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[caption id="attachment_23578" align="aligncenter" width="593"] A platoon from Land Task Force Vancouver Island’s Domestic Response Company assemble at Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot Rocky Point before returning to base May 6. Photo by Capt Jeff Manney, LCC D/PAO[/caption]Capt Jeff Manney, Public Affairs Officer, 39 Canadian Brigade Group ~Making their first foray from their armouries since the start of the pandemic, B.C. Reservists took to Vancouver Island roads two weeks ago to continue honing their skills working in a COVID environment. On May 6, Exercise Strong Drive saw the Domestic Response Company (DRC) from Land Task Force – Vancouver Island dispatch a fleet of nine vehicles from Victoria’s Bay Street Armoury and another three from Nanaimo. Soldiers conducted convoy and communications training en route to Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot Rocky Point. Two days later, 17 DRC vehicles carrying troops from Comox, Nanaimo, and Victoria met up at the Nanaimo Military Camp before heading into the city’s environs for more training.“We are all Reservists; we care about our communities and Vancouver Island has a significant amount of land to cover,” says LCol Brendon LeBlanc, commanding officer of Land Task Force – Vancouver Island. “We want to be good at convoy ops so we can deliver assistance when called upon. That means having a task force that is flexible, well-trained, and prepared to handle any situation.” LCol LeBlanc’s Land Task Force is one of five across British Columbia answering to Land Component Command. It represents the army element of Joint Task Force (Pacific), which is mobilized to respond to requests for assistance from government on either the COVID front or for natural disasters such as wildfires or floods. While convoy driving and communications skills may be second nature to soldiers, correctly disinfecting vehicles, staying at least two metres from one another, and wearing masks when that’s...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Digital Navy initiative, rolled out in February, is being hailed by senior leadership as a multi-pronged approach to empower members of the naval team for the rapidly evolving digital age. The objective is to create a fundamental cultural shift that will enable the navy to innovate with more agility in the digital domain. In doing so, the RCN is seeking to ensure Canada continues to have a relevant, highly capable naval force in the years ahead. “We have entered a new era where naval activities are more dependent on actions taken in the digital domain than ever before,” said Vice-Admiral Art McDonald, Commander of the RCN. “From the business space to the battle space, the same digital technologies that are driving fundamental disruptive changes across the global economy are creating equally game-changing impacts throughout the naval enterprise. Increasingly, those organizations that find innovative ways to digitally empower their people will be the ones who secure for themselves future mission success. Your Royal Canadian Navy will be among this cohort.”Leading the change is Capt(N) Mark Sheppard, a Naval Engineer who heads the recently formed Digital Navy Office located in Ottawa. His job is to drive coherence and the many specific digital innovation initiatives that are underway across the RCN. The end result will be a needed acceleration of the navy’s digital evolution, he says. The navy, he adds, is taking a leadership role in the military’s digital drive building on its proud history of leveraging digital technologies in its warships.The Digital Navy initiative is being executed across the country. Execution has been organized along functional lines, meaning that teams in each area will have a role to play in moving the initiative forward. All elements of the naval enterprise, from the financial, business and human resource management functions, which underpin the back-end of business to ships that execute the RCN’s mandate at sea, will be engaged, says Capt(N) Sheppard.The Digital Navy initiative includes a...

Kevin M. Carlé, Broadmead Volunteer Golf Committee ~The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all in so many ways. As we continue to “plank the curve,” we really don’t know what the “new normal’ will be like.Many events have been cancelled or delayed, including the 17th Annual Charity Golf Tournament in support of the Broadmead Veterans Memorial Lodge. Originally scheduled to be held on June 4 at the famed Royal Colwood Golf Club, the organizing committee made the difficult decision to postpone the tournament until 2021. However, all is not lost, and the show will still go on.We will be “taking our mulligan” by holding a virtual Stay ‘N Play event.This live-streamed event will include messages from our sponsors, Broadmead Care’s CEO, and residents/family members; suggestions from a golf pro; live draws for the Diamond Raffle, 50/50 draw, and our grand prize of a $1,000 Capital Iron gift card – but you have to be online for the entire streaming event to be eligible for that one!Diamond Raffle tickets are available at https://www.broadmeadcare.com/diamond-raffle/About the tourneyFrom humble beginnings, this charity tournament to support military veterans has grown into a significant fundraising vehicle for Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead.Vice-Admiral (Retired) Nigel Brodeur, who, along with now deceased MGen (Retired) Herb Pitts, and veteran Jim Parker organized the first tournament at Cadboro Bay Golf Course in 2004.“We were pleased to have raised some $600 that year,” recalled Brodeur. Then, in 2005, the high value prize was $400 in gift certificates donated by Tom Martin, owner of Hillside Esso and a strong supporter of Broadmead.Over the years, the tournament has grown in the number of players, the amount raised annually, and the number of appealing prizes and silent auction items.“In addition to being an event for golfers, the annual tournament brought other folks into Broadmead Care,...

Ashley Evans, FMF CB ~Over the past seven weeks, employees in Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton’s Shop 124 Work Centres have been active supporting the navy, working all but two business days. This work has included supporting deployers HMC Ships Brandon, Regina, and Calgary; aiding preparations to move HMC Ships Ottawa and Vancouver over to Victoria Shipyard Ltd, and assistance to Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) with the transfer request of Ottawa’s C5 Sonar Dome on to Regina in Nanoose Bay. The first two week’s work was spent on the storing requirements of the deployed ships, and the last minute preparations to get Brandon, Calgary, and Regina to sea. In addition to ensuring all expired life rafts on future deployers were certified and changed out as required, FMF CB staff assisted and supported brow installs and removals, oftentimes on short notice and after hours. “Establishing and maintaining communication while working remotely is probably one of our biggest challenges, but we have a system in place that is working well to get the information to the people on the ground,” said Steve Ringma, Work Centre Manager, Shop 124.Similar to other management teams, Ringma and fellow managers meet virtually with supervisors weekly to discuss work priorities, safety concerns, and to provide updates. Additional check-in calls are then done daily, as priorities are constantly changing. Work on Ottawa and Vancouver was dynamic. Ottawa had major destoring requirements before being sent for its work period at the Esquimalt Graving Dock. Under tight timelines, with the assistance of TEME (Transportation, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering), crane crews helped ship staff remove approximately 250 pallets of stores and equipment.Vancouver has seen a prioritizing of crane support related to their docking dependent rudder work and hull insert requirements, but also to meet contractual requirements under waterfront management within the Ship...

[caption id="attachment_23538" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Commander Jason Bergen, Commanding Officer of HMCS Nanaimo, oversees a transit. Photo by Leading Seaman Brendan Gibson, MARPAC Imaging[/caption]Lieutenant Chelsea Dubeau, HMCS Nanaimo Public Affairs Officer ~It's a beautiful morning at sea. The water is calm. The bridge is quiet. Commander Jason Bergen, HMCS Nanaimo's Commanding Officer, sneaks up to the captain's chair and goes, for the moment, unnoticed by the bridge team. He's stealthy, calculated. There's a wicked gleam in his eye. He knows something.Seconds later, the Man Overboard alarm goes off and the bridge transforms into organized chaos. Cdr Bergen smiles. "We try to do these drills once a week. It's up to the Officer of the Watch to make sure they kick off the proper procedures. For the most part it's them driving and I'm there as a safety check. Mistakes get made sometimes, and that's when I step in."It's no easy task to share a ship with close to 40 people for whom you're ultimately responsible. You'd think that leadership is made easier only if you've got good followers, but in the case of Nanaimo, leadership is made easier by virtue of the fact that everyone on board is also expected to lead. "Leadership can come at all levels," says Cdr Bergen. "Everybody's got a role to play, everybody's got one common goal, you know, the mission objective, and all it takes is one person for mission success or one person for mission failure."Eat, sleep, lead: it could be touted as the Nanaimo way. At sea and at all times, Nanaimo sailors are doing one of those three things. When it comes to the lead part, they are often doing so at a higher level than would normally be expected of their rank. "Before I was even a Lieutenant (Navy), I was the navigating officer...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Physical distancing rules were the catalyst for a unique surprise promotion ceremony of an HMCS Vancouver Combat Systems Engineer.Sub-Lieutenant Rebecca Post and 11 other ship’s personnel were at the Albert Head Cadet Training Centre May 6 on the pretense to film a video on how to lead an active lifestyle under COVID-19 health and safety measures.She was told by shipmate Lt(N) Tracy Tkachuk, the video’s producer, to jog around the training track as a drone filmed her from above. On the inside of the track, LCdr Rob Hooper, Vancouver’s Commanding Officer, and his Coxswain, CPO1 Steve Wist tossed around a football. In the finale moments of her scene, LCdr Hooper called out and tossed her the football. She caught it, and upon closer inspection saw Lieutenant Navy epaulettes (bars) affixed to the surface. “I didn’t expect to be promoted or become the focal point of a video, but that’s what happened,” said Lt(N) Post. “I have never seen anyone promoted this way, so it really came as a complete surprise. To be sure I got some extra attention with this particular ceremony and I think people will find the video very interesting and amusing.”LCdr Hooper lauded the one-of-a-kind promotional ceremony, noting it is likely the “most creative method” to promote a sailor he has encountered over his 25 years of service. “We are always looking at new and interesting ways to promote in the RCN, and this video is a cool method of outreach to the public. It’s also a great way to boost morale of our ship’s company and I think our sailors are going to be pretty stoked about this.”The idea for the video was hatched by Lt(N) Tkachuk, who has filmed other promotional videos. “The original intention was to show people having fun while...

[caption id="attachment_23522" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Malcolm Colquhoun. Right: Flight Lieutenant Malcolm Colquhoun during the Second World War.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) came and went quietly this year due to fear of COVID-19 spread.But memories of the final days of the Second World War will never be forgotten by those old enough to remember, including 103-year-old Malcolm Colquhoun. He lives at Veterans Memorial Lodge, and through the aid of his daughter Rhonda and son Ross, has detailed life as a prisoner of war. He spent two years, three months, and 10 days at the infamous German prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft III. For those too young to know, the camp had two major prisoner escapes made famous in the movies: The Wooden Horse and The Great Escape. “It was our duty and job as officers to confound the guards and use up their time during the escapes,” says Colquhoun. “It still amazes me that so many made it home alive without a scratch while so many others died.” The camp was built in 1942 in the German province of Lower Silesia near the town of Sagan (now Żagań, Poland), 160 kilometres south-east of Berlin. The site was selected because its sandy soil made it difficult for prisoners to escape by tunnelling.Shot down over GermanyColquhoun was born and raised on a family farm near Maple Creek, SK. In September 1939, when war was declared on Germany, he was 21 years old; less than a year later he travelled to Regina to join the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). After passing aptitude tests and basic training, he was enrolled in a bombing and gunnery course at Jarvis, ON, in 1941. He honed his navigation skills aboard small planes at Pennfield Ridge, NB, before training in larger aircraft...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Two weeks ago, Bill Stewart, 62, grabbed his drum and headed to Duntze Head to perform an Aboriginal drumming session one final time.After 27 years at Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMF CB), the Ahousaht First Nation member decided to retire from his Technical Data Specialist position. The April 29 drumming and chants of his Travelling Song, with the Esquimalt harbour as back drop, marked his departure from the base. “The song is a message of hope to those in combat or travels, sending good luck in travels wherever one goes,” he explains. “I do it to help people understand Aboriginal culture is in harmony with our workforce, and to make sure we understand and respect the First Nations land on which we live, work, and play.”He began working at CFB Esquimalt in 1993 with Base Construction Engineering (now Real Property Operations) as a term clerk. A month and a half later he was hired at Naval Engineering Unit (Pacific) (now FMF Cape Breton) as Duplicating Equipment Operator that was reclassified to Technical Data Specialist in 2004. After receiving a DND Scholarship award in 2003, he continued to work part time until he obtained an Associate Degree in Indigenous Business Leadership. He then became the FMF Cape Breton Technical Information Centre drawings guy for 27-plus years. To continue with the superior customer service, he transferred all his knowledge into an e-file (manual) for future employee reference.“He has extensive knowledge and has been a huge asset to FMF Cape Breton’s Technical Information Centre,” said Syndi Baker, department coordinator. “He is friendly, cheerful, and always ready to lend a hand to co-workers and management.”He was born and raised in Ahousaht First Nation areas, a tiny community located north of Tofino, B.C. His traditional name is (h)ooo-tuk-siah, meaning always learning, and...

[caption id="attachment_23515" align="aligncenter" width="592"] Leading Seaman Kayla Ruiz and Lieutenant (Navy) Miguel Perez conduct a maritime domain awareness patrol. Photo by Leading Seaman Brendan Gibson, MARPAC Imaging[/caption]Lt Chelsea Dubeau, Public Affairs Officer ~It's around 10:15 a.m. on a chilly morning at sea, day seven for HMCS Nanaimo since rejoining Task Group Exercise (TGEX) 20-01 following a week of rest. At around this time most days, depending on the ship’s position, the pipe is made to close up boats' crews and lowers in preparation to launch the RHIB. The sweep deck is a hive of activity as the key players step into their roles. The boat coxswain delivers her brief to the boat crew. The Officer of the Watch flips through her charts. The mission: Nanaimo's RHIB will conduct Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) patrols in the narrow inlets of the remote areas of the B.C. coastline, those parts inaccessible to the ship itself. "MDA is, basically, knowing what's in your waters," says Commander Jason Bergen, Commanding Officer of Nanaimo. "You have to establish a baseline, go through and understand the pattern of life, see what's just the normal tug and tow, fishing vessels, and Canadians out here sailing, versus stuff that's out of the ordinary. So you have to establish that baseline first, which is what the task group has been doing."Besides establishing what's out of the ordinary, the patrols are also treated to sights that feel distinctly extraordinary. Black bears foraging for food, seals languishing on the beach, and, probably the most spectacular, Orcas breeching in the distance. The RHIB's engine is immediately cut when the presence of the marine mammals is known so as not to disturb them, and the crew floats, able to enjoy the moment. When the whales have safely passed, the RHIB continues the mission. There are...

[caption id="attachment_23506" align="aligncenter" width="593"] HMCS Calgary crewmembers line up to enjoy some McDonalds food provided by Westshore McDonalds while the ship was alongside F jetty in Colwood on April 30. Photos by Corporal Jay Naples, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Lt(N) Greg Menzies, PAO HMCS Calgary ~It takes a lot of planning and preparation to feed 230 sailors on a Canadian warship, something the cooks sailing in HMCS Calgary know too well.  However, when Calgary came alongside F Jetty on April 30 to refuel and resupply before heading back to sea, the cooks were given the night off. McDonalds did the cooking.  The McDonalds on Island Highway in Victoria donated a “McBuffet” for the ship’s company consisting of 120 Quarter Pounders, 120 Big Macs, and 100 packs of 10 piece Chicken McNuggets, cookies, and apple slices. After a suggestion was made by a crewmember to order McDonalds  the next time the ship was alongside to keep morale high, Commander Alex Barlow, Commanding Officer of Calgary, reached out to Jeff Topping, McDonalds Director Restaurant Development Eastern Canada, for assistance.   The request was well received and Lt(N) Krisztina Rekeszki, ships Logistics Officer, and her team coordinated the details and delivery to F Jetty, while ensuring all health protection measures were taken.  Calgary’s crew sends out a thank you to Ken Taylor and the Westshore McDonalds team for their support.  The McBuffet donation was a great gesture and show of appreciation to Calgary during these difficult times.  Every sailor was “lovin’ it!”–––

This year, Dog Walk Day is Saturday May 16. So, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services has created an hour walk challenge to encourage physical activity. Participants will be reminded of requirements for social distancing and when and where outdoor exercise is permissive. One participant will be the winner of a “dog goodies package” prize.There are four ways to participate for a chance to win the prize:First way to participate: walk your dog for an hour, click on “going” on the Facebook event and post a picture of your walk (www.facebook.com/events/247106163035268);Second way to participate (if you don’t have a dog): take a 60-minute walk, count the dogs you meet on your path, click on “going” on the Facebook event and let us know how many dogs you saw on your walk (www.facebook.com/events/247106163035268);Third way to participate (if you don’t have a dog): map your walk and take a walk in the shape of a bone, click on “going” on the Facebook event and post a picture of your mapped walk (www.facebook.com/events/247106163035268);Fourth way to participate (if you don’t have a dog): put a bowl of water in your driveway for your neighbourhood’s dogs taking a walk, click on “going” on the Facebook event (www.facebook.com/events/247106163035268).More information about the event: https://www.cafconnection.ca/National/Virtual-Services/PSP-Recreation-Special-Events.aspx.  Due to questions from Soldier On, the registration incentive is on hold.

Peter Mallett, Lookout Staff ~Victoria residents should look to the skies later this week for the Canadian Forces Snowbirds to appear as part of their nationwide COVID-19 salute to Canadians. Members of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 431 Air Demonstration Squadron are currently in the midst of their cross-country mission dubbed Operation Inspiration. Exact times and flight locations are up in air due to the unpredictability of weather and flying conditions this time of year.Their fly past operation is a salute to front-line healthcare workers, first responders, essential workers, and all of Canada as our country fights the COVID-19 pandemic.“We’ve been asked to do what we do best, inspire Canadians,” said LCol French. “We want Canadians to know that we’re in this with you.”He noted the squadron’s thoughts are also with Canada’s maritime helicopter community and the Royal Canadian Navy after their recent loss of crew at sea off the coast of Greece.Operation Inspiration kicked off in the skies over Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and P.E.I. on May 2. Since then, the tour has gradually made its way west with Snowbird pilots flying their nine-plane formation of bright red CT-114 jets over major cities and population centres, with a specific emphasis on hospitals and residential areas. Flyovers occur at an elevation of no lower than 500 feet above all obstacles. When the squadron makes it to the West Coast they will have Captain Logan Reid of Victoria piloting Snowbird 8. Those interested in watching the flight are encouraged to observe the flyovers from the safety of their home, and refrain from travelling to see flyovers in order to maintain physical distancing practices. Flight times are updated 24 to 48 hours in advance. For updates on the tour and a full itinerary of their B.C. flight path go to the Snowbirds Facebook...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Amateur do-it-yourself mechanics can save thousands of dollars by joining the CFB Esquimalt Auto Club. For as low as $40 a year and a $15 per hour workspace rental, military, DND civilians, veterans, their families, and guests can join the club and use its automotive workshop in Work Point. Three service bays with hoists are available for use, plus a tire changer, wheel balancing equipment, brake lathe, welding equipment, diagnostic machines, and a plethora of tools. It also employs part-time employees to ensure its availability to members and to offer sage advice. However, until the pandemic passes the shop is closed. “Most people don’t even know we exist; we’re one of the best-kept secrets on base and that’s quite unfortunate,” says Lt(N) Mitchell Newman, the Auto Club’s Vice President.Many believe the club is only for mechanics and hardcore auto enthusiasts, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Plus, many people join for the social aspects of working on vehicles with others.Last year, the auto club had just under 150 members and it has room to grow. “We are hoping to see new members join the club—enthusiasts and inexperienced tinkerers alike,” said Lt(N) Newman. The club opened in 1995 after Cdr Tony Cond saw sailors working on their cars in the driveways of their military housing units. They couldn’t afford costly repairs or a new vehicle. Cdr Cond had the idea that CAF members would greatly benefit from a communal workspace where they could work out of the rain and cold and have access to shared tools. He envisioned that members could work on their vehicles more safely, reliably, and responsibly.As a Personnel Support Programs service club, the Auto Club follows administrative policies including a voted-in executive team to manage it. Lt(N) Newman joined the club out...

CFMWS ~Last fall, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) newspapers invited youth from military families between ages 13 and 18 to take part in the Youth Reporter Competition, and a chance to win a grand prize package and scholarship valued at $2,500.Youth were asked to submit a story idea about something important to their life or the community around them. Over 50 applications were received from across the country and around the world.  A selection committee comprised of CAF newspaper editors met in late January to go through the applications and select the six most unique and powerful stories with the best editorial merit. The six finalists were informed in early February and were given a few weeks to deliver their unique stories. They will be featured in a special PLAY e-zine edition published on CAFconnection.ca and in Canadian Forces newspapers across the country.“What a great opportunity for the youth of our military community to share their voices,” said Colonel Telah Morrison, Director, Military Family Services. “I thank CAF newspapers for creating this program and giving youth the means by which to express themselves.” CAF newspapers are now inviting community members to vote for their favourite story and  a chance to win a prize as well. Voting is May 1 to May 31 at CAFconnection.ca/YouthReporter.  Support our youth. Take the time to get to know these young finalists, read these unique stories, and cast your vote to crown the best Youth Reporter of 2020.Youth reporter finalists:Melissa Holyhead-Miles, Chilliwack, BCLleyton Maday, Morinville, ABKatya Arifin, Toronto, ONMikaël Bowes, St-Lin, QCMegan Henwood, Moncton, NBLuke Shields, Campbell River, BC––––

[caption id="attachment_23468" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Photographer Kathryn Mussallem captured this portrait of Ordinary Seaman Dale Bouchard during a 2016 sail in HMCS Calgary.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~For the last eleven years, Kathryn Mussallem, 44, has photographed the navies of the world.It’s an interest that began in 2009 while attending The School of Visual Arts in New York City as a grad student. As she walked the streets of Manhattan, she would often see United States Navy members walking about in full dress whites with their canvas Dixie-Cup hats. “It looked like they were walking off a movie set from the 1940s,” said Mussallem. “Their uniform had never changed at that point and I was intrigued by that.”She was able to photograph them during Fleet Week, up close portraits that revealed their human side, the person rather than the military. That collection made its way onto the pages of an arts magazine and launched a pursuit that continues to this day. “I try to show the human side and the faces of people who serve. I want people to understand these men and women are your friends, brothers, sisters, and parents,” she says. “It’s a hard life. They are doing their jobs and making great sacrifices for freedoms many of us take for granted, and are leaving their families for long periods of time while they are away at sea.” Her work has won many accolades including the 2016 Sony World Photography Award for Sailor in the Spotlight that featured sailors hitting the dance floor at a popular bar in New York. It became part of a group exhibition at London’s famed art centre Somerset House. Her solo exhibition Tattoos and Scrimshaw: The Art of the Sailor, captured at a Fleet Week event in Boston in 2012, has appeared at maritime museums in New...

[caption id="attachment_23464" align="aligncenter" width="592"] No speeches, no march past as Artillery Regiment inducts new Commander, LCol Michael Lomax[/caption]Captain J.A. Manney, Public Affairs Officer, 39 Canadian Brigade Group ~Five people in an otherwise empty armoury wasn’t quite the change of command ceremony LCol Michael Lomax had anticipated.Most in the regiment are sheltering at home, so the ceremony imparted a “surreal” look to his first day on the job. But LCol Lomax says the tradition of marking his assumption of command of the 5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery Regiment has never been more important.“I think it’s critical to help soldiers understand we are all part of something greater than any one of us. Ceremonies like a change of command help instill a strong sense of connection to the Regiment and a real sense of family. That is our foundation in peace, in war, and most definitely in times of crisis.”He replaced LCol Brendon LeBlanc on April 25 at Victoria’s Bay Street Armoury. He credits LCol LeBlanc’s four-year tenure for, among other things, preparing the unit to weather the COVID-19 crisis. More than 30 Regiment soldiers are now attached to Land Task Force Vancouver Island, part of the Land (Army) Component Command forces working under Joint Task Force (Pacific) in the event government requests military assistance.“In the short term our goal is to continue that strong contribution,” LCol Lomax said. “We need to ensure we take care of our soldiers during this time of crisis and we’re looking out for their physical, mental, and financial well-being.”Fortunately for the soldiers of 5th Field, LCol Lomax is no stranger to taking care of people. A lawyer, mediator, and one-time director of CFB Esquimalt’s Dispute Resolution Centre, he now leads a team of mediators with the B.C. Public Service Agency, the government’s Human Resources department. His team is...

[caption id="attachment_23459" align="aligncenter" width="593"] PO2 Alastair Chaplin[/caption]SLt Joshua Ehnisz, MARPAC Public Affairs Office ~For the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy the show must go on despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Band members are safely isolating at home, but need to keep their skills fresh. This means practicing alone and together from afar. “Individual practice is a part of the Naden Band’s routine regardless of isolation,” said PO2 Alastair Chaplin, senior musician and trumpet player. “The difficulty has been rehearsals, if we can’t get together, rehearsing pieces as a band is impossible.”Video conferencing apps such as Zoom have been considered, but when it comes to music rehearsals they lack the connection speed needed to effectively transfer audio quickly enough for them to play together in rhythm. “We are like athletes in a sense. Although right now athletes can’t compete, but they still need to maintain a rigorous workout schedule in order to stay alert and ready to compete. The Naden Band has much the same approach. We need to practice and maintain our proficiency and keep playing our instruments. If we break for weeks and months it would be difficult to immediately start performing at events once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted,” he adds.The band is looking at more in-depth measures to improve individual practicing and the possibility of compiling audio recordings to better synchronize them. They remain optimistic that some upcoming events will be held, of course public health remains the highest priority and they will continue to wait until healthcare professionals deem it appropriate. "We all do our best no matter the circumstances and are very committed and passionate about what we contribute to the country and the Canadian Armed Forces,” said Lt(N) Catherine Norris, Commanding Officer and Director of Music of the Naden Band. “We stay creative, run different...

[caption id="attachment_23455" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Members of the Sunday service group pose on the bridge wing of HMCS Nanaimo as the ship transits off the coast of Vancouver Island. Left to Right: LS Ramsin Zaro, LS Randy Klausnitzer, LS Kathy Sanchez, SLt Jessica Pelletier, OS Amy Acosta, Lt(N) Mark Herrick, and OS Jesse Roberts.[/caption]Lt Chelsea Dubeau, Public Affairs Officer ~In times of uncertainty some people turn to faith, others to each other. In these times of uncertainty where we are at war with COVID-19 and isolation and illness is rampant, it makes sense that we crave the company of others and perhaps the company of whatever higher power we might feel called to. It felt appropriate then, that on a chilly Sunday morning in April, a small group of sailors on board HMCS Nanaimo took part in a most naval and human tradition: Sunday service. But this Sunday service wasn't like the others. Ship and crew had just returned to sea after a week's rest following two months away from home. During this brief respite, the sailors returned to a world much different from the one they'd left in February when they deployed on Operation Caribbe - an operation from which they had to return early due to the COVID-19 crisis. The world they returned to was isolated, restricted, and fearful. The closures, lineups, masks, and death tolls - things that folks isolating at home since the beginning of the pandemic had time to assimilate into their lives - were thrown at them immediately. They were briefed on what was expected of them. Stay home. Stay healthy. If you must go out, let it be only for essentials. Many sailors on board are reservists whose home is elsewhere and some were unable to visit home to see loved ones because of travel...

DND ~"It made my hair stand on end a bit to be stopped in U-boat waters!" a crew member of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Swansea said about the decision of his commanding officer – Commander Clarence King – to rescue survivors from a sinking German U-boat.It was March 10, 1944, when U-boat 845 first made contact with an Allied convoy in the North Atlantic.The Battle of the Atlantic, the struggle between the Allied and German forces for control of the Atlantic Ocean, was at its height.The Allies needed to keep the vital flow of men and supplies going between North America and Europe, where they could be used in the fighting, while the Germans wanted to cut these supply lines. To do this, German U-boats and other warships prowled the Atlantic Ocean sinking Allied transport ships.But in this case, as U-845 made contact with the convoy, it was picked up by an escort, HMCS St. Laurent, and depth-charged.When the U-boat surfaced later that night, it was attacked by St. Laurent and three other escorts of 9th Escort Group: HMCS Swansea, HMCS Owen Sound and His Majesty’s Ship (HMS) Forester.There was some danger of the ships firing into or colliding with each other in the excitement, and it took skill to prevent that from happening.The combined firepower was too much for the U-boat, and its crew began abandoning the sinking submarine.King had his boarding party standing by but felt it unwise to risk the lives of his men as the submarine was sinking by the stern. He lay stopped in the water while survivors were rescued, despite the agitation of his crew members who were wary of other possible U-boats in the area.For King, rescuing survivors took precedence over any possible danger.At the time, he was 58 years old, on the old side for...

Shipmates, as you are aware, 2020 is the 75th anniversary of our victory in the Second World War’s longest campaign, the Battle of the Atlantic – a national effort against a formidable foe. Ironically, this anniversary has fallen upon us as we now struggle with a different type of foe and again we need to unite from coast-to-coast-to-coast in our actions to secure a critical victory in the pandemic we face. It goes without saying that we are in a very uncertain and unprecedented time as we fight to vanquish this new hidden enemy, as our predecessors did against theirs 75 years ago. Beyond a doubt, the fight against COVID-19 is going to have an impact on all of us – indeed it already has significantly impacted our daily routines, both at work and at home. In this light, I have decided that our year-long celebration of the anniversary will undertake a nation-wide operational pause of all RCN-led commemoration activities until at least the end of May. Significantly, this means that the premiere BOA Sunday commemorative events and ceremonies planned for May 3, 2020, including the National Commemoration at the National War Memorial - as well as the events planned in the few days running-up to BOA Sunday - will all be deferred. This decision aligns too, by the way, with the recent announcement by the Naval Association of Canada (NAC) that, following consultation with the RCN, the NAC-led BOA Gala Dinner previously scheduled for Thursday, April 30 at the National War Museum is also deferred. These deferrals align with the unprecedented requirements of our current national pandemic response efforts and clearly reflect our prioritization of the health and well-being of our veterans, our sailors, our families, and of our communities at large. Further, the unfortunate necessity for deferral reflects...

[caption id="attachment_23418" align="aligncenter" width="579"] Retired Royal Canadian Navy Commander Peter Chance[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A popular Facebook meme - brief, blunt and to the point – effectively shames those not adhering to the physical distancing and isolation protocols.It reads: “Your grandparents were called to fight in World Wars. You’re being called to wash your hands and sit on the couch. Don’t [expletive] this up.”Many of those grandparents who helped lead us to victory in the last global crisis are no longer with us, but a handful are still here, and have a thing or two to say about the COVID-19 crisis. One of them is 99-year-old Peter Chance, a retired Royal Canadian Navy Commander with many a salty tale to tell of his service. He had been planning to move into an assisted care facility, but the COVID-19 situation put the brakes on that. A social worker makes regular visits to assist him with cleaning, and until recently he received regular visits from friends. Now he is self-isolating and following physical distancing advice to the letter. “Some people are making terrible mistakes and placing themselves in danger and creating a situation where they might contaminate someone else with the virus,” he said. “There are two sides to this coin, and neither are good sides.”He says there are several parallels to now and the Second World War, especially in how the world responded and the unity that was required for victory. Chance spent several months in London during the Blitz, the devastating bombing raids by Germany towards the end of the Battle of Britain.“There were nightly blackouts, food and drink was hard to come by and it was rationed, but despite this crisis people pulled together,” he said.  “We made jokes, tried to make light of what was really a terrible situation,...

[caption id="attachment_23412" align="aligncenter" width="593"] During the Second World War, Olive Bailey worked in a factory that made engines for the Halifax bomber, shown here in a picture she painted.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~For decades Olive Bailey, 99, kept secret her work during the Second World War and the pivotal role she played in bringing it to an end. She was a young woman living through the Blitz – German bombings on London and Wales – studying mathematics at the University of London and working in a factory making engines for Halifax bombers. She even survived a direct hit on her workplace and was dug out from the rubble. Then in 1942, the British Intelligence assigned her to work at Bletchley Park as a code breaker. It was a top-secret project in a Victorian mansion 60 kilometres north of London. She was told never to breathe a word to anyone about her work. The job was to break the German Enigma, a device used to encode strategic messages. Heading the project was legendary mathematician and computer science pioneer Alan Turing.“He had a lovely sense of humour and we got along very well,” remembers Bailey. As part of a large team, she worked around-the-clock trying to decipher the more than 84,000 messages intercepted each month sent from German Command to German U-boat commanders to locate and attack allied vessels. She worked on Turing’s massive computer system, nicknamed Victory, with his invention eventually breaking the Enigma code. She recalls Turing’s invention as an intimidating mass of dials and infinite number of wires hanging down the front of the machine. Her job was to take the decrypted messages to the office where Turing and the “higher ups and big brains” were located. She describes him as a person who would talk in bursts and had...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Author Glenn Carley, 62, can relate to being isolated in one location for an extended period. Forty years ago, he spent two summers at Canadian Forces Station Alert, working on an environment cleanup team.The remote signals and intercept station is located on the northwestern tip of Ellesmere Island. In 1978, the site had accumulated its share of rubbish since its establishment in the 1950s; it was the students’ job to mitigate the impact military presence had on the environment. Those two summers influenced his development and decades later he felt compelled to write about it.Last month he released a non-fiction book documenting his experiences working in a place he describes as “an artefact of Canadiana.”Good Enough From Here, published by Rock Mills press, traces the journey of Carley and his all-male civilian workforce, who travelled from Trenton, Ont. to their temporary home in the high Arctic. “It’s really a bird’s eye view of military culture during the cold war from a civilian’s perspective,” says Carley. “I wrote it for everyone who has lived and worked there and were nicknamed The Frozen Chosen.”Isolation only lasted three months for the students, but military members had to endure more than six months of polar climate, complete snow cover for most of the year, polar nights when the evening lasts for more than 24 hours, and midnight sun where the sun is visible at midnight.   Even during the brighter summer months some students – or tourists as they were nicknamed - couldn’t tolerate feeling cut-off from the rest of the world. “One student worker couldn’t hack that isolation. He essentially had a homesick heart and was airlifted to his home in the south for his own wellbeing. He wasn’t the only one who sometimes felt that way.” Carley writes of the human...

[caption id="attachment_23398" align="aligncenter" width="593"] The wreckage of the missing plane carrying the two men that crashed 31 years ago.[/caption]Capt Lewis Williams, 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron ~The date is June 20, 1987. Two seasoned outdoorsmen climb aboard a small single-engine Piper Super Cub on floats. They are heading on a fishing trip to McDougall Lake in the Wells Gray Provincial Park area. After leaving Eagle Bay, the aircraft was not seen again for 31 years.Fast forward to September 2018. Most of 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron were deployed to Kamloops as part of a search to locate an overdue aircraft. The small two-seat plane had been flying a low-level valley route operating under Visual Flight Rules, and, with reports and radar from NORAD, it led the crews to a specific location just west of Blue River.For a few days they searched the extremely mountainous terrain that was either heavily treed or had steep snow-capped peaks. The landscape was notoriously challenging when searching for a small, white aircraft. Crews had been assigned their search areas from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Victoria. The pre-search checks were completed and once on scene all eyes scoured the terrain for a glimpse of anything manmade and out of place.Luck at Kostal LakeThe crew had turned around a ridge near Kostal Lake and noticed a white metallic object in the trees. They decided to investigate. Given the area, required a hoist insertion of search and rescue technicians. It was a challenging operation given the high density altitude and tall trees presenting an obstacle for the 200’ hoist. Sgt Morgan Boutilier and MCpl Yannyk Daley attached their harnesses to the hoist and were lowered down one by one by flight engineer MCpl David Schulz with Capt Henrik ‘Hank’ Schulte-Bisping monitoring the aircraft’s performance as to not exceed any limitations. Once the search and rescue technicians were on the ground, they radioed back that it was an aircraft wreckage, but did not match the aircraft registration they...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The postponement of the Boston Marathon did not stop PO2 Roy Styffe from completing the gruelling 42.2 kilometre run on his own.The 56-year-old qualified for the world-famous race after completing his first-ever marathon in 2018, Victoria’s Goodlife Fitness Marathon. He planned to tackle the April 20 Boston Marathon, but then came the COVID-19 pandemic, and a change to a virtual marathon. Last week, he and countless other runners around the world completed their own virtual marathon. “I decided to run a virtual marathon because I had dedicated six months of my life, running five days a week to prepare for it,” says PO2 Styffe, who is a Naden Band member. “Training for a marathon is a very obsessive process, so I needed to have that sense of completion for what I had worked so hard for.”He set off on the Galloping Goose regional trail near Sooke and arrived at his virtual finish line on the Selkirk Trestle Bridge in Victoria with a time of 3:16:10. That time, exclaimed PO2 Styffe, was 12 minutes faster than his first marathon, and went way better than anticipated. “The hard work in training really paid off; every time I run it’s a humbling experience,” said PO2 Styffe. “It is a privilege and makes me realize with every step I take, I am learning and growing and also inspiring other people.”Upon reflection, he thinks he could have shaved another five minutes off his time if it were not for the stop lights and roadway crossings he encountered.As the marathon wore on, he maintained his focus and physical distance, although there were few people on the regional trail.“Thankfully, there is a lot of space on that trail allowing everyone using it to maintain a safe distance,” said PO2 Styffe. Members of the Naden...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Langford’s Market on Millstream has come to the aid of house-bound military families having difficulty shopping because of COVID-19 self isolation and physical distancing measures.The grocery store is offering free delivery service to those living in the Westshore who have a military partner deployed.The program launched after store co-owner Darryl Hein learned about the “deplorable” harassment of military mom Janene Walker of Sooke. On two separate occasions she was heckled for bringing her two children on shopping trips. Her husband is deployed in HMCS Whitehorse and she has no one to watch them.“In this unfolding public health crisis, there are a small element of people who are quick to mind other people’s business and point fingers, and many of them are doing it with misinformation,” said Hein. The store’s delivery van began delivering free-of charge orders on April 20 to military families living in Sooke, Langford, View Royal, and Esquimalt. The initiative is one way of letting military members know he and his staff support them.“It’s just the Canadian thing for us to do, to let those who serve know we are all in this together.” Unwarranted assaultsThe 36-year-old stay-at-home mother faced profanity-laced verbal abuse from customers in a hardware store parking lot and at a grocery store in Langford in March because she had her children with her. Her husband, LS Joe Walker, has been deployed in HMCS Whitehorse since Feb. 10. This has meant going it alone to manage the children, the home, and stocking up the refrigerator and pantry with kids in tow. “I shouldn’t have to defend myself in pubic for trying to take care of my family,” she said. Plus, she’s done the neighbourly thing and bought groceries for another military family in quarantine because of travelling outside Canada. She is now determined not to let people bully her in public and act like “the pandemic police.” Walker’s husband is one of approximately 650 personnel deployed in eight Royal Canadian Navy ships...

[caption id="attachment_23375" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Inset: Private Steven Marshall[/caption]Lt(N) Greg Menzies, HMCS Calgary PAO ~A hockey jersey can represent many things, and some, like Leading Seaman Cindy Veilleux’s jersey, have an amazing story associated with them. For the last year, she has travelled in Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships with a Calgary Flames jersey neatly folded in her duffle bag.The Saint-Georges, Quebec, native came to have a special connection with the City of Calgary after meeting Private Steven Marshall a decade ago when she was a Combat Engineer. The two were on course at Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Gagetown, New Brunswick, and became fast friends. “Steven was born and raised in Calgary and proud to call Calgary home,” said LS Veilleux. “When we first met, I knew right away how much he loved the Calgary Flames. Hockey was his passion and he would play or watch it anywhere, anytime. Hockey was in his soul.”After their Combat Engineer’s course, Pte Veilleux (her rank before re-enlisting to the navy) and Pte Marshall were posted to 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, 11 Field Squadron in Edmonton, Alberta, and were deployed to Afghanistan in October 2009. Only one week into their deployment, Private Marshall was killed by an improvised explosive device while on foot patrol south east of Kandahar City.The loss was devastating news and Pte Veilleux knew she had to finish the deployment knowing her friend had made the ultimate sacrifice.“When we returned home in May, my section commander organized a get together for Steven’s father, Murray Marshall, to meet the soldiers who had deployed with his son,” recalls LS Veilleux. “It was the first time I met Murray and it was very emotional. Ten years later, Murray and Steven’s memory are still an important part of my life.”She released from the Canadian Armed Forces in...

[caption id="attachment_23333" align="alignnone" width="591"] SLt Jason Wychopen takes a bearing from the bridge of HMCS Calgary during Directed Ship Readiness Training.[/caption] SLt Greg Menzies, HMCS Calgary PAO ~It’s not every day a Naval Warfare Officer can complete the Naval Officer Professional Qualification (NOPQ) while at sea.In fact, on the west coast it’s quite rare, and that’s why is was a big deal for Sub-Lieutenant Jason Wychopen. The NOPQ board is a test where a Naval Warfare Officer is ‘boarded’ before several senior naval officers that specialize in all aspects of operating a warship. They become eligible to challenge the board after completing an NOPQ package that contains hundreds of prerequisite signatures that ensure they are proficient in all inner workings of a warship. This process typically takes two years. Once they have completed the package and are nominated by their captain, a Naval Warfare Officer is given notice they will be boarded. Preparation is usually a few weeks of studying material to better prepare for this extensive test. For SLt Wychopen, he was given one hour’s notice while sailing in HMCS Calgary. Calgary is currently doing its Directed Sea Readiness Training program while participating in a Task Group Exercise with HMC Ships Regina, Brandon, Whitehorse, Nanaimo, and two Orca-Class Patrol Craft Training (PCT) Vessels, PCT Cougar and Wolf, off the coast of Vancouver Island. “As result of having Sea Training (Pacific) and the Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific and his staff on board Calgary, there was the correct number of assessment personnel to convene a qualification board,” said SLt Wychopen. The board involves two parts; the first being theoretical, where senior officers ask questions that pertain to Officer of the Watch work. These are skill-testing questions that ensure the fundamentals of being a Naval Warfare Officer are understood. The second part is conducted practically...

  2Lt Travis Winship, Base Adminstration ~A TEAM STORY FROM BASE ADMINISTRATIONNelles Block is both an accommodation centre, much like a hotel, and a barracks, where rules and regulations are to be followed. Military members are the primary residents – currently 431 are being housed in the three-storey building. As they come and go, their primary interaction with front end staff is with Commissionaires Dave Brand, 70, and Howie Becker, 75. Their positions have been deemed a critical core service during the COVID-19 crisis. Cmre Becker manages the front desk taking bookings, billing for residents’ stay, and other clerical duties. A Plexiglas panel has been installed at the front desk to mitigate potential contamination between residents and himself. Cmre Brand manages maintenance, keeping the building clean, including six washrooms, and organizing required repairs. Reduced on-site manning has added to his workload, so he tackles any extra required cleaning. The two serve as ad hoc barrack wardens, reminding residents to adhere to the physical distancing policy. In the washrooms, every second toilet and sink has been disabled to ensure physical distancing, and posters are placed wherever there’s empty wall space. “We are also like den mothers,” says Cmre Brand. “Some of these members left home when they were 18 immediately to join the military.” They’ve been known to lend an ear and give advice to their young wards. Both have worked for the Commissionaires for years – Cmre Brand for eight years with a little over a year at Nelles Block, and Cmre Becker for 12 years, six at the Naden accommodation centre. Before this work, they both had other careers; Cmre Brand was a car business service manager, and Cmre Becker was a nurse. His wife is also a nurse, so he understands her long work hours and COVID-19 protocols to keep their...

[caption id="attachment_23324" align="alignnone" width="591"] LS Seunghee Ryu prepares a creole sauce on board HMCS Calgary.[/caption]Lt(N) Greg Menzies, HMCS Calgary Public Affairs OfficerHard work, exceptional skills, and many achievements recently earned Leading Seaman Seunghee Ryu the title Canadian Fleet Pacific 2019 Sailor of the Year. The award recognizes the accomplishments of junior sailors in a positive and meaningful way and considers their professionalism, dress and deportment, job performance, volunteer and community service, and other achievements.For eight years she has been honing her skills as a cook. “Being a cook is one of the most satisfying jobs in the Royal Canadian Navy because of how it affects the morale of my shipmates,” said LS Ryu, currently a cook on board HMCS Calgary. She developed a taste for the trade from her parents who opened two restaurants after immigrating to Canada from Seoul, South Korea, in 2006.She has sailed in HMC Ships Vancouver, Nanaimo, Saskatoon, Whitehorse, and Yellowknife, as well as the Orca Class Patrol Craft Training Vessels before being posted to Calgary in 2018. She accumulated 437 sea days during her time in these ships and has been on three deployments.During a brief shore posting, she was employed in a leadership role at the Wardroom where she cooked for the Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific and was responsible for catering and managing the main dining hall.  Her hard work and dedication got the attention of her supervisors who nominated her to attend the 75th Anniversary of D-Day in Courseulles-Sur-Mer, France, in June 2019.“I consider every moment in the Royal Canadian Navy to be the highlight of my career. If all the people I had met and worked with weren’t around, I would never have had such an amazing journey so far. I am grateful and thankful for all of this.”During Calgary’s Basic Single Ship Readiness Training program last summer, LS Ryu received the Sea Training (Pacific) Commanding Officer’s coin for an outstanding job.  During Calgary’s Intermediate Multi-Ship Readiness Training program last fall, the entire...