News

[caption id="attachment_23915" align="alignnone" width="591"] Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Currie at work.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~When COVID-19 travel restrictions ease this summer, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Currie and his family will pack up their Washington, D.C., home and head northwest to Victoria. He will leave behind his CF Health Services Attaché Canadian Defence Liaison Staff (Washington) post to support CF Health Services Centre (Pacific) as Pacific Regional Surgeon.Servicing the medical needs of military members is serious business, but LCol Currie’s got a remedy to add smiles and chuckles. He’s a skilled cartoonist that tackles current day world issues such as pollution and COVID-19 with a comedic edge. “I was always an incorrigible doodler and I still am today,” he says. Skewed is his cartoon series, once hand drawn in ink, but nowadays drawn digitally. “I am of the opinion that we slowly start to lose our imagination as adults. But I never stopped drawing, even throughout my military career, and still get the same enjoyment out of it as I did when I was younger.”His path to a military career is far different than most in his profession. He was born and raised in Imperial, Saskatchewan - population 360. Intelligence and quick wit helped him graduate at the head of the class at the age of 17. He surprised everyone when he rejected university and opted to train in Phoenix, Arizona, for a career as a motorcycle mechanic. “I literally gob-smacked everyone when I decided not to go to university,” he said. “I was good at taking apart clutches and fixing machines, in a round-about way it’s related to medicine – diagnosis and treatment - and I believe the work ethic I learned as a mechanic helped me later in life.”In 1989, he enrolled in Pre-Med at the University of Regina. Three years later, he enrolled in...

[caption id="attachment_23911" align="alignnone" width="591"] CPO1 Tina Steeves with husband CPO1 David Steeves.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~CPO1 Tina Steeves was duped last week. Her Commanding Officer, Major Giuseppe Ramacieri, informed her they were going to conduct a surprise promotion for the unit’s Administration Officer that morning. As the Unit Chief, her presence is required at all of these events.When she got to the venue, the foyer of the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre (CFRC) in Ottawa, she saw her husband and knew something was up. A spark of hope interrupted her thoughts; could it be her promotion?Then CPO1 David Steeves stepped forward with CPO1 slip ons in hand.“I was in complete shock when I realized my husband was going to promote me.”Her husband was thrilled to spring the surprise on his wife.“It was an emotional honour to be able to personally promote my wife,” he said. “Although it isn’t the first time this has happened, it was still an extreme privilege and pretty darn neat to see the two CPO1 Steeves side-by-side on the DWAN [Defence email list].”Husband Steeves serves as the Royal Canadian Navy Chief Petty Officer; wife Steeves is the Recruiting Chief for Northern and Eastern Ontario. They have both reached the pinnacle rank in the non-commissioned officer rank system. CPO1 David Steeves has spent 31 years in the navy, and CPO1 Tina Steeves has accumulated 28 years thus far. In six weeks, she will start a new posting, Commander Navy Comptroller, Divisional Chief Petty Officer First Class. She says achieving the rank of CPO1 is a rarity that only one percent of those in the military ever attain and she is truly honoured to wear the rank.“Achieving this is something I could never have imagined when I was a young reservist and is one of the proudest moments of my...

[caption id="attachment_23901" align="alignnone" width="591"] Commander Jason Barbagallo (middle), Base Administration Executive Officer, with his wife Chantal, is promoted to his current rank by Capt (Navy) Sam Sader, Base Commander, on June 16, 2020. Photo by LS Kendric C.W. Grasby, MARPAC Imaging Services.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~It’s that time again, posting season, when military members are moved to new positions to gain experience, flex their skills, and make a difference in their unit. That change of leadership will touch down at Base Administration July 16 when Commander Cory Foreman vacates the position, and Cdr Jason Barbagallo slides into the chair. Before taking the job, he required a promotion to the rank of Commander, which took place last week. In a Spiderman-like move to avoid close contact, a firefighter dangled from a flagpole to deliver the new shoulder boards to Cdr Barbagallo’s wife Chantal, who then assisted Base Commander, Capt(N) Sam Sader in the promotion. The unusual ceremony was in keeping with the fun, unique ways bases across Canada are handling COVID-19-era physical distancing promotions. The physical move to the new position will be a short one – two steps across the hall, as Cdr Barbagallo is currently the Executive Officer of the branch. “It’s rather remarkable and unique to have an executive officer get promoted and stay within the same organization instead of being moved to a new location,” said Cdr Barbagallo. “My situation differs greatly from most incoming commanding officers because I am familiar with the workings of the unit itself and most importantly its people. I think it is rather advantageous to change positions while staying in the  same organization.”The 44-year-old was born and raised in Montreal. His military career began in 1996 serving nine years in the army reserves before transferring to the Regular Force in 2005. He has...

[caption id="attachment_23876" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Sailors from HMCS Halifax spruced up the Bonaventure Anchor Memorial at Point Pleasant Park in Halifax on May 28, sweeping, scrubbing and painting the memorial.[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~Members of HMCS Halifax haven’t spent much time on board their ship in recent months, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been taking it easy. The team has kept in touch and worked virtually as they prepare for their upcoming summer program. Recently they helped clean the area around the HMCS Bonaventure Anchor Memorial in Point Pleasant Park.A group of sailors, including Commanding Officer Cdr Chris Rochon, headed to the park on May 28 to freshen up the memorial, which honours Royal Canadian Navy members who died during peacetime while carrying out their duties at sea. As part of an agreement with the city, Halifax typically conducts spring and fall cleanups at the site, and sends personnel to tidy the area at various times through the year as required.“We brought our rakes and brooms and scrub brushes and we got to work,” said LS Doug Williams. Sailors raked and swept around the memorial, scrubbed the plaques that list the names of the fallen, and touched up the anchor itself with fresh paint.“This is a monument to some of our predecessors in the navy; people who went out and did the deed way before we did, and people who sacrificed their lives doing that. I think of them as heroes, people who stepped up and answered the call to serve, so it’s important to remember them and this is one way we can do that,” he said. Cdr Rochon was impressed to see his sailors take the task to heart and demonstrate an understanding of the significance of the memorial to the families, friends, and former colleagues of the fallen, as...

[caption id="attachment_23873" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Commodore Richard Feltham, Commander Canadian Fleet Atlantic, presides over the Fleet Chief Change of Appointment ceremony on June 5. From left, outgoing Fleet Chief CPO1 Tom Lizotte, Cmdre Feltham, and incoming Chief CPO1 Darcy Burd. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~While he may be new to Atlantic Fleet headquarters, CPO1 Darcy Burd won’t be among strangers as he assumes the role of Fleet Chief. He and Cmdre Richard Feltham have served together on HMC Ships Skeena, Preserver, Charlottetown, and Toronto, and now they’ll be working together again as they prepare to lead Canadian Fleet Atlantic through a pivotal moment.“I can’t tell you how excited I am to assume the duties and responsibilities of Fleet Chief Atlantic,” CPO1 Burd said during a ceremony held at HMC Dockyard on June 5. While the Change of Appointment took place in person, the crowd was limited to key personnel and family members, and attendees remained physically distanced from each other. CPO1 Burd thanked his wife Vicky and his children for the support that allowed him to reach this career highlight, noting he’s been posted to 13 different units in 13 years, with plenty of moves and other disruptions along the way.He said he was excited to be returning to the Fleet and working alongside an old friend. With the ongoing efforts to maintain readiness levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also preparing for the first of the Royal Canadian Navy’s future fleet of ships to be received later this year, he noted that unique challenges likely lie ahead. Cmdre Feltham expressed confidence that his new Chief will be the right person to handle those challenges.“It’s wonderful to see such dedicated work and professionalism over the years culminate in this very important appointment for Chief Burd. We will...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A Belmont Park resident is distributing friendship bracelet kits to children in the community to help ease their isolation from physical distancing.Lt(N) Melanie Weaver, a military mother and service spouse who works at CFB Esquimalt, resides in one of the Belmont Park neighbourhood’s Residential Housing Units. She began delivering the first 70 kits with friend and fellow resident, CPO2 Lyne Edmondson, a few weeks ago to the mailbox of area families who requested them.Operation ‘Send-A-Hug’, as she calls it, is a care package with a half dozen skeins of embroidery floss, a safety pin, cardstock paper, and a colourful envelope with paid postage. Children can make a bracelet for themselves and a matching one for a friend, and then mail it to them with a note in the postage-paid envelop. The process of making a friendship bracelet requires some parental guidance for younger children and involves braiding and knotting the embroidery floss.“This is all about building community, connecting military families, and spreading happiness,” said Lt(N) Weaver. “Parents seem very excited to do crafts with their kids, and for older children it gives parents a few moments of peace and quiet with their kids being occupied.” Materials were ordered online from local craft shops with curbside delivery. “It was an insignificant cost compared to all the smiles this will create; the bang for the buck is priceless,” she said.The idea was born after thumbing through a summer camp scrap book with her three-year-old son. The scrapbook contained pictures of Lt(N) Weaver when she was 12 years old. One photo caught the youngster’s eye.“My son looked up at me and asked what we were doing,” she said. She and her friends were making friendship bracelets. “Days later I was reading up on changes to children’s summer recreation programs and...

[caption id="attachment_23867" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Cheerleader Jayna Flammand (left) and Pacific Cheer Empire owner and head coach Shannon Samson display Jayna’s bronze medal banner. Flammand is the eight-year-old daughter of Cpl Kevin Flammand. She won the banner for her individual performance at the Feel The Power West Coast Championship in Vancouver, March 7, 2020. The Colwood-based sports club has several military family members and is currently looking to grow its membership. Photo by Sylvie Blais, Pacific Cheer Empire[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Pacific Cheer Empire cheerleading club has scored some impressive results in recent competitions as it continues to grow in popularity, especially in the military community. Since opening at Colwood’s Wale Road location in 2016, the membership base of youth to adult-aged women and men has almost tripled.The club has also found competitive success. In 2018, a senior level team placed third in their division at the UCA International Championships at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, earning them a bid invitation to compete at the U.S Finals in Las Vegas two months later. That success has come under the guidance of head coach and owner Shannon Samson. Samson, 32, has been involved in dance and cheerleading since early childhood and is a past winner of the 2012 Canadian Cheerleading Coach of the Year Award, which she earned during the Cheer Expo national cheerleading competition in Halifax. Samson moved to Victoria from her native Cape Breton in 2012 when a family member was posted to CFB Esquimalt. Samson also owns a gym in Nova Scotia and she was surprised to learn there were no cheerleading clubs in Victoria at the time, so she decided to fill that void and create her own club. “I knew military members and many people from other parts of the country get...

Ashley Evans, FMF CB ~Three banners have been created for future display at Naden’s Wurtele Arena to honour three defence community members passionate about hockey who passed away. Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMF CB) Shops 122, 123, and 124a created the banners in the memory of Joe Lescene, who had worked in the FMF CB woodshop (122) while winding down his navy career, Rob Sneath, and Keith (Butch) Cowden. All three were CAF/DND hockey players who contributed greatly to team successes and national championships.The idea for these banners came following a tribute hockey game for Joe Lescene. Kelsey Khol, Shop Steward Shop 123, and Matt Hood, Shop Steward Shop 122, spearheaded this event after wanting to do something special for Lescene’s family. Kevin Zalba, manager of the Wurtele Arena,  became involved after helping host the tribute game, where he recognized an opportunity to also honour the memory of the other two men.“I am extremely passionate about this project,” said Zalba. “They were major contributors to our hockey community and some of the nicest guys on the planet.” When Rob Sneath passed away four years ago; he left a legacy of 30 national championships as the most highly decorated military hockey member in recent history. Keith (Butch) Cowden held a 30-plus year hockey career, and is remembered as a prolific goaltender and revered competitor. While Sneath and Cowden played for the Tritons, Lescene played for the Angry Beavers and the FMF Outlaws. Not just a meaningful tribute, the banners were also a training opportunity that gave employees a chance to increase their skills and creativity.“The banners have been a collaborative effort of years of design, and different members of Shop 123 adding their own artistic flair,” said Khol. “I was lucky enough to be included in this project, and during my...

[caption id="attachment_23859" align="aligncenter" width="514"] Jeremy ChowAugust 12, 1977 to May 30, 2020[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A dockyard worker and father of two lost his battle with leukemia last week.Jeremy Chow, a 42-year-old shipwright joiner from Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Breton was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in November 2018. On May 30, with his wife Evelyn Chow by his side, Jeremy lost his battle to the disease. Chow leaves behind his wife and two children, Jayla, 9, and Maile, 11. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to raise funds for Chow’s daughters with 100 percent of the donations being set aside for their education and well-being. The campaign is being run through a Match4Jeremy Facebook Page. “Jeremy will be missed dearly,” says a recent post. “He has touched the lives of so many people. He was often a source of strength and inspiration for those around him. Blessed with a quick wit and infectious laugh, he was easy-going, stoic, fair and selfless.”His more than 17-month-long battle to find a potentially life-saving stem cell donation was unsuccessful and complicated by the fact he was of mixed race. He was not able to find a donor match through national and world-wide registries. Positive stem cell matches are determined through inherited ancestral issue types and other genetic markers.The Chow family encourages those unable to make a donation to consider registering to become a stem cell donor at a local blood bank. Those wishing to contribute financial support to the family are asked to visit the GoFundMe account: https://www.gofundme.com/f/wwwgofundmecomhelpjeremysfamily––––

[caption id="attachment_23854" align="aligncenter" width="593"] The Ultra Lightweight Surface Supply Diving System includes lightweight carbon fiber reserve and regulator tanks, a more portable surface supply system, and a much smaller umbilical cord - the long yellow hose that supplies divers with an unlimited supply of high pressure breathing gas, along with an enhanced communication system. During the training, divers will also wear the Kirby Morgan Super light 17 breathing helmet. Photo: FDU(P)[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Members of Fleet Diving Unit Pacific (FDU(P)) are set to resume exercises for Clearance Diver and Clearance Diving Officer students next weekend. The Colwood-based unit of Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) will host its first clearance diver training exercise since physical distancing orders were implemented in March surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The Surface Supplied Breathing Apparatus (SSBA) training exercise will take approximately three weeks to complete. On the roster are 10 students from across Canada. They are currently in the midst of a 12-month-long certification process to complete their initial and Director Level Training.Lt(N) Daniel Hawryluk, FDU(P) Director Diving Safety, says clearance diving is a completely new skill set for them. The training is intensive, complex, and difficult to re-start under COVID-19 protocols. “There are unique challenges that we as divers face when attempting to comply with social distancing in our job, and so putting together a plan to return to training was no small task and will likely require some adjustments as we put it into action,” he said. “These are unprecedented times and we have to be adaptable, but in the end we will find a way to get the job done, we always do.” As required by CAF COVID-19 health and safety regulations, visiting trainees will self-quarantine for 14 days. They will be tested for the virus on a regular basis before they gather for their...

[caption id="attachment_23846" align="aligncenter" width="593"] LS Myles Hunter, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Detachment Commander, holds one of the Royal Canadian Navy’s new Puma unmanned aircraft as LS Meghan Heal helps him conduct pre-flight checks on the sweep deck of HMCS Whitehorse. Photo by Corporal Nathan Moulton, Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Technician[/caption]Navy Public Affairs ~Leading Seaman (LS) Myles Hunter joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) as a radar technician because he wanted to work with cutting edge technology. Little did he know his choice and passion would bring him to the frontier of naval innovation as one of the fleet’s first Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operators.The navy has only been using unmanned aircraft (UA) for about two years and much of that time has been spent testing and observing its capabilities, said LS Hunter.The navy is currently using Puma-model drones, which are 1.5 metres long, ghost grey and model plane-like in appearance. The Puma can be hand-launched by operators off a ship deck and then retrieved by scooping them out of the water.LS Hunter said that the unmanned aircraft were used to scout and locate potential drug smuggling ships by HMCS Goose Bay in 2019 and more recently on HMCS Whitehorse on Operation Caribbe. When out on patrols they used Pumas to sweep an extended area around the ship, helping it stay below the horizon line and out of the line of sight of suspicious ships.During these ‘creeping line searches’, the Puma’s altitude extends the ship’s field of view, and it can cover a 176-square-kilometre area in just two hours, said LS Hunter.Working with intelligence often gathered from U.S. Coast Guard partners, a ship’s command team can use the unmanned aircraft to observe details of other ships — for example how much fuel or how many passengers or engines another ship is carrying...

[caption id="attachment_23842" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Lt(N) Kevin Okihiro with a bomb disposal robot.[/caption]Navy Public Affairs ~Lt(N) Kevin Okihiro knew he would have to disarm nearly a dozen incendiary improvised explosive devices when he arrived at the small Cornish village of Upton Cross in South West England.The moment seemed surreal and unfolded like his training, but it was not a drill.The landlord of a car mechanic garage had come upon firebombs on the morning of Aug. 26, 2019.“When we got the call I was on duty,” said Lt(N) Okihiro. “We are held at 10 minutes’ notice to move, so we have to respond quickly.”The Royal Canadian Navy clearance diving officer has been posted to the United Kingdom (UK) on a three-year exchange with the Royal Navy Fleet Diving Squadron. The posting is to help him gain experience while acting as the No. 1 Improvised Explosive Device Disposal Operator and bomb disposal team leader on domestic operational taskings in support of UK Civil Authorities.Over the past year in the UK, Lt(N) Okihiro has responded to 45 calls, but most were historic bombs and mines from the First and Second World Wars. None had been like this, with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) purposefully placed under cars around a car mechanic’s garage.“When I arrived the police, the fire service, and crime scene investigators were already on scene awaiting my team's arrival.”After everyone in the affected area had been evacuated and the area was blocked off, Lt(N) Okihiro spoke with the on-scene incident commander to get a better idea of what type of IEDs they had found.Then, with his fireproof protective equipment on, he approached the first car.“They were under cars and they were armed incendiary bombs. So, if I made a wrong a movement or was too aggressive there was a chance that I could...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~An old trunk belonging to a deceased navy chief who served during the Battle of Atlantic and in the Cold War era has been donated to the base.The contents give a glimpse of a bygone era chronicled through an old uniform and hand-written notes by Chief Petty Officer First Class Edward ‘Dick’ James, who was born in the Shetland Islands in 1923 and served the Royal Canadian Navy from 1940 to 1961. His name and military identification number, 3881-E, are stencilled on the navy blue trunk, travel worn with dings and pockmarks.“It is not only the contents inside the trunk, but this giant and cumbersome steamer trunk is itself an artefact of how people got around way back when,” said Rick James, son of Chief James and donor of the trunk.   Following the death of his father in 1990, the family took possession of the trunk and overtime reviewed the contents. James has kept a ship’s bell with a small anchor attached and shell casings from bullets his father fired on artillery ranges. But he was compelled to donate the trunk to the base because of its historical value.“One of the most destructive elements is leaving important stuff that you think is unimportant for only your own immediate family to enjoy. I constantly hear stories about families of mariners throwing out items including journals and notebooks. No, no, if you think it might be important, get it to a museum.”The trunk’s ownerDick James became an Ordinary Seaman in March 1941 and was first assigned to CFB Esquimalt-based armed yacht HMCS Cougar and later minesweeper HMCS Outarde, where he became Coxswain. In 1943, he joined the crew of River-Class frigate HMCS Beacon Hill, which would become part of an all-Canadian convoy Escort Group based out of Londonderry, Northern Ireland.After the war, he served in C-Class destroyer HMCS Crescent, which was sent to China in 1949 to safeguard Canadian interests during the Chinese Civil War. It was the first...

[caption id="attachment_23830" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Celest Nygaard, Personnel Support Programs Travel Supervisor deployed as part of Operation Impact, assists a member at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, on May 11. Operation Impact is Canada’s training mission in the Middle East. Photo by Cpl Nicolas Alonso, Op Impact[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~If you’re a Canadian citizen yearning for travel and a taste of military life, there are Personnel Support Program (PSP) deployment opportunities available.   The PSP Deployment Support team is currently searching for candidates to fill positions at overseas Canadian military locations and at sea in warships.Over the year, they deploy about 60 non-public fund staff in morale and welfare support roles. Twenty staff are already on the ground at two locations: Kuwait for Operation Impact, and Latvia in support of Operation Reassurance. Deployment contracts are typically six months. Jobs are available in fitness, sports and recreation, retail, travel services, financial services, barber and morale and welfare managers. Salaries are based on a deployment support pay grid and may include operational allowances if applicable in deployed locations. Celest Nygaard, a deployed PSP employee from Trenton, Ontario, has worked on contracts as a travel agent several times since applying to the organization in 2008.  She has taken 10 overseas postings throughout the Middle East and Europe. She is currently working at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait in support of Canadian troops deployed on Operation Impact. “My first deployment was to Kandahar in 2008; it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for adventure,” she said. “I also wanted to do something that had more meaning than just working in tourism. Serving the military has been very rewarding.”Deployment Support Manager, Maj (Retired) Dan Morrison, works at Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare  Services (CFMWS) Headquarters in Ottawa where the program is coordinated, building a roster of...

[caption id="attachment_23825" align="aligncenter" width="594"] CFB Esquimalt Base Commander, Capt(N) Sam Sader participates in the Navy League Cadet Corps Annual Ceremonial Review.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Members of Victoria’s Navy League Cadet Corps (NLCC) were reunited for the first time in months at their Annual Ceremonial Review, but not in person. Thirty-six of the youth program’s 43 cadets, ages nine to 12, logged into their ceremony on the morning of May 31 via Zoom. Capt(N) Sam Sader, Base Commander, was the Honoured Guest at the virtual review. He was joined by Cdr(NL) Chris Willis, NLCC Vancouver Island Division Commander, with both men presenting awards and promotions during the ceremony.“Their dedication to staying connected through creative virtual means and representing the Navy League was evident throughout,” said Capt(N) Sader. “I was honoured to review a group of cadets and corps leadership who demonstrate such strong professionalism in the face of challenges. Bravo Zulu!”During normal times, the annual event is held at Work Point’s HMCS Venture building, but the cadets were ordered to stand down in early March due to the required physical distancing measures.Capt(N) Sader said that despite the COVID-19 disruption, he was greatly impressed by the level of “dress, discipline and drive” displayed by the cadets virtually.Award winner highlights include: NLCC Coxswain, CPO1 Caleb Bourgeois who received the HMCS Malahat Cadet of the Year Award and the Medal of Excellence of his division. Fellow cadet, PO1 Isaiah Hammuda was recognized with the Don and Jean Bendall Citizenship Award for his exemplary fundraising efforts. This award recognizes the efforts of cadets who work outside of their normal duties and responsibilities within the unit.NL Cadet, PO2 George Donnelly was the recipient of the Officer’s Choice, Most Improved cadet award. PO2 Donnelly is 12 and will move on to the Royal Canadian Army Cadets next year. While noting it was an honour to be recognized with an award, he said it was also equally important to be reunited with the other cadets.“It was nice to see...

The Lookout is an award-winning weekly base newspaper. It is the main source of news for CFB Esquimalt’s military members, veterans, civilian employees, and their families. It has a weekly print distribution of 3,000, plus a considerable online reach. Email melissa.atkinson@forces.gc.ca or call 250-363-3372 to book an ad. See Advertise section for rate sheet.

[caption id="attachment_23804" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Three-year-old Oliver Forbes (foreground) and his sister, two-year-old Abigail Forbes get ready for some roundball action on the newly refurbished basketball court. Photo Credit Lt(N) Melanie Weaver[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A donation by a Langford Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart program was a game-changing final slam dunk for a neighbourhood improvement project in Belmont Park.A few residents decided to tackle cleaning up areas of the military housing community during the pandemic, including an abandoned play area located at the end of Belmont Park Road that had remnants of a basketball hoop and backboard. “I was out on a walk with my children on a nice sunny day in April and my three-year-old son pointed to the old, dilapidated backboard,” said Lt(N) Melanie Weaver. “We hadn’t noticed it before as the whole court was shrouded and covered in weeds and debris. We decided it needed some love and attention.”Following physical distancing protocol, residents, armed with brooms, pruning sheers, shovels, a pressure washer, and rakes, joined Lt(N) Weaver and her husband LCdr John Forbes in beautifying the area. Canadian Forces Housing Agency arranged for the disposal of the garbage and brush.A call to the Langford Canadian Tire resulted in a new hoop and backboard donation.“It feels great to come together on a project like this,” said Lt(N) Weaver. “With people being so isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic, we tried to build up a sense of community. Our dream couldn’t have been fully realized without the help and quick response of CFHA and Real Property Operations (RPOps) staff and Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart.”Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart is a non-profit that gives children access to sport and play through the funding of sports and activity programs.Mark Barsanti, Langford Canadian Tire store No. 366 owner, says his store takes great pleasure in helping out communities, and he...

[caption id="attachment_23800" align="aligncenter" width="592"] Leading Seaman Brittany Oliver traces patterns to be used in the creation of non-medical face coverings for Canadian Armed Forces members to wear in the wake of COVID-19. Photo by MCpl Carbe Orellana, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~To prepare military and civilian staff for a safe return to work, base units and ships are fabricating non-medical face coverings.A joint directive – DND/CAF COVID-19 Public Health Measures and Personal Protection – released by the Chief of the Defence Staff, Deputy Minister of Defence, and DND details guidelines for the wearing of face coverings in order to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious viruses. It states that face coverings will be worn by all Department of National Defence staff who cannot maintain the required two metres of physical distancing in the workplace. In order to minimize the risks of COVID-19 transmission within the DND workplace, the Deputy Minister and Chief of Defence Staff has authorized the procurement of materials for non-medical face coverings at a national level, says Cdr Katherine Kincaid,  logistics officer for Maritime Forces Pacific.“Globally, there is a shortage of disposable face coverings. Therefore, the production of cloth masks by our local units will allow Defence Team members authorized to report to work to meet the criteria of public health measures outlined in this joint directive,” said Cdr Kinkaid. Multiple teams at Maritime Forces Pacific and CFB Esquimalt are currently manufacturing them - Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMF CB), Naval Fleet School Pacific, and boatswains in HMC Ships Vancouver, Winnipeg and Ottawa have been assigned the task. Fabrication teams have received assembly instructions through an internal DND memo. Face coverings are to be conservative in nature and should not detract or discredit the military uniform. At CFB Esquimalt, most face coverings will be fabricated...

Peter Mallett Staff Writer ~A grim and largely unacknowledged anniversary came and went over the May 24 weekend, but a poet from Edmonton has penned a few lines to help us remember.Garth Ukrainetz, the Poet Laureate of the Blackmud Creek, wrote his poem Fourteen Hundred Men as a solemn tribute to Royal Navy vessel HMS Hood and its crew.On May 24, 1941, the massive Admiral-class battle cruiser came under attack from German battleship Bismarck in the Strait of Denmark. It sank in less than three minutes with all but three of the 1,418 sailors killed in the attack.The ‘Mighty Hood’ was launched in 1920 and for nearly two decades had been the largest warship in the world.Ukrainetz said he discovered the Hood story while researching other naval vessels for his Battle of the Atlantic poetry tribute. “I had heard about the sinking of the Hood but never realized that nearly the entire crew had died so quickly. I was shocked,” said Ukrainetz.During the shelling, the ship’s magazine exploded. The official investigation into the explosion could not determine whether the ammunition cache was struck by a German shell or by accident from one of Hood’s gun turrets as they returned fire. “I was struck by the fact that 1,415 brave men perished in a matter of minutes. One fluke shot from the Bismarck, which was 16 kilometres away, hit and sunk HMS Hood, the world’s largest battle cruiser, within three minutes,” said Ukrainetz. Ukrainetz, a former newspaper cartoonist, has been writing poetry most of his life. He lives beside the beautiful Blackmud Creek in Edmonton and operates a small picture framing shop in Leduc. With business slowing to a trickle due to physical distancing measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, he has more time to write poetry. He has always been interested...

[caption id="attachment_23784" align="aligncenter" width="593"] HMCS Ville de Québec sails under the Confederation Bridge between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island on May 17. Photo by MCpl Anthony Laviolette, CAF Imagery Technician[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~As one of two ready duty ships on the east coast, HMCS Ville de Québec has taken extreme measures to ensure its ship’s company remains free of COVID-19, including a two-week hotel isolation period before heading to sea in mid-April.Keeping sailors physically healthy is crucial to the ship maintaining its readiness, but with crew members separated from their loved ones during a difficult time, taking stock of the morale and mental health on board becomes increasingly important.“It’s certainly the biggest concern I have day to day, taking that temperature and trying to find new and innovative ways to eliminate those negative effects,” said Cdr Michael Eelhart, Ville de Québec’s commanding officer. Sailors are concerned about their family members and loved ones at home during the pandemic, some members personally knew victims of the shootings in the Portapique area, and all are coping with the tragic loss of their colleagues from HMCS Fredericton, as well as the news of the recent Snowbird crash.While those who required it were given time to grieve, Cdr Eelhart said sticking to routine and keeping up with normal business at sea can be therapeutic for the crew. Part of this has been the domestic presence operations the ship has been conducting over the past month, sailing to, and anchoring near a number of maritime communities, including the hometowns of many of their sailors. Ville de Québec toured through the Bay of Fundy and Minas Bay on the first leg, sailing near Portapique in the days following the tragedy, and proceeded to sail through the Northumberland Strait, making appearances off of Prince Edward Island,...

The Maritime Forces Pacific Activity Guide is a comprehensive booklet on all recreational, health, wellness and family programs available to the Defence community. It has a distribution of 3,000 copies per issue, and is produced three times a year. Email melissa.atkinson@forces.gc.ca or call 250-363-3372 to book an ad. See Advertise section for rate sheet.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Warrant Officer Frederic Daoust, 45, had no idea a big surprise was in the works during a recent video conference call.The acting Sergeant-Major at CFB Esquimalt’s Rocky Point Ammunition Depot was joined by members of three other ammunition depots and the command team from Canadian Materiel Support Group to discuss business on the morning of May 19.As the meeting neared its end, his wife Julie and their 15-year-old son William snuck into the home office in view of the laptop camera with his promotion epaulettes in hand.“As soon as they walked in the room, I knew something strange was going on, but I really wasn’t sure what,” he said. “Then my son walked up to me, and my commanding officer asked William to put the epaulette [flap] on my chest. At that point I realized this was the moment I had been waiting for.” Having his son do the honours added to the specialness of his promotion.“It came as a complete surprise and it was really great that it involved my family members,” said MWO Daoust. “It was easily the best promotion I’ve had and a super big deal for me to have the new rank, increased responsibility, and also an increase in pay.” LCdr Robin Sheffield, Commanding Officer of the Rocky Point Ammunition Depot, says MWO Daoust is fully deserving of his promotion and described him as a dependable “take-charge” and “hands-on” type of guy who is perfect for the position of Sergeant-Major. It took some engineering to pull off the promotion on a video conference call.“I think he knew something was going on when I told him to wear his uniform for the video conference,” said LCdr Sheffield. “It’s very hard to surprise someone in a video conference setting like this, so his wife and son...

CFMWS ~Due to the unique circumstances of military life, funds for pursuing post-secondary education are a significant barrier for many Canadian Armed Forces families. The National Scholarship Program works to remove some of those barriers. Last year, more than $72,000 was awarded to military family members through 42 scholarships, with winners selected from over 400 competitive applications.The 2020 National Scholarship Program is accepting applications from May 21 to Aug. 1. Scholarship recipients will be announced at the beginning of September. There are 50 scholarships available ranging from $500 to $2,500.EligibilityYou are a dependent (includes spouse) of a serving or former member of the Canadian Armed Forces;You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada; andYou are enrolled in an undergraduate program leading to a degree, diploma or certificate at an accredited Canadian college or university.  Post graduate and career college students are also welcome to apply.All 2020 scholarship applications must include the following: Proof of enrollment from an  academic institutionA three-part essay A reference letterMost recent academic transcriptA point form list of volunteer/civic engagement activitiesFor application details go to: www.supportourtroops.ca/Get-Support/Education/Scholarships––––

As part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to refocus existing innovation programs to support the fight against the spread of COVID-19, the Department of National Defence has announced the first of a series of calls for innovations aimed at addressing some key challenges Canada is facing. With an initial commitment of $15 million, the first three challenges focus on:Viable and effective processes and methods for safely and rapidly decontaminating enclosed work environments, such as buildings and modes of transportation, containing sensitive equipment;Innovative material and designs to aid in decontamination of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), operational clothing, and equipment for personnel responding to events involving biological hazards; andData gathering solutions to support the early detection and community-based monitoring of outbreaks of contagious diseases.These challenges were determined by multi-departmental panels led by the National Research Council of Canada as part of the COVID-19 Challenges Procurement Program. In addition to the call for innovation, these panels are engaging Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises to refine their near-to-market products to meet a COVID-19 related need. Promising solutions in the areas of PPE, sanitization, diagnostics and testing, therapeutics, and disease-tracking technology may receive funding to further their solutions of interest.This effort is a collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, and Health Canada and sees an additional investment of up to $10 million.Innovators are encouraged to consult the IDEaS program website (https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/defence-ideas.html) for more information on the challenges and how to apply to the program.  “These are unprecedented times. We need to leverage all great minds and innovators in our efforts to combat COVID-19,” said Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan. “We will invest in Canadians as we look for innovative solutions to keep not only the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces, but all Canadians safe.”–Quick...

[caption id="attachment_23765" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Mission Complete: Army and Navy Reservists line the jetty at Albert Head following the at-sea move from HMCS Malahat in downtown Victoria to the training area during Exercise Strong Mariner May 22.  Photo by Capt Jeff Manney, 39 CBG Public Affairs[/caption]Capt Jeff Manney, Public Affairs Officer, 39 Canadian Brigade Group ~In a first since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, Army and Navy Reservists of Land Task Force Vancouver Island combined forces May 22 for a critical proof-of-concept event.Exercise Strong Mariner saw HMCS Malahat’s two Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boats convey soldiers with the Task Force’s Domestic Response Company (DRC) on a choppy but exhilarating 30-minute crossing from Malahat’s downtown Victoria location to Albert Head. The marine-to-land movement aimed to explore the unique capabilities of the DRC’s naval component.“Across Vancouver Island there are literally thousands of islands with isolated populations that might require immediate assistance, but that could not be reached without our small boats,” said Lt(N) Stephen Holisko, commander of the DRC’s 4 Platoon. “This is what we’re good at – moving equipment, sustenance and people from point A to point B quickly, in a safe manner and with an economy of effort.”This was the first action Lt(N) Holisko’s sailors had seen since the Chief of the Defence Staff directed the Canadian Armed Forces to “stay home, stay healthy and stay fit”. The DRC’s Army Reservists had recently chalked up a pair of convoy exercises, Strong Drive I and II, but were just as excited to get out of the house again.“This is a great way to spend a day,” shouted Master Corporal Jesse Hunt through his improvised personal protective mask. “But it’s also a great experience. It’s rare enough we get to work with other trades let alone another element. This kind of face-to-face time is really beneficial.”Like...

[caption id="attachment_23761" align="aligncenter" width="593"] HMCS Nanaimo returned from Operation Laser May 22. Members of the crew received SPARKMOUTH drinks as they disembarked. Photo by Leading Seaman Valerie LeClair, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A British Columbia beverage company has come through with a substantial, thirst-quenching donation to CFB Esquimalt. Vancouver-based SPARKMOUTH Drinks Co. Ltd made good on a delivery of 57,600 355ml cans of its new sparkling water on May 20. The 2,400 cases of drinks were unloaded at base storage facilities Colwood 66 and Y702 and will be distributed to military and civilian staff working at integral and lodger units across the base. Jackie Fox, SPARKMOUTH Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, says the donation was her company’s way of letting the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces know they greatly appreciate the work they do. “Our company wanted to support and give thanks to those on the front lines that are supporting our community and keeping us safe in such a precarious time,” said Fox. “When we decided to earmark some of our product for donation, we immediately thought of the Canadian military. We hope it puts a small ‘spark’ into their day.”LCdr Colleen O’Brien, N44 Staff Officer, Supply Chain Management and Systems Readiness, said the drinks can be consumed by members in the workplace or taken home to their families. Units receiving shipments are Base Administration, Base Information Services, Base Logistics, Port Operations and Emergency Services Branch, Canadian Forces Health Services, Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, Military Police Unit Esquimalt, Regional Joint Operations Centre, and Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships. LCdr O’Brien says SPARKMOUTH’s generosity is a morale booster for those in the defence community who have provided essential services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and Operation Laser. The donation by SPARKMOUTH has an approximate cash value of $43,000. The company...

[caption id="attachment_23614" align="aligncenter" width="593"] LCol (Retired) Max Shaw, Maj (Retired) Elizabeth Brown-Shaw, and their children Victoria, Benjamin and Johnathan.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~What began as a casual discussion over a bottle of wine led to an epic seven-year sailing journey throughout the South Pacific islands. Back in 2011, as a fierce snowstorm raged outside their Halifax home, LCol Max Shaw and his wife Maj Elizabeth Brown-Shaw tossed around ideas for their future.  Both had 23-year careers in Canada’s military and were still enjoying those challenges and opportunities, but they realized it was time for new adventure, especially one they could share with their children.So, they plotted a non-traditional course. In 2012, they sold their home and bought an old 47-foot fibreglass hulled sailboat they named SV Fluenta. With their children, eight-year-old Victoria and six-year-old Johnathan aboard, they set off from Anacortes, Washington, for the South Pacific.Their first major destination was Mexico, where they spent 18 months near Puerto Vallarta and the Sea of Cortez refitting the boat - and eventually welcoming baby Benjamin. This extended stay enabled them to adjust to their new lifestyle before setting off for more-distant lands. They departed Mexico for French Polynesia when Benjamin was four months old.Two decades in the Canadian Armed Forces and Shaw’s leadership of the sail-training program in Halifax had helped prepare them for the adventure. However, the learning curve was still steep as they had to become DIY mechanics, plumbers, electricians, and riggers all while nurturing and educating their children in tight spaces and in a foreign countries. “Many times, the Lego characters were doing the same kinds of jobs as Mom and Dad, such as installing solar panels and 12V batteries!” said Shaw. Living aboard a boat wasn’t a vacation. They lived in close quarters, which sometimes brought about trying moments. “There...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~With this year’s freshwater fishing season opening up across the country, despite social distancing measures in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, a recreational fisherman from the base is in his kitchen making lures.LS Adam Leach has been fishing since age 12, casting a balsam spinning rod to catch pan fish off the dock at his family’s cottage. From that point, he developed a keen interest in fresh water fishing. As he got older, he moved from the dock to a 12-foot aluminum boat with a 4hp outboard motor looking to hook pike, walleye, musky, and smallmouth bass.Having a decent selection of rods, reels, and lures is essential to success, he says.“I have a large selection of equipment I use for different applicants.”Lures, he says, are an important part of a fisherman’s tackle box, and require practice and experience to use them well. Four years ago, after learning about the cottage industry of making lures in Sweden and Europe, he decided to make his own. His kitchen is his workshop. He designs lures by drawing them on graph paper and then augmenting details with a paint program on his laptop. The process of making a blank begins with the lure sculpted in polymer clay and then baked in the oven. It is then sanded and epoxy putty is applied to create more detail in the eyes, gill plates, mouth and fins. LS Leach then seals the blank with spray paint and uses this as his mold blank. He mixes a two-part mold making silicone, which acts as the negative for what will eventually be a lure made from soft pliable rubber. This is where his art takes off. Before pouring the molten plastic, he adds colorant, glitter, and mica powder to the liquid rubber to enhance the attractiveness...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Last week, PO2 Marielle Audet played her traditional Aboriginal drum at four locations on base to mark Indigenous Awareness Week. The yearly event to celebrate Canada’s Indigenous Peoples and their diversity of cultures, traditions, and values was recognized virtually this year due to COVID-19.The musician is of mixed background, Indigenous and French, and when not playing clarinet with the Naden Band, she serves on the Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group (DAAG).“I wanted to see members of the DAAG and the Naden Band come together and help the base celebrate Indigenous Awareness Week and with their help and support we achieved that,” said PO2 Audet.A second initiative was a video of band members and DAAG members performing a drum and singing solo Come Drum With Me from their home or other remote locations. Each person beat a segment of the song on one of the band’s 10 traditional Aboriginal drums. The drums were handmade in 2016 for the band’s Aboriginal drum group.“While most of us in the video are professional musicians, none of us are professional singers, so while our drumming is very good, our vocals are really far from pitch perfect, me included,” she said. They recorded their performances with their cameras or cell phones, and bandmate LS Laura Engsig put together the finished product.The members who made the director’s cut are PO2 Audet, LS Laura Andrew, LS Simeon Westeijn, PO2 Greg Sly, PO2 Roy Styffe, PO2 Steve Donegan, and DAAG member Sgt Nikki Ducharme.PO2 Audet wore a medicine pouch around her neck, an eagle feather, and two woollen braids to reflect her Métis heritage, while Sgt Ducharme, who is also Métis, wore a Métis sash and other traditional wear.The video can be viewed on the Naden Band Facebook page.––––

Lieutenant Chelsea Dubeau, HMCS Nanaimo Public Affairs Officer ~"Is the Doc in here?" asks a member of the ship's company as they poke their head into the wardroom. The Doc is in. Sub-Lieutenant (SLt) Nicole Spivey, HMCS Nanaimo's Physician Assistant, or Doc as she is known, waves the person in. Nanaimo's Doc is a former Medical Technician of 13 years who commissioned as a Physician Assistant in January 2020 after completing her training. The patient takes a seat while SLt Spivey does a quick examination of what ails: a bump to the head, but it's not too bad. A quick clean of the wound, a couple Band-Aids, and a few encouraging words and the patient is good to go. Today, it's a minor head wound; tomorrow, who can say. The medical needs of a ship's company can be vast, varied, and as complex as the human beings on board. The relationship that forms between individual members and the specialists on board who nurture their welfare is unlike any other, especially with the person who provides medical care. Physician Assistants see the usual bumps and scrapes, coughs and colds, headaches, bellyaches, and more; those normal ailments that come from working in tight, close quarters, with disrupted sleep schedules and the unique trials and tribulations that come with the territory in which the crew operates: a ship at sea. But they are prepared to treat, at least initially, more serious medical events that might occur, everything from urinary tract infections to cardiac events. Kingston-Class ships don't normally sail with a Physician Assistant on board unless on deployment or other demanding sails where they are required. The rest of the time it's the Casualty Clearing Team, led by the Chief Cook, that responds to the medical needs of the crew. SLt Spivey has been...