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[caption id="attachment_21714" align="alignnone" width="593"] Heidi Maier, Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA) Junior Sailor, competes during the Canadian Optimist Championship in Ottawa. Photo by Christian Bonin/TSGphoto.com[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Heidi Maier, 13, says she has been swept away by the power of sailing.The Grade 8 student has found competitive success harnessing the wind, and a healthy activity, during her eight years with the Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA) Junior Program. “When I first tried the sport I was in Kindergarten; I thought it was really cool,” said Maier.  “It was so appealing to me simply because you harness the wind and the waves and make a large object move in the water without a motor or expending your own energy.”She began competing three years ago in single-handed sailing dinghies called Optimist Class. Strong finishes at weekend regattas have become the new normal for her. She has first place finishes at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club’s Frozen Assets Regatta in February, and more recently the Maple Bay Regatta on Sept. 1. She also had a noteworthy 10th place performance at the Kitten Cup in Vancouver, in a much larger field that included provincial and national team members. In August, she had an 11th place finish in a field of 65 sailors at the Canadian Optimist Championship in Ottawa. “The fun part isn’t just the competition, its meeting people from across the country and around the world, making new friends, and getting to go to post-regatta dinners.”Getting her feet wetMaier learned to sail with CFSA’s Opti Wet Feet at age five, around the same time her father, Lieutenant-Commander Christopher Maier began his first sailing experiences. He is the current CFSA Commodore, and says his daughter has advanced so far she gives him pointers and advice about sailing techniques.“I always saw the potential in her...

[caption id="attachment_21711" align="alignnone" width="593"] Victoria’s Edward Vaughan receives his French Legion of Honour Medal from France's Consul General for western Canada Phillipe Sutter at Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead on Sept. 29. Photo courtesy Shannon Donnelly, Broadmead Care[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A Second World War veteran who piloted a Lancaster bomber on multiple missions in western Europe has been awarded France’s highest military decoration. Victoria’s Edward Vaughan, 96, was inducted into the French Legion of Honour by Phillipe Sutter, France’s Consul General for western Canada in a ceremony at Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead on Sept. 29. The award recognizes allied soldiers for their contributions to the liberation of France during the Second World War and to date has approximately 92,000 recipients.Vaughan, a Broadmead resident and long-time Victoria resident, was grinning ear to ear upon receiving France’s highest military medal. He then gave Sutter a firm handshake and was presented the customary red ribbon and medal, a Maltese asterisk hung on an oak and laurel wreath, and a commemorative certificate.“It was just me, an ordinary pilot doing this,” said Vaughan in accepting the award. “I am very pleased, thank you so much.”The former Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) flying officer successfully completed 36 missions in his Lancaster bomber nicknamed ‘Old Faithful’ in support of the liberation of France between June and August of 1944. Born in Swansea but raised in Cumberland, B.C., Vaughan did his pilot training in Alberta, Scotland, and England. During the war, he was stationed in north Yorkshire with the RCAF’s Goose Squadron whose main task was to weaken German defences in preparation for the Allied invasion of southern France in August 1944.During one bombing mission to Germany, Vaughan recalled how a bomb fell through the wing of his Lancaster and started a fire on board. He then...

[caption id="attachment_21708" align="alignnone" width="593"] Thirty military police took part in the parade for the Sept. 29 event that honoured fallen officers. Photo by LS Mike Goluboff, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A contingent of 30 Military Police from across British Columbia, led by Major Roland Russell, paid tribute to fallen colleagues in the annual B.C. Law Enforcement Memorial on Sept. 29 in Victoria. The annual ceremony honours the lives and contributions of every law enforcement member in the province who died in the line of duty. This year’s memorial ceremony was held simultaneously with ceremonies in Canada’s provincial capitals and with the Canadian Police and Peace Officer Annual Memorial Service held in Ottawa. The memorial was attended by officers representing 24 municipal, provincial and federal law enforcement agencies.For Sub-Lieutenant Garret Cross, Operations Officer with Esquimalt’s Military Police Unit, this was his first B.C. Law Enforcement Memorial. He assisted in the organization for this year’s event and described the experience as “bitter sweet” as the ceremony honours the lives of members who pursued a common goal of making B.C. communities a safer place and ultimately died in that pursuit. “I believe the experience is a therapeutic one for everyone involved,” said SLt Cross. “You could see by the expressions of everyone who attended that these deaths have deeply impacted all of us. This ceremony highlighted the unbreakable bond that exists between Military Police personnel and all first responders.” The ceremony commenced with the parade marching from Government Street to the B.C. Legislature. There was a crowd gathered to hear the names of 125 fallen police officers. A moment of silence was followed by the playing of The Last Post, three volleys fired from a rifle, and the laying of wreaths for the fallen. The ceremony concluded with a march past and...

[caption id="attachment_21705" align="alignnone" width="593"] HMCS Moncton returns to its homeport of Halifax after a refit that includes a Second World War Admiralty commemorative paint scheme to honour the 75th Anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Atlantic. The pattern is a form of ship camouflage from the Second World War era.  Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption]SLt M.X. Déry, MARPAC PA Office ~For the next year it will be easy to distinguish HMCS Regina from the other West Coast frigates as it has a new paint job. The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) decided to paint Regina in a Second World War Admiralty commemorative paint scheme to honour the 75th anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Atlantic, which occurs in 2020.In the Second World War, the paint scheme was a form of ship camouflage with one or more colours to obscure or confuse the enemy’s visual observation during the Atlantic battles, particularly enemy submarines.Historically, River-class frigates were painted in the Disruptive Admiralty scheme. Tribal-class destroyers and C-class destroyers were painted in the Dazzle scheme. Flower-class corvettes were painted in both schemes during their service.Regina is painted in white and blue shades in a geometric pattern. The new look will be showcased at Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2020.The task of painting the ship fell to the deck department, augmented by other members of the ship’s company, as well as Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton. For Chief Petty Officer Second Class Joe Dagenais, the Chief Boatswain, this is a chance to show off the ship and the teamwork required to make it look grand.“This is a key piece to show how FMF and DND can collaborate to achieve an important and common goal,” he said. On the East Coast, HMCS Moncton has a similar paint job. Commemorating the Battle of...

[caption id="attachment_21677" align="alignnone" width="593"] Capt(N) Darren Garnier speaks to members of Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia about his time in command of Combined Task Force 150. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is a 33-nation naval partnership that has worked to promote security and stability in the Middle East since 2002. While the coalition has had success combating terrorism, piracy, and other wrongdoing, the working relationship between countries isn’t always simple.The coalition is non-binding, meaning no nation can be forced to carry out operations under the CMF banner, and the variety of nations included means different ways of conducting military business and different sets of national values.When Combined Task Force 150, one of CMF’s three task groups, came under Canadian command from December 2018 - April 2019 under the leadership of Capt(N) (now Retired) Darren Garnier, the team adopted a Canadian way of doing things. Capt(N) Garnier established a Command Chief Petty Officer position to work alongside him in Bahrain at CTF 150 HQ, emphasizing the important role of senior non-commissioned members in the Canadian Armed Forces, and he also made sure his unit’s six female officers were front and centre for tasks and meetings.“It was something I wanted to establish; in some of the countries we visit in that part of the world, non-commissioned members and women members are sometimes not well valued by their militaries. We had a great team and part of our mandate was to empower them,” he said.The Canadian contribution to CMF is known as Operation Artemis. Capt(N) Garnier, who recently retired from the CAF following the deployment, spoke to members of the Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia on Aug. 21, delivering a presentation that included results from this 12th rotation of Op Artemis, as...

[caption id="attachment_21680" align="alignnone" width="594"] Sailors practice refueling at sea during the opening days of the exercise. Photo: MARLANT PA[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~Communities across Nova Scotia were impacted when the destructive post-tropical storm Dorian made landfall Sept. 7, and the Canadian Armed Forces community was no exception.The storm came at a particularly inopportune time for Maritime Forces Atlantic, with NATO partners from seven nations arriving just days ahead of Exercise Cutlass Fury, a joint multinational maritime engagement taking place off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Public events planned for the weekend, including ship tours and a soccer match, were called off as 15 ships headed to sea to ride out the storm in sheltered waters. Damage to the Halifax boardwalk and the scale of power restoration efforts meant the planned sail past and fly past on Sept. 9 was also called off.“There was disappointment on all sides. The staff I worked with had been preparing for this exercise for more than a year now, and everyone was very much looking forward to this part of it, welcoming the public to the dockyard to see these ships,” said Capt(N) Matthew Bowen, Exercise Director for Cutlass Fury 19. He added the changes to the schedule and cancellation of some activities were necessary to protect naval equipment, the sailors themselves, and members of the public.The bulk of Cutlass Fury, however, continued as planned. The exercise task group sailed out on the afternoon of Sept. 9 to begin exercising off the coast of Nova Scotia. HMC Ships Fredericton, Ville de Quebec, St. John’s, Shawinigan, and Glace Bay participated, along with MV Asterix, and RCAF aircraft including CP-140 Auroras, CC130T Hercules, CC-150T Polaris air-to-air refuellers, CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopters, and CF-18 Hornet fighter jets. Visiting ships included members of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 from the Dutch,...

[caption id="attachment_21674" align="alignnone" width="593"] A Base Logistics employee and LS Darryl Forry of HMCS Regina deploy a containment boom from F Jetty during a spill response training exercise on Sept. 18 in Esquimalt Harbour.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A coordinated effort by civilian and military personnel at the base resulted in the successful execution of the first annual exercise of the Colwood Fuel Facility (CFF) Environmental Emergency (E2) Plan required under federal legislation.Port Operations and Emergency Services Branch (POESB) led the day-long training and exercise held on Sept.18.The exercise simulated DND’s response to a 32,000L marine spill at the Colwood Fueling Jetty, one of several environmental emergencies identified in the E2 Plan for the CFF.  The training and exercise tested DND preparedness and response to such an emergency and involved approximately 20 ­individuals from POESB, Base Logistics (BLOG), Formation Safety and Environment (FSE), and sailors from HMCS Regina and HMCS Vancouver. The E2 Plan and annual exercises are a requirement under the recently amended Environmental Emergency Regulations that came into force on Aug. 24 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. E2 Regulations establish minimum threshold concentrations and quantities for 249 hazardous substances. Under the regulations, organizations that own or manage a specified substance at or above the thresholds are required to officially notify Environment and Climate Change Canada, inform the public if they may be adversely effected, and develop, exercise, and maintain an E2 plan. Participants spent the first portion of their day in the classroom learning about the regulations and the CFF E2 Plan, marine spill response, and familiarization of emergency response equipment. The spill simulation took place in the afternoon and involved the deployment of approximately 2,000 feet of booming to contain the mock spill, and the deployment of skimming devices that would be used to collect the fuel if a spill...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A new podcast titled The Military Lifestyle focusing on the challenges facing today’s military members and their families is coming to your smartphone, tablet or computer.The first episode of a 14 episode first season will debut on Oct. 9 and is being produced by the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) with the help of local company Organized Sound Productions. The podcast will build on the Esquimalt MFRC’s digital presence following the launch of its Deployment App in 2017. “We are excited to offer a new way for people to experience and interact with the MFRC,” said Jon Chabun, MFRC Esquimalt Communications and Marketing Coordinator.Chabun will host the program and says creating the podcast was about meeting people where they live. The organization has seen how community members often live, stay connected and keep organized through their smart phones. “People are busy and military families are increasingly living everywhere,” said Chabun. “You don’t have to worry about registering and getting to a workshop. You can download it, listen to it offline, on your schedule. We really hope to reach people that might not traditionally come through our doors or who don’t have the time to get to a workshop at the MFRC.”Areas of discussion on The Military Lifestyle include deployments, postings, and transitions through interview with experts from their respective fields here at the base and across Greater Victoria. The first episode looks at preparing couples for deployment with MFRC Deployment Coordinator Sandra Pinard. Other episodes include an interview with military anthropologist Dr. Anne Irwin, who will discuss the challenges facing military personnel transitioning from the military to the civilian world, while another will focus on looking for work in a new community. Chabun says the MFRC is open to suggestions for future topics of the podcast.Funding...

[caption id="attachment_21667" align="alignnone" width="594"] CPO2 Chris Fraser displays the flash gear he will run in during the upcoming Goodlife Fitness Victoria Marathon. His run is a fundraiser for the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre. The gear weighs approximately 25 lbs and CPO2 Fraser hopes to set a Guiness Book of World Records marker with the feat. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Guinness Book of World Records here he comes.Chief Petty Officer Second Class Christopher Fraser is getting ready to set a world record when he crosses the finish line at next month’s Goodlife Fitness Victoria Marathon. It won’t be the fastest time though. Instead, he hopes to become a new Guinness Book of World Records record holder in the category of Fastest Runner Wearing a Fire Fighter’s Uniform and Breathing Apparatus. CPO2 Fraser will run the race as a fundraiser for Esquimalt’s Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC).His firefighting gear weighs approximately 25 lbs and is protective safety gear commonly worn by Royal Canadian Navy duty technicians, containment managers and boundary sentries for damage control purposes. Running the full distance of 42.2 kilometres will be a monumental challenge, says CPO2 Fraser. “It’s all about going slow,” he said during a break from his training at the Dockyard Gym. “It’s going to take time and patience and is certainly going to be a difficult challenge for me, but it’s absolutely achievable and if I do this the Guinness Book record will be mine.”However, he has yet to learn if his application has received approval from Guinness, but says he will run the race either way. The gear consists of a support harness and an air tank and respirator. He will also run the race in his Naval Combat Dress, minus the baseball hat, and his military boots. He knows his...

[caption id="attachment_21664" align="alignnone" width="594"] MCpl (Retired) Ray Weeks stands next to a Queen’s Own Rifles commemorative marker located near the Kingsmill Building at Work Point. In his hand is a commemorative card to honour his friend, Rifleman Harold George, who died during a training accident on the Sooke River on Sept. 24, 1969. Weeks, who lives in Gold Coast, Australia, was in town to attend a memorial ceremony in Sooke in honour of his friend and platoon mate.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Three former members of the Queen’s Own Rifles 1st Battalion gathered at Sooke Potholes last week to remember a fallen comrade who died in a training accident 50 years ago. The memorial was organized by Master Corporal (Retired) Ray Weeks for his friend and platoon mate, Rifleman Harold George, who drowned in the fast-moving Sooke River during a training exercise. Weeks, 72, travelled from his home in Gold Coast, Australia, to attend the ceremony. He was joined by two former platoon mates from ‘A Company’. “The memorial didn’t have a sequence or a blessing or a padre. It just included members of the battalion who wanted to say goodbye to our friend,” said Weeks. “I never got a chance to say goodbye to Harold back then because I was injured in the training exercise and in the hospital for weeks. The whole incident still weighs heavily in my mind, so I decided to do something about it.”On Sept. 24, 1969, George was 19 when the 12-foot rubber assault boat he was riding in capsized in the rapids, leading to his drowning death. The soldiers had travelled from their unit’s headquarters at the Work Point Barracks for a three-day Watermanship Training Exercise on the Sooke River above the potholes, located 40 kilometres west of Victoria. George was among 40 men riding in four rubber boats when the accident occurred. Weeks was one of two soldiers who were injured in the accident. He suffered extensive bruising, a fractured skull and concussion and...

A/SLt Michelle Scott, MARPAC Public Affairs ~The formation welcomed three new Petty Officer Second Class sailors to the fleet in a PO2 Promotion Ceremony last week — the first of its kind on the West Coast.The ceremony was created to highlight the significance of the promotion to PO2 and the increase in roles and responsibilities that come with the rank. It was an initiative of Formation Chief CPO1 Tim Blonde, who also helped implement the same ceremony on the East Coast early last year. “You’re now becoming owners of the institution,” said RAdm Bob Auchterlonie, who presided over the ceremony. “This is a key step in your transition within the Royal Canadian Navy.”For PO2 Matt Douglass, a Naval Communicator on board HMCS Calgary, and one of the three newly promoted sailors, the significance wasn’t lost on him. “I definitely feel the added responsibility with a ceremony like this,” he said. “It gives the promotion itself a little more meaning to have the support of all the senior leadership here. It really means a lot.” This is what CPO1 Blonde was hoping would be conveyed to the newly promoted PO2s when he pitched the idea.“The development of the senior NCO (non-commissioned officer) is near and dear to my heart. Petty Officer Second Class serves a vital role in ships and the RCN,” explained CPO1 Blonde. “It is this position that I truly believe to be the real deck plate leaders on board our ships.”For many, it is a new type of leadership role, CPO1 Blonde explains. “Leadership is hard work, and as a PO2 you don’t lead from your desk, you must be visible.”In order to ease the transition to senior NCO, the promotion ceremony, which has the members presented their new ranks by the Admiral and their Commanding Officer, will be held in conjunction with professional development seminars. Going forward it is expected there will be four to five such ceremonies and ­seminars each year for all newly promoted PO2s and...

[caption id="attachment_21652" align="alignnone" width="593"] Master Seaman Veronica Leslie interacts with a preschool class during a trip to the Father Ray Foundation. Photo by Leading Seaman Victoria Ioganov, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Leading Seaman Alix Bovair, HMCS Ottawa ~While alongside Pattaya, Thailand, on Sept. 14, during Operation Projection, a group of sailors from HMCS Ottawa made a few new friends at a local charity.They spent the day at the Father Ray Foundation, a local non-profit organization that works to help over 850 children and adolescents in Thailand. They provide food, clothing, education, and most importantly a sense of family to those who may not have otherwise received it. With the foundation’s motto being “We never turn a needy child away”, Ottawa’s crew wanted to do anything they could to help the Father Ray Foundation. They began by providing a cheque from Boomer’s Legacy for $10,000, which will ultimately go towards the purchase of new uniforms for the children. For children originating from all sorts of impoverished areas and unfortunate circumstances, and for those who do not have a safe place to call home, The Father Ray Children’s Home is a sanctuary. Ottawa’s crew was moved by the joy of the children at the Day Care Centre. They enjoyed lots of running, singing, dancing, and laughs with the energetic three and four year olds. Crew and youngsters took a whirlwind trip to a local fish pond, with music and dancing afterward; the energy of the toddlers was inescapable and contagious. Crew members couldn’t help but leave with smiles. The crew then moved to the vocational school for people with disabilities. The foundation works directly with young adults with disabilities to assist them in obtaining skills and education in computer and business programs.The Father Ray Foundation has aided in the convalescence of many who’ve gone on...

[caption id="attachment_21639" align="alignnone" width="593"] A team from HMCS Fredericton’s crew (green shirts), as part of the ‘Sailors For Wishes’ fundraising campaign from Aug. 6-14, participated in the International Fire Truck Pull in St. Stephen, NB. Inset: Children’s Wish Foundation child Noah, 9, with his mother Julie Bennett.[/caption]DND ~In eight days, they biked 1,000 kilometres, marched in parades and even pulled a fire engine with their bare hands. Then, the sailors of HMCS Fredericton granted a little boy his wish — playtime outside.Noah Bennett, 9, has both autism and severe neurodevelopmental issues. He was born underdeveloped and as an infant, just as he was learning to babble and say ‘da-da’, he had a seizure that left him permanently non-verbal, said his mother Julie Bennett.At two-years-old, a stroke paralyzed the left side of his body.More than anything in the world, Noah loves playing outside on his family’s backyard deck. However, the deck height is a danger and there isn’t much protection from the sun. The family lives in a mosquito-dense area and because of his condition Noah won’t swat them away. He will often return inside with terribly swollen red arms.But now things are getting better. Thanks to the over $40,000 raised so-far through HMCS Fredericton’s 11th annual ‘Sailors for Wishes’ Children’s Wish Foundation fundraising drive, Noah is having a personal ‘outdoor play oasis’ built for him.The new play area is going to replace a single shade-giving umbrella with a full roof, have mosquito netting, safety barriers, a sensory play table with water and sand, and an easy access magnetic door from the house so Noah can come and go as he pleases.Much of Noah’s day is spent going between home, school and multiple doctor appointments. It’s tiring. Sometimes it feels like his play area outside is his only relief from it...

[caption id="attachment_21635" align="alignnone" width="593"] A day at 2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier in Quebec allowed video game champion “missharvey” to jump from the virtual world to reality. Photo by Private Marc-André Leclerc, Valcartier Imagery[/caption]Édouard Dufour, Adsum newspaper ~Stéphanie Harvey – known as “missharvey” by the international video gaming community – is a five-time world champion in the Counter-Strike shooter video game. In July, she learned how to use real weapons at 2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier. Harvey is a video game designer at Ubisoft Montréal, and a prominent professional player on social media. She is followed by 116,000 people on Twitch alone, a platform where live video games can be watched.During her visit on July 18, she was accompanied by four members of 1e Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment. After donning army battle dress, she was driven to the training area to test her shooting skills. She learned to buy the latest AR-15 rifles, the C6, C8 and C9 machine guns. She also tested a 9mm Browning pistol and a C14 Timberwolf sniper rifle.She practiced for nearly an hour under a blazing sun. She compared this rather physical experience to her workouts in the gym.This incursion into the military world was not the first for the professional player. A few weeks previous, she parachuted with the Canadian Armed Forces Parachute Team, the Skyhawks at 3 Wing Bagotville. She then emphasized the similarity between the teamwork of the military and that of professional video game players.Corporal Cédric Sabourin was one of those who accompanied Harvey during her visit to the Valcartier base. He noted the professional video game player was able to make impressive group shots with a pistol, a rare occurrence for someone starting out.Harvey had the final opportunity to practice urban combat as part of a simulation at Building 3 of the Militia Training Support Centre. According to Cpl Sabourin, she observed several parallels between the actual attack strategies and those advocated in the Counter-Strike video game as...

[caption id="attachment_21632" align="alignnone" width="593"] Ball hockey players gather for a celebratory group photo following the conclusion of their game. Photo by Peter Mallett/Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Soggy conditions on the field and outside courts didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of participants in this year’s edition of Naval Fleet School Pacific Sports Day.Over 500 sailors-in-training gathered at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre in Colwood Sept. 13 to take part in football, soccer, baseball, ball hockey, basketball, tennis, beach volleyball, and yoga.At the conclusion of Sports Day, Fleet School Commandant, Commander Annick Fortin congratulated event organizers, Master Seaman Kevin Olid and Leading Seaman Klarck Montemayor, and all participants for their efforts. “It’s really beneficial for our sailors to get outside for the day and enjoy friendly competition and this year’s event is another success,” she said. “It’s important to work hard at our jobs, but getting out here for some exercise, esprit de corps and a chance to socialize is also very rewarding and important.”The torrential rains of the previous night combined with occasional showers throughout the morning made for slippery field and court conditions but didn’t deter anyone from having a good time, said MS Olid. The free pizza and drinks for lunch, along with some musical accompaniment provided by local radio station 100.3 The Q and their Boom Box sound system, was a big morale booster for the participants when they had concluded their events.

[caption id="attachment_21628" align="alignnone" width="593"] David Neal makes his way along the 54-kilometre Black Spur Ultra trail race in Kimberly, B.C. The 47-year-old was running his first-ever ultramarathon and celebrated a fifth-place overall finish with a time of 6:06:02.1. Photo credit: Black Spur Ultra[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A first-time ultramarathon runner surprised everyone including himself with his recent fifth-place finish at the Sinister Sports Black Spur Ultra trail race.David Neal, who works as a Safety Environment Management Systems Officer with Formation Safety and Environment, travelled to Kimberly, B.C., on the weekend of Aug. 24 to compete in the gruelling 54-kilometre cross-country style race with 2.4 km of elevation gain in the Purcell Mountains. It was his first ever ultramarathon, but his pace and nutrition strategy paid off as the late-blooming 47-year-old moved quickly to the front of the pack amongst a field of 117 runners and kept up the pace. He crossed the finish line with an impressive time of 6:06.02 and surpassed dozens of younger and more experienced runners. “I had no expectation of doing this well in my first ultra-length race, but halfway through the course I started to monitor my average pace and understand where I was in the field of runners and it motivated me and helped strengthen and quicken my pace,” said Neal.Before setting out he had set a “realistic goal” of finishing the course in seven hours and 15 minutes. His impressive finish was nearly one hour and 10 minutes quicker than anticipated.A runner’s high With a background in cross-country skiing, hockey, and soccer, Neal only became involved in competitive running in the past year. He began to take up trail running a few years back as an escape and says he used it as a coping mechanism for his grief following a string of deaths in his family that included the loss of his sister, mother and father over a three-year period.“It seemed to help me cope, putting me in a meditative state, and feel better...

[caption id="attachment_21625" align="alignnone" width="593"] MS Tracy Voorthuyzen in the Revel Chilliwack Marathon.[/caption]Lt(N) MJ Kia, HMCS Malahat Public Affairs ~They say the secret to happiness is setting attainable goals, but the definition of attainable is only as limited as your imagination. For Master Seaman Tracy Voorthuyzen, a Supply Technician at HMCS Malahat, her sights were set high. “I have set myself a goal to complete 60 marathons by age 60, which is March 2020. I started running marathons in 2009 at the Victoria Marathon. I have now completed 58; my plan is for the 59th to be in the Victoria Marathon in October, and then number 60 in Cancun, Mexico, this December.” A regular on the Canadian Armed Forces national and international running circuits, MS Voorthuyzen has competed in multiple prestigious events, including the Boston Marathon, twice. Her love for the sport has had a positive effect on her shipmates, as she is often the lead organizer at Malahat for getting others involved in running. “I drive most of my shipmate’s crazy asking them if they have signed up for whatever the latest races are. In 2016 our unit had three participants at the Boston marathon, where the only way in is to meet strict qualifying times,” she says. On Sept. 19, MS Voorthuyzen was awarded Most Dedicated Athlete at the CFB Esquimalt Sports Awards for 2019. It is only fitting that she wasn’t present to receive her award, as MS Voorthuyzen is presently in Europe at the Disney Castle to Chateau Challenge where she continues to live her passion for ticking off the kilometres. 

[caption id="attachment_21621" align="alignnone" width="593"] Naval Cadets gather for a photograph on the flight deck of USS Spruance during an exchange program with the United States Navy in August. The Naval Cadets are enrolled in the Regular Officer Training Program and were participating in ROTP’s summertime On-the-Job Employment Program. Photo submitted: Naval Personnel Training Group (NPTG)[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A group of Naval Cadets gave glowing reviews about their recent summer job placements aboard the United States Navy (USN) vessel USS Spruance. The six junior sailors are enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces Regular Officer Training Program (ROTP). They recently wrapped up three-week job placements aboard the USN’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. They embarked Spruance in Seattle and arrived at U.S. Naval Base San Diego on Aug. 27.Their participation was part of the ROTP’s On the Job Employment (OJE) program. OJE finds work placements in the Canadian Armed Forces for 160 naval cadets throughout the summer months when they are not attending classes at Royal Military College in Saint-Jean, Que., Kingston, Ont. or Canadian universities.Lieutenant (Navy) Tony Greenwood, Basic Training List (BTL) Manager for Junior Naval Warfare Officers at the Naval Personnel and Training Group (NPTG), helped organize this year’s exchange. Lt(N) Greenwood, a former graduate of the ROTP in 2014, says the intention of the exchange is to give cadets practical experience on a warship. “I also had some interesting work placements during my time in ROTP, but sailing aboard a USN destroyer is an incredible assignment for these young sailors and by all reports they thoroughly enjoyed it. The idea was to give this group of cadets practical experience on a warship and it was mission accomplished.”This year’s participants were NCdt Jonathan Anderson, NCdt Eve Baker, NCdt Farris Bakir, NCdt Timothy Baljet, NCdt Lisa Grandmaison and NCdt Alex Morneau. Four of...

[caption id="attachment_21618" align="alignnone" width="593"] HMCS Winnipeg alongside Ogden Point for Defence on the Dock.[/caption]SLt Wilson Ho, HMCS Winnipeg ~This is You Day SailHMCS Winnipeg embarked over 200 guests Sept. 14 from Royal Roads Alumni and the Achieve Anything Foundation’s “This is You” program, for a first-hand experience of life on board a Halifax-class frigate. The “Achieve Anything” Foundation organizes hands-on experience events with the navy and other agency/industrial partners that are improving gender diversity in their workplaces, and also promoting equal opportunity in all of their jobs. Despite heavy fog obstructing the scenic views of Esquimalt and Victoria Harbour, guests were invited to tour the ship, including the operations room, the bridge, and the machinery control room. In addition, guests were given the opportunity to try on boarding party equipment and test their skills in a smoky firefighting simulator. During lunch on the flight deck, the fog surrounding Winnipeg lifted.  Although overcast, the increased visibility allowed guests to see the demonstration of the ship’s full manoeuverability, which included full speed runs, crash stops, and high speed turns. Once back alongside Esquimalt Harbour, the President of the Vancouver Island Ex-Cadet Club presented two books to the crew. In closing, Winnipeg’s Commanding Officer, Cdr Mike Stefanson, had a few words. “Thank you for coming out and sailing with us today, and letting the sailors show you our home; this is not just our ship, but your ship as well.”Defence on the DockThe next day, overcast weather didn’t dampen the spirits of many Vancouver Islanders as they participated in Defence on the Dock, hosted by CFB Esquimalt. HMCS Winnipeg was open for tours at Ogden Point and welcomed 3,300 eager guests. Defence on the Dock is a showcase event where members of the public are invited to interact with both military and civilian personnel...

Bill Sparling, Contributor ~For years, I routinely responded jokingly to the pro-forma greeting of “how are you” with “vertical and breathing is the goal.” Now, having just returned to work from a heart attack, it really is the goal. So, my first symptoms were pain beneath the sternum, nothing else. Having heard many lectures about heart attack symptoms, I recognized it but because one: it was without any of the other symptoms we are taught to expect and two: because of my history of acid reflux I considered the pain to be (quelle surprise) acid reflux. Ironic when you consider that I am the unit safety officer and first aid support falls within my purview.It hit me, off and on, for some time and one day, at work, got really bad. So bad, in fact, that I made a doctor’s appointment to have it checked out. Fast forward one week to the doctor’s appointment. Within five minutes, the doctor tells me to get my furry behind to the emergency room: “Now, or you will die.” Five days and an angioplasty later, with stents, I am ready to go home with a year’s supply of meds and a bunch of follow-on appointments. By the way, angioplasty is a surprisingly painful procedure that you are fully conscious during and feel everything as they monitor you to ensure that a stroke doesn’t occur. So, here’s the nitty-gritty. I had blockage of an artery feeding the heart muscle. Due to the time elapsed, my heart was compensating and developing alternate blood flows to protect itself, so damage was limited. The angioplasty opened up the blockages, removing the built-up plaque, and the stents ensure the artery will stay open. A week’s rest at home and  then it was back to work, albeit with a few minor...

[caption id="attachment_21611" align="alignnone" width="593"] Students from CF College set off on a harbour tour in Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats. Photo by LS Mike Goluboff, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Janice Lee, MARPAC Public Affairs ~Last week, CFB Esquimalt welcomed students of the Joint Command and Staff Programme from the Canadian Forces College. The aim of the programme is to prepare selected senior officers of the Defence Team for command and staff appointments in the contemporary operating environment across the continuum of operations in national and international settings.The 150 students were split into three groups to participate in demon­strations and exercises around the base. On Monday, the students took part in a day sail on board HMCS Winnipeg where they received a tour of the frigate, experienced high-speed manoeuvres, and saw a boarding demonstration by the Naval Tactical Operations Group. The second day they toured Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton and participated in the International Engagement Asia-Pacific Brief. They also visited submarine HMCS Chicoutimi.Another group spent the morning at Venture, Naval Officer Training Centre to learn about the ship bridge simulators. It gave them an idea of being on the ocean. Afterwards they experienced the real thing on board an Orca training vessel. With the soft breeze of the ocean and the subtle bumps of the waves, the students had a chance to undergo a speed and manoeuvrability demonstration.The last group went to Naval Fleet School Pacific. There they were introduced to the Replenishment at Sea trainer and a virtual welder demonstration. They experienced the weapons capabilities of a frigate through a Close-In Weapons System simulator. Afterwards, they toured Esquimalt Harbour in a Zodiac before proceeding to Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) for a taste of a clearance diver’s life by taking a dip in the Pacific Ocean.Students of the Joint Command and Staff Programme are...

[caption id="attachment_21608" align="alignnone" width="593"] Jetty Services staff from Port Operations and Emergency Branch work to secure Victoria-Class submarine HMCS Chicoutimi before Defence on the Dock at Ogden Point on Sept. 15. Photo by POESB[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Guided tours of the Royal Canadian Navy’s submarine HMCS Chicoutimi was a key attraction at this year’s Defence on the Dock at Ogden Point.But getting the Victoria-class submarine alongside for the Sept. 15 event was no simple task. Chicoutimi is currently undergoing a refit and couldn’t get there on its own power.The process of moving Chicoutimi was a slow and methodical one, and involved 17 civilian members of the Queen’s Harbour Master, and three vessels from the base’s Auxiliary Fleet. Their operation began that day at 5 a.m. when the crews secured Chicoutimi to tug boats Glendale and Lawrenceville.Over at Ogden Point’s Pier A, Jetty Services and tug boat Tillicum began setting up the required berthing system and brows.It was all in a day’s work for the Queen’s Harbour Master, said LCdr (Retired) Roger Miller, Pilot 2 of Jetty Services.“Rigging was the key to this operation. Put simply, it’s all about taking a large tug like Glendale and a smaller tug like Lawrenceville, and then rigging them with ropes to Chicoutimi so that all three vessels move as one unit.”The mission could have easily been hampered by high winds, heavy seas, and fog that were forecasted that day. Thankfully for Miller and his crew the predictions didn’t pan out until later in the day. At the time of the move Chicoutimi and its supporting vessels had light winds and more than 100 yards of visibility, said Miller. They managed to make the four nautical mile journey in approximately two hours. Towing a submarine is an easier job than towing a frigate or large vessel, he...

[caption id="attachment_21601" align="alignnone" width="593"] Canadian Leaders at Sea participants and HMCS Calgary’s command team visited the Haida Heritage Centre in Haida Gwaii.From left to right: LCdr Melissa Fudge, CPO1 Todd Jones, Juniors Damy, Candyce Kelshall, Matthew Lewis, Leelah Dawson, Tim Charles, Chief Reg Young (“Gitkun”), Chief Lonnie Young (“Gaahlaay”), Jason Alsop (“Gaagwiis”), Gary Perkins, Derek Threinen, HCol Don Foster, Jeff Topping, Lt(N) Andrew Lauzon, Mark Blevis, and Cdr Jonathan Kouwenberg. Photos by Leading Seaman Shaun Martin, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Lt Chelsea Dubeau, MARPAC Public Affairs ~It isn’t every day that civilians are afforded the opportunity to see inside a warship, let alone sail with its crew and basically have the run of the place. Yet that’s exactly what happened from Sept. 14-18, when 10 intrepid people, leaders in their respective fields from all across Canada, embarked in HMCS Calgary as part of the Canadian Leaders at Sea (CLaS) program. The CLaS program invites ­leaders to experience an operational warship at sea, the goal being to “show why Canada’s navy is relevant, important, and professional, and why our sailors are the best in the world,” according to the joining instructions. One CLaS participant, Mark Blevis, is the Director of Public Affairs and Marketing for Commissionaires. For him, the CLaS experience was more than just learning about a warship - for him, it was about the people.“To me this is a four-day university crash course in leadership, teamwork, organizational structure, cooperation, and passion,” said Blevis. “The level of passion I’ve picked up from everyone on the ship is incredible; how passionate they are to be here, how passionate they are about their jobs. Hearing the stories about what led them to be here to join the forces and hearing what makes people tick has been incredible. You don’t often hear people talk about their jobs with such a sense of purpose.”Each CLaS participant received a temporary set of Naval Combat Dress, was assigned their own bunk, and had the opportunity to eat in every...

[caption id="attachment_21576" align="alignnone" width="593"] Yanick Létourneau, Christian Jalbert and Érick Cloutier will work as a team to transform a motorbike as a benefit to the Soldier On program. Photo by Édouard Dufour, Adsum Newspaper[/caption]Édouard Dufour, DND ~Chief Petty Officer Second Class Christian Jalbert, currently working at Naval Reserve Headquarters in Québec City, boasts a 27-year career in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), divided between the Regular Force and the Naval Reserve. With the help of two collaborators, he is embarking on an ambitious project: modifying and auctioning off a motorbike as a benefit to the Soldier On program.Thanks to donations from their loved ones and the general population, the three men working on the project were able to purchase a 1994 Harley-Davidson Sportster bike for $1,725. “Throughout my career, I’ve known and worked alongside people who were injured, both physically and mentally. I haven’t experienced what they’ve had to live through, but I do see the impacts it all has on their lives. I wanted to do something that would bring them a sense of accomplishment and build awareness of mental health issues in the general population,” said CPO2 Jalbert, a bike aficionado from a very early age.For the coming months, the three men will meet weekly in Lévis, Quebec, to transform the bike. CPO2 Jalbert and his partners have already assembled the bike, having purchased it dismantled. Only a few parts of the original structure will have been retained when the machine reaches its final form. The goal is to auction the bike off during fall 2020; all profits are to go to the Soldier On program. “This program gives back to veterans who really need it. It enables them to become active again and it’s a community promoting sport and physical activity. I’ve met many people who were having trouble....

Eric De Lafontaine, Manager Soldier Operational Clothing and Equipment Modernization, DSSPM ~More than 600 soldiers at 4 Canadian Division Support Base Petawawa will test a new Canadian Disruptive Pattern (CADPAT) to help select replacement camouflage for the current iconic woodland and arid CADPAT patterns.The original distinctive CADPAT, revolutionary for its time, was initially developed in 1997. It is most closely associated with the Canadian Army, but it is also worn by airforce and naval personnel when they work on land.Canadian Special Operations Forces personnel wear another pattern, MultiCam, which is not being replaced.Since CADPAT was issued, there have been several advances made in camouflage research, specifically protection from detection by infra-red and other night vision systems.Starting at the end of September, 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment will begin wearing coats and trousers, shell fragmentation protective body armor, bush caps, helmet covers and rank patches in the “Prototype J” mid-spectrum pattern.This new four-colour pattern falls in the middle of the camouflage spectrum, not overly emphasizing brown or green tones.While there have been over a dozen patterns tested, this is the first pattern to be taken out of a lab and tested using real soldiers who are undergoing rigorous training for overseas operations. There will likely be adjustments made to the pattern resulting from this trial.The trial will last until July 2020. During this time, the Human Factors Support Cell from the Soldier Systems Directorate within Director General Land Equipment Program Management will seek user feedback about the “Prototype J” pattern by conducting large-scale questionnaires.The team will also conduct data collection, focus groups, and 3D body scanning to define how the current operational uniform and personal equipment can be improved.This study will also include seeking out soldiers of smaller stature, including but not exclusively women, to ensure that the next generation of clothing...

[caption id="attachment_21568" align="alignnone" width="593"] HMCS Ville de Quebec is seen tied up at the new Jetty NJ. Photo courtesy Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has marked another step on the road to accepting the first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) with Jetty NJ now complete at the north end of HMC Dockyard in CFB Halifax.Government representatives, senior RCN leaders, including Atlantic Fleet Commander, Cmdre Richard Feltham, and CFB Halifax Base Commander, Capt(N) David Mazur, other sailors, and CAF members gathered to officially cut the ribbon for the project on Aug. 22.Cmdre Feltham touted the size and location of the new jetty, along with its modern fendering system and utility tunnel, as an upgrade that will allow the dockyard to accommodate a greater number of larger ships without worry. This includes current and future RCN ships and those of visiting allies, he said.“This project provides critical infrastructure to enable us to do the things necessary to prepare our ships to go around the world. It will allow us to execute the missions that the people and the Government of Canada need us for,” he said. “It provides a new, safe place at home to berth our ships, do our repairs, and to rest and recover.” Members of HMCS Harry DeWolf were on hand to celebrate the official opening, as Jetty NJ will be the ship’s regular berthing place following its expected delivery to the RCN later this year. The 247-metre long jetty will eventually accommodate four of the navy’s six AOPS vessels at a time.

[caption id="attachment_21565" align="alignnone" width="593"] MV Asterix arrived back in Halifax Aug. 26 after more than 500 days away supporting the Royal Canadian Navy in various exercises and operations. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption]Trident Newspaper ~After nearly a year and a half at sea supporting Royal Canadian Navy ships and allies around the world, MV Asterix arrived back at its homeport of Halifax on Aug. 26.The interim supply ship, owned and operated by Davie Shipbuilding subsidiary Federal Fleet Services, left Halifax in April 2018 and kept a busy schedule that included involvement in exercise RIMPAC 2018 off Hawaii, Operation Projection and Operation Neon in the Asia-Pacific, and support for Operation Artemis and CTF 150 in Middle Eastern waters.In total, the vessel conducted 197 refueling operations with 40 warships from 12 countries throughout the 500-day deployment, transferring nearly 31 million litres of fuel. Asterix sailed a total of 150,721 nautical miles, and conducted exercises, operations, and port visits throughout the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, South China Sea, Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf.These taskings were all carried out with a mixed crew of civilian mariners and Royal Canadian Navy sailors from Naval Replenishment Unit (NRU) Asterix, led by Commanding Officer LCdr Trent Nichols, with crews rotating out partway through the deployment to allow the ship to remain at sea.Asterix spent two weeks tied up at HMC Dockyard before sailing again to support RCN warships and NATO allies as part of Cutlass Fury 19. The ship is then expected to return to Davie Shipbuilding in Quebec for maintenance.

[caption id="attachment_21561" align="alignnone" width="592"] Future Lokole users have a look at the inner working of Nzola Swasisa’s invention, Lokole. Lokole operates similar to a portable router and is helping spread access to the internet to underserviced and remote regions of his former country. Inset: Founder and Lokole team lead Nzola Swasisa.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~An electronics apprentice, and inventor, from Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMF CB) is on a quest to help spread vital internet communications to underserviced and remote regions in Africa. Nzolantima Swasisa travelled to his former hometown of Kinshasa, the capital city of Democratic Republic of Congo, for three weeks in August to distribute 10 of his offline portable web and email network devices to local community representatives. His latest invention is a tiny black box called a Lokole and can provide web and email access in a 25-metre radius for up to 100 users. Lokole derives its name from an ancient Congolese drum used in pre-colonial times as a means of imparting vital communications between villages. Swasisa says having access to reliable communications is a game-changer in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Most people have no internet service; the more fortunate ones rely on wireless phone service to access the internet. “More than 60 per cent of the African population doesn’t have access to efficient internet communications and the problem is much worse in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” says Swasisa. “Lokole addresses this problem by creating a sharable local area network, allowing individuals in remote locations to sustain vital communication links.”With skyrocketing and unaffordable wireless fees, Swasisa says Lokole makes access to the internet 100 times cheaper for the average person. His device allows community leaders to receive emergency government communications and alerts, educational documents for schools, health advice from medical professionals, the ability to...

[caption id="attachment_21558" align="alignnone" width="592"] A clearance diver investigates a dud rocket in a hesco barrier of a forward operating base.[/caption]Lt(N) Sebastian Harper, FDU (P) ~Clearance divers from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) recently deployed to Guam for Exercise Hydracrab.The amalgam of navy explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) operators from allied partner nations convened Aug. 19 on the Pacific island of Guam to practice their skills. Hosted by United States Navy EOD Mobile Unit 5, Hydracrab was an inaugural 14-day exercise designed to push EOD operators to their limits in a non-permissive maritime environment.  Participants included Clearance Diving Teams 1 and 4 from Australia, Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) from Canada, HMNZS Matatua from New Zealand, and EOD Mobile Unit 5 and 3 Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) EOD, from the United States. Unique to this exercise, US Marines from 3 MEF Force Reconnaissance also flew in from Okinawa, Japan, to act as “Blue Force” for the exercise, giving participants the opportunity to integrate with ground forces and assault teams during raids and vessel boarding.Over the course of the exercise, eight RCN clearance divers honed their skills, participating in dismounted improvised explosive device (IED) disruption tasks, which in many cases involved hand dismantling IEDs in order to enable an assault force to press on to their objective. They also practiced ancillary skills including diving, fast rope insertion, shooting, and close quarters battle to better enable them to integrate with land forces or boarding teams; something that navy EOD teams are often called on to do.Mobile Unit 5 intends to make Exercise Hydracrab an annual event in which Pacific allied EOD partners can integrate and better prepare their EOD operators for the next fight. Having the opportunity to inter-operate with partner nations in an intense and immersive exercise gives Canadian clearance divers the warfighting skills required to accomplish their...

[caption id="attachment_21555" align="alignnone" width="592"] Lt(N) Justin Sowley explains the integration of the pelorus, a reference tool for maintaining bearing of a vessel at sea, with the Naval Bridge Simulator to Cdr (Retired) Doug Henderson. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Graduates of the Royal Canadian Navy’s junior officer training centre known as HMCS Venture gathered in Victoria last week for their 11th quinquennial reunion.Held once every five years, the reunion brings together members of CFB Esquimalt’s Naval Junior Officer Training Establishment, HMCS Venture, which ceased operations 51 years ago. Last week’s reunion saw approximately 125 alumni and their spouses attend two days of activities organized by the Venture Association in conjunction with Naval Fleet School Pacific (NFS(P)). Between 1954 and 1968, HMCS Venture and its campus, which was located in Dockyard, trained junior naval officers of the Executive, Engineering, and Fleet Air Arm and Naval Services branches during a two-year term of academic education. The buildings that once housed the school, Dockyard buildings 11 and 29, were demolished in 2017.Many reunion attendees are now in their 70s and 80s and travelled to Victoria from across the country and the United States to celebrate the legacy. Admiral (Retired) John Anderson, Ambassador to NATO and former Commanding Officer, Naval Officer Training Centre (NOTC) Venture, and past Chief of Defence Staff, was the special guest for this year’s reunion. Lieutenant Commander Todd Kennedy, who serves as the present-day Venture Division Commander, within NFS(P), welcomed the group with a reception and orientation at Work Point’s Collier Theatre on the morning of Sept 12, in conjunction with the Naval Fleet School Commandant, Commander Annick Fortin, and Deputy Fleet Commander, Captain(N) Scott Robinson. All three of spent the day with Venture Association reunion guests as they walked the flats of current day Venture Division, and joined...