News

[caption id="attachment_20291" align="alignnone" width="591"] Lieutenant Commander Kathryn Logan is set to trek the north.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A Logistics Officer is getting ready to fulfill a life-long dream when she embarks on an Arctic excursion in Canada’s far north in the weeks ahead.On April 3, Lieutenant Commander Kathryn Logan and an all-women team of 18 hikers will embark on an 11-day journey on Baffin Island. Their excursion is one of the outdoor adventure programs to benefit injured current and former military members organized by True Patriot Love. The national charitable organization provides Canadian military, veterans and their families access to support programs and funding.“For me it’s an incredible opportunity, I have always wanted to visit the north but haven’t had the opportunity, so I am really excited to be a part of this expedition.” The 36-year-old grew up in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, and is married to a constable with the Victoria Police Department.  She joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 2000 and currently works as Logistics Officer for Canadian Fleet Pacific. Her military career has included deployments to the Arabian Sea, Afghanistan and Libya. However, at the beginning of her career, she experienced a major physical setback when she suffered a knee injury in 2001. She tore the Anterior Cruciate Ligament while playing basketball at Royal Military College. It’s been a number of surgeries and years of recovery with her athletic activities shifting to long-distance endurance sports including hiking and triathlons, but LCdr Logan has made a mostly complete recovery.The True Patriot Love expedition will cover over 100 kilometres of scenic, but extremely isolated terrain. Accompanied by two Inuit guides, the women will snowshoe across the Arctic Circle passing landmarks such as Akshayuk Pass and a rarely visited section of the Owl River Valley. They plan to cover approximately 10 kilometres...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) are being hailed for their humanitarian efforts in Vietnam last fall that included the revitalization of a centre for Agent Orange victims.On Sept. 27, 2018, 24 sailors from HMCS Calgary and Naval Replenishment Unit (NRU) Asterix got the ball rolling on an extensive revitalization project at Social Welfare Centre No. 3 for Agent Orange and Disadvantaged Children. The work included cleaning, painting, providing new furniture and toys, and teaching equipment for the centre located in Vietnam’s coastal city of Da Nang. Colonel Jeff Drummond, Canadian Defence Attaché Singapore/Cambodia/Vietnam, facilitated the port visit to Da Nang by HMCS Calgary and Asterix, who were at the time deployed on Operation Projection. He acted as an intermediary between the sailors and centre to determine the scope and tasking of the project. Upon further discussion with the Director, Col Drummond realized there was more work to do: build additional classrooms for the children. He had a conversation with Calgary’s Operation Chief, Chief Petty Officer Second Class Line Laurendeau that resulted in a quick solution. CPO2 Laurendeau, who supervised the ship’s outreach programs, offered up money to pay for supplies to build the classrooms from the ship’s Boomer’s Legacy funds. She then met with the Director and staff and helped them purchase the required building materials, while the centre arranged for contractors to perform the work.In January, the centre held an inauguration ceremony for the new classrooms, which was attended by school officials, the Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Deborah Paul and embassy staff members. A plaque above the entrance to the classrooms unveiled at the ceremony pays tribute to sailors of the RCN and Boomers Legacy. “It was very poignant dealing with the Director and staff of the centre. Although they were expecting the agreed...

[caption id="attachment_20284" align="alignnone" width="591"] Members of the CFB Esquimalt Tritons gather for a victory photograph following their 5-4 win over CFB Edmonton in the championship game of the Canada West Regional hockey tournament in Wainwright, AB, on Feb. 1.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Esquimalt Tritons rallied to defeat CFB Edmonton and capture this year’s Canada West Regional Men’s Hockey title in Wainwright, Alberta, on Feb. 1.The winning goal came from Lieutenant (Navy) Edric Lim, a Logistics Officer from HMCS Ottawa, with five minutes remaining in the third period that gave the Tritons a 5-4 victory in the championship game of the five-team tournament.The Tritons dropped their opening game to Edmonton 6-4 but then rebounded to reel off five consecutive wins. In their path to the finals they defeated CFB Wainwright 13-2, CFB Winnipeg 7-4, CFB Shilo 9-0 and had a 7-3 triumph over Winnipeg in their semi-final.The Canada West regionals served as a qualifier for this month’s Canadian Armed Forces Men’s Hockey Championship tournament, held Feb. 23 to 28 at CFB Edmonton.The Tritons trailed 4-2 going into the third period of the championship game before erupting for three unanswered goals.Esquimalt’s top scoring line included forwards Lt(N) Lim, Corporal Jon Michel and Captain Jack Lawson who all led the way in the comeback by each scoring one of three goals.Tritons Team Captain, Lt(N) Braden Casper says the victories give him and his teammates a confidence boost and feeling of satisfaction heading into the nationals.“The team gelled together and over the course of the tournament dug deep to show resilience against some strong competition from Edmonton,” said Lt(N) Casper, who works as a Maritime Systems Engineering Officer aboard Ottawa.Lt(N) Casper noted that historically Esquimalt is normally at a disadvantage when it comes to competing at the nationals. That, he says, is because of...

[caption id="attachment_20281" align="alignnone" width="590"] Maritime Forces Pacific and Commander of Joint Task Force (Pacific), Rear Admiral Bob Auchterlonie (right), and Formation Chief Petty Officer, CPO1 David Steeves (left), receive the salute from HMCS Regina’s crew as they leave for Operation Projection and Operation Artemis. Photo by LS David Gariepy, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Royal Canadian Navy / Canadian Armed Forces ~HMCS Regina, accompanied by Naval Replenishment Unit Asterix, departed its homeport of Esquimalt last Wednesday for a deployment to the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. The ships will initially support Operation Projection working with partner navies and conducting key leader engagements to enhance military cooperation and partnerships in support of Canada’s diplomatic efforts in the Asia-Pacific region.In March the ships will transition to Operations Artemis, supporting the Canadian-led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150). CTF 150 is part of the Combined Maritime Force, which is a naval coalition of 33 partner nations that promotes security and stability in international waters of the Middle East regions. CTF 150 works to deter and deny terrorist organizations from using the high seas for smuggling weapons, illicit cargo, and narcotics, while ensuring the safe passage of merchant ships in some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Upon completion of their support to Operation Artemis the ships will transition back to Operation Projection for the remainder of their deployment and continue their engagement in the Asia-Pacific region. Of note, this deployment also marks the third operational deployment of a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter, and the first deployment of a Cyclone with the Pacific Fleet.

[caption id="attachment_20260" align="alignnone" width="590"] This year’s reunion is June 7 to 9 at the Marriott, 100 Kent Street, Ottawa.[/caption]How the reunion beganThousands of Canadian women served in the Second World War; there were 4,480 Nursing Sisters and, in 1941, the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) women’s division was created. There were 50,000 women in the Canadian Armed Forces, of which approximately 17,000 served in the RCAF, working in both traditional and non-traditional trades.In 1951, the Canadian government declared women would be recruited into the RCAF, as it needed greater numbers of personnel because of the construction of three radar lines across the country: the Distant Early Warning Line, the Mid-Canada line and the Pinetree line. On July 3, 1951, the first 80 enlisted women arrived for basic training at St. Jean, Quebec. By 1953, the number of women had increased to 3,133 and, by 1955, the number had dropped to 2,903. By the early 1960s changes in radar technology meant the RCAF's personnel needs had dropped considerably and it decided to stop recruiting women. A happenstance reunionOne day in Vancouver in 1988, RCAF veterans Diane White and Shirley Duff met at a department store "by chance" and made a luncheon date to talk over old times. During that luncheon, they thought it would be a great idea to hold a reunion of all airwomen from the 1951 to 1966 era. They set about planning a reunion and held a very successful one in Vancouver in June 1990, attracting women from across Canada, the United States and Mariana Islands. A second reunion was held in Ottawa in June 1993. After that, it became a periodic occurrence. These RCAF Airwomen reunions have attracted anywhere from 200 to 450 ex-airwomen, renewing old friendships and making new ones.Reunions continue every second year. This year’s...

[caption id="attachment_20248" align="alignnone" width="591"] Earlier in the year, Lt(N) Drake (left, foreground) led a casualty treatment exercise onboard MV Asterix. LS Stowell (right, foreground) applies a blood pressure cuff while MS Peer (left) and MS Robillard (right) look on.[/caption]Capt Chris Dare, Dental Officer, NRU Asterix ~Toothache while at sea? Naval Replenishment Unit (NRU) Asterix can take care of that. Since the decommissioning of the last Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessel in 2016, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has been without a ship-borne dental clinic or dental officer. With the launch and deployment of Asterix in January 2018 and its embarked Canadian Armed Forces personnel, the RCN has re-established full medical and dental capabilities while at sea.On the medical side, NRU Asterix employs a physician assistant, medical technician, and a medical officer. A doctor onboard, with their expanded scope of practice, allows for a greater ability to treat the many ailments that sailors may encounter over the course of their deployment. The medical officer also acts as the senior medical authority for the ships sailing in consort with MV Asterix, affording medical teams onboard nearby Canadian Patrol Frigates sound and timely advice. The ship also has portable x-ray and ultrasound equipment that further enhance capabilities when a medical radiography technician is embarked. Asterix features a well-designed and capable medical facility. In addition to two offices/examination rooms, there is a trauma bay, a five-bed hospital-style ward, x-ray suite and pharmacy. The trauma bay is designed to allow for a surgical team to embark and perform surgeries onboard, giving the platform further mission-specific capabilities.Asterix is also capable of responding to humanitarian aid and disaster response operations.In terms of dental services, MV Asterix features a full dental operatory, complete with a dental x-ray, sterilization and dental lab space.  On board, a dental team comprised of a...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Anticipation amongst sports fans at the base and throughout Victoria is mounting as the arrival of the Rogers Hometown Hockey event draws near. CFB Esquimalt is one of 24 chosen locations to host the ultimate National Hockey League fan experience with Sportsnet hosts Ron MacLean and Tara Slone. Naden will open to the public Saturday Feb. 16 and Sunday Feb. 17 for two afternoons of family-friendly fun with interactive activities, displays, entertainment, and an autograph session with former NHL goaltender Kirk McLean.On Sunday afternoon, MacLean and Slone will broadcast a Hockey Night in Canada game from the Sportsnet Mobile Studio.Live out-takes will be shown from the Wurtele Arena during the Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers game. The broadcast will also feature a segment of MacLean and Slone being taken aboard HMCS Vancouver for an intimate look at life in the navyBase Commander, Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd will join Coach’s Corner icon and former Boston Bruins coach Don Cherry as special guest during the broadcast. Capt(N) Boyd says that he, much like the rest of the hockey fans at the base, is excited by the outreach opportunity for the Royal Canadian Navy and the men and women of the Pacific Fleet.“Local hockey, or any sport for that matter, is something the base wants to support because many of our military and civilian members devote so much of their time to the game. They coach, they officiate, they play, and they volunteer at every level of the game from Atom to Oldtimer.”Capt(N) Boyd has a strong connection to Canada’s national sport. He excelled playing youth hockey in tiny Rosetown, Sask. He was originally recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces to play hockey at Royal Military College of Canada back in 1984. Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare charity Support Our Troops has partnered with Rogers Hometown Hockey. Capt(N) Boyd says, “the event will help shine the spotlight on a national organization that does so much for members of the Canadian...

[caption id="attachment_20244" align="alignnone" width="591"] LS (Ret’d) Jon White (left) and PO2 Don Merlo.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Two sailors transformed into holiday heroes for a family in Sooke after performing a water rescue just before Christmas that saved the lives of two young men.The incident occurred Dec. 14 when the 20-year-old stepson of Leading Seaman Chris Moorhouse and his friend flipped their canoe in the frigid waters of Kemp Lake. After capsizing, the canoe quickly took on water and sank leaving his stepson Corey and his house guest, who was visiting from the United Kingdom, stranded in the lake. The temperature that day was 4 Celsius, and LS Moorhouse says hypothermia set in minutes after they entered the water. The two, he adds, were not wearing life jackets. Petty Officer Second Class Don Merlo and his friend Leading Seaman (Retired) Jon White had just arrived at the lakeshore to do some fishing when they saw the flipped canoe and its two occupants in the water. “I spotted them and saw a splash and immediately pointed it out to Don,” says White. “We both knew how to react and kept calm and collected, but we could see the kids were going into panic mode and would need our help sooner than later.”They called 9-1-1 but concerned it might take the volunteer fire department too long to arrive, the two sailors hatched a plan. They were able to retrieve a kayak from a nearby cottage and set off to collect the two men. “Within a few strokes of us getting into the lake they immediately started screaming for help, they were clearly panicking” said PO2 Merlo. “When we got to them the younger one [Corey] was coughing up water and struggling to keep his head above the surface. If we weren’t able to get...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~HMCS Regina is set to leave Wednesday morning for a multifaceted six-month deployment that will include the fuel and supply ship NRU Asterix and a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter.The Halifax-class frigate and the Royal Canadian Navy’s Naval Replenishment Unit are heading from Esquimalt Harbour for the Indian Ocean.Once in the region they will take part in Operation Projection, Canada’s ongoing commitment to conduct training, exercises, and engagements with foreign navies and other international security partners.This deployment marks the first embarked CH-148 Cyclone detachment from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron. The Cyclone was introduced on the Pacific coast at the start of the year as a replacement for the CH-124 Sea King. Regina’s Commanding Officer, Commander Jake French is looking forward to the new capabilities of NRU Asterix and the Cyclone during the deployment.“We’ll be fortunate enough to be working with NRU Asterix so we can maintain a forward presence in the region, get through the long legs required in the Indo Asia Pacific for stores and fuel, increased medical facilities, and an expanded inventory of spare parts. Moreover, the CH-148 Cyclone, now part of Regina, will be an incredible asset for all the missions along the way, including surface surveillance, interdiction and anti-submarine warfare.”

[caption id="attachment_20216" align="alignnone" width="591"] Leading Seaman Khye Krolikowski[/caption] SLt Samantha Crocker, Unit Public Affairs Representative Operation Caribbe “Growing up, I always loved being on the water,” said Leading Seaman Khye Krolikowski. “I had a passion for it, so really it’s not a big surprise that this is where I am five years later.” LS Krolikowski, from Belfast, PEI, had no idea that visiting a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) recruitment table at his local high school would spark his interest to join the Canadian Armed Forces. “They were giving out free USB sticks, so a buddy and I went over and they convinced me to join the Navy,” he explained. “I never did end up using the USB stick.” He enrolled in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve at HMCS Queen Charlotte as a boatswain in May 2013. “I wanted something that was hands on. Being a boatswain seemed like the right option for me.” He took a long-term contract on Canada’s west coast in 2016. Since that time, he’s had a busy sailing schedule. Posted to the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel HMCS Saskatoon, he participated in Exercise Rim of the Pacific and Operation Caribbe in 2016. He then sailed onboard HMCS Whitehorse during the spring 2018 Operation Caribbe and recently returned from his third Op Caribbe deployment in HMCS Edmonton. “When I deploy on Op Caribbe I feel like I’m making a real difference for the Canadian public. I’m using all the training I have received since joining the RCN and I’m putting it to good use.” This past fall, LS Krolikowski acted as the primary boat coxswain while onboard Edmonton. “Being a boat coxswain comes with a fair amount of responsibility. While deployed, I was called upon at any time to escort the Law Enforcement Detachment from the United States Coast...

[caption id="attachment_20208" align="alignnone" width="591"] The monument for Lieutenant-Colonel Josiah Greenwood Holmes and his wife Elizabeth Holmes was placed in Ross Bay Cemetery on Nov. 10, 2018.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~ A solid granite stone survey marker once cast aside by construction workers has been crafted into a monument honoring a pioneer Deputy Adjutant General of the Canadian Army Permanent Force, and former District Officer Commanding, stationed on the Pacific Coast where he was responsible for the defence works and School of Artillery training of the local Militia forces, originating in 1888. The monument for Lieutenant-Colonel Josiah Greenwood Holmes and his wife Elizabeth Holmes was placed in Ross Bay Cemetery on Nov. 10, 2018, following remembrance efforts by his descendants. The granite survey marker was originally installed marking the site of Work Point Barracks in the late 1880s. But it was left behind by work crews after a demolition project of the “Work Point Barracks Officers Mess and Quarters” in 2006. Local historian and veteran Signalman (Retired) Jack Bates, who operates the Organization for Preservation of Canadian Military Heritage (OPCMH), facilitated the project. He says the idea for the monument itself came from Esquimalt residents Scott Lee and his wife Carol, who is the great-granddaughter of Lt. Col. J.G. Holmes. The Lee family and Bates were onsite when contractors removed the survey stone and carted it away in a flatbed truck in June of 2017. “This process is helping myself and other family members rediscover our military heritage and someone who played such an important role in the history of Victoria and Canada,” said Carol Lee. But before they could move forward with converting the survey marker to a monument, Bates says the project first needed to meet approval from the Department of National Defence (DND) and Ross Bay Cemetery. The Lee family also paid for the monument with assistance from Veterans Affairs Canada’s (VAC) non-profit charity, the Last Post Fund. “Scott really helped push the idea forward to evolve,” said...

[caption id="attachment_20199" align="alignnone" width="591"] The Blue Jays, their mascot Ace, and HMCS Toronto’s command team display the Blue Jays’ pennant. From left: Ace, Toronto Blue Jays Mascot; Ryan Borucki (player); Devon Travis (player); Cdr Martin Fluet, Commanding Officer, HMCS Toronto; and CPO1 Alena Mondelli, Coxswain, HMCS Toronto. Second row, Luke Maile (player); and Dan Jansen (player). Back row: Kevin Pillar (player) and LCdr Matthew Woodburn, Executive Officer, HMCS Toronto. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption] Members of the Toronto Blue Jays, together with team mascot Ace, visited CFB Halifax as part of their Winter Tour on Saturday, Jan. 12. During their time in the city, mascot and the players found time to visit HMC Ships Toronto and St John’s, as well as see an Army display at HMCS Scotian.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~ Family emergencies often strike with little or no warning. If military members are out-of-town or on deployment when the unexpected happens to a family member, who would they call for help? Would they have access to timely assistance from friends or family in the area? If there are children or dependent adults, who would they turn to?     These are questions the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) is encouraging military families to consider as they fill out an Emergency Family Plan for their household. The four-page Emergency Family Plan document was launched by the MFRC in November 2018. It is meant to be kept in a highly visible or familiar place in the home, and shared with the people listed in the plan. In case of an emergency it provides access to vital information including: contact information for family members, care coordinators, emergency contacts, emergency child care providers, and detailed information about the children, including school or daycare contacts, medical information, special needs individuals and their daily routines, and detailed information about dependant adults and family pets. In the past the MFRC was able to provide assistance in the first 72 hours of an emergency, but, for a variety of reasons including limitations from community providers, they may not be able to provide emergency care in those first three days. In the case of an emergency, it is up to you to have a workable emergency family plan, says Cheryl MacQueen, MFRC Esquimalt social worker. “In the past, people may have thought of the MFRC as their backup plan,” said MacQueen. “We can work with you to put a plan together and problem solve who you’d turn to in an emergency.  Upon assessment, we may be able to provide some emergency respite child care. ...

[caption id="attachment_20182" align="alignnone" width="591"] The Women’s Tritons hockey team are all smiles in their team’s dressing room after winning the CARHA Pacific Cup championship game at Oak Bay Arena on Jan. 20.[/caption]   Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~ The CFB Esquimalt Tritons were crowned tournament Champions of the CARHA Pacific Cup hockey tournament women’s division on the weekend of Jan. 20. A shootout goal by Major Pam Harris of Naval Fleet School Pacific gave the base team a 2-1 victory over the Jal Design Panthers of Port Alberni, and bragging rights in the annual recreational hockey tournament held at arenas across the Greater Victoria area.  The Tritons recorded a loss on their opening game of the tournament before rebounding with two wins in the next two games of the opening phase. In the championship game Major Harris’ well-directed wrist shot to the top right corner of the net proved to be the game winner. Their victory in the Oak Bay arena was then cemented when Tritons goaltender Cpl Katie Sawatzky made the game-winning save on the final shot from their opponent. “All the old adages about teams coming together, building chemistry and rallying for the win actually happened and what a great feeling it was,” said Tritons coach, Petty Officer First Class Dave Hillier following the win. Major Harris, who plays defence, also had a hand in her team’s opening goal. The Tritons tied the score in the second period when her shot from the blue line deflected off teammate Captain Amanda Lauder and into the goal. After breaking the scoreless deadlock in the shootout, Cpl Sawatzky was mobbed by teammates following her game-winning save. “It was all hugs and high fives as our bench emptied after Katie’s save,” said Maj Harris. “The victory puts the team in a great frame...

Jan. 30 marks Maritime Forces Pacific’s (MARPAC) support of Bell Let’s Talk Day, an initiative to reduce the stigma of mental health by talking about it openly and honestly.  Here are a few ways you can help end the stigma: Language MattersThe words you use can make all the difference. Words can help, but they can also hurt. Think about what words you are using to discuss mental illness and whether or not those words perpetuate or reduce the stigma.  Educate YourselfThe stigma around mental illness has been around for a long time and knowing the facts and myths about mental health is a great way to help reduce the stigma. So take the time to learn about mental health – there are great resources listed here. Be KindSimple acts of kindness, such as giving a smile, being an active listener, or inviting someone for coffee and a chat, can make a world of difference and help open the conversation and let someone know you are there for them. Listen and AskMental illness is a very common form of human pain and suffering. Being an active listener and asking how you can support someone is the first step in their recovery. You don’t need to have all the answers, just being there for the people you care about is often enough.  Talk About itMental illness affects us all in some way, either directly or through a friend, family member, colleague, or loved one. Stories of people who have experienced mental health issues and who are doing well can help to challenge stereotypes. Let’s start to break the silence and reduce the stigma.  Join us at the Collier Theatre (Building WP1094) on Jan. 30th at 11 a.m. to view the CAF Facebook panel discussion on mental health and join the conversation for Bell Let’s Talk Day. CFB Halifax...

  [caption id="attachment_20176" align="alignnone" width="591"] Master Corporal Manuela Berger, Image tech will deploy with her daughter Leading Seaman Melanie Shering, Naval Combat Information Operator on board Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Toronto for Operation REASSURANCE, 19 January, 2019. Photo Credit: Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption] Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~ For most Canadian Armed Forces members, separation from family and loved ones can be one of the most difficult aspects of a long international deployment. However, for two members of HMCS Toronto, the Operation Reassurance deployment will actually be a family affair. LS Melanie Shering, a Naval Combat Information Operator who’s been with Toronto for nearly three years, was recently joined on board by the ship’s Imagery Technician, MCpl Manuela Berger, who also happens to be her mother. The pair departed Halifax along with the rest of the ship’s company Jan. 19, and will be shipmates for the next six months in the Mediterranean Sea. “I know there are going to be other people crying and missing their family, and I’ll have a piece of mine here with me, so I’m very lucky that way,” MCpl Berger said. MCpl Berger recently joined Formation Imaging in Halifax after spending six years posted to 4 Wing Cold Lake. With her daughter posted thousands of kilometres away on the east coast, they haven’t had a chance to see each other much. “She’s been instrumental in helping me get settled into the navy way, meet people on the ship and learn little tips and tricks,” says MCpl Berger of her daughter. They say that aside from a bit of friendly teasing, their shipmates and messmates have been fully supportive since MCpl Berger joined the crew, and that the command team, including Commanding Officer Cdr Martin Fluet, have remarked on how interesting it is to have the...

Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~Despite it being a weekend morning, HMC Dockyard in Halifax was crowded on Jan. 19 with family members, friends and colleagues on hand to see the crew of HMCS Toronto off on their six-month deployment.The ship is headed to the Mediterranean Sea as part of Operation Reassurance.The mission, which will see Toronto join NATO allies as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, has a goal of reinforcing NATO’s collective strength in Central and Eastern Europe and assuring allies in the region that NATO is dedicated to maintaining security and stability in the face of Russian aggression and other threats.RAdm Craig Baines, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic, said he’s been impressed by the crew as they’ve worked overtime to ensure their weapons, communications, radar and engineering systems are all operating at full tilt ahead of their departure. “This is Canada’s continuous support to our NATO allies in the European theatre, and I know Toronto is ready to take up that mantle,” he said. “The ship has had a very ambitious program over the last six months leading to this, and now they’re going to have a very interesting mission downrange. I know they’ll make the most of it, and I know they’ll make their country proud.” Leaving with Toronto was the second-ever Royal Canadian Air Force air crew to deploy on a ship with the new CH-148 Cyclone, Canada’s replacement for the long-serving Sea King helicopters. In a grand gesture of support for their colleagues, the ship was given a flypast from six additional Cyclones as it sailed out of the harbour, providing a show for both the crew and the many friends and family at the jetty.In addition to the embarked Cyclone crew, Toronto also sailed with an Enhanced Naval Boarding Party from the Naval Tactical Operations Group, who will provide the ship with enhanced protection and a stronger ability to board any suspicious or adversarial vessels. The team will also exercise extensively with allies to help...

[caption id="attachment_20122" align="alignnone" width="591"] Naval Reservist Ordinary Seaman Charleyne Oulton signs a copy of On Her Plate, a recently released collection of short stories by Golden Brick Road Publishing that contains one of her short stories. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer -A military mother and recent recruit of Victoria’s Naval Reserve Unit HMCS Malahat says choosing a career with Canada’s military is giving her a new set of skills and time to develop as an author. Ordinary Seaman Charleyne Oulton was at Coles bookstore in the Westshore Town Centre ahead of the holiday break to promote her latest writing project as a contributing writer in two recently released books by Golden Brick Road Publishing: Her Art of Surrender and On Her Plate, both a collection of short stories. After signing copies for customers, she spoke glowingly about signing up for service in the Naval Reserves.“Being a reservist has allowed me an opportunity to greatly expand my horizons. It opens a host of new options for me: to have training, a reliable salary and the freedom to pursue my passions and dreams while serving my country.”She is a 32-year-old divorced mother of three and the fiancé of Petty Officer Second Class Jonathan McGregor, Naval Fleet School (Pacific). She joined the Naval Reserves in August to broaden her horizons and bring some steady income into the household. For now, she spends approximately two nights a week at HMCS Malahat.This leaves her time to spend with her two sons, ages 14 and 12, and her 10-year-old daughter and allows time for her writing projects.“My whole life, I have kept a journal and written down notes, lists, feelings and ideas,” says OS Oulton. “I had always dreamed of writing as a way to offer my thoughts and life experiences to others.”Her...

  [caption id="attachment_20116" align="alignnone" width="591"] Sailor Profile: LS Thomas LeBlanc, Marine Technician. Photo by Operation Caribbe Imagery Technician, HMCS Edmonton[/caption]   SLt Samantha Crocker, Unit Public Affairs Representative Operation Carribe - Leading Seaman Thomas LeBlanc’s decision to join the Regular Force felt like a family tradition, he says. That’s because there have been members of his family in the Canadian Armed Forces since the First World War. The marine technician from Arichat, NS, enrolled in the Royal Canadian Navy in 2010. He was first posted to HMCS Protecteur and to HMCS Brandon in 2014. During this time, Brandon supported Canadian Coast Guard search and rescue efforts off the west coast of Vancouver Island. LS LeBlanc was then posted ashore at the Damage Control School before joining HMCS Edmonton in June 2017. “I really enjoyed being on a supply ship,” said LS LeBlanc. “But I love the small crew size on the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels.” As a Marine Technician, he is an essential member of the crew. “I love the hands-on aspect of my job and it’s great that I play such an important role in keeping the ship running.” Since joining Edmonton, LS LeBlanc has sailed on Operation Limpid from August to October 2017 and completed two deployments on Operation Caribbe in 2018. During Operation Caribbe, Royal Canadian Navy vessels and Aurora aircraft conducted patrols in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean in support of the multinational, U.S.-led effort to disrupt illicit trafficking operations in the region. “I like knowing we’re doing our part to prevent the ingress of drugs into North America,” said LS LeBlanc. “I feel like we’re making a difference for Canadian society as a whole.” LS LeBlanc currently lives in Victoria. Despite his busy sailing schedule, he enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and camping. He...

[caption id="attachment_20105" align="alignnone" width="591"] Victoria Grizzlies Educational Advisor Butch Boucher (left) gives advice to Grizzlies right-winger Marty Westhaver in the team’s head office at the Q-Centre in Colwood. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]   Peter Mallett, Staff Writer - Butch Boucher enjoyed a 46-year career with the Department of National Defence but now his days are filled with hockey. The 72-year-old retired Chief Petty Officer says while most men his age have hung up their skates, he is still quite handy between the pipes with a stick and blocker. His passion for the national sport began with shinny hockey on outdoor rinks in Timmins, Ontario, in the 1950s and later for his high school team. He wasn’t always a goaltender; he only took up the position when he was asked to fill a vacancy in a local recreation league back in the mid-1990s. Now he doesn’t want to play anywhere else on the ice. Boucher tends goal three days a week in three different senior leagues around the Greater Victoria area plus tournament play. When he turned 65 he played 115 games that year; however, he has slowed down a bit, now playing only 85 to 90 games. “As a goalie, I play against many younger players who could well be my grandsons and enjoy both the competitiveness and the comradeship.” In December, he enjoyed a reunion with his military peers, playing in a Hull Tech’s charity hockey game at Wurtele Arena. Later in the month, he volunteered during the World Junior ‘A’ Hockey Championship Games in Victoria. He is also with the Victoria Playmakers Old-Timers Committee which holds an annual tournament in Victoria, and 2019 is their 30th year. He also mentors the next generation of hockey players. Boucher is one of three educational advisors for the Victoria Grizzlies Junior...

[caption id="attachment_20100" align="alignnone" width="591"] Gary Lahnsteiner, Dan Lahnsteiner, Paul Helston and Mike Knippel at the trailhead on the first day of their hike.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer - High above the Chilkoot Pass three retired sailors looked upon the breathtaking panorama laid out before them. Captain (Navy) Mike Knippel, Chief Petty Officer First Class Paul Helston, and Lieutenant Commander Gary Lahnsteiner, all retirees from the Royal Canadian Navy, had conquered the often barren and harsh landscape that is the high mountain pass through the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains in Alaska and British Columbia. Their three-day hiking journey had brought them to this vista, and to a fresh way to live their retirement: exercise, adventure, and friendship. “When we got up there, we thought what a great experience and who would have thought three ex-navy buddies would ever do something like this,” said Lahnsteiner. Also on the August trip was Lahnsteiner’s brother Dan, a 52-year-old civilian. To get their boots on the rugged ground they flew from Victoria to Whitehorse, then took a bus to Carcross before boarding a train to the beginning of the trail in Skagway. They each carried a backpack stuffed with food, safety equipment, and supplies, about the weight of a toddler. On the first day of their journey they hiked from the coastal rainforest zone near the Klondike ghost town Dyea, Alaska, and then up a steep incline known as the Golden Stairs before arriving at the Chilkoot Pass near the Canada-United States border. The trail was well marked with rest stops, camp grounds and park rangers, lessening the danger of a wilderness trek. But Knippel had a close encounter with a black bear outside his tent, and a massive porcupine in a defensive posture blocked their path for several minutes. “I would put...

[caption id="attachment_20089" align="alignnone" width="591"] Artist Marlene Howell displays her feature painting entitled Under New Ownership, which is featured in The Lost Fleet exhibit at the Maritime Museum of B.C. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer - A new exhibit commemorating one of the darkest chapters in Canadian history opened earlier this month at Victoria’s Maritime Museum of B.C. The Lost Fleet exhibit sheds light on the wave of hysteria and anti-Japanese sentiment that swept the west coast of North America following the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. It included the seizure of approximately 1,200 Japanese-Canadian owned fishing boats on the Pacific Coast. The vessels were confiscated by members of the Royal Canadian Navy Reserves and other government agencies, and eventually sold off to canneries and other non-Japanese fishermen. As part of the Government of Canada’s War Measures Act, approximately 22,000 Japanese-Canadians were deemed a threat to national security and were abruptly arrested. Most were separated from their families and forced into internment camps across B.C. and the rest of Canada in early 1942. The exhibit uses a combination of archival photographs, newspaper articles, government posters, infographics, and art work to showcase the history.   A Series For Contemplation consists of four paintings created specifically for the exhibit by Langford Artist-In-Residence Marlene Howell.   Howell, a Toronto-born Japanese-Canadian, is excited to be part of the exhibit because researching and painting about the fleet has been an educational process. Her grandparents immigrated to Canada in 1916 but they never spoke of the war years or what the family had endured.  “They didn’t talk about the war, so I really don’t know very much about what happened during the internment on a personal level,” said Howell. “That is why I was so intrigued with taking part in The Lost Fleet, and when I received an e-mail inviting me to be the Artist in Residence, I immediately accepted as it was a great honour. Howell was contacted by the museum on June 29 and worked...

[caption id="attachment_20084" align="alignnone" width="591"] Warrant Officer (Ret’d) Jeff Foss with his wife Karen Shelton and support dog Zeni. Foss recently attended Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder retreat in Ontario and is now raising funds to send other military and first responders. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer - A military couple from the Comox Valley are raising funds to send current and former soldiers and first responders to a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) support program. Karen Shelton, who works for the Department of National Defence as a civilian employee, and her husband Warrant Officer (Ret’d) Jeff Foss recently launched a GoFundMe campaign. Their goal is to send 10 people to a retreat-style PTSD clinic in rural Ontario called Project Trauma Support. It is a non-profit charity and runs its operations from a sprawling 250-acre farm near Perth, Ont. Approximately 10 to 12 people attend separate men’s and women’s programs over five days. The program includes psychotherapy, physical activities, information sessions, lectures and group support sessions. Those enrolled are fed and housed at the site and spend most of the five days on the property. But the program isn’t cheap and costs up to $7,000 per person. The couple knows that financial support isn’t available for everyone in need of the program. To solve that problem, Shelton and Foss launched the GoFundMe campaign ahead of the Christmas break. While they say things have started off slowly, they are working hard to raise awareness and have set a fundraising goal of $70,000 that would cover the cost for 10 people. Foss has intimate knowledge of the program; he attended it in December. His PTSD symptoms began following his involvement in United Nations Peacekeeping deployments to Haiti and the Golan Heights. In 2002, he was clinically diagnosed with PTSD but suspects he...

[caption id="attachment_20078" align="alignnone" width="591"] Lieutenant Colonel Heather McClelland[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer -When the Commanding Officer of 11 (Victoria) Field Ambulance began her 35-year military career, she never imagined herself working alongside one of Queen Elizabeth’s vice-regal representatives.But that is what happened last April when reservist Lieutenant Colonel Heather McClelland was named an Honorary Aide-de-Camp to the newly appointed Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, Janet Austin.LCol McClelland says the importance of the appointment and its significance really hit home for her during this year’s New Year’s Day Levée ceremony.“I am so privileged and honoured to be in this position,” she said in the days following the ceremony. “This appointment truly allows me to further show my respect for the monarchy and to stand on guard for Canada.”A nurse by profession, who currently works as a case manager with a local health organization, she was one of six personal assistants to Lieutenant-Governor Janet Austin at the Government House reception that was attended by over 1,400 guests. The annual ceremony can trace its roots to the 17th Century when British and French monarchs receiving their subjects and representatives in an exchange of New Year’s greetings at the royal palace on the first day of the calendar year. The tradition lives on today in Canada’s provincial capitals and at military bases where visiting military and civilians are greeted by senior leaders.LCol McClelland, 54, is one of 28 Honorary Aides-de-Camp across the province who serve LGov Austin at official functions throughout the year. She is there to assist Her Honour with anything she may need or want during a ceremony, ensuring the Lieutenant Governor has the opportunity to spend time with everyone in attendance equally.LCol McClelland typically attends one or two events per month depending on her personnel schedule and the events schedule sent out...

[caption id="attachment_20042" align="alignnone" width="388"] A Canadian sound source is deployed. It simulates the acoustic signature of a passing vessel.[/caption]Mark Baldin/Michael Simms, DRDC – ARC ~In September and October of 2018, Sweden hosted research teams from Canada and Norway to conduct the second of three joint international trials of the Distributed Underwater Sensor Network (DUSN). The Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) and SAAB teams worked with the Canadian research team at DRDC – Atlantic Research Centre (ARC) and the Norwegian (FFI) team to test the ability of each agency’s underwater nodes to perform surveillance, to track targets, and to be interoperable with all other nodes. Canada hosted the first of these trials back in 2017 at the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental Test Ranges (CFMETR) with the third planned for 2020. All nodes, regardless of the where they were developed, are autonomous passive sonar systems capable of communicating with each other’s underwater using acoustic modems. These nodes work together as a group for detecting a contact, obtaining its location through cross fixing, and then relaying the information to an operator. Each country designed and built nodes for operating in their own national waters. DRDC-ARC constructed six DUSN nodes. FOI and FFI each brought four nodes. These 14 independent nodes formed an underwater acoustic network over a small area. Sept. 19, 2018, was the first time that nodes from all countries successfully worked together to acoustically cross fix and track a contact in an autonomous manner. FOI and the Royal Swedish Navy (RSN) provided test facilities and four vessels while SAAB provided and operated an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) in support of the field trial. The four vessels helped deploy and recover the nodes and other equipment while also acting as contacts for tracking purposes. One vessel was also used to deploy and tow a Canadian sound source used to simulate the acoustic signature of a passing contact. The AUV was also loaded with predefined signatures and tones to simulate different types of contacts and was...

[caption id="attachment_20039" align="alignnone" width="590"] From left: CPO1 Derek Kitching, Atlantic Fleet Chief; RAdm Craig Baines, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic; Irving Shipbuilding employee Vicki Berg; CPO1 Sylvain Jaquemot, Pacific Fleet Chief, and Rene Belliveau, Irving Shipbuilding VP, Production, at the keel-laying ceremony on Dec. 6, 2018, with a plaque as a memento. Photo by Mona Ghiz, Marlant PA[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~Construction has officially begun on the third of the Royal Canadian Navy’s new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS). A keel-laying ceremony on Dec. 6 at the Irving Shipbuilding Assembly Hall in Halifax marked the beginning of work on the future HMCS Max Bernays. The ship will follow the future HMC ships Harry DeWolf and Margaret Brooke, which are both currently under construction, with Harry DeWolf set for delivery in late 2019.Keel laying is an important moment in the early life of a ship, marking its birth and the start of full production work. The ceremonial action itself was performed by Irving Shipbuilding welder Vicki Berg, who laid a Royal Canadian Mint Second World War Battle Series coin into the first keel unit of the future ship’s centre module, and then announced the keel to be “well and truly laid.” The coin will stay embedded within the ship through the duration of its life and is meant to bring good fortune and luck to all those who sail in it.The small, informal ceremony was attended by Irving Shipbuilding representatives including President Kevin McCoy, along with RAdm Craig Baines, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic (Marlant), Marlant Formation Chief CPO1 Derek Kitching, AOPS Project Director Cdr Guillaume Cote and Deputy Director LCdr James Brun. As the future Max Bernays will be the first of the AOPS to join the RCN’s Pacific Fleet following its delivery, the keel laying was also attended by West Coast...

Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~New radar equipment, soon to be installed on Halifax-class frigates, will allow for better detection and faster response when dealing with incoming threats at sea, says RAdm Craig Baines, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic and Joint Task Force Atlantic.The upgrade will add a new electronically-stabilized antenna set to the Sea Giraffe 180 radar currently installed on the ships. The federal government announced the news, along with the $21.7 million contract to procure the equipment from Saab Microwave Canada, during a press conference aboard HMCS Charlottetown on Dec. 7.“When we’re out on the water, we have to be very concerned about aircraft and other ships that are out there; and if a missile ever gets fired at us, the ability to detect that missile and have a reaction ready is critical to saving the ship. This equipment will allow us to do that much more efficiently,” said RAdm Baines. “We know the Canadian Navy needs to modernize to be able to face modern-day threats. Getting this new piece of equipment will help us do that.”The new antenna will increase the range of the existing radar from 150 to 180 kilometres and provide the crew with more data, includings elevation levels and the surrounding environment for any incoming potential threats.Dave Monahan, DND’s Project Manager for the Halifax-class Modernization Frigate Life Extension, said the first installation should take place in 2021 on HMCS Ville de Quebec.“Once we prove the system, we’ll carry on with the remaining ships as they enter their docking work periods,” he added. The initial $21.7 million contract with Saab includes the option to purchase 12 more antenna sets for the fleet, which would bring the total up to $97.5 million.The announcement was also attended by government representatives Halifax MP Andy Fillmore, Dartmouth-Cole Harbour MP Darren Fisher, and Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook MP Darrell Samson.“Our modernized Halifax-class frigates safeguard and protect Canada’s waters, and they contribute to peace and security around the world,” Fillmore said. “This upgrade to one of the...

[caption id="attachment_20031" align="alignnone" width="587"] Countless[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A  Nova Scotia photographer who captured images of Europe’s most famous battle sites wants her work to be a permanent reminder of the horrific human cost of war. Justine Macdonald, a self-described military brat, says the inspiration and vision for her newly released pictorial book Remembrance Road: A Canadian Photographer’s Journey Through European Battlefields draws heavily from growing up on Canadian Forces bases in the 1980s. “Not every military child develops an interest in military history, but I did. I think my interest in history in general and my love of travel mixed with my family background led me to this point,” says the 40-year-old resident of Annapolis Valley. “A better photographer now than when I visited these sites with my family as a young adult, I wanted to return and re-photograph them – to try and do the sites justice and share the experience with those who are unable to make the journey themselves.”Her parents met in Cyprus in the early 1970s while her father, Stephen MacDonald, was part of the Canadian Army’s United Nations Peacekeeping mission, and her mother Moira was a Leading Aircraft Woman with the Women’s Royal Air Force. When they married and returned to Canada her father transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force working as a flight engineer before eventually retiring as a Sergeant at CFB Greenwood in 2002.  Prior to that, the family lived on military bases in Cold Lake, where Justine was born, Winnipeg, and Geilenkirchen, Germany.Though never a member of the military herself, MacDonald had a front-row view of life on military bases at the end of the Cold War. She says those experiences had a lasting impact and spurred her interest in travel, writing and photography.“It piqued my interest and I never would have...

[caption id="attachment_20025" align="alignnone" width="587"] Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A new rewards program is giving Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members added incentive to do well on their mandatory fitness and operational readiness test.On Jan. 1 the FORCE Rewards Program was rolled out at military bases across Canada, enabling military personnel a chance to receive prizes and special recognition for registering high scores in their FORCE (Fitness for Operational Requirements Canadian Armed Forces Employment) test. All Regular Force and Class B Reservists are eligible to participate in the rewards program. Alyssa Jesson, a Personnel Support Programs Fitness coordinator who works at the Naden Athletic Centre, thinks the rewards program will be a motivating factor to improved fitness. “I think it was definitely time for some sort of rewards [system] to come into play,” said Jesson. “I am excited that in the coming weeks PSP staff will be seeing members coming through the front doors of our athletic facilities already wearing their FORCE Rewards gear.”After completion of their FORCE Evaluation test the results of members are plotted on their FORCE Fitness Profile and placed in one of four classification categories: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. That placing is based on their performance in comparison to how others of the same age and gender score on the test. Those who place in the top three categories receive the following prizes: Silver, high-performance t-shirt; Gold, high-performance hoodie; Platinum: high performance hoodie, certificate of recognition, and a pin to be worn on dress uniform (not CADPAT). The Force Rewards Program was developed in consultation with members in uniform, and relies on scientific evidence about what motivates people. Over 15,000 questionnaires and seven focus groups were undertaken to determine what motivates CAF members. The findings demonstrated that rewards provide a sense of accomplishment for...

[caption id="attachment_20014" align="alignnone" width="590"] HMCS Corner Brook on Arctic patrol during Operation Nanook in 2007. Photo by Cplc Blake Rodgers[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~HMCS Corner Brook will become the first of the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) four Victoria-class submarines to be equipped with a new modern mast system.The hunter-killer submarine is currently stationed in the purpose-built repair facility dock at Victoria Shipyards as workers from Babcock Canada install the L3 Calzoni Universal Modular Mast (UMM). The system, similar to the one fitted in U.S. Navy Virginia-class submarines was acquired under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.Masts are vital to the functioning of any submarine. In Canada’s diesel-powered subs they provide air supply, communications, radar, and periscope capability. Lieutenant-Commander Darryl Gervis, RCN Deputy Director Submarine Combat Systems, says the new technology puts Canada’s submarine program on a new course. “This is a game changer,” said LCdr Gervis, referring to the current technological shortfall for Canadian subs, which is the lack of a reliable high-speed satellite data link.“What the Universal Modular Mast [when coupled with the Protected Military Satellite Communication PMSC antenna] will do is provide near real-time high-speed [antenna] communications with the shore. This will allow for improved picture and video transmission, and quicker transmission of messages, and therefore reduce counter-detection opportunities as the submarine will spend less time with its mast out of the water.” The new equipment will also include the ability to  “plug-and-play” a Communications Intercept Suite antenna that will provide the class that capability. This is because the Universal Modular Mast has two multi-purpose ports – like data ports on a computer. This will enable other antennas and intelligence-gathering equipment to be swapped in and out to better suit the needs of a specific deployment or changing technology. Here in Esquimalt, Deputy Commander - Operations of Canadian Submarine Force, Commander Mike Mangin is encouraged by the upgrade and says the Universal Modular Mast with Protected Military Satellite Communication will bring Canadian submarine communications capabilities into the modern era.“It...