News

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific) recently announced the first-ever addition of nurse practitioners to its staff in an effort to enhance its service delivery.France Murdoch, a health care professional with 23 years of experience working in the Ontario health care sector in the field of nursing became the first nurse practitioner to join the clinic health care team in September. Murdoch is the first of three nurse practitioners to join the three Integrated Health Teams (IHT) of CFB Esquimalt with two others coming onboard over the next few months.   According to the Canadian Nurses Association, nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have additional educational and nursing experience, which enables them to autonomously diagnose and treat illness, order and interpret results, prescribe medications, and perform medical procedures when required.Nurse practitioners arrived on the scene in Canada’s health care sector in 2006 to address physician shortages and service delivery crunches. In 2018 there were 5, 697 nurse practitioners in Canada with more than half of them working in Ontario and less than 500 in British Columbia, but their ranks are growing.Since Murdoch is the first ever nurse practitioner to work at the base health clinic she understands that she needs to explain her role within the team.“The big message I want to get across is that I am a nurse and not a doctor and I’m not there to fill their shoes or take over their jobs,” said Murdoch.  “I work collaboratively with doctors and nurses on staff, and nurse practitioners are a relatively new facet of health care service delivery so it’s important for people to know who we are.”Nurse practitioners prescribe to a holistic-based approach says Murdoch, with the biggest part of her job being education. Once the nurse practitioner completes her patient interview and diagnosis,...

CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum has just launched a dynamic new version of its informative website at www.navalandmilitarymuseum.orgIt features new content, new resources for researchers, and a brand new look and feel. This is the third iteration of the museum site, which is now in its 19th year. During that period, millions of people have visited the website to learn about the history and heritage of the naval presence on Canada’s West Coast, and of the military on Southern Vancouver Island.The latest rollout of the site follows months of intensive effort by Ardent West Creative Directors Denis Eve and Olivia Hernandez, in cooperation with the museum’s webmaster and exhibit designer, Clare Sharpe. Sharpe has worked on the museum’s online presence consistently since 2000, when the first website for CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum was designed by volunteer Wayne Lidstone. In 2013, the site was redesigned again, by Joseph Kotopski, a graduate student from Q College, and served the museum well for several years.Sharpe is delighted with the Mark III reorganization and redevelopment of the site, and says its usefulness has already been demonstrated: “We’re getting a strong positive response to the new site, in just a few short days of going live. The fact that it now includes effective contact forms and artifact donation forms is enabling museum staff to communicate well with our visitors and potential donors, and has enhanced our accessibility.”The fact that the site has been fully optimized for mobile devices, with a strong and engaging visual aesthetic, is another big plus. “Obviously, the look and feel of the website is very important, and we love its style, appearance and layout,” Sharpe commented. She notes that the old web site, being from the era it was, “was at best mobile friendly-ish.” But the new website...

[caption id="attachment_21848" align="alignnone" width="593"] Sub-Lieutenant Riley Perrior discusses Ottawa’s Boarding Party techniques with members of the Japan Maritime Defense Force during a joint naval boarding party exercise onboard HMCS Ottawa on October 16 alongside Yokosuka, Japan while deployed on Operations Projection and Neon. Photos by Leading Seaman Victoria Ioganov[/caption]Captain Jenn Jackson, HMCS Ottawa PAO ~Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ottawa recently operated with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in KAEDEX, a bilateral exercise, alongside and near Yokosuka, Japan while deployed on Operations Projection and Neon. Held annually in the Asia-Pacific region since 2016, this exercise includes serials conducted alongside and at sea and focuses on strengthening interoperability between the two allies. The name “KAEDEX” was a mutually agreed upon name between the RCN and JMSDF as “KAEDE” is the Japanese word for maple tree. The JMSDF proposed this name to honour the RCN’s involvement.“Despite having to scale back some serials due to the aftermath of super-typhoon Hagibis, KAEDEX provided Ottawa and her crew an opportunity to work with one of our close allies in a number of different scenarios, including cooperative development of Naval Boarding Party skills and Anti-Submarine Warfare,” said Commander (Cdr) Alex Barlow, Ottawa’s Commanding Officer. Super-typhoon Hagibis passed over Yokosuka, Japan on October 12, 2019 causing wide-spread destruction. It also delayed Ottawa’s arrival and planning for KAEDEX; however despite the delay and the shorter window to operate, the KAEDEX was completed.Ottawa Deck Officer, Lt(N) Gill Herlinger coordinated the alongside Naval Boarding Exercise which took place on October 16 prior to all three ships departing for sea. “KAEDEX was a great opportunity for my team to see how another nation’s boarding team operates. We got the chance to demonstrate and talk about some basic boarding tactics with the teams from Chokai and Shimakaze,” said Lt(N) Herlinger.“So much that...

Janice Lee ~On October 22, Bob Collins, James Baird, and Keenan Hayes stood on guard for 30 hours at the Cobble Hill Cenotaph in order to recognize Canadian Forces members that have fallen in a non-combative role. Collins first stood on guard five years ago when Corporal Nathan Cirillo was killed in Ottawa. He refused to leave the cenotaph until Corporal Cirillo was buried and ended up standing guard for three days straight. “We have to honour all Canadian military members, including the ones that have passed in a non-combative role,” said Collins. This annual service has been a community effort where families, restaurants, and police have checked up on the men and women throughout the 30 hours. The people who stand guard are veterans as well as current military members. Each year Hayes plans a trip from Saskatchewan to Vancouver Island to see his family, and part of his trip includes standing guard at the cenotaph in Cobble Hill. “I have a sense of pride being a military member and I think it is very important to respect our brothers and sisters,” said Hayes. From 1911 to present there have been 2800 members that have lost their lives in non-combative roles, including training exercises and accidents, etc.The weather is the biggest struggle when it comes to standing guard at the cenotaph. What gets them through the chilly night is knowing why they are there – to represent the fallen of Canada’s military. “The fallen men and women are no less of a hero than those who went into conflict,” said Baird.

[caption id="attachment_21841" align="alignnone" width="593"] In Santa Isabel de Pichana, Lt(N) Place, the CO, and others were treated to a fine meal of fish, fruit, cassava and plantains by the cacique and his family.[/caption]Lt(N) Sean Place ~Late this summer, I had the privilege of being embarked in BAP Río Putumayo II, an Itinerant Social Action Platform (PIAS in Spanish) vessel of the Peruvian Navy or Marina de Guerra del Perú in Spanish. Río Putumayo II and her five sister ships, with seven more planned, provide an invaluable and unique service by bringing a great number of government facilities to small, remote communities in the Peruvian Amazon and Lake Titicaca.The PIAS-class has been in Peruvian Navy service since 2015, and are mostly based in Iquitos, a city of 300,000 which is only accessible by river and air. The base in Iquitos provides convenient access to the Amazon, Putumayo, Napo, Tigre, Marañon, Yavarí, and Ucayali rivers which form the circulatory system of the Loreto region of Northern Peru, which borders Colombia, Brazil, and Ecuador. Each PIAS typically completes five 40-day deployments annually, with work periods of varying lengths between deployments. If that seems like a high operational tempo, it is. However, the crews often serve for only one year, and receive a financial bonus for service in the PIAS-class.A typical community visited by a PIAS is five or six houses made of cedar planks with a roof of woven dried leaves, unglazed windows, no running water or flush toilet, a kitchen hearth, and one or two light bulbs hanging from the ceiling; a one-room schoolhouse with recycled textbooks and no modern technology; people fishing or hunting every day because there is no refrigeration to keep food from spoiling; and communication with the outside world only by expensive satellite phone, or sailing in open...

SLt M.X. Déry, MARPAC PA Office ~Dr Jim Boutilier has gone from a junior officer in the RCN Reserves on the East Coast to being a navigator for the Royal Navy in the UK, then teaching in Fiji to teaching at the then-Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) and ultimately helping West Coast MARPAC commanders understand their theatre of operations in the Asia Pacific region.After travelling all over the world in many roles and jobs, Dr Boutilier is finally retiring. Unlike his previous transitions in employment, this one should be relatively simple.At the tender age of 17 he began his Baccalaureate in history at Dalhousie and joined the RCN Reserve at HMCS SCOTIAN under the University Naval Training Divisions scheme. After completing his master’s at age 22, he moved to the UK to begin his PhD at the University of London, where he joined the Royal Naval Reserve.“They had a fleet of minesweepers and they navigated from the English Channel up into the Baltic and much of that area was still dangerous in the 1960s due to mines from the Second World War,” explained Dr. Boutilier. “That was a bit of a challenge for a young navigator.”Despite being from Bedford Nova Scotia and navigating the waters around Western Europe, Dr. Boutilier found himself teaching at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, in 1969.As luck would have it though, his naval background and his passion for history coalesced into a professorship at Royal Roads Military College in Victoria.For the next 24 years, Dr. Boutilier helped create the future leaders of the CAF. “I loved teaching at the military college… I didn’t like marking very much, but I loved teaching,” he said.  “It was very exciting to watch my one-time students advance through their careers.” From the current Chief of Defence...

[caption id="attachment_21835" align="alignnone" width="593"] Jim Diack and the Honourable Janet Austin. Photo by Rachel Rilkoff, Government House[/caption]The Honourable Janet Austin was presented the First Poppy by Jim Diack, Command Treasurer from the BC/Yukon Command of the Royal Canadian Legion on 18 Oct at Government House.This symbolic gesture marks the start of the 2019 Poppy Campaign, a fundraiser in support of programs and services for veterans and their families.From the last Friday of October to November 11, tens of millions of Canadians wear a Poppy as a visual pledge to honour Canada’s Veterans and remember those who sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today. While the Poppy is distributed freely to all who wish to wear one, the Legion gratefully accepts donations to the Poppy Fund.Along with the first poppy, the Poppy Fund also presented Her Honour with a poppy scarf.

I am Corporal Sylvia Guirguis, and Rebekah (Becca) is my daughter. Without the support provided by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and several registered charities, the past three years would have been considerably more challenging.About meI have been a cook with the Regular Force since May 2015. After obtaining my Culinary Management diploma from Georgian College in Barrie, I completed my Red Seal, before joining the CAF a few years later. At graduation of Basic Military Qualification, I was awarded top female athlete, and also received advance promotion due to my culinary training and experience.Serving in Petawawa with 2 Service Battalion from 2015 -2018, I cooked primarily at Normandy Court Kitchen, and spent some time tasked to the unit to perform general duties. I have a passion for food and find it an honour to serve our troops doing something I love.Rebekah’s arrivalDuring my time in Petawawa I became pregnant with our third child, Rebekah. While on course in Borden, I received a phone call from my obstetrician that the 20 week ultrasound showed abnormalities in Rebekah’s heart, and that I needed to head to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa for further investigation.I was able to complete my course in Borden before heading to Ottawa to receive the news that would change our lives forever.Rebekah was born with Heterotaxy Syndrome. Basically, her heart was formed quite differently than a normal heart, as well as having atrial and septal defects (holes where they shouldn’t be). She also was born with gut malrotation, and was in liver failure due to a condition called Biliary Atresia.Within the first two weeks of her life, she received a surgery known as a Kasai Procedure. This was a temporary attempt to aid the flow of bile from her liver to her intestines in...

[caption id="attachment_21822" align="alignnone" width="593"] Members of the Fleet Club Slackers celebrate their 20-14 Mini Grey Cup victory along with RAdm Craig Baines, second from right, and Formation Chief CPO1 Derek Kitching. Photo by Avr Renzo Ruiz Hass[/caption]Trident Newspaper ~The Fleet Club Slackers have been dominant at the Mini Grey Cup for nearly three decades, and it was only fitting the streak continue as the Slackers met the Wardroom Officers for the milestone 50th annual edition of the game on Oct. 10.The non-commissioned member team took a 20-14 victory over the officers in front of a large crowd at CFB Halifax’s Stadacona’s Porteous Field, with fans from across the base showing up early for chili and barbecue at the tailgate party.The game got off to an exciting start with Slackers quarterback LS Mark Latter throwing a touchdown pass to Avr Alex Edwards on the opening possession, and the Wardroom answering with a touchdown of their own soon after, though their conversion was blocked. The second quarter saw two more passing touchdowns for the Fleet Club, for a score of 20-7 at the half.The Wardroom’s SLt Kai Imai ran in one more touchdown in the final quarter, but the Officers failed to tie it up from there, with quarterback Capt Matt Elliott getting intercepted by Fleet Club’s Avr Edwards to end their final drive.The Game Most Valuable Player Award went to Avr Edwards, who caught all three of the Slackers’ touchdowns and also pulled off the key interception to seal the deal in the fourth.

12 Wing Public Affairs ~“I had big confidence in my training,” said MCpl Gabriel Auclair, after competing in the 2019 World Masters Olympic Weightlifting Championships in Montreal. “I kept thinking of all the work I did to get there. I focused on my breathing, I trusted my abilities.”His confidence was warranted. In August, the Aviation Systems Technician (AVN Tech) from 12 Wing Shearwater placed first in his weight class and age group, and helped Team Canada’s men’s team earn the number one spot at the Championships.“It was very stressful because Canada was still in second place when it was my turn,” he said, adding he was the last on the team to compete and knew if he lifted well it would mean the difference between a silver or a gold for the men’s team. MCpl Auclair participated in the over-35 age group and over-109 kilogram weight class. He pulled through for his teammates in both of his events: the snatch and the clean and jerk. He lifted 138 kilograms for the snatch and 177 kilograms in the clean and jerk, for a total weight of 315 kilograms. As a first time member of Team Canada, he set three Canadian records, one for each individual event and one for the combined total. He says the competition was intense and the American team intimidating. “But none of that affected me, and my coach was quite proud of me for that.” He is now back to his regular work at 12 Wing’s 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron, and his workout routine. He fits his five-times-per-week training schedule around his hours at the wing where has worked since 2003 when he finished his trade training.He’ll be logging 2.5-hour workouts at his local gym with an eye on the upcoming season. This includes competitions at...

[caption id="attachment_21816" align="alignnone" width="593"] The interior of Carling Campus, the new National Defence Headquarters on the west end of Ottawa. The modernized facility is expected to increase organizational efficiency and generate cost savings as it consolidates over 9,000 people from over 40 locations across the National Capital Region. Photo courtesy of The Guard[/caption]DND ~In line with other departments in the National Capital Region (NCR), Naval Staff in Ottawa is moving out of the downtown Major-General George R. Pearkes Building and into Building 6 of the new National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) at Carling Campus in the city’s west end. This move has already begun and the Naval Staff team expects to be fully re-formed at Carling Campus on Oct. 28. Naval Staff’s move is part of a multi-year NCR-wide consolidation of multiple departments from more than 40 locations that is scheduled to be completed in 2020.Situated on a 360-acre site, Carling Campus consists of 10 newly renovated buildings inter-connected by tunnels and passageways. It includes fitness facilities, recreational spaces, support facilities, and modernized offices equipped with the latest technology.The buildings throughout this new complex are unlike anything else in the military. With plenty of natural light, plants, and water — both indoors and out — the Defence Team will have a healthy and inviting work environment. Staff will benefit from having sit-stand desks, personal storage lockers, improved air circulation, and collaborative spaces for both planned and impromptu discussions. Enhanced security is a key feature at the new location, and access to the complex is strictly controlled.The move to Carling Campus will generate long-term cost-savings for the Defence Team and will increase effectiveness and efficiency by bringing together over 9,000 members into a modern and collaborative environment.

[caption id="attachment_21813" align="alignnone" width="593"] Members from HMCS Vancouver took part in the official opening of Honour Ranch, part of the Honour House Society. Photo courtesy of (civilian) Megan Rownd[/caption]SLt Jacob Tamman, HMCS Vancouver ~Crewmembers of HMCS Vancouver attended the official opening of the Honour Ranch in appreciation of the contribution they and members of HMCS Winnipeg have made in facilitating its opening. The newly-opened Honour Ranch, a 120-acre property 12 kilometers south of Ashcroft, B.C., provides clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and a variety of other professional services to those who require treatment for operational stress injuries. The main lodge for residents is now complete, with plans to open another 10 cottages and begin treatment in early 2020. It is part of the Honour House Society, founded in September 2011, provides a temporary home, free of charge, to members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), Veterans, emergency services personnel, and their families while they or their families receive medical care and/or treatment in the metro Vancouver area. Honour House has provided many families the resources they need during medical treatment, saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars. Honour House receives no direct funding; their operational costs are covered by donations and fundraising events. It is a predominantly volunteer-run organization, with only one paid staff position. Honour House is the official charity of HMCS Vancouver. Since the charity was founded, many ships across the Fleet have offered their assistance in maintaining the residence and grounds in appreciation of the efforts put in by Honour House staff.

[caption id="attachment_21810" align="alignnone" width="593"] Cadets Graeme Bradford from RCSCC 93 and Jamie Tattrie from RCSCC 202 prep their spinnaker during the Provincial Qualifying Regatta held in Esquimalt Harbour.[/caption]Capt Cheryl Major, RCSU (P) ~Forty sea cadets from across B.C. gathered in Esquimalt Harbour Oct. 11 to 13 for the Provincial Qualifying Regatta, the first competition stage in a series that will culminate in a National Regatta in Kingston, ON, next summer. Only 20 cadets from the weekend were selected to compete in the next stage, the National Qualifying Regatta (NQR), which will be held in April 2020. At the NQR, the eight strongest cadet sailors will be selected to form the Pacific National Team.Sailing in the Cadet Program incorporates leadership, time management and quick thinking. The Sea Cadet program provides unique opportunities for youth to gain valuable skills such as leadership, citizenship and community service, while gaining a unique perspective of Canada, and the world, from a maritime viewpoint. There are 1,150 sea cadets in 30 Corps throughout B.C., including a satellite corps in Haida Gwaii.Top 10 TeamsDiana Liang, 47 RCSCC Captain Vancouver, VancouverAndrew Irvine, 325 RCSCC Admiral Waller, SookeDeniston Macilquham, 136 RCSCC Amphion, NanaimoBrendan Duperron, 136 RCSCC Amphion, NanaimoPeter Moiseyenko, 201 RCSCC Grilse, Port MoodyElizabeth Melgarejo Lazarte, 47 RCSCC Captain Vancouver, VancouverBalraj Sian, 102 RCSCC Fraser, DeltaKennedy Parsons, 354 RCSCC Invincible, Maple RidgeAtarah Irvine, 325 RCSCC Admiral Waller, SookeDillan Haynes, 5 RCSCC Rainbow, VictoriaColin Douglas, 349 RCSCC Chilliwack, ChilliwackAidan Gresmak, 263 RCSCC Beacon Hill, LangfordEthan Jewell, 54 RCSCC Admiral DeWolf, Campbell RiverKane Cho, 81 RCSCC Hampton Gray V.C., NelsonJacob Laser, 63 RCSCC Kalamalka, VernonCamden Warwaruk-McKay, 325 RCSCC Admiral Waller, SookeRobert Shen, 47 RCSCC Captain Vancouver, VancouverMichael Kim, 201 RCSCC Grilse, Port MoodyGia Liu, 5 RCSCC Rainbow, VictoriaMarco Tom, 47 RCSCC Captain Vancouver, Vancouver

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~This holiday season the non-profit Together We Stand Foundation is continuing their support for deployed Canadian Armed Forces personnel and their families. Last year, it distributed 2,550 family gift boxes valued at approximately $1.14 million to military families with a loved one deployed overseas. This year that number is increasing to 3,000 gift boxes with the contents including cards and coupons from corporate and private donors with an estimated cash value of $300 per package. Any CAF personnel deployed outside of North America between Dec. 1, 2019, and Jan. 30, 2020, or immediate family members are eligible to apply for a gift box for their family back home.This year’s gift boxes are loaded with morale-boosting gift cards including a $50 Scene Card from Scotiabank, a $25 gift card from jeweler Brass & Unity, and gift cards to restaurants Harvey’s, Swiss Chalet and Milestones from corporate owner Recipe. Other gift box contributors include Adidas, Reebok, and Yogen Fruz.While corporate Canada has answered their call, Together We Stand has also attracted several high-profile supporters to their corner. Its official patrons are former Canadian Prime Ministers Stephen Harper and Paul Martin, and Honorary Council members former astronaut Colonel (Retired) Chris Hadfield, women’s hockey gold medalist Hayley Wickenheiser, Wayne Gretzky, and General (Retired) Alain J. Parent. Together We Stand Vice President Stephanie Shapiro says the ongoing display of generosity by Canadian business leaders, politicians and celebrities is an effort to recognize military families and personnel for the often “underappreciated” and the largely unheralded work they do. “Our organization is intended to honour Canadian military families for the sacrifices they make on behalf of Canadians while their loved ones are deployed overseas and in harm’s way,” said Shapiro. Together We Stand was founded by Toronto philanthropist and entrepreneur Rick Ekstein, President and...

[caption id="attachment_21803" align="alignnone" width="593"] The forecastle cable party and part ship hands stand at attention while coming alongside Busan, South Korea, on Oct. 4. Inset: Cdr Alex Barlow[/caption]Hello friends and families of HMCS Ottawa! I am Cdr Alex Barlow, Ottawa’s Commanding Officer. We’ve reached the halfway point of our deployment on Operations Projection and Neon, and while we are missing home, your continued support keeps us smiling as we conduct operations abroad in the Asia-Pacific region.We have sailed 54 days, 17,000 nautical miles, avoided three typhoons, and visited four countries and seven ports. We have hosted receptions, played sports with sailors from different navies, participated in community outreach activities, celebrated the ship’s birthday, completed a lot of training, and enjoyed sundaes every Sunday at sea. We are doing all of this while staying focused on our mission of enforcing UN sanctions against North Korea and strengthening our relationships with our regional allies.The sail ahead looks smooth as we continue our mission and focus on exercising with other allied nations before we turn the ship east to head home for Christmas. We can’t wait to see you and you remain in our thoughts. Thank you for your support; we’re halfway home!Cdr Alex Barlow Commanding Officer, HMCS Ottawa

[caption id="attachment_21799" align="alignnone" width="480"] Nate Duffus, Shiya Janzen and another DND employee are set to clean up the dry dock and capture any marine critters for relocation in to the Esquimalt Harbour.[/caption]Ashley Evans, FMF CB ~Have you ever wondered what collects, grows and lives in the drydock each time the caisson is open? It essentially becomes part of the ocean floor for extended periods of time between dockings and a potential home for numerous life forms. Prior to docking a Royal Canadian Navy warship or submarine, and in accordance with the DFO Fisheries Act, Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Breton and Formation Safety and Environment (FSE) work together to salvage marine life that has taken up residence in the dry dock, and ensure that any creatures they find are released back into Esquimalt Harbour. When the dry dock is opened for any period of time it gives aquatic species time to enter, and when it is time to move a warship in for maintenance, the dry dock must close by moving the caisson in, the water drained, and the walls and dock bottom cleaned. Salvaging the oceanic ­critters requires many branches and units to work closely over three full days with weeks of advanced planning. “There are a lot of moving parts to complete a salvage and we’re on a tight timeline to get the species out of the drydock and back into the ocean as quickly as possible,” said Patricia Swan, an FSE environment officer who often works with FMF to ensure the navy and DND meet all environmental regulations.  “FMF environment does a great job coordinating all those involved and making it happen behind the scenes.” Because of the potential for thousands of marine animals to be found, the evolution of the salvage is strategically planned to ensure all life forms are placed in fresh sea water immediately, correctly identified and documented, then brought to various drop points around Esquimalt Harbour. “It’s challenging yet rewarding work. The diversity and...

[caption id="attachment_21795" align="alignnone" width="593"] CPO2 Chris Fraser enjoys a moment with his son Andriy and wife Natalia after completing the Goodlife Fitness Marathon in full firefighter gear. Photo credit: MFRC[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Running the Victoria Goodlife Fitness Marathon in full firefighter gear with the heavy breathing apparatus had a “surreal feel to it” admits Chief Petty Officer Second Class Chris Fraser. The 49-year-old Weapons Engineering Technician who works for Canadian Fleet Pacific, battled muscle fatigue and exhaustion, but was greeted with cheers of support from co-workers and friends after completing the 42.2 kilometre course in 5:55:06 on Oct. 13. He ran the race as a fundraiser for the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) and also believes the feat set a Guinness World Record under the category of Fastest Runner Wearing a Firefighter’s Uniform and Breathing Apparatus.He is still waiting for confirmation on the world record.“This was a very hard endeavour both physically and mentally,” said CPO2 Fraser. “Physically I was exhausted earlier than anticipated, which compounded the mental aspect of the run. From the 24 kilometre mark it was just pure determination that made the difference.”The heavy oxygen tank and firefighter’s uniform worn by CPO2 Fraser weighed approximately 25 lbs and included sea boots in place of running shoes. The equipment is protective safety gear commonly worn by Royal Canadian Navy duty technicians, containment managers, and boundary sentries for damage control purposes. While friends, family and co-workers came out to support him and cheer him on, there were others who scoffed and told him flatly “You’re crazy for doing this,” says CPO2 Fraser. He also contemplated quitting his run on multiple occasions during the race. By the half-way point of the marathon he was struggling to run or even move his legs and slowed to a walk to take...

DND ~The Veteran’s Service Card is now available upon request to all eligible former and releasing Canadian Armed Forces members. Veterans who have completed basic training and have been honourably released can now apply for the new Veteran’s Service Card at the following: https://bit.ly/2IEPpaLThe first stage of the Veteran’s Service Card was announced in September 2018. The Department of National Defence, Veterans Affairs Canada, and Library and Archives Canada are working together to ensure that the necessary resources are in place to verify, produce, and distribute the Veteran’s Service Cards in a timely manner.“The women and men who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces deserve our full support as they transition to post-military life,” said Vice-Admiral Haydn Edmundson, Commander Military Personnel Command. “We introduced the Veteran’s Service Card in September of 2018, rolled out the stage two distribution last December and, as promised, the stage three distribution now begins. We have a sacred obligation to our women and men in uniform, and the Veteran’s Service Card acknowledges and recognizes their devoted service to Canada.”In stage three, cards will be produced and issued upon request to all eligible Veterans who released prior to February 2016. Eligible Veterans in the stage two group—those who released between February 2016 and September 2018—who have not yet requested the card may also apply.Moving forward, all Canadian Armed Forces members who are eligible receive the card automatically upon their release.The Veteran’s Service Card provides a tangible symbol of recognition for former members, and encourages an enduring affiliation with the Canadian Armed Forces. It has no expiry date and it is not intended for use as an ID card, pursuant to Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and other guidelines on official identification cards.All serving Canadian Armed Forces members and Veterans are encouraged to register for a...

Camille Douglas, Totem Times Newspaper ~After a series of unexpected hardships, the HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial has re-opened. Wednesday, Oct. 16 marked a ribbon cutting ceremony at to celebrate their re-launch.This year was to be a 20-year anniversary celebration, but Mother Nature and a criminal act set them back. “In the spring, the museum was damaged by an arson fire,” said Lewis Bartholomew, founder and executive director. “Then, during a sudden rainstorm in the middle of the tourist season, we sustained severe water damage.”When the call went out on social media that the museum needed to be evacuated due to the sudden flooding, the community rushed to aid. Within two hours of the announcement, the majority of the display cases and fixtures had been removed to an empty but dry store front next to the museum, and over the next two days, community volunteers came to assist in disassembling the entire museum, including a crew from HMCS Quadra.Only then could the three-week drying process begin and the damages assessed. Restoration efforts began, with tremendous support from the broader community through crowd funding and the donations of goods and services.“Almost all of the initial estimate of damages – approximately $10,000 - was donated. The labour to remove and reinstall flooring was provided as a donation to the museum by a local flooring company and community volunteers,” said Bartholomew. For more information on The Alberni Project and the HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial visit alberniproject.org, or drop by the museum at 625 Cliffe Avenue in Courtenay.

CFMWS ~Canadian Forces newspapers are looking for youth reporters from military families between the ages of 13 and 18 who want to write a story about an issue that is important to their life or the community around them.The story must be original and about an issue or a personal experience or insight that has not been widely reported, and reflects the life of the contributor or their friends and family. Youth interested in this endeavor should submit an application with their story pitch between Oct. 6 and Dec. 31. The application can be found at CAFconnection.ca/YouthReporter.Then, Canadian Forces newspaper managers will meet in January to choose the five most unique and powerful story pitches – and have the winning entrants write their story.The stories will be published online and in CF newspapers. Up for grabs is a grand prize package and scholarship for the best story, determined by readership votes.

[caption id="attachment_21773" align="alignnone" width="593"] Kelsey Towers-Jones shows off a Hyak-2 rocket used in competition by the UVic Rocketry club. The rocket reached a speed of 2,200 km/h, or Mach 1.8, during a recent competition. Towers-Jones is currently doing a cooperative education placement at Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton. Photo courtesy UVic Rocketry[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff writer ~A university engineering student and rocket enthusiast is launching her dreams through a work-study placement at Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF CB) Cape Breton. Kelsey Towers-Jones, a third-year mechanical engineering student at the University of Victoria, is on a cooperative education placement with the Industrial Engineering Section at FMF CB. She is tasked with making recommendations on how to best configure equipment and resources to improve workplace efficiencies throughout FMF CB, and developing designs and engineering drawings for a number of continuous improvement projects. The 22-year-old started her job four weeks ago and says she fully enjoys working at the sprawling 35,000 square metre facility in Dockyard. “This is exactly the stuff I want to do for my career – industrial engineering and manufacturing,” said Towers-Jones. “The people at FMF are passionate about their jobs and it is always great to work with those genuinely interested in what you are passionate about.”Reaching for the starsWhen she isn’t cracking the books or working, Towers-Jones builds rockets as a member of the UVic Rocketry club. She and approximately two dozen other students meet on evenings and weekends to design, build, and launch rockets in international competitions. She recently became the rocketry team’s payload engineering lead, and handles the engineering design work to support the payload science team that develops the real “rocket science” on board the rockets. Kelsey’s club is currently preparing for the next Spaceport America Cup amateur rocketry competition, to be held next June in New Mexico....

[caption id="attachment_21770" align="alignnone" width="593"] Members of HMCS Ottawa practice Brazilian Jujutsu for physical training on board HMCS Ottawa while deployed on Operations Projection and Neon. Photo by Leading Seaman Victoria Ioganov, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Capt Jenn Jackson, HMCS Ottawa PAO ~Respect is on the mats and in the flats.What happens on the mats, stays on the mats.I am only here to make you better.Those are the rules that govern the physical training that takes place two to three times a week in HMCS Ottawa’s hangar. The area is transformed and a group of passionate Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes practice their sport, working to collectively make each other better.It is an initiative spear-headed by Marine Technician Master Seaman Matthew Taggart. The group is open to all who want to participate and averages four to10 members of Ottawa’s crew, both male and female.“As we were preparing for this deployment, I knew there were others from Victoria’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community on board,” says MS Taggart. “I reached out to them to see if they wanted to practice while we are at sea and that is how the group began.”MS Taggart is a four-and-a-half year veteran of the sport who has been competing for three. He tried Jiu-Jitsu for the first time at the encouragement of a subordinate during Operation Artemis. Once he tried it, he found himself on a different path.“Looking back, I was not in a good place in my life when I started Jiu-Jitsu,” said MS Taggart. “I was extremely angry for a number of reasons, but once I started training regularly I found that Jiu-Jitsu not only gave me a positive outlet, but it also led to a commitment to better myself. I am still honouring that commitment today.”That philosophy is reflected in the rules established by the group which highlight the sense...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Members of the Royal Canadian Legion will honour military members who lost their lives on Canadian soil with a memorial service next weekend in Cobble Hill.The ceremony is organized by the Malahat District Branch #134 of The Royal Canadian Legion and commences at the Cobble Hill Cenotaph at 11 a.m. on Oct. 19. This is the third annual memorial service. This year’s organizer, Master Corporal (Retired) Harold Davis says the ceremony is an important opportunity to commemorate and celebrate the lives of countless Canadian Armed Forces members who died in the years following their service.“We often commemorate Canadian soldiers who die in foreign theatres of war, but quite seldom nothing is said about those who lost their lives on Canadian soil,” says Davis. “The ceremony is really to say to these men and women and their loved ones that we remember you guys too, and want people to be aware that military personnel put their lives at risk every day while serving our country in Canada.”The ceremony, says Davis, is also meant to honour people who are all too often invisible casualties of war; veterans who have succumbed to both mental and physical injuries following their years of service. The main focus is a moment of silence to remember the dead followed by a wreath laying. The Canadian flag at the cenotaph will be lowered to half-mast ahead of the ceremony.Davis, a former air weapons technician, is the founder and President of the Persian Gulf Veterans of Canada. He recently retired after a 42-year career with Shared Services Canada that included 32 years of military service. During the proceedings, Davis will be thinking about people he knew and worked with. Those include two aviators Bob Henderson and Wally Sweetman who lost their lives during a Sea King...

[caption id="attachment_21763" align="alignnone" width="593"] Tour de Rock riders make their way into CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue during a tour stop on at CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue hall. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~This year’s Tour de Rock riders were given a hero’s welcome when they rode their bikes into the base fire hall on Oct. 4. CFB Esquimalt was one of their final stops in the annual fundraiser that ­benefits pediatric cancer and Camp Goodtimes, a summer camp for children with cancer and their families. Corporal Michael Smith of the Military Police Unit Esquimalt and Alexandria Marshall of CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue were part of the 19-member team of first responders in the final stages of their grueling, two-week, 1,100-kilometre journey across Vancouver Island. Marshall was given a warm embrace by her boss, CFB Fire and Rescue Fire Chief Geordie Douglas; Cpl Smith and other riders pumped their fists over their heads to a gathering of approximately 100 well-wishers who celebrated their arrival.By the end of the day, when the team arrived at their final destination at Centennial Square in downtown Victoria, they had raised over $1.1 million. Cpl Smith says the team’s journey across the Island was more emotionally draining than physically taxing. That’s because his team made over 150 stops at schools, community centres and other venues and heard dozens of stories in each community of loved ones lost or of those currently fighting cancer.“It was a humbling experience seeing all of Vancouver Island come together and support Tour de Rock and strengthened my faith in humanity to unite and support people in need,” said Cpl Smith. He and each rider on the tour was paired with a junior rider who has overcome or is battling cancer, which he says creates a two-way...

[caption id="attachment_21757" align="alignnone" width="591"] Junior Canadian Ranger Maison Meer-Crossen of the Telkwa Junior Canadian Ranger Patrol takes a moment to read the gravestone of a First World War soldier. Read the full story on page 2. Photo by Lieutenant Natasha Tersigni, 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group Public Affairs Officer[/caption]Lieutenant Natasha Tersigni, 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group Public Affairs OfficerFor the fourth year in a row, a No Stone Left Alone Remembrance Ceremony was held in Anyox, B.C., on Oct. 5, to ensure soldiers from the First World War buried in the now-abandoned town are not forgotten. Organized by the Stewart Canadian Ranger Patrol, 11 Junior Canadian Rangers from the Stewart and Telwka Junior Canadian Ranger Patrols, along with local Canadian Rangers, travelled by helicopter to Anyox for the event. “After arriving in Anyox, located 60 kilometers southwest of Stewart, B.C., on the Observatory Inlet, the JCRs and Canadian Rangers hiked into the forest where the cemetery is located,” said Commander Sergeant Eric Drew, Stewart Canadian Ranger Patrol. “The Stewart Canadian Ranger Patrol came into this area five years ago for a patrol exercise. We knew the cemetery was here, so we conducted ground searches as part of our training and we were able to locate it. We have been coming back here ever since with our first NSLA event being held in 2016 with youth from the community and local JCRs. It is important for the youth of today to recognize and remember the sacrifices of the soldiers from the past.” In 1914, Anyox was a booming mining town that had over 3,000 residents thanks to the Granby Consolidated Mining, Smelting and Power Company. Men that joined the Canadian Armed Forces and went overseas to fight in the First World War were guaranteed their job back at the mining company upon...

[caption id="attachment_21730" align="alignnone" width="592"] Lieutenant-Commander Isabel Macneill, right, poses with two Wrens during the Second World War.[/caption]DND ~LCdr Isabel Macneill was the first woman to command a ship in the British Commonwealth. She was captain of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Conestoga in Galt, Ont., during the Second World War.She was also the only woman outside the British Royal Family to rate being piped aboard a warship, an honour usually reserved for flag officers or special guests.But although Macneill commanded a ship, she was a long way from the sea.Conestoga was a “stone frigate”, which in naval terms refers to a commissioned shore establishment of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) with the HMCS designation.It was established in the fall of 1942 to train members of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS), commonly known as Wrens. Intended to provide an introduction to military life, courses included physical training and drills, as well as instruction in naval customs and traditions.Born in Halifax in 1908, Macneill was educated at the Halifax Ladies’ College, Mount Saint Vincent Academy, the Nova Scotia College of Art and the Heatherley School of Art, London, England. From the beginning of the Second World War, she was associated with volunteer work, and when the naval service in Canada was opened to women in August 1942, she immediately joined up.One of the first class of Wrens, she trained initially in Ottawa, was commissioned as an officer, graduated from the first course at Conestoga, and was appointed commanding officer the following year.By all accounts Macneill was a popular commanding officer, well respected for her vision and leadership.This is from an article written in the Wren’s newspaper, The Tiddley Times, in the summer of 1944:“When she is speaking to a group of probationary Wrens of the tradition behind the navy in which they are serving, or when she deals with captain’s defaulters on the quarterdeck, she can be as stern and majestic as any ‘old man’ on board a flagship of...

DND ~The National Veterans’ Week Speakers Program needs Canadian Armed Forces members to volunteer as speakers during Veterans’ Week (Nov 5-11). Since September, requests have been pouring in from schools and community organizations across the country for a Regular or Reserve Force member to take part in their Remembrance Day ceremonies as a speaker.If you are interested in participating or have already agreed to give a presentation, please let us know by registering via the electronic registration form located on the Defence Team’s Veterans’ Week web page.Your participation is key to the program’s success — help us put a face to service and remembrance.The aim of the program is to bring awareness of Veterans’ (past and present) service and for remembrance to Canadians. Last year, the program received an unprecedented number of requests — a little over 2,600 — and filled 2,322 of those requests, reaching 667,000 Canadians, and we are well on our way to surpassing that number this year.We are currently experiencing shortfalls in Northern Ontario and in the National Capital Region and anticipate shortfalls in Alberta, Toronto and its surrounding areas.If you have any questions, contact the National Veterans’ Week Speakers Program coordinator at 1-833-223-8322 or DNDRemembrance.SouvenirMDN@forces.gc.ca.

[caption id="attachment_21724" align="alignnone" width="592"] A group of Canadian Armed Forces personnel hold up a Canadian flag after participating in an Army Run at Union III military installation in Baghdad. Photo credit DND[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A group of Canadian soldiers stationed at Union III military base in Baghdad have raised over $1,000 from a five-kilometre charity run for the non-profit Soldier On.The 12 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel were part of a larger group of 110 runners from 15 coalition nations who work at the U.S. Army’s Combined Joint Operations Centre and took part in the Army Run. The fundraiser was organized by CAF members. Operated by the Canadian Forces Transition Group, Soldier On provides year-round regional sports camps and activities for its participants and manages Canada’s Warrior Games and Invictus Games teams.Petty Officer Second Class Kanwar Nijjer, a finance supervisor at CFB Esquimalt’s Naval Fleet School (Pacific), is currently deployed to Iraq and took part in the run. “The run was also a great way to get to know other [military] members from around the world, and I made many friends that day,” said PO2 Nijjer. “Having a good physical training routine is a great way to relieve stress, take care of your body, and is ultimately tied to the success of the deployment.” With average daytime high temperatures in the region reaching 40 Celsius, the run was held at 6:30 a.m. to avoid the scorching desert heat. Despite the early morning start time, PO2 Nijjer says the mercury climbed to 25 Celsius when the runners set off. Run organizers raised a total $800 (U.S.) through sales of Army Run registration, and participants received a hat, race patch and dog tag as keepsakes. PO2 Nijjer is part of Operation Impact, which was established in 2016 and is Canada’s contribution to the...

[caption id="attachment_21721" align="alignnone" width="593"] Meteorologist MCpl Dan Jacklin monitors special equipment to help him prepare a weather forecast on board HMCS Ottawa. Photo by Leading Seaman Victoria Ioganov, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Captain Jenn Jackson, HMCS Ottawa PAO ~Most meteorologists have the luxury of forecasting the weather in the vicinity of an airport or city where they live. The weather patterns come to the location, do their business, and move on to the next location.Such is not the case for Master Corporal Dan Jacklin, one of two meteorologist technicians deployed in HMCS Ottawa. Unlike Met Techs ashore, MCpl Jacklin must keep an eye on the weather currently around the ship and must look ahead to where the ship will be when doing his forecasting.“Sailing is a unique challenge for a Met Tech,” says MCpl Jacklin. “I am responsible for putting together a weather brief for the Commanding Officer (CO) daily. My report can have a direct impact on operations – for example if a major weather system will occur along our voyage, the CO may decide to delay to avoid the storm, or direct the Navigating Officer to adjust our route to avoid it.”To assist the Met Techs on board Ottawa are several weather forecasting devices. There are two anemometers located on the mast to measure wind speed and direction, wet and dry bulb thermometers, portable barometers, and a barograph to monitor pressure trends.“A trend on the barograph that is heading down is an indication that inclement weather is on the way. If the ship can’t avoid it completely, the Commanding Officer may order preparations to safely weather the storm,” explains MCpl Jacklin.Unlike shore postings, serving on a ship does have some advantages for Met Techs, especially those at the Master Corporal rank.“What I enjoy about serving on a ship is that I...

[caption id="attachment_21718" align="alignnone" width="593"] Photo by Leading Seaman Victoria Ioganov, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Captain Jenn Jackson, HMCS Ottawa PAO ~When Tianna Smith applied for a job as a Personnel Support Programs (PSP) Fitness Instructor at CFB Esquimalt two years ago, she had no idea where that would take her.“I had just finished my kinesiology degree at the University of Victoria and saw the job listing. I thought it would be a great opportunity to work with a different segment of the population and a diverse group of people,” says Smith. “It’s definitely been that, but so much more.”Fast-forward two years, and “so much more” translates to her second deployment with the Royal Canadian Navy providing fitness programs to the crew. Her first deployment was in MV Asterix in support of HMCS Calgary during Operation Projection. Her second is with HMCS Ottawa’s current deployment for Operations Projection and Neon. To deploy, she had to complete an intense one-week course in Halifax that included an introduction to life on ship, sea survival training, recreation ideas and activities, a tour of a Halifax-class frigate and chemical biological radiological and nuclear training. All of that was aimed at fitting the right instructor with the right deployment.“Even though the course was only one week, it was one of the most intense weeks of my career,” she says. “Most days were 12-plus hours and there was a lot of information covered to make sure all of us were prepared for any Canadian Armed Forces deployment – whether in support of the navy, air force or army. Since I am employed in Esquimalt, deploying on ship made the most sense for me.”Wanting to experience the Royal Canadian Navy firsthand and see for herself what sailors do played a big role in her decision to volunteer for deployments.“When working ashore in...