with their record haul of 1,286 kilograms of heroin seized April 23 from a dhow during a counter-smuggling operation in the Arabian Sea while on Operation Artemis as part of Combined Task Force-150.[/caption]Combined Maritime Forces––HMCS Calgary has made the largest-ever heroin bust in Combined Maritime Forces history, operating under the command of the Canadian-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150. The record-setting haul of 1,286 kilograms (2,835 lbs) of heroin on April 23 was achieved seven years to the day since HMAS Darwin interdicted 1,032kg (2,275 lbs) of the drug in 2014. In addition to their record-breaking success, Calgary struck again less than 24 hours later with a second interdiction capturing 360 kgs (794 lbs) of methamphetamine. “I’m speaking for everyone in HMCS Calgary when I say it’s a great feeling to have made two substantial busts so early into our operation,” said Commander Mark O’Donohue, Commanding Officer of Calgary. “A lot of work and coordination at both the ship level and throughout Combined Task Force-150 and the Combined Maritime Forces coalition goes into our work. It’s fantastic to see that pay off and to know we are contributing to the interruption of a revenue stream that is being used to fund terrorism.”While operating off the coast of Oman, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) frigate intercepted two vessels suspected of smuggling. The ship’s boarding team conducted subsequent searches, uncovering the high-value contraband with a combined total worth of over $23.22 million, making a salient impact to drug trafficking, often used to finance terrorism in the region. These interdictions come less than 10 days after Calgary began operations in the region, increasing the total number of successful counter-narcotics operations under CTF-150 to 14 since the RCN took command of the task force on Jan. 27.[caption id="attachment_25814" align="aligncenter" width="425"] Members of the Naval Tactical Operations Group boarding team search a suspicious dhow and find 360 kilograms of methamphetamine.[/caption]“I could not be more pleased with...

[caption id="attachment_25805" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Major-General Michel Lalumiere, Chief of Fighter Capability[/caption]Captain Sarah Harasymchuk andLieutenant (Navy) Melanie Aqiqi––It was a grim day nearly eight decades ago when 426 Bomber Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, received a new mission order. They were tasked with bombing the railyards at Louvain, Belgium, as part of a 120 aircraft raid on May 13, 1944, during the Second World War. There were 14 Thunderbirds on the battle order, carrying nine 1,000-pound bombs and four 500-pound bombs.The eight-person crew on board Halifax LW682/OW-M never reached their objective. Instead, they were shot down by a Luftwaffe night-fighter ace, Hauptmann Martin Drewes of III / NJG1. They crashed into a bog near the River Dender at Schendelbeke and all eight crew members were killed. The muddy terrain quickly engulfed the aircraft with three crew members still inside.When the Halifax Bomber was finally recovered in 1997 by a Canadian-led excavation team, the recovered aluminum took on new meaning for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and its members. Metal recovered from the crash site was melted down into ingots. Fragments of that metal are being incorporated into the enamels of new metal flying badges and serve as a visible reminder of past sacrifices.“The designs of the full-wing and upswept wing metal flying badges, worn on the summer dress uniforms of qualified aircrew, were modernized under the Flying and Occupation Badge Update Project. Aluminum grindings, obtained from the ingots of LW682 metal, are incorporated into the clear enamels used in some of the badges and in the red enamels used in the laurel wreaths of all of the badges,” says Major John Meurling, the Project Director.Major-General Michel Lalumiere, Chief of Fighter Capability, says the new metal wings symbolize the crucial history of the sacrifices made by the pioneers of today’s modern Air Force. “What is being carried through in the new design is the 95 years of history the RCAF has from its birth in 1924, but also its roots in...

[caption id="attachment_25794" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Photo by Corporal Lynette Dang, HMCS Calgary[/caption]Captain Jeff KlassenHMCS Calgary––Even in the age of GPS, navigation by stars via sextant is still done in the Royal Canadian Navy. While on Operation Projection in the Indo-Pacific this April, HMCS Calgary had some clear nights at sea, and the opportunity was taken to hone this skill with junior Naval Warfare Officers. “It’s very unlikely, but, in the rare-event the ship loses GPS, maintaining an ability to navigate using the stars is a valuable skill we need to keep in our back pocket,” said Lieutenant (Navy) Evan Park, Navigating Officer. “I find it incredibly rewarding to be able to pass on this age-old skill to the junior officers working for me.”Celestial navigation training took place at what is called nautical twilight, a time where it is bright enough to see the horizon but dark enough to see the stars — usually about an hour after sunset. Practice sessions using this manual method happen regularly on ship and the skill is part of the training package Naval Warfare Officer Sub-Lieutenants must complete to get promoted to Lieutenant (Navy).––––

Ashley EvansFMFCB––April 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the inception of the Fleet Maintenance Facilities Cape Breton and Cape Scott (FMFCB/FMFCS), the Royal Canadian Navy’s dedicated engineering, repair, and maintenance facilities located on each of Canada’s coastlines within HMC Dockyard Esquimalt, B.C., and HMC Dockyard Halifax, N.S.The past quarter century has seen teams of military and civilian engineers, tradespersons, project planners, and other workers deliver on their mandate to serve the technical needs of the Royal Canadian Navy fleet by operating these world-class ship repair facilities.The FMFs were formed through the amalgamation of three separate engineering, maintenance, and repair units in 1996: Ship Repair Unit Atlantic/Pacific, Naval Engineering Unit Atlantic/Pacific, and Fleet Maintenance Group Atlantic/Pacific.The Fleet Maintenance Facilities took their current names from Fleet Maintenance Group Atlantic/Pacific, which were former Cape-class maintenance ships: HMCS Cape Scott and HMCS Cape Breton. The ships were permanently berthed alongside the coast of their namesakes as floating dockyard maintenance and repair facilities in the 1970s; however, were later moved into shore facilities. FMFCS boasts a total building count of 13, with an overall footprint of more than 81,000 square metres.On the West Coast, a consolidated Ship Repair Zone has been created through the FMFCB modernization project (C4360), which includes the construction of D250 at 48,000 square metres. C4360 brought with it the construction of the 2,300 square metre Central Storage Facility and has made FMFCB one of the largest buildings by volume on the West Coast of North America.The FMFs are comprised of seven departments: Operations, Engineering, Production, Unit Support, Finance, Strategy, and Process Integration, with the Production department carrying out the following capabilities:Command and Control Systems;Communication Systems;Above Water and Under Water Weapons Systems such as guns, missiles, fire-control and torpedo systems;Hydraulic Systems;Marine Diesel, Gas Turbine, Electrical Propulsion, and Auxiliary Systems;Electrical Generation and Distribution;Hull Maintenance...

[caption id="attachment_25785" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Major Lili Zhang is the new Base Surgeon taking over from Lieutenant Commander Ian Kirby. Photo by A/SLt Pellerin/PAO[/caption]A/SLt Ty PellerinBase PA Office––CFB Esquimalt’s new Base Surgeon didn’t have far to go to take on the new role. Major Lili Zhang has been the deputy Base Surgeon for the past few years, and took over from LCdr Ian Kirby, the outgoing Base Surgeon, on April 19.“Lili is an exceptionally professional and compassionate clinician,” says LCdr Kirby. “She is well supported by experienced managers, staff, and an amazing group of primary care and mental health clinicians. I have no doubt she will succeed as Base Surgeon and raise the quality of health care delivered.”Maj Zhang spent five years at CFB Petawawa as a General Duties Medical Officer before being posted to CFB Esquimalt. In all, she has 17 years’ experience in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) - she transferred to the Regular Force from the Reserves in 2009 Maj Zhang says she is looking forward to the challenge and new leadership role.“There will be a period of adjustment, but I feel like I have already established good working relationships with the base during my time here; so I’m looking forward to strengthening those,” she says.Her role as Base Surgeon is to provide senior medical oversight for the base while striving to ensure the overall functioning of the medical clinic. She also provides medical advice to base units and works closely with the public health sector. She is now the lead on the base for the MARPAC vaccine rollout, which has begun. “It’s been said many times throughout the pandemic that ‘we are in this together,’ which rings true for the vaccine campaign,” she says. “I think it’s going to be an exciting time for the base and an...

[caption id="attachment_25770" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Raptor Meets Russians by Peter Robichaud is currently on display at the Shearwater Aviation Museum.[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––A Halifax-based artist has captured the high-tension moment when a Cyclone helicopter encountered a Russian submarine.It was early 2019 during Operation Reassurance when HMCS Toronto and its embarked helicopter escorted a Russian submarine in the Mediterranean. The acrylic-on-canvass painting, entitled Raptor Meets Russians, is the work of acclaimed artist and military veteran Peter J. Robichaud. Robichaud says it is the first painting of a Cyclone in action. It was commissioned by Major Matthew Dukowski, a member of the 12 Wing Shearwater helicopter detachment on the deployment. “We were looking at them and they [the Russians] were looking at us, and the painting is a likeness of how I described the situation to Peter,” says Maj Dukowski. “The painting shows the chopper and the submarine in great detail, including our detachment’s Raptor decal on the side of the aircraft, which to me symbolizes the whole team I had on the detachment.” Raptor Meets Russians is currently on display as part of an ongoing art gallery exhibit at the Shearwater Aviation Museum. Limited edition prints of the painting are available at the museum gift shop. Robichaud and Maj Dukowski have been friends since they worked together at 12 Wing when Robichaud was still in the military. They were deployed together in 2012 aboard HMCS Saint John’s.   Maj Dukowski is amazed by Robichaud’s art skills and has a number of his prints at his home. “Peter is unique in Canada, if not the world. Nobody else is creating military artwork to the quality and accuracy and meticulous attention to detail as Peter; he is truly gifted.” Robichaud’s passion for both aviation and art developed in childhood. As a youth, he joined the Air Cadets in his hometown of in Chatham, N.B, with a dream to become a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot. However, less than perfect vision kiboshed that aspiration. Instead, he embarked on...

[caption id="attachment_25766" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Calgary conducts a Replenishment at Sea, receiving fuel from HMAS Sirius in the Indian Ocean April 8. Corporal Lynette Ai Dang, HMCS Calgary Imagery Technician[/caption]Captain Jeff KlassenHMCS Calgary––Sweet treats were served while HMCS Calgary conducted a replenishment-at-sea, or RAS for non-navy readers, pronounced “razz”, with Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Sirius in the Indian Ocean on April 8. A RAS is mostly about a ship getting fuel so it can extend its operational range before coming alongside a port. However, there is also a fun atmosphere throughout the event. During the RAS, the two ships exchanged gifts, had a dance off, and Calgary had their mascot Bullseye out as Petty Officer Second Class Jason Boisvenue played air-guitar to a metal song. Another fun thing during the RAS, and it’s almost a tradition, is snacks were served to the crew - trays of colorful and tasty doughnuts. It was almost surreal, a warship getting refueled by a giant retractable hose, helicopters buzzing around, everyone focused and working hard, and then tasty treats were delivered to replenish the crew.[caption id="attachment_25767" align="aligncenter" width="430"] Chief Petty Officer Second Class Paul Huffman serves doughnuts – more specifically RAS doughnuts - to the officers and crew of HMCS Calgary during a replenishment-at-sea (RAS) with Her Majesty’s Australian Ship Sirius. Photo by Captain Jeff Klassen, HMCS Calgary[/caption]The RAS took place during a trilateral cooperative deployment that also included HMAS Anzac and Japanese Ship Akebono and helicopters from all three nations. On April 15, Calgary began Operation Artemis where it will be in the Gulf of Oman combating maritime smuggling operations that fund terrorism.––

Captain Jeff KlassenHMCS Calgary––An HMCS Calgary story went viral on Vietnamese social media recently.While on Operation Projection, Calgary conducted a technical port visit in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, from March 30 to April 1. Because of strict COVID-19 health measures, the ship’s company maintained their COVID-free safety bubble and did not leave the jetty. This meant they could not experience Vietnamese culture as would normally be the case during a port visit.In order to bring the culture to the ship, two Calgary marine technicians, both with Vietnamese heritage, made traditional Vietnamese coffee for the ship’s company. A video was posted on the ship’s official Facebook and Twitter pages, capturing everyone’s reactions to the coffee.Vietnamese coffee is both thicker and sweeter than typical North American-style coffee as it is made with sweetened condensed milk; it can be served hot or cold.The crew was surprised when the coffee-tasting reaction video was picked up by the largest news site in Vietnam, VNExpress, who translated and posted it on their website with Vietnamese subtitles.Based on social media comments, Vietnamese people got a real kick seeing Canadian sailors reactions to a beverage that is common to them and a source of pride.“I couldn’t believe it,” said Sailor First Class Richard Vuong, who, along with Sailor Second Class Peter Bui, was in the video making coffee for the ship’s company. “My girlfriend is Vietnamese and all her friends had seen it and were messaging her. It was unbelievable.”While in Vietnam, Calgary worked with the Embassy of Canada to Vietnam to make a $5,000 donation on behalf of Boomer’s Legacy to the Hope Shelter Orphanage.[caption id="attachment_25759" align="aligncenter" width="443"] A delegation from the Embassy of Canada to Vietnam donated $5,000 on behalf of HMCS Calgary and Boomer’s Legacy Fund when the ship made a port visit to Cam Ranh Bay. Photo supplied by Embassy of Canada to Vietnam[/caption]The donation bought the shelter two swings, a slide, two storage cabinets, food, and other essentials. Shelter staff sent Calgary a...

[caption id="attachment_25747" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Chief Petty Officer First Class Line Laurendeau, incoming Coxswain of HMCS Winnipeg, addresses those in attendance at the Change of Appointment ceremony. Photo by S1 Kendric Grasby, Imaging Services[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––HMCS Winnipeg made Royal Canadian Navy history when CPO1 Line Laurendeau was appointed senior non-commissioned officer on the ship.She replaces CPO1 Pascal Harel as the ship’s Coxswain, and in doing so is the first female Coxswain, hard sea trade, on the West Coast. “Becoming a navy Coxswain was a dream of mine and becoming the Coxswain of Winnipeg today is a moment I will remember for years to come,” said CPO1 Laurendeau, during the change of appointment on April 20. “To the crew of HMCS Winnipeg, my goal is to become the best leader I can be.”The event was presided over by Cdr Doug Layton, Winnipeg Commandering Officer, with Cmdre Angus Topshee, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, Deputy Commander Capt(N) Scott Robinson, and Fleet Chief, CPO1 Sylvain Jaquemot as guests. The proceedings were streamed on Facebook Live. It is the third time CPO1 Laurendeau has assumed a position occupied by CPO1 Harel. In 2014 she replaced him as Coxswain in HMCS Edmonton. Then in January 2020 she succeeded him in her last post as Unit Chief Petty Officer for Base Administration. In his address he expressed no doubt in her ability to do the job. “She is going to do well. She already has a good idea of what she is getting in to and it should be a seamless transition for her.” Naval Fleet School (Pacific) is his next post as their Chief Petty Officer. Twenty-eight years of service to Canada in the Canadian Armed Forces has prepared CPO1 Laurendeau for the job to lead and manage all personnel on board Winnipeg. She joined the military in March 1993 as a Naval Acoustic Operator. CPO1 Laurendeau served from the rank of Ordinary Seaman (Sailor Third Class) up to CPO2 in HMC Ships Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver, Algonquin, Winnipeg,...

[caption id="attachment_25723" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Maj Angela Orme will cut her curls.[/caption]DND / RCNThe Royal Canadian Navy crews of HMCS Calgary and Combined Task Force-150 on Operation Artemis have joined forces in support of the Calgary’s namesake charity, the Calgary Foothills Burn Unit.Calgary and crew are presently operating in the Arabian Sea with the Royal Canadian Navy-led CTF-150. The two teams comprise Operation Artemis, which is Canada’s contribution to security in the Middle East. Through maritime security operations, regional engagements, and capacity building, CTF-150 and Calgary will work together to disrupt terrorist and criminal organizations’ use of the high seas to smuggle weapons, illicit cargo, and narcotics, which they use to directly fund their activities. Their maritime operations take place in a region that has access to some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. When the two teams aren’t busy busting smugglers on the Arabian high-seas, they will be auctioning off their beards, hair, and in the case of one submariner, a back-wax, in support of Calgary’s namesake charity. Although they are far from home, the combined crews want to make someone’s day just a bit brighter back in Canada, even if it’s just to laugh at their new not-so navy fashions.To support the campaign, go to:www.gofundme.com/hmcs-calgary-ctf-150-charity-campaign––––

A/SLt Ty Pellerin Base PA Office––SLt Michael Kazakoff woke up in his cabin at 6:30 a.m. as a torpedo from a German U-boat exploded.He was one of the 71 crewmembers on board HMCS Esquimalt that had set out to conduct anti-submarine sweeps outside Halifax harbour on April 16, 1945. “All I could see was a twisted mess of steel, with some glimmers of daylight shining through,” said SLt Kazakoff in a report.The U-Boat hit Esquimalt on the starboard side, and the ensuing explosion ripped a gaping hole in the starboard quarter, disabling the ship’s power, and preventing a distress call.As the Bangor-class minesweeper took on water, SLt Kazakoff removed his lifejacket to avoid getting caught in the jagged metal and began to crawl to safety.He didn’t have much time to get out; it took less than four minutes for Esquimalt to sink. It was the last Canadian ship lost during the Battle of the Atlantic in the Second World War. Forty-four crew members perished in the attack.“It is difficult to imagine the horrors the crew of HMCS Esquimalt faced that day,” says Capt(N) Sam Sader, CFB Esquimalt Base Commander. “Honouring the courage and sacrifice of those that served before us, especially on anniversaries such as this, is extremely important to our military community. By finding ways to remember in a safe and physically distanced way, we can keep their memory alive while acknowledging our responsibility to preserve the peace and freedom they fought to achieve.”[caption id="attachment_25719" align="aligncenter" width="415"] Captain (Navy) Sam Sader, Commander, CFB Esquimalt, and Chief Petty Officer First Class Al Darragh, Base Chief Petty Officer, lay a wreath at the HMCS Esquimalt memorial cairn on Friday to mark the 76th anniversary of the ship’s sinking. Photo by CFB Esquimalt Base Public Affairs[/caption]Last Friday marked the 76th anniversary of the sinking of HMCS Esquimalt. Each year a ceremony is held in the Township of Esquimalt’s Memorial Park. Due to the pandemic, the ceremony could not take place in its...

[caption id="attachment_25706" align="aligncenter" width="594"] HMCS Saskatoon and the U.S. Coast Guard Southeast Law Enforcement Detachment prepare to intercept a target of interest on March 14.[/caption]Captain Sarah HarasymchukOperation Caribbe PAO––It was Sunday, March 21 at approximately 2:30 p.m. (Central Time). It was quiet on the bridge. The ship was gently making waves, patrolling its assigned area of operations in the eastern Pacific. Suddenly, the radio crackled. It was a U.S. Navy (USN) P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft reporting in. A suspicious “go-fast” vessel was in the area. HMCS Brandon, deployed on Operation Caribbe, was well positioned to make an intercept. The Officer of the Watch, a Lieutenant (Navy) Naval Warfare Officer immediately took action on the Commanding Officer’s orders to alter course and increase the ship’s speed to intercept the target. “After I made the pipe to bring the ship to action, all the different parts of the ship’s company instantly came together to close-up on their respective stations,” said the Naval Warfare Officer. “Our success on this interdiction is the result of the expertise and training of the team coming together seamlessly with both Canadian and international partners.” Brandon quickly launched its two rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) with members of the embarked U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 103, to conduct a Right of Visit boarding. The Naval Combat Information Operators (NCIOPs) have an important role in the mission, monitoring radio traffic and passing on critical information to the Officer of the Watch on the bridge and the LEDET. The on-watch NCIOP, a Sailor First Class, describes what happened. “I started copying the information and confirming the details from the maritime patrol aircraft. As an NCIOP, I am the conduit for all the information coming in and passing it to the key players on the ship. I plotted the latitude and longitude to determine the position of the vessel. Being in the moment was phenomenal and super exciting, to see what actually happens in real-time. I realized...

[caption id="attachment_25685" align="aligncenter" width="595"] LCol Laura Laycock on deployment.[/caption]LCol Laura Laycock––It was Oct. 7, 2019, and life was not just good, it was amazing. My career in the Royal Canadian Air Force was going great. I loved my job and was getting promoted. Throughout my Canadian Armed Forces career of over 20 years, I had represented Canada around the world with NORAD, NATO and the UN. I had married the most incredible man. We relocated to Ottawa, started to travel the world together, and were ready to start a family. Then, on Oct. 8, 2019, everything changed.I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) after blood work for vertigo showed extremely elevated white blood cell counts. CML is a blood cancer where the bone marrow overproduces white blood cells, which eventually impairs the development of white and red blood cells and platelets. It’s usually caused by a spontaneous mutation in DNA, which contains our genetic code.[caption id="attachment_25686" align="aligncenter" width="315"] LCol Laycock[/caption]Twenty years ago, researchers developed a new line of drugs that combat this overproduction of white blood cells. These targeted oral chemotherapy pills have been revolutionary in the fight against CML. Most people who take them do so for the rest of their lives and have good survival rates; however, a stem cell transplant remains the only actual cure. But it’s risky and not needed for most people.It’s now been about 17 months since my diagnosis and my body has not tolerated this targeted chemotherapy. I fall into that small fraction of people who get debilitating or life-threatening side effects from this medication. My doctors are discussing other treatment options, one of which is a stem cell transplant, but my mixed ethnicity (European/Middle Eastern) has made it difficult to find a donor match.My journey since my diagnosis has been to slow down and educate myself so that I can heal and advocate for my care; to appreciate every little moment of joy; and to do my best to overcome each challenge that arises....