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Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Sara Harris, a Financial Services Supervisor aboard HMCS Winnipeg, joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) as a Reservist at HMCS Chippawa as a summer occupation to help pay for university 30 years ago.“It was either that or tree-planting to pay for university.”One of the biggest decision she has made during her employment was whether to move from the Reserve Force to the Regular Force.“It meant having to leave the East Coast after many years there. It was quite a wrench as my parents had chosen to retire in Nova Scotia from Winnipeg just a few years earlier,” PO2 Harris explains. “But there is a quote from John Wooden that I used to have as part of my work email signature block: ‘Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.’ This is one of the things I tell myself when I am facing challenges that come my way.”She decided to move to the Regular Force after spending close to a decade in the private sector, and finds the greatest contrast is the close-knit community with her shipmates.“The best part about being in the navy is the camaraderie. The opportunity to meet and work with people from all over the country is also really great. But the main reason I switched from the Reserves to the Regular Force was to be able to sail on a Canadian Patrol Frigate, which is what I am doing right now. This is my favorite job so far.”Winnipeg is currently deployed in the Asia-Pacific region on Operation Projection Asia-Pacific and Operation Neon, to further strengthen Canada’s relations with partners in the area. Though this posting is close to three decades in the making, her most memorable and life-changing experience in the navy...

[caption id="attachment_24779" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Capt Chris Willis, HMCS Winnipeg’s Padre, casts his vote in the provincial election via phone.[/caption]Captain Chelsea DubeauHMCS Winnipeg––When a snap provincial election was called in September, it presented a unique dilemma for deployed members on board HMCS Winnipeg.How was one to cast their vote while sailing halfway around the world? The usual method used for federal elections – mail-in ballots – was out; COVID-19’s impact on the mail and supply chain saw to that. So what was the democratically-minded sailor to do? Fortunately, a collaborative effort between senior staff at Maritime Forces Pacific, Canadian Fleet Pacific, Elections BC, and, of course, on board Winnipeg, helped make this endeavour possible. It wouldn’t be via mail, there was simply not enough time for that, and pre-registration was also off the table. By the time options had been weighed for how to facilitate voting, the pre-registration window for eligible voters had already passed. What came about was an innovative solution that hadn’t before been used in a deployed naval environment: assisted, telephone voting. Typically reserved for those members of the electorate who are unable to vote in person, due to disability for example, members on board Winnipeg were given the opportunity to cast their vote via telephone from Oct. 9 right up until the provincial election date of Oct. 24. The ship’s Voice-over-IP telephones were used for the purpose, and pre-registration wasn’t required; in fact, several voters on board were able to register right over the telephone. Identification was required and verified over the phone, and the assisted voting officials even provided each voter with a run down of candidates in their riding. The whole process, on average, took about 10 minutes per person. Captain Chris Willis, Winnipeg’s Padre, was the second person to cast their vote after Chief...

[caption id="attachment_24769" align="alignnone" width="595"] Members of The Steel Spirit meet with poet Fred Andrews at Roberta Place Retirement Lodge long-term care facility in Barrie, ON. Back row from left: Trisha MacLeod, Colin Partridge, and Lee-Ann LeMesurier. Front Row: Andrews and The Steel Spirit founder Barbara Brown. Photo credit: Roberta Place[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer––There are two things that help Second World War veteran Fred Andrews remember his military service: a carefully preserved poppy and the poetry he wrote.The 99-year-old is one of a dwindling population of veterans from that war. His caregivers at Roberta Place Retirement Lodge long-term care facility in Barrie, ON, say his memory is fading.His poetry helps him remember, says Anita Crane, his Life Enrichment Coordinator. She is helping Andrews share his story, but says his “incredible poetry” speaks for itself. Until recently, he was a prolific writer of prose with one of his five books of poems drawing praise from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Three quarters of a century ago Andrews was a young man from Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, and a member of the then Dominion’s 59th Heavy Artillery Regiment. The largely unheralded regiment played a key role in the Battle of Normandy and helped liberate France, Belgium, and the Netherlands from German occupation. His favourite poem The Trail of 59th Newfoundland Heavy Regiment took many years to write and recounts his regiment’s trek across Europe. “I think of all of his prized possessions he is most proud of this poem,” said Crane. “He wrote that poem over the course of a few years.”The 1,354 word poem employs a heroic quatrain to recount the regiment, their training, and eventual movement and battles in Europe. Although poetic, his words offer a rare first-hand account of the 59th Regiment. When pressed for details about what he saw during the...

[caption id="attachment_24765" align="alignnone" width="595"] Sailor First Class Serge Lacasse with his dog Galley.[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––A Royal Canadian Navy sailor is putting his best paws forward for charity. Sailor First Class Serge Lacasse, 36, has joined forces with Operation Freedom Paws Canada to help promote their goal of empowering veterans and individuals with disabilities by teaching them to train their own dog and certify them as a service dog.Through a special therapeutic canine-human relationship, veterans and others can live an enriched life despite their disability. “A relationship with a dog is all about chemistry,” said S1 Lacasse of his dog Galley, who he acquired five months ago with the help of the charity. “We hit it off immediately, as soon as he saw me he came up to me and licked my face and that was it.”He is currently coping with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a psychological ailment developed over eight years working in submarines, and is now transitioning out of the navy.“I suffered from all the classic symptoms and I was considered completely dysfunctional in society,” he says. “I couldn’t go out in public or even go to the grocery store without anxiety and panic attacks, and wanted to remove myself from society, and my relationship with my friends and spouse had completely crumbled.”S1 Lacasse has promoted the charity to Canadian Submarine Force, submarines HMCS Victoria and HMCS Chicoutimi, Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters, HMCS Regina and the Esquimalt Military Police and they have all chosen to support Operation Freedom Paws through the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC). “I have seen first-hand the affect this program has had on S1 Lacasse and was very happy to see the smile back on his face and that familiar personality we are all used to,” said CPO2 Michael (Rob) Tibbetts, CANSUBFOR Chief. “He is...

[caption id="attachment_24762" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Bob Gondek[/caption]Courtesy War Amps––On Remembrance Day this year, many Canadians will reflect on the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Among those will be war amputee veteran Bob Gondek, of Toronto, who also carries a physical reminder of that pivotal time in history.At the age of 96, Gondek still vividly recalls serving alongside the Allied Forces with the 2nd Polish Corps during the Italian Campaign. “We were climbing a hill, heavily laden with equipment carried by mules,” he says. “Germans were above and could easily see us. Their machine gun fire pinned us to the ground. We had to deal with completely unknown terrain and extreme darkness. Finally, I found a soft spot where I could seek temporary shelter. In the morning, I realized I was laying on corpses, buried in shallow graves.”  In 1944, he was based outside Loretto, Italy, when heavy gun fire broke out. “Without any order, I crawled up to them [the enemy] and threw a grenade. I acted instinctively.” After a short period of silence, the enemy began firing mortars. “I remember an explosion and the smell of gunpowder. I then realized that my weapon was gone and, in the place where my hand held the machine gun, there was nothing – I had lost part of my left arm below the elbow. I felt like I was dying because my whole life flashed before my eyes.”  Gondek also had extensive injuries around his leg and hip and spent five months recovering in the hospital. He was awarded the Virtuti Militari, the Polish equivalent of the Victoria Cross, for his valour in destroying two enemy machine gun nests. He also received the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restitua from Poland, the Cross of Valour, Merit...

[caption id="attachment_24759" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Three of Private Robert Speirs McClymont’s medals are, from left: the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal 1914-1919. Together they are affectionately called Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.[/caption]Sharon Adams Legion Magazine––It is, unfortunately, so easy for a veteran’s service and sacrifice to be forgotten.Many veterans may not tell their stories; perhaps to avoid painful memories or to spare loved ones from experiencing, even second-hand, the horrors of war. So this chapter in the family history, and its importance, may not be passed along. Perhaps that’s how some First World War medals were nearly consigned to the rubbish heap in Winnipeg in the early 2000s.A family clearing out an apartment after a death put out boxes of unwanted stuff and invited other residents to help themselves. One neighbour picked out a small box containing a crest with the initials KOSB, and four medals, three from the First World War. Mistakenly discarded, he thought, but a family member told him they were not wanted. He kept them, not knowing what else to do with them.Twelve years later, he chanced to meet Dave Flannigan, then Dominion President of The Royal Canadian Legion. He told Flannigan the story and handed over the medals.The medals were earned by Private Robert Speirs McClymont of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB), which traces its history back to 1689.They included a 1914-15 Star, a British War Medal, and a Victory Medal 1914-1919, a trio that was nicknamed Pip, Squeak and Wilfred, after characters in a popular comic strip of the day.The fourth medal, the Imperial Service Medal, was awarded in the 1950s to civil servants retiring after 25 years of service.Research by Legion Magazine took the story a little further. A Robert Speirs McClymont was born in Minnigaff, Scotland, in 1894....

Peter MallettStaff Writer––A sailor from HMCS Edmonton says serving as an extra in the filming of a Second World War movie was an excellent way to celebrate his family’s military service. SLt Mehak Dhinsa travelled to Kelowna, B.C., Oct. 31 to take part in the opening phase of filming for the historical drama Promises. The short film is the work of Surrey-based historian Steven Purewal. It highlights the contribution made by Sikh soldiers to the Allied war effort, and specifically at the Battle of Monte Casino in Italy. SLt Dhinsa, who is Sikh, has a strong family connection to Second World War including the Burma campaign. It involved the Allies and China teaming up in a series of battles against the Imperial forces of Japan between 1941 and 1945, to overturn Japanese occupation, but at a horrific cost to military and civilian life. His great grandfathers and other family members fought in the Second World War conquest and some of them were killed after an air raid by the Japanese. “Many Canadians are unaware of the importance of the Burma Campaign - in 2014 it was voted the most important battle of WW2 by readers of a broadsheet newspaper in the UK. I thought this was an excellent way to honour their legacy.” The sailor was one of two military members participating in the shoot, with the other an army reservist, Capt Charan Kamal Singh Dullat from Calgary. It was the first film production for him that included a brief speaking role. Promises explores the active role of Sikh soldiers during the Second World War and subsequent post war discrimination against Sikh veterans and Indian immigrants in Canada. The film depicts the battle of Monte Cassino, in which the Indian 4th Infantry Division was attached to the British Eighth Army that...

[caption id="attachment_24753" align="aligncenter" width="595"] PO1 (Retired) Victor Flett, 2012[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––When 92-year-old PO1 (Retired) Victor Flett bows his head in a moment of silence on Remembrance Day, he will think of beloved family members who served Canada honourably. He is the last in line of three generations from Manitoba’s Peguis First Nation to serve in Canada’s military. The members of Peguis First Nation are of Saultaux (Ojibway) and Cree descent.His Grandfather, whom he never met, is a source of immense pride and pain for him and his family. That’s because Pte David William Stranger, an infantryman in the Canadian Army, was killed at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in the First World War. “It was very sad for us that he was not there when I was young; this stands out most for me in my memories of my family and life,” says Flett. “Even though I never met him, his memory made me very aware of the sacrifice put into defending the freedoms of our country, pride in being Canadian, and being able to serve his country the way he did.”Flett’s father Edward, also a soldier, served as infantry in the final months of the First World War. At age three, Flett’s mother died of TB and his grandmother, a widow who raised seven children of her own, took in him and his five siblings and raised them on his grandfather’s land. She was a great source of strength with her strong and enduring faith in God and lifelong membership of Saint Peter’s Old Stone Church near Selkirk, MB, says Flett.As grown men, Flett and his brothers joined the military, with three serving Canada during the Second World War.His oldest brother Andrew worked as a marine engineer in the Merchant Navy during the Battle of the Atlantic. His other...

[caption id="attachment_24748" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Cpl Nicole Reid[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––When Cpl Nicole Reid, 27, paints, each brush stroke she puts on the canvass helps her blow off steam. The Aviation Technician with CFB Borden’s 400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron conducts maintenance and repairs on CH146 Griffon helicopters and while fulfilling, it can be stressful. Painting in her off-hours grew following a deployment to Mali in support of UN Mission MinusINUSMA in 2018. “I found the tour in Africa highly demanding and difficult, so more and more I really began to enjoy painting as an outlet for stress relief.” Life at the base finds its way onto her canvas – something she calls “slice of life” paintings.The living room in her Residential Housing Unit is a makeshift art studio. Acrylic paint colours she selects are dependent on the mood she wants to convey. “My overall intention is to capture the work we do and the people and faces behind it. My paintings aren’t just about a helicopter but the technicians who work day-in and day-out to make it safe to fly.” Her painting The Face of 400 Sqn was created in 2018. It was done at the request of the then 1 Wing Kingston commander as a gift to 1 Wing. It still hangs in the Wing’s main entrance today and was her first commissioned work. “It’s an image of a technician who is working at the back of a helicopter during heavy maintenance on a Griffon,” said Cpl Reid. “The commander had wanted a painting that truly captured what 400 Sqn does and it shows the chopper completely torn apart, so I felt it captured exactly what he wanted to see.”She has been mechanically inclined since childhood helping her father take apart and rebuild engines. Years later, she attended college where she...

MARPAC Public Affairs––This year has been a year like none other. Every facet of our lives has been changed by the global pandemic. Nothing has escaped its impact, including how we will remember and commemorate our veterans this Remembrance Day.This year, we will remember the sacrifices of those who fought valiantly and the values they fought for. The Battle of Atlantic was the longest battle of the Second World War. Over the course of 2,075 days, Allied naval and air forces fought more than 100 convoy battles and as many as 1,000 single ship actions against submarines and warships of the German and Italian navies.During the Battle of the Atlantic, many were lost at sea, so many Canadian families cannot visit the final resting place. Let’s grieve with those families and continue to remember all sacrifices made to ensure the freedoms we enjoy today in our daily routines.Instead of the crowds of hundreds and thousands that gather together to pay their respects, this year people are being asked to do so virtually. Locally, there will be live coverage on television and on Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) social media accounts. Rear-Admiral (RAdm) Bob Auchterlonie will lay a wreath at the Victoria Cenotaph on behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). “Pausing in silence to honour all those who have fallen, those who have served, and those who continue to serve, is especially important today in these unprecedented times. I wish to honour those who recently lost their lives in service to Canada this year – I will be keeping them, those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and all their families in my thoughts and prayers as I lay the wreath at the Victoria Cenotaph on behalf of Maritime Forces Pacific,” said Rear-Admiral (RAdm) Bob Auchterlonie.Commemorative sail pastThere will be a commemorative sail...

[caption id="attachment_24730" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Jamie Birtwistle, Real Property Operations (Esquimalt) Energy Manager, stands below to two rows of solar panels on the west wall of the Naden Athletic Centre. Photo by RPOps (Esq)[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––Just below the roofline on the Naden Athletic Centre’s west wall are 22 large solar panels. They were recently installed by Real Property Operations (Esquimalt) as part of an energy performance contract to help the base reduce its carbon footprint and energy costs. At the gym, the solar energy will pre-heat the hot water supply for the heating system, showers and the pool.“Solar power is a renewable energy source with net zero pollutants of CO2,” explained Jamie Birtwistle, RPOps(Esq) Energy Manager. “When we speak about climate-change action plans and we embrace the aspiration to become a carbon neutral defence community, these alternative technologies are quite appealing.” The energy-reducing projects are part of the Department of National Defence Energy and Environmental Strategy (2020-23). The aim of the strategy, implemented in 2017, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from DND infrastructure and commercial light-duty vehicle fleets to below 40 percent of the 2005 emissions by 2025, and to net-zero emissions by 2050. The solar panels are one step towards reaching those goals, says Birtwistle. The panels were purchased by Ameresco Canada and employ solar array technology. The technology uses a system of photo voltaic cells that heat propylene glycol fluid within the panels. The solar-heated fluid travels through a system of tubes to preheat water within the building’s heating systems. While the solar panels won’t eliminate the use of traditional energy sources completely, they can reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the gym annually by 25 metric tonnes, says Birtwistle.RPOps staff were provided a  training session by Ameresco so they could understand how the system functions and how to maintain...

[caption id="attachment_24727" align="aligncenter" width="594"] HMCS Summerside departs on 26 October. The Honorable Arthur J. Leblanc, ONS, QC, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia and Commodore Richard Feltham, Commander Canadian Fleet Atlantic, takes the salute. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT Public Affairs[/caption]National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces––HMCS Summerside departed Halifax Oct. 26 for Operation Caribbe, Canada’s contribution to Campaign Martillo – the multinational campaign against transnational criminal organizations in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. This is the 14th year the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has conducted Operation Caribbe, working with Western Hemisphere and European partners to address security challenges in the region by deterring criminal activity and disrupting illicit trafficking operations.As part of Operation Caribbe, the Royal Canadian Navy deploys a periodic rotation of warships from both the east and west coasts, while the Royal Canadian Air Force provides CP-140 Aurora aircraft from long-range patrol squadrons. Deploying from Halifax, NS, Summerside will be working with the United States Coast Guard and the United States Navy to find and track vessels of interest in the Caribbean Basin. The USCG law enforcement detachments (LEDET) then approach and intercept them, before boarding and inspecting the ship and cargo. Since 2006, the navy and the air force have been credited with supporting the seizure or disruption of approximately 105 metric tonnes of cocaine and more than 6.7 metric tonnes of marijuana. Each member of the crew in Summerside has undergone a 14-day sequestration prior to their departure for this mission in order to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19.––––

[caption id="attachment_24724" align="alignnone" width="595"] Graduates of Basic Military Qualification R0236E present arms during their Graduation Ceremony at the Nixon Gym in Work Point on Oct. 23. Photo by S1 Sisi Xu, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––The isolation bubble is broken and the West Coast’s first set of De-centralized Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) recruits are on their way to trades training. On Friday Oct. 23, 34 Sailor Third Class recruits graduated after completing 10 weeks of training inside a restricted access cohort to keep them healthy and safe while training in the current COVID-19 environment.Recruits were presented their graduation certificates by Cdr Annick Fortin, Naval Fleet School (Pacific) Commandant, in a physically distanced graduation ceremony at Work Point’s Nixon Building.“I am very proud of all of the candidates and the staff.  All those involved in this qualification process did an excellent job,” said Cdr Fortin. “There were lots of sacrifices made along the way by the staff to make this a success.”Since family and friends were not permitted to attend, the event was streamed live on Facebook. BMQs are normally run through the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec. De-centralized BMQs were developed and conducted on the East and West Coasts under the leadership of Commander Naval Personnel and Training Group in order to fulfill personnel requirements of the Fleet, while also easing the pressure on the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School as training resumed once the initial shutdown in response to the pandemic was eased. The Leadership and Recruit School normally trains Army and Air Force personnel in addition to members of the Navy.De-centralized BMQs are an innovative measure designed to deliver Regular Force BMQ serials for the navy in a safe, carefully planned, deliberate manner abiding by directed protective health measures. The Royal Canadian Navy’s...

[caption id="attachment_24721" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photo by S1 Mike Goluboff, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––Military cooks received a tasty tutorial by a former DND civilian employee turned cookbook author last week in the Wardroom kitchen.With her cookbook Milk, Spice and Curry Leaves: Hill Country Recipes from the Heart of Sri Lanka in hand, Ruwan Samarakoon-Amunugama demonstrated how to make traditional Sri Lankan dishes.“When I decided upon the recipes of curry chicken, yellow rice, and beet root curry, I wanted to have something that chefs could easily prepare whether they were on land or in a ship,” said Samarakoon-Amunugama.Her culinary tutorial was part of a week-long foodie event that promoted Food Diversity Week through different cultural fare.Her instruction introduced the cooks to the pillars of the island nation’s cuisine: coconut milk, rice, and spice, including roasted curry powder.MS Ryan Eves attended the class and was impressed by the flavour profile.“When she was finished instructing and cooking everyone got to sample the food. It tasted completely different than the seasonings and spices in curries any of us had tried before,” said MS Eves. “I think that adding Sri Lankan cuisine to our menu is a welcome change for our chefs and will provide a morale boost for our regular customers who are looking to try something different.”Her cookbook features 60 of her favourite family recipes.The recipes were inherited from her mother and passed down by her grandmother.“One unique aspect of Sri Lankan curry is they have a dark roasted curry power that is very different than the curries you will find in India. It is one of the main ingredients that makes our cuisine unique because it’s aromatic and has complex flavours.”Samarakoon-Amunugama spent 10 years at DND as a senior communications advisor at a Public Affairs Office in Vancouver between 2009 and 2018....

November 11th is a hallowed day marked in the hearts of Canadian Armed Forces members across the country. It is our chance to pay homage to veterans, such as yourself, who gave so much in their service to Canada.This Remembrance Day will be recognized differently than in year’s past; you will not see many uniformed members standing shoulder-to-shoulder at cenotaphs in our surrounding communities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But know that each member of CFB Esquimalt will spend the day in reverence, regardless of where they pay their respects.This year we commemorated the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a battle that raged for six terrible years and saw over one million brave Canadians serve across the world. For sailors, this year also marks the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest campaign of that war. During the conflict, 70,000 allied sailors, merchant mariners, and airmen lost their lives at sea, including 4,600 brave Canadians.In an effort to keep our veterans and community members safe, and to preserve the health and safety of our Forces members, we will spend November 11th observing Remembrance Day remotely and thinking about our esteemed veterans. Although we will not be with you, you will be with us, as we hold you in our thoughts with gratitude for your service and for the ultimate sacrifice of those we lost.We will never take for granted the hard-earned freedom for which you fought as we continue to maintain the peace and security you so valiantly won.On this Remembrance Day, and all days, I thank you for your service. Lest we forget.Yours truly,S. Sader Captain (N) Commander CFB Esquimalt––––

Peter MallettStaff Writer––A new digital health care application launches today at CFB Esquimalt and will add secure, discreet clinical video encounters for military members.The downloadable mobile application entitled ‘REACT’ is an effort by Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific) to improve existing doctor-patient virtual care. REACT will be used locally at CFB Esquimalt and CFB Borden, with plans to make the application available across the Canadian Armed Forces in the future. Both Mental Health and Primary Care clinicians will use REACT as part of its virtual care initiative to reduce in-person encounters during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rollout of the encrypted and secure digital application came on the heels of last week’s Canadian Patient Safety Week (Oct. 26 to 30) by the CF H Services Group. The overall aim of REACT falls in line with the mandate to expand virtual care options to ensure military members have access to the best health care possible, said MGen Marc Bilodeau, CAF Surgeon General. “The dispersed posture we have been forced to adopt since the beginning of the pandemic has required the CAF health care team to rapidly learn to incorporate different means of communication into how we work with members to improve their health,” he said. “This expanded virtual care capability is here to stay.” After booking virtual care appointments through their designated Integrated Health Care Team, Esquimalt-based members will receive an email detailing how to connect to REACT. The application takes approximately 15 minutes to set up and can be used directly through the desktop version from the Google Chrome Web Browser or REACT’s app that can be downloaded to mobile devices. Connection to the service is much better on Wi Fi then cellular data. LCdr Ian Kirby, CF H Svcs (P) Base Surgeon and Medical Director, has been working with...

2Lt Jamie Boparai Base Administration––Family history is what led Lt(N) Colin Winkler to take the Canadian Oath of Allegiance upon joining the Canadian Armed Forces in 1988. His father joined in 1964 and his Grandfather served in the Second World War as an Artilleryman.The journey to his current position as Base Personnel Services Officer began as a non-commissioned member cook. Diligence, competency, and leadership qualities aided in his promotions all the way to Chief Petty Officer First Class.A few years ago, he was afforded the opportunity to join the Special Requirement Commissioning Plan. “SRCP allows for Chief Petty Officers to commission [into the officer rank] and fill vacant positions within the service. This is a specialized program used to keep the core knowledge of the military intact while allowing CPOs to continue to serve as Officers. SRCP does not come with a formal trade, but rather employment into specialized positions,” he explains. His leadership role model is Capt(N) Julian Elbourne, who was his commanding officer in HMCS Protecteur, and his command team, during the Feb. 27, 2014, fire aboard the ship while off the coast of Hawaii. “I was the Logistics CPO2 at the time, and that was when I realized if I was to ever become a CPO1, they were the type of leaders I wanted to be like. Their leadership shined in a time of danger and uncertainty.”His role on the ship was to ensure the attack teams and the ship’s company were sustained with food and water. “We didn’t even have a working galley,” he says. Food was cooked using old barbecues and an apartment-style stove that was in the commanding officer’s pantry. “I also made sure people had places to sleep because of the damage. There were 219 people aboard at the time.”A good leader, he adds,...

Peter MallettStaff Writer––Ill and injured Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans have not been forgotten during the pandemic. Soldier On programs resumed on the West Coast this month with two morale-building events, rounds of golf at Highlands Pacific Golf and a cycling clinic at the University of Victoria.   The goal is to help them adapt and overcome both physical injuries through participation in sports and physical fitness activities.Much of the events were halted in March with the onset of COVID-19, but with strictly enforced health and safety protocols these two events were able to happen. “The pandemic has provided far fewer opportunities to let participants experience physical activity and social interaction as part of their recovery from their injuries,” said Joe Kiraly, Senior Manager of Soldier On.  “It is great to be able to resume some of our operations again, albeit on a reduced scale. All of our events going forward will also adhere to strict COVID-19 precautions that will provide a safe environment for participants.”Dana’s Story The return of the Oct. 11 Soldier On cycling clinic was a big relief for 2Lt (Retired) Dana Batho. The former Intelligence Officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force suffered serious back and neck injuries during a training accident seven years ago and has lived with intense paint ever since. Prior to her injury she enjoyed gymnastics, Highland dancing and weightlifting, but says none of that is possible now. Since her pain is likely permanent, and modern medicine has failed to alleviate her condition, she says the relief from her woes has come through cycling.With assistance from Soldier On, she has acquired a custom-designed, three-wheeled recumbent bicycle. On days when the pain isn’t too intense she and her service dog Coco go for long bicycle rides on the Capital Regional District’s expansive recreational...

[caption id="attachment_24698" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Naval reservists on the bridge of PCT Orca during their first training sail of the year. Photo by A/SLt Alistair Hirst, HMCS Malahat[/caption]SLt Donald DenHMCS Malahat––With black cloth masks wrapped tightly around their nose and mouth, 20 naval reservists from HMCS Malahat climbed aboard the Patrol Craft Training vessel Orca on Oct. 10.The COVID-19 environment did not deter them from accomplishing their first Orca-class day sail of the training year.Masks remained on throughout the day as they cycled through training exercises. “At-sea training opportunities are critical to ensuring members of Malahat maintain their sea-going capability,” said Lieutenant (N) Michael Liu, Malahat’s Training Officer. “Nothing can replace training on a ship at sea.”The goal of the day was to refresh basic ship and Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) operations, with the aim of increasing levels of complexity for future Orca sails.The day started with a person overboard drill, which had a dummy tossed into the water followed by the launching of the ship’s Zodiac and crew for the rescue.The reservists took a break with a boxed lunch taken in shifts to maintain appropriate physical distancing.Routine training quickly turned into a live event when Malahat’s RHIB became dead in the water near the Orca. The Zodiac with a small crew was sent to the RHIB to with repairs. Once in working order, the RHIB headed back to Patrol Craft Training Unit for further inspection.“The unplanned mechanical issue with the RHIB during the sail provided an excellent opportunity for members to utilize their training during a real event,” said Commander Cameron Miller, Malahat’s Commanding Officer. “Orca sails like this one provide members of HMCS Malahat with much-needed training and experience, and that is just as important now in the current COVID-19 environment.”With the winds increasing the sea state, Orca and...

[caption id="attachment_24695" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Another NFS(P) crew get set to sail in Sail Training Vessel Goldcrest for the regatta.[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––Two student-crewed navy training vessels tested their skills over the Oct. 17 weekend in the first and only regatta of the season.STV Tuna and STV Goldcrest joined 30 crews of 10 sailors in the Cascadian Convoy sailing challenge hosted by the Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA).Sailboats competed in five races of varying lengths off Vancouver Island: a long distance race from Esquimalt to Port Renfrew; a medium distance sail between Sooke and Victoria Harbour, and back to Esquimalt; a short distance race from Esquimalt to Race Rocks and back; a cruiser class race from Esquimalt to Victoria; and a U.S. long distance shadow race with sailors sailing from Port Angeles, Washington, to Neah Bay. The race was given the go ahead in August from British Columbia’s provincial body of sport ViaSport, which allowed some sporting competitions involving teams to a maximum of 10 people to resume. Competitors followed the strict health and safety protocol mandated by the province.“The event proved that sailing is a perfect fit for physical distancing because teams compete in isolated bubbles on their vessels. With proper care and precautions by team members they can sail safely and still have fun,” said LCdr Chris Maier, CFSA Commodore. “In the end, the CFSA became a leader in the Pacific Northwest in learning how to sail in a COVID-19 world.”STV Tuna with its novice crew from Naval Fleet School Pacific tackled the medium distance race. Under the leadership of skipper Lt(N) Konnor Brett, they eked out a seventh place finish in a field of eight. Although they had a favourable start in the race, their standing slipped when they rounded Race Rocks.“That moment was the true equalizer as we...

[caption id="attachment_24692" align="aligncenter" width="595"] The virtual tour of HMCS Harry DeWolf included the machinery control and engine rooms. Photo by Cpl David Veldman, CAF Photo[/caption]Trident Newspaper––The annual San Francisco Fleet Week took its event online for 2020, offering a number of virtual experiences in lieu of the in-person tours and demonstrations that normally take place. Among the offerings were virtual ship tours, and the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) was happy to help out its allies. The Canadian navy provided virtual video tours of Halifax-class frigates HMCS Toronto and HMCS Calgary, as well as its newest ship and first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, HMCS Harry DeWolf.SLt Joe Cheng took viewers through the ship’s departments, including the all-ranks cafeteria, machinery control and engine rooms, sailors’ cabins, enclosed cable deck, bridge, and gun deck. The goal was to give our allies a brief introduction to the Harry DeWolf class and the capabilities the new ships will bring to the RCN in the coming years.“She has a lot of capabilities and potential and we’re looking forward to showing that off at ports in person,” SLt Cheng said.Similar videos were produced to introduce viewers to Toronto and Calgary.Canada’s navy has a history of sending ships to take part in San Francisco’s Fleet Week, which has been held annually most years since 1981. Most recently, HMCS Vancouver was present for the 2018 edition, while HMCS Winnipeg took part in 2017.RAdm Bette Bolivar, USN Region Southwest Commander, thanked the Canadian ships for taking part in the event, and said she looked forward to having Canadian allies working alongside her people in person in the near future.“There’s fun and celebration, but Fleet Week is also about forming and maintaining partnerships, and this is a wonderful example of that.”––––

[caption id="attachment_24689" align="aligncenter" width="594"] HMCS Windsor was taken out of the submarine shed at D294 and lowered into Halifax Harbour on Aug. 7.[/caption]Ryan MelansonTrident Newspaper––Excitement is building among HMCS Windsor personnel as the submarine wraps up the last phase of its Transitional Docking Work Period (TDWP) and gets set to sail for the first time since 2018.“The closer we get to it, the more and more excited my crew and I are becoming. Being alongside isn’t ideal for any sailor, so we’re all chomping at the bit to get back to sea,” said LCdr Drew Matheson, Windsor’s Commanding Officer.Windsor entered the submarine shed at HMC Dockyard  in Halifax in October 2018 to begin its Transitional Docking Work Period (TDWP), undergoing deep maintenance work along with modernization upgrades over the last two years.The TWDP’s purpose is to set the Victoria-class sub on its new operational cycle, which is planned to be nine years of service followed by three years of maintenance, a change from the previous six year/two year cycle. In order for that to happen, Windsor was required to go “back up on the blocks,” as LCdr Matheson describes it.The two-pronged TDWP approach involved work on key pieces of maintenance to fix up the wear and tear from a busy sailing period from 2014 to 2018. That period saw Windsor deployed to Europe multiple times, with participation in exercises Joint Warrior and Trident Juncture. The sub also spent more than three months operating in the Mediterranean in 2018, a first for the Victoria-class fleet.On top of the maintenance and repairs, the boat also underwent capability upgrades, receiving the new state-of-the-art BQQ-10 sonar, as well as an overhaul to its weapons systems. Windsor will now be armed with the Mk 48 MOD 7AT torpedo, an upgrade from the previous Mk 48...

[caption id="attachment_24686" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Left to right back row: MCpl Erin Crawford, S1 Sarah Kopala, Pte Ashley Smith, S1 Natacha Gilbert, MS Amver Cinco, S1 Valerie LeClair, S3 Amanda Harding, S1 Kayleigh Ferris, S1 Marjorie Gauvin, MS Cherish Halbert, and Cpl Jennifer Rose. Left to right front row: S1 Amy Tucker, S1 Tammy Hudak, MS Sabrina Wyns, S2 Drew Phelps, S2 Hyang Mi Bae, S2 Frances Espinoza, MS Karoline Rajotte, and S3 Lorraine Cléroux.[/caption]Captain Chelsea DubeauHMCS Winnipeg––It’s Sunday, Oct. 4, day 63 of HMCS Winnipeg’s deployment. A really exciting thing is planned for the afternoon - a replenishment at sea (RAS).But not just any RAS, which is usually driven by the ship’s Commanding Officer, Commander Mike Stefanson. Today, Lieutenant Commander Amber Comisso, the ship’s Executive Officer, is driving the evolution. Many years ago, a female Executive Officer would have been unthinkable. But in today’s navy, Winnipeg has an inventory of female leaders. The key positions held by the women on board are the Navigating Officer, Operations Officer, Operations Room Officer, and Above Water Warfare Officer. Winnipeg also boasts six female Non-Commissioned Officers, who are formidable in their presence amongst the Chiefs and Petty Officers. Plus, there are so many female non-commissioned junior rank members they had to be moved to a larger mess given the high numbers on board. Each of them fill critical, mission-essential roles on the warship. They are operators and naval communicators; supply, marine, medical, and imagery technicians; administrators, aircrew, cooks, and stewards.So why mention them at all? October is Women’s History Month.“It is important to celebrate women’s achievements so our grandmothers, who did not have the same opportunities, can see how far we’ve come,” says Lt(N) Kass O’Rourke, Above Water Warfare Officer. “It is a celebration of the opportunities we have seized and continue to fight...

Did you know that every year, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Department of National Defence (DND) supports Veterans’ Week activities with the National Veterans Week Speakers Program? It won’t come as a surprise that, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program will be different this year. Instead of the typical in-person events, members of the CAF will share their stories of Remembrance in a series of videos geared to various audiences and age levels, which schools, companies, and organizations can screen as part of their Veterans Week activities.If you would like to incorporate these videos in your Remembrance Day activities – or even if you’d just like to watch them yourself – please submit a request through the National Veterans Week Speakers Program website at http://Canada.ca/caf-veterans-week-speakers. Videos are available now and will also be posted the week prior to Veterans Week on social media channels, including Facebook (Canadian Armed Forces) and Twitter (@CanadianForces). Questions about our program should be directed to the Maritime Forces Pacific local coordinator CPO2 Brayden Wise, brayden.wise@forces.gc.ca. Veterans Affairs Canada also offers an array of free, bilingual learning resources available in electronic and print formats to help Canadians remember the importance of honouring Canada’s veterans. Materials can be ordered directly at www. veterans.gc.ca/educators––––

[caption id="attachment_24673" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Military members past and present, following health and safety protocols, gathered at the B.C. Aviation Museum for a ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary of first trans-Canada flight. Photo by CFB Esquimalt Base Public Affairs[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––A small ceremony at Victoria International Airport on Oct. 21 marked a monumental moment in Canadian aviation history. The commemorative event at the B.C. Aviation Museum was the final event celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first trans-Canada flight. The historical flight involved a group of military aviators completing a 10-day journey through relays from Dartmouth, N.S., to Vancouver, B.C., making multiple planned and unplanned stops along the way. Retired navy Captain Kevin Carlé helped organize the commemorative ceremony in Victoria. Due to COVID-19 physical distancing measures, the event could only involve 25 military personnel, veterans, and museum staff. Those attending the ceremony included Capt(N) Sam Sader, Base Commander, and military personnel from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron.“Hosting this event was a great opportunity to pay tribute to this fantastic but relatively unknown historic event,” said Carlé. “Communication and transportation helped build this country and the whole purpose of this flight was to convince people, especially politicians of the day of the importance of the robust aviation capability of Canada.”Their JourneyThe first legs of the flight used seaplanes and flying boats donated by the British Air Ministry and took off from the Canadian Air Board Station (present day 12 Wing Shearwater) on Oct. 7, 1920, at 8 a.m. The final legs of the journey from Winnipeg to the West Coast commenced in the early morning hours of Oct. 11 and involved the relay of three DeHavilland DH 9A single engine biplanes. After taking off from Calgary on Oct. 13 and crossing the Rocky Mountains, the flight crew touched down at Minoru...

2Lt Jamie Boparai Base Administration––Gail Whitcroft isn’t just your first point of contact at the Base Personnel Selection Office (BPSO). As the Administrative Assistant to the unit, she is the one that ensures your file ends up in the right hands. One example that showcases her dedication to the military member was during active posting season 2019. A military member was being posted to CFB Trenton and had applied for the Special Commissioning Plan. Whitcroft arranged for an immediate interview so his file would be complete before departure. Despite the member’s posting and subsequent application file transfer to Trenton, she remained the member’s point of contact. There was a significant amount of administration involved as the member required a medical waiver approval before selection. “My favourite part of my job is interacting with members and seeing them be successful. I really enjoy when they return to tell me they succeeded in reaching their goals,” she says. Her connection to the navy runs deep, even though she was never a member herself. “My husband worked for DND for 36 years at Base Construction Engineering, now called Real Property Operations. He was a carpenter by trade and worked in every building on the base.” Whitcroft was also employed with DND 10 years ago in a casual position before joining Service Canada. She spent eight years as the Program Service and Delivery Clerk, specializing in finance and accounting. Currently, for the last two years, she has been working at the BPSO and is the only civilian employee.“The biggest challenge in working with service members is the constant turnover. When new staff arrive they often have their own expectations on how things should be run. You have to be prepared for constant change in my position and just roll with it. This year my...

[caption id="attachment_24658" align="aligncenter" width="596"] A member from HMCS Radisson hoists the Commordore’s Cup.[/caption]A/SLt Amélie BergeronUPAR HMCS Radisson––The Commodore’s Cup and the Sailor of the Year Trophy have been awarded to the same naval reserve division of the Royal Canadian Navy - HMCS Radisson.The Commodore’s Cup was introduced in 2016 to recognize the Naval Reserve Division that demonstrated the best overall performance and contributed most to the fulfillment of the Naval Reserve mission within the Royal Canadian Navy. Radisson won the 2019–2020 Commodore’s Cup for conducting extraordinary outreach in the Mauricie region of Quebec, for the support and participation in Operation Lentus 2019, for a strong promotion of physical fitness and mental health, and for the undeniable pride demonstrated by the ship’s company.“This year’s award goes to a young and dynamic ship’s company,” said Commodore Mike Hopper, Commander Naval Reserve. “The Mauricie region can be proud of its sailors, since their excellence shines through from coast to coast to coast.”Sailor of the YearSailor First Class (S1) Frédérique Poitras, Boatswain, was named Naval Reserve Sailor of the Year. This honour is awarded to the sailor who has demonstrated exceptional performance, as well as a number of outstanding personal and professional qualities.As soon as she joined HMCS Radisson in 2016, S1 Poitras stood out as a leader. Thanks to her dedication and charisma, she has created a lasting team synergy and promotes respect and dynamism among her peers. In summer 2019, when S1 Poitras was employed during a partnership with the Canadian Coast Guard, she responded to a search and rescue operation. Her expertise was essential to this rescue as she found an unconscious individual drifting on the St. Lawrence River. After recovering the individual, she performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation for 30 to 45 minutes, until the paramedics arrived. “As soon as Sailor First Class Poitras...

[caption id="attachment_24654" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Jamie Quinte of Transport Electrical Mechanical Engineering operates one of the department’s new Liebherr cranes. Photo by Chris Shipway[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––Operating a crane of any sort requires in-depth training followed by industry certifications. So, with the recent delivery of two mobile Liebherr 70-tonne cranes, and another one on its way, driver operators at Transport Electrical Mechanical Engineering (TEME) have to be schooled before getting behind the controls. Nine level 6 machine driver operators, who work with the Special Purpose Vehicles section at TEME, just completed the required two five-day training sessions delivered by an instructor from the German-based manufacturer Liebherr. They also received another four-day course for hook-tender certification that was delivered by an instructor from Big Foot Crane Academy located in Abbotsford, B.C. Next in line for training are 10 TEME employees who work as hook tenders on crane operations. The new cranes, which are attached to large trucks, will be used for loading and unloading heavy equipment and other materials on and off the trucks and out of warehouses, as well as loading ammunition on warships. “The training enables our workers to be fully prepared to handle new challenges of loading much heavier and cumbersome equipment required for delivery in the future fleet, including the RCN’s new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships,” said Chris Shipway, TEME Supervisor, Special Purpose Vehicles.The new cranes replace two older intermediate construction-style 35 and 40 tonne cranes that have reached the end of their lifecycle. The Liebherr Crane has a maximum load capacity of 70 tonnes and a 50-metre telescopic boom coupled with a range of reliable, modern technology. “Having a larger weight capacity and more manoeuvrability is a huge deal when you are lifting and moving a 5,000 or 6,000 pound item,” says Shipway. “It will enable our crews to reach the other side of a ship when it is alongside without spinning the ship around, improving our efficiency and readiness to support the fleet.” Two cranes will reside in...

[caption id="attachment_24647" align="aligncenter" width="594"] WO Fred Trainor, of Ottawa’s 764 Squadron, recently contributed his painting entitled ‘Shipwrecked’ to the Steel Spirit art project. Steel Spirit was founded by military wife and former paramedic Barbara Brown in 2017. Steel Spirit showcases the artwork of currently serving and former military members and first responders.[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer––Artist Fred Trainor says each brush stroke he applies to a canvass offers him a path to healing. The 58-year-old Ottawa Valley resident, and currently serving Warrant Officer, was deployed to war-torn Afghanistan in 2005 and again in 2007. Those deployments led to an operational stress injury that remains to this day. He has also dealt with the death of his father and two uncles from cancer, and overcame his own battle with cancer, losing a kidney in the fight. “Creating art is the only way I can really deal with my injury because I’m able to stay calm and it helps me focus.”He paints in a large, dome-shaped studio inside his Manotick home, which he calls his “private retreat.” Portraits, farms, landscapes ablaze with fall colours, and abandoned relics are all part of his repertoire, in both paint and pencil. He treats every day and every painting as a “God-given” gift. His latest work Shipwrecked speaks to that. “Shipwrecked depicts a trawler that has seen a lot of sea time and has been left on the shore to rust away. To me, it’s a metaphor for life. As you slowly get old, slow down, and then finally stop, you drift back into nature as part of God’s creation.” His sister and Bob Ross were the ones who sparked his creativity. At age 12, his sister gave him two instructionla art school books, which he still has, that showcased how to draw and paint. Further inspiration came after...

[caption id="attachment_24644" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Sailor Third Class Recruit Kofi Asumadu completes the low wire combat crawl obstacle during the Confidence Course as part of BMQ training on Oct. 5. Photo by S1 Victoria Ioganov, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Anna MuseliusNPTG––Naval Personnel and Training Group (NPTG) planners, Training Development Centres, Fleet Schools, and instructors on both coasts have been busy this fall conducting Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) courses to Regular Force naval recruits. The goal is to safely train the navy’s newest sailors through a COVID-19 persistent environment. BMQs are normally run through the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec. However, in order to increase the Armed Forces, meet the personnel requirements of the Fleet, and ease the pressure on the Leadership and Recruit School who also train Army and Air Force personnel, a de-centralized BMQs was developed. It is an innovative measure to mitigate risk while delivering Regular Force BMQ serials for the navy in a safe, carefully planned, deliberate manner abiding by directed protective health measures. Planning for de-centralized BMQs started almost immediately after the initial operational pause began in March in anticipation of an eventual order to resume training. That order was issued in June by the Chief of Defence Staff and then by Vice-Admiral Art McDonald, Commander Royal Canadian Navy. Once the warning order was received, and regional pre-conditions were deemed to have been met on both coasts, de-centralized BMQ serials began within 30 days following a green light from Capt(N) Jason Boyd, Commander NPTG.Upon arrival at each base, recruits were screened for symptoms of the COVID-19, and for the first 14 days a maximum of four cohorts of 10 candidates were confined to the base and closely monitored as part of an initial isolation period to mitigate risk and prevent the possible spread of...