News

[caption id="attachment_19520" align="alignnone" width="590"] Sergeant Sebastien Cournier-Cote, a firefighter from CFB Borden, stands sentry during the memorial. Photo by Linda Matta, Waken Photography[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Two CFB Esquimalt firefighters travelled to the nation’s capital earlier this month to attend a memorial honouring 67 of their fallen comrades. This year’s 15th annual Canadian Firefighters Memorial Ceremony, Sept. 9 at the Ottawa Fire Service Memorial, was hosted by the Department of National Defence Fire Service. Keith Lee, Captain of CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue Services No. 2 platoon, and fellow firefighter Brad McPhee were informed in early June that they had been selected to act as representatives from the base. They were joined by approximately 600 firefighters including representatives from all of Canada’s military fire departments. The ceremony honoured both civilian and military firefighters killed in the line of duty or from work-related illnesses. The memorial also included a parade by the Toronto Fire Department’s pipe and drum band, the unveiling of a symbolic ­helmet that was presented to the loved ones of 10 of the deceased, and the dedication of a plaque on the site’s memorial wall. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among ­dignitaries who attended and addressed the gathering. While standing to the left of ­family members of the fallen he described firefighters as brave men and women who answer the call to duty with “courage and distinction.” A memorial at the site now includes the names of 1,411 firefighters who have died since 1848.Lee, 60, says there was a collective outpouring of grief on the day and the significance of the occasion was not lost on him or any of the others attending. He has accumulated 39 years as a civilian firefighter at CFB Esquimalt; he first started working at the base in 1979. He says peer support is the...

Lookout (LO): Gnaval Gnome, it’s good to hear from you again, thank you for ‘phoning in to do this interview. What is it you’re up to?Gnaval Gnome (GG): Lately I’m quite the gnomadic gnome. As you may already gknow, I was recently posted out to Halifax, “Warden of the Gnorth”, and am now making my way back to Esquimalt, visiting gnaval establishments in various cities as I cross the country. I’ve visited so many cities, you might call me a “Metro-gnome”. There’s some gneat shots of my adventures on my Facebook page.LO: Metro-gnome…I see what you did there. What was the highlight of your journey so far?GG: I’d have to say it was the day I spent standing in for the Commander of the RCN while visiting the Gnational Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.LO: As it’s our nation’s capital…GG: Gnation’s…LO: As it’s our capital, were you exposed to a lot of politics while in Ottawa?GG: Zoiks, but politics can be confusing. You really have to listen. For instance, there’s all this talk about a pipeline between Alberta and B.C. But I thought they said “Pie Plane”, and that Alberta was planning to fly delicious desserts out to us.LO: Hmm…GG: And in Manitoba, I visited the Mint where all the money is made. My uncle, Habakkuk Gnome, retired from the Mint when they stopped producing pennies. He said his job just made no cents after that.LO: With all your years in the Navy, do you enjoy travelling?GG: Very much so. For this trip, I purchased a gnew pelican case. I tell you what, though, whoever invented those things gnever tried putting a live pelican in one…it is gnot easy!LO: But you’re on your way back west. What will you be doing when you get out here?GG: When I get back to the...

To the people of the Greater Victoria area and beyond, it is my pleasure to invite you to Defence on the Dock at Ogden Point. This free event takes place on September 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt has been part of your community for more than 100 years and during that time the Canadian Armed Forces has changed considerably into the versatile, active, and modern military it is today. We want to show you what the base is now!Defence on the Dock is bringing CFB Esquimalt to you! Come to Ogden Point and interact with the military and civilian personnel who work on the Base, learn about the activities and missions that we are engaged in every day, and see first-hand the equipment and assets we use to serve you in the defence of Canada.Defence on the Dock is a free public event which includes a collection of interactive displays and demonstrations from units found at the base.  We will be sharing with you demonstrations from the Fleet Diving Unit, music from the Naden Band, members from the Naval Tactical Operations Group, artifacts from the Esquimalt Harbour environmental projects, Cadet displays and so much more!Highlights of the day will include tours on 3 different types of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships, a chance to see our helicopters up close and the SkyHawks parachute team will fill the sky!There will be numerous activities directed towards kids, information on both military and civilian career opportunities, exciting demonstrations, and informative displays. I look forward connecting with you, our community on September 30th as we bring CFB Esquimalt to you!Captain (Navy) Jason BoydBase CommanderCanadian Forces Base Esquimalt

Capt(N) Jason BoydCommander CFB Esquimalt ~CFB Esquimalt/Maritime Forces Pacific,It’s that time of year again, and I am proud to announce the launch of CFB Esquimalt’s National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC) 2018. This year’s campaign will run from Sept. 20 to Nov. 23 – that’s only 64 calendar days, total.This is different from previous year’s campaigns, and the length was shortened based on the feedback from a survey that was distributed to last year’s unit reps; you spoke – and we listened. It’s a much shorter campaign to prevent donor fatigue and hopefully prevent added stress during and after the holiday season.Preparations are currently underway to help ensure that this year we empower everyone with the knowledge and capability to give back to the community in any way possible.This year’s campaign theme is focused on, “Giving what you can give, how you can give it, and giving until it feels good, not until it hurts.”While giving your hard-earned dollars helps fund much-needed programs, services and research in your community, giving your valuable time, or new and gently used items that help ease suffering in the community, are also great options for giving.Since 1994, CFB Esquimalt has contributed over $10 million to the NDWCC, and last year alone our friends and colleagues volunteered over 40,000 hours of their time in Vancouver Island communities. I am extremely proud of both these figures. I want to thank all who participated in whatever capacity they could during last year’s campaign, and to all those who continue to give of their precious time and money throughout the year.I am confident 2018 will be another successful year for the NDWCC on the base, and a big thank you to all who have already stepped forward as unit representatives.Marie Amoto is our campaign coordinator this year and...

[caption id="attachment_19527" align="alignnone" width="591"] Left to right: SLt Pelletier, SLt Ferguson and SLt Szachury are all smiles after graduating their naval warfare officer course.[/caption]A/SLt Jesse Grigor, Contributor ~For the third consecutive summer, reservists from across Canada have taken time away from their studies and professional lives to become Naval Warfare Officers at Venture in Work Point.There are three phases of training and each summer students complete one phase – each more difficult and demanding than the previous. All told, Naval Warfare Officers training requires 10 months from instruction to complete the entire curriculum. During the first phase, Naval Warfare Officers II, students learn about sea survival, seamanship, damage control and an introduction to life aboard ship.The second phase, Naval Warfare Officers III, requires that students learn core skills to be the Officer of the Watch on ship, including ship handling, navigation, marine engineering and manoeuvres. The final phase of training, Naval Warfare Officers IV, teaches students both routine and warfare operations, emergencies, pilotage navigation and divisional administration.“The experience has been really fulfilling, but bitter sweet because some of us have been together since basic training and now it’s over,” says SLt Szachury, elementary school teacher in Regina, Saskatchewan.SLt Ferguson, 22, joined when he was 18, and lauds his choice to become an Naval Warfare Officer while going to school full-time at UBC. “What 18 year old gets taught to drive warships? It’s insane. My other friends all have boring jobs.”Similarly, SLt Pelletier confessed, “I would have paid to have this opportunity, now I’m getting paid to do it.”Like many trades, becoming a Naval Warfare Officer has many challenges. After reflecting on the past three summers of training, SLt Ferguson admits the toughest part of the training was not quitting. “There were so many moments during my training that I thought this...

[caption id="attachment_19505" align="alignnone" width="589"] Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Base Commander, Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd gets the cuffs slapped on by arresting officer and Tour de Rock rider Sub-Lieutenant Antoine Leblanc of Military Police Unit Esquimalt.Capt(N) Boyd, who has a self-confessed sweet tooth, was charged with “Excessive Treats and Sundays in the First Degree”, during a mock Jail and Bail Fundraiser for Tour de Rock on Sept. 18. SLt LeBlanc and other first responders who make up the Tour de Rock team embarked on their two-week, 1,100 kilometre journey across Vancouver Island Sept. 22, returning Oct. 5, in support of pediatric cancer research and support programs.During the mock Jail and Bail fundraiser, online donors pledged the necessary $500 to have Capt(N) Boyd set free on bail, with donations made through the Base, SLt Leblanc’s, and the Tour de Rock Facebook Pages.Canadian Fleet Pacific Commanding Officer, Commodore Angus Topshee, also participated in the fundraiser and raised $560, enough money to buy back his freedom. For more information about the Tour de Rock visit their website www.tourderock.ca

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~To showcase Canada’s military to a wider audience, CFB Esquimalt is moving its open house off the base and to one of Victoria’s main tourism hubs. Ogden Point, the city’s port for visiting cruise liners, will host this year’s premiere public outreach event entitled Defence On The Dock, on Sept. 30 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. “The aim is to provide civilians first-hand interactions with military assets and members through a marquee event that raises the profile of the base,” says Capt(N) Jason Boyd, Base Commander.  “We are proud of what we do, and this is a fantastic opportunity to not only make sure our work is recognized, but also to educate and build closer ties with the people and communities we serve.”The last open house was in 2016 on the Colwood side of the base. This year, the Base Commander felt holding Defence on the Dock at an external venue offered a less restrictive and more welcoming environment than inside the security checkpoints of a military base. Several military units will set up interactive displays, demonstrations and tours throughout the day. The pièces de résistance are HMCS Vancouver, HMCS Whitehorse and submarine HMCS Chicoutimi guided tours. However, the Chicoutimi tour will be for contest winners only – held both before and during Defence on the Dock. Also on display will be a new Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone helicopter and coming down from the air will be the Canadian military parachute demonstration team, The Skyhawks.For a little water-side fun, sailors will take visitors out on Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat rides.“We have created a fun family event to give the communities who support us opportunities to go behind-the-scenes and see things not normally open to the public,” said Capt(N) Boyd. “Defence on the Dock is a chance to...

[caption id="attachment_19483" align="alignnone" width="590"] Cadet Jordan Bechard works diligently at flaking the mainsail aboard the training vessel HMCS Oriole while sailing on Lake Ontario during the 2018 Great Lakes Deployment. Photos by MCpl Neil Clarkson, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Lt(N) Bill King, Public Affairs Officer ~More than 4,000 visitors boarded HMCS Oriole for free public tours in Colborne, ON, during the first weekend of August. Tours were provided as part of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN)’s Great Lakes Deployment and Port Colborne’s Canal Days events.Built in 1921, Oriole served as the flagship of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club racing out of Toronto until it was gifted to the Navy League to provide a training platform for sailors during the Second World War. Later commissioned into the RCN in 1952, the ship continued to serve as a training vessel based in Esquimalt, B.C., until being sailed through the Panama Canal to Halifax, N.S., last summer.Oriole serves as both a sail training vessel and a piece of Canada’s naval history open for public tours, often in ports that seldom see a RCN vessel. The permanent crew of nine sailors is augmented with changing groups of Sea Cadets and Reservists to make 21 sailors on deck. Although modern navigation aids and safety gear have been fitted, the sailing gear is rigged and operated much as when it was originally built, thus providing for hands-on seamanship training.“We take on new cadets Sunday night, and train them how to rig and sail the boat. It takes four or five of them braced on the deck to pull in one sheet, secure it, and get out from under the line safely,” said Petty Officer First Class Scott Harrod, Oriole’s Coxswain. “Just when they’re getting good we swap them for a new group the next week and do it all...

SLt Matthew Mooney, HMCS Ottawa ~While HMCS Ottawa was in Los Angeles for Fleet week, starting Aug. 28, chefs from the warship competed in Galley Wars 2018, hosted by Jill Whelan, from the hit TV show Love Boat. With USS Iowa as the backdrop, cooks from the various warships of Fleet Week competed for the title by preparing a unique meal in only 30 minutes. Their food was then judged by Rear Admiral Dwyer, Chef Ernesto Uchimura, Chef Suzanne Tracht, and Chef Robert Irvine. Unfortunately, Ottawa’s chefs were not able to hold on to their title as Galley Wars champions. Chef Robert Irvine announced that USCGC Alert’s team beat Ottawa by just one point. However, the spirited competition was filled with laughter and smiles as all participants posed with the judges for a group photo at centre stage after the competition.Ottawa and crew were State-side for the third annual Los Angeles Fleet Week (LAFW). This year, USS Dewey, an Arleigh Burke class destroyer; USS Manchester, an Independence class littoral combat ship; USS Scout, a mine clearance vessel; and US Coast Guard Cutter Alert were all in attendance. Sailors from all ships were welcomed into the LA community with the boom of USS Iowa’s 5” guns. Fleet Week officially commenced with a reception hosted by the Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, in the heart of Hollywood. From there, sailors from every ship had the opportunity to take part in a series of activities including social events, sports and volunteering for charity work. Canadian sailors participated in a soccer camp hosted by the LA Galaxy while others took a sunset cruise around San Pedro Harbor.Sailors also lent a hand in the community by aiding in projects hosted by Habitat for Humanity, as well as visiting Ronald McDonald House and the LA Regional...

[caption id="attachment_19470" align="alignnone" width="590"] The new Aerial Ladder Fire Fighting Vehicle is unloaded from a transport truck at CFB Esquimalt’s Transport Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (TEME). The new apparatus is one of nine fire trucks being delivered to bases across the country this year. Photo Credit: CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Members of CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue say they are eager to test their new high-tech aerial rescue fire truck. The Aerial Ladder Fire Firefighting Vehicle (AFFV), with a ladder that measures 35 metres (115 feet), was unloaded from a transport truck at the Transport Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (TEME) building on July 17. The AFFV is one of nine new vehicles being delivered to military bases across the country at an estimated total cost of $18.9 million, as part of the Department of National Defence (DND) procurement strategy. Deputy Fire Chief Geordie Douglas says there is a great deal of anticipation surrounding the AFFV and noted there were several “oohs and ahs” when it was unloaded at TEME. That’s because the apparatus can be used for high angle emergency situations including elevated search and rescue and enhanced casualty evacuation and fire prevention.“The crews are ecstatic about this new apparatus and can’t wait to start learning how to use it and working with it,” said Douglas. “There are numerous things this truck can do that we couldn’t do with our existing [similar] truck, so it will help our firefighters do their job and increase the ability to do it in a safe manner.”Firefighters in the rescue platform or bucket and the boom operator have two cameras at their disposal. One is a regular camera and the other a thermal imaging camera that shows hotspots, which will further enhance safety when visibility is poor such as in smoky...

[caption id="attachment_19466" align="alignnone" width="590"] Photo by LS Laurance Clarke, 12 Operations Support Squadron Imaging Services[/caption]The Gnaval Gnome was recently posted to Formation Halifax. His schedule was busy and included visits to HMC Dockyard, HMCS St. John’s, and HMCS Scotian. Pictured here, Gnaval Gnome enjoys the view of HMCS Windsor and HMCS St. John’s. He is now on a cross-country return trip back to his home base of CFB Esquimalt just in time for Defence on the Dock at Ogden Point, where he will be available for photos with the general public. Follow his gnadventures on his social media and Twitter.

[caption id="attachment_19463" align="alignnone" width="590"] Joe Thorne, a traditional dancer from Cowichan Nation, blesses the candidates before The Raven Program Graduation ceremony Aug. 14. Photo by LS David Gariepy, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]A/SLt Jesse Grigor, Naval Fleet School (Pacific) ~Students who choose to enter the Aboriginal Youth Program with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) undergo four days of cultural awareness training prior to starting basic training. Providing cultural awareness education, and practicing ceremonies and rituals are critical components to bridging students coming from Aboriginal communities across Canada into the CAF.“It’s important to remind them who they are, to develop a sense of pride and recognize that all the students are Aboriginal, and each has something to offer to be successful,” says retired captain Robert Thibeau. He is the owner of Eagle Vision Leadership Training Solutions Inc. and is responsible for the cultural awareness training for both the Raven and Black Bear Aboriginal Youth Programs.Under the guidance and direction of Ed and Madeline Neveau, the culture camp begins with the lighting of the sacred fire signifying the opening of the camp. Students are taught Aboriginal history and practice various rituals and ceremonies over a few days. These include learning about the cultural significance of teepees and sweat lodges, how to build them, and properly use them.The cultural awareness programs provide instruction on Metis, Inuit and First Nations cultures. Training focuses on rituals, ceremonies, government treaties with Aboriginals, the legacy and impact of the residential schools and how all these components explain the political, social and cultural reality of Aboriginal peoples of today.“The combination of military and cultural aspects of this training are good because most recruits are young, and this program is designed so they can learn about their history and get comfortable before they start their training,” said MS Howell, a senior Raven...

[caption id="attachment_19460" align="alignnone" width="590"] Soldiers from the Canadian Scottish Regiment of Victoria and the Royal New Brunswick Regiment of Fredericton stand at ease alongside the final resting place of four Canadian First World War soldiers who died at the Battle of Hill 70. Photos by MCpl True-dee McCarthy, CF Combat Camera[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Personnel from The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) have returned from a burial service in France honouring three of its members killed in battle over a century ago.Three burial parties of eight soldiers each from the Victoria regiment and one burial party representing the Royal New Brunswick Regiment of Fredericton, N.B. participated in the service at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Loos British Cemetery near Lens, France on Aug. 23.  They were honouring four Canadian soldiers who died during the First World War’s Battle of Hill 70. The battle lasted for 11 days in August 1917. The successful identification of the four soldiers was recently announced in May 2018 by the Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) Casualty Identification Program. The identities of the soldiers were confirmed through historical, genealogical, anthropological, archeological research and, DNA analysis. The Casualty Identification Program aims to identify the remains of newly discovered Canadian soldiers killed-in-action prior to 1970, so they can be buried with their name by their regiment and in the presence of their families. The remains of Private William Del Donegan, 20, Private Henry Edmonds Priddle, 33, and Sergeant Archibald Wilson, 25, were found near the village of Vendin-le-Vieil, France, and identified by DND and the CAF on May 22, 2018. All three soldiers enlisted in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as members of the 16th Canadian Infantry Battalion (The Canadian Scottish), Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), a unit perpetuated by The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) of...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Two volunteer firefighters who work at CFB Esquimalt spent part of their summer vacation helping contain a massive wildfire burning in British Columbia’s central interior region. Jason Humphries, from CFB Esquimalt Fire Rescue, and Petty Officer First Class Josh Schmidt, from Fleet Maintenance Facility Engineering, were part of a four-person crew from the Metchosin Volunteer Fire Department that hopped in one of the department’s fire trucks and drove over 950 kilometres to Vanderhoof, B.C.The volunteers’ efforts, between Aug. 16 and 25, were to provide structural protection and security from the massive Shovel Lake fire, under the assistance of the B.C. Wildfire Service. The fire is the second largest of the 551 wildfires burning across tinder-dry B.C. and covered approximately 91,000 hectares. The work of Humphries, PO1 Schmidt and their crew was not done on the front lines of the fire.Instead it involved setting up rooftop sprinklers to prevent homes from burning, which Humphries says provided residents with a “sorely needed sense of security” in knowing they were being supported and hadn’t been forgotten during the disaster.Humphries, 37, who works as a Fire Prevention Officer, also participated in similar support efforts during last year’s wildfires in the Okanagan Region. He says the journey took approximately 14 hours longer this time around, while also noting smoke and poor visibility was noticeably worse than last year.“We quickly noticed that more of B.C. was covered in smoke and the visibility was often very challenging in driving an apparatus [fire truck] from location to location,” said Humphries. PO1 Schmidt, 34, has volunteered his spare time with the Sooke Fire Rescue Department for the past five years when he is not working. He assisted the department with firefighting efforts at the Tugwell Creek, which burned north of Sooke before being contained in early...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Steady rain and cold temperatures forced a brief suspension of the Wounded Warriors Highway of Heroes Bike Ride B.C., but in the end didn’t thwart the cyclists from achieving their goal. Approximately 35 riders took part in the two-day, 240-kilometre journey from Langley to Victoria on Aug. 25 and 26. Their goal was to raise funds in support of injured or ill veterans and first responders living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or operational stress injuries. Organized by non-profit Wounded Warriors Canada, the opening portion of the ride was along a stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway between Langley and Abbotsford, named in honour of the 158 Canadians who were killed during military operations in Afghanistan. A mixture of veterans, currently serving military, first responders and civilians took part in the ride. Participants were greeted by steady rain when first setting out from Langley. The soaking rain lasted much of the day and after approximately five hours or about 60 kilometres into their journey, safety concerns forced race organizers to suspend the ride for the day near Burnaby.Ride Director, Captain Jacqueline Zweng, a Cadet Instructor with Esquimalt’s Regional Cadet Support Unit, said the safety of the riders and possible hypothermia was the main concern when the decision was made to suspend the first day of cycling.“Our riders didn’t bring winter gear or rain gear with them because nobody was expecting weather conditions like this in the days leading up to the race,” she said. “It was a remarkable parallel with what the charity is trying to accomplish and the adversity we had to deal with. In the end, all those participating realized the ride is not just about cycling, but moreover it’s a vessel to raise awareness, and not something that requires participants to become injured.”After putting on...

[caption id="attachment_19449" align="alignnone" width="590"] A team of eight divers from Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) assisted OEX Recovery Group on its Raise the Arrow project from Aug. 8 to 10. Divers inspected sites in Lake Ontario that were identified as possible resting places for free-flight test models of the Avro CF-105 Arrow. Photo by OEX Recovery Group[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~Members of Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) recently lent their support to help recover a piece of Canadian military and aviation history.A team of eight divers from FDU(A) drove to Lake Ontario to join OEX Recovery Group on its Raise the Arrow project from Aug. 8 to10.Now in the second year of the project, OEX’s goal is to recover the final 1/8 scale pre-flight test models of the Avro CF-105 Arrow, which are the only known artifacts from the program remaining to be found.The Avro Arrow was a hypersonic fighter being developed for the Royal Canadian Air Force with cutting-edge technology at the time, but the program was cancelled by the government of the day in 1959, shortly after the rollout of the first Mark 1 models for test flights.“These models were launched back in the 1950s, and they’re still sitting out there on the lake bed today,” said Lt(N) Zach Johnson, FDU(A) Operations Officer and the lead for the navy dive team on site.On the civilian side, OEX is led by Osisko Mining CEO John Burzynski, along with several financial partners, as well as the involvement of the Canadian Conservation Institute and the National Air Force Museum of Canada.The FDU(A) role involved diving to inspect pieces of debris identified as possibly being related to the project after initial surveying with an ROV.“They had a number of probable targets, and sonar pictures aren’t always perfect, so we went down with lightweight surface supply...

[caption id="attachment_19431" align="alignnone" width="590"] MARPAC takes proactive approach to fentanyl crisis via special training sessions[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) aspires to be a leader in organizational health and wellness by offering instruction to military and civilian DND employees on the proper procedures if they encounter a fentanyl overdose victim. The interactive one-hour training sessions are organized by the MARPAC Health and Wellness Strategy’s Addictions Free Living (AFL) Working Group in partnership with AIDS Vancouver Island. They provide an informal discussion about the deadly opioid’s impact on our community and country, the associated stigma and myths surrounding substance use, and a question and answer session. Participants of the session also receive hands-on training on how to use the life-saving Naloxone injection kit. “The purpose of the presentation is to empower the workforce with the skill and knowledge they need to stay safe and be able to respond in the case of an emergency,” said Alli Jones, AFL working group member. The first training session took place in the Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton theatre on July 10. The discussion was led by Lana Fine, a health educator with AIDS Vancouver Island.Get the facts on fentanyl Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that is a powerful prescription painkiller, 50 to 100 times more toxic than morphine and is often found in pill, powder, liquid and blotter form.It is inexpensive, highly addictive and is being mixed with other drugs such as heroin, ecstasy and cocaine, often unbeknown to the user. It is odourless and tasteless, making it difficult to detect, and its potency is what makes it lethal. Many people don’t realize that a small amount of fentanyl, the size of two grains of salt, can send people into respiratory arrest. It is now an accepted fact that the death toll across the...

M.X. Déry, Contributor ~I love that almost everyone nowadays takes photos, but there are a number of you, and you know who you are, that commit every photography sin, and I shutter to think what people in the future will say about our walls of rubbish photos.I’ve ranted heavily about cell phones, but last week I also advised that if you must shoot your photos with a phone, you should use the highest resolution, turn on high dynamic range (HDR) and to not use a digital zoom.While this advice is unique to cell phones, there are things every would-be photographer can do to improve their imagery.For one, you are not a tripod. When people take a picture, they tend to hold the camera up to the eyes while standing perfectly still, legs fully extended as if they were a tripod, unable to move.While this posture might be good for the first shot, if the subject of the photo isn’t the same height as the photographer, it is unlikely the angle will be perfect. Changing the angle for the second and third shot is a great way to improve your photos. Take the time to review the shot you took as the “tripod” and then remember you can bend your legs and move around the subject.On the topic of the subject, there are two “rules” of photography that seem to contradict each other, but the sweet spot is where they overlap: the rule of thirds and don’t centre the heads.Shooting a photo of a person in landscape and centering the head creates an image with more than half the space being empty and is, quite frankly, boring. The same shot in portrait mode, with the subject filling the right or left third of the frame is much more appealing to the eye.Change...

[caption id="attachment_19424" align="alignnone" width="591"] Leading Seaman Dany Nadeau[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Guitarist Leading Seaman Dany Nadeau is striking a new chord by sharing his musical skill with the military community. Registration is now open to take 30-minute lessons from the 29-year-old, who has been strumming for over a decade. Teaching in a classroom setting at the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre is a new beginning for LS Nadeau, who has served eight years in the Canadian Armed Forces, and previously as a private-sector millwright in his home province of Quebec.“I want to pass on my love of music and encourage more people to start playing music,” he said. “Music has been a big part of my life, so if I can find others to do the same that would be highly rewarding for me.” He began playing the guitar at 17, purchasing a cheap imitation Stratocaster from a local music shop to emulate his musical heroes such as famed guitarist Darrell Lance Abbott (Dimebag Darrell), a founding member of heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. Today his taste has evolved slightly with his biggest influencer being Tosin Abasi of Animals of Leaders.“Really I’m a fan of all types of music and the key for me in my lessons is to make the music fun,” said LS Nadeau.   Lessons are one-on-one, tailored to the individual and will have the student’s goals as primary focus. They span from early September to late November on Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 5 and 7 p.m. Fees for a package of four lessons are affordable at $5 for currently serving military members and $8 for Department of National Defence (DND) employees, $10 for all others. LS Nadeau says he will even supply one of his spare guitars if a student does not have one to play.For full...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Members of HMCS Ottawa took time out from a day in paradise last week to build a new paradise, in the form of a meditation garden at Maui Hospice. The Canadian warship was headed to Los Angeles for Fleet Week and made a port visit at Hawaii’s second largest island after sailing from Guam. Instead of spending their leave time unwinding or exploring the island’s rich Polynesian culture, about two dozen volunteer sailors rolled up their sleeves and grabbed rakes, cultivators, shovels, machetes and pruning shears. Under a hot tropical sun they hacked away at dense brush and dug up trees and overgrown shrubberies. By day’s end they had cleared nearly an acre of dense underbrush at the palliative care facility located in the town of Wailuku. “The members of the ship’s crew who volunteered their time to help create a safer environment for the volunteers, workers, patients and their families of Hospice Maui and did so in true Canadian spirit,” said Chief Petty Officer Second Class Susan Frisby, Operations Chief for Ottawa. “We showed up willing to help in whatever way possible, making light work of hard labour. This type of opportunity speaks to what comradery is all about, people helping people.”After the task of bundling and disposing of the brush was completed, volunteers then laid flagstones for a pathway and created gardens using agricultural fabric. As a direct result of their efforts, they also made several road safety improvements on the property by improving sightlines for motorists. When their task was completed the sailors presented a $10,000 cheque to hospice Chief Executive Officer Greg LaGoy and his staff on behalf of Canadian humanitarian charity Boomer’s Legacy. The money will be used to buy a solar lighting system for the hospice parking lot. Their generosity didn’t...

[caption id="attachment_19417" align="alignnone" width="591"] CPO2 Robert Cook[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Chief Petty Officer Second Class Robert Cook spent a few weeks this summer with a whistle between his teeth.He was one of 91 referees from around the world who officiated the 47-team quadrennial 2018 Men’s World Field Lacrosse Championship, July 12 to 21 in Netanya, Israel. “It was my honour not only to be selected to represent Canada, but also as the only active member of the Canadian Armed Forces,” said CPO2 Cook, who is also the head referee with Juan de Fuca Lacrosse.He attended two selection camps before finding out he had been picked as one of 15 referees from Canada to officiate in the tournament. The normally mild-mannered CPO2 Cook admits he had trouble containing his emotions after receiving a phone call from Andrew Corbould, Canadian Lacrosse Association Officials Chairman, in February telling him he was going to Israel. “I take great pride in being a referee and I was the only one from Vancouver Island selected and one of five from British Columbia.” He has officiated in three national championship tournaments, but this was his first international competition. Match officials at the world championships are volunteers and not paid for their work, but tournament organizers do cover the costs of their accommodation and food.It was his first trip to the Middle East and he described the well-known Mediterranean resort town as “scenic” and beautiful. He officiated in 10 games at the Wingate Sports Complex during the tournament including seven on the field, two as a Chief Bench Official, and one as a Bench Manager. The tournament was played in seasonally hot and humid conditions with daytime high temperatures often approaching 40°C. The highlight of his trip was refereeing an 11th place match on the penultimate day of the competition...

[caption id="attachment_19414" align="alignnone" width="591"] Left to right: Maj Harris, Capt Poirier, SLt Leblanc, and CPO2 Tucker.[/caption]SLt M.X. Déry, MARPAC PA ~Military Police (MP) Officer SLt Antoine Leblanc, Officer Commanding Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (Pacific Region), has raised over $4,000 for pediatric cancer while training for the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock ride in September. Over the last few weeks, SLt Leblanc has participated in two spin-a-thons, most recently at the Quality Foods in Langford with paramedic Greg Stubbs where he spun over 50 kilometres. The previous spin-a-thon and barbecue, which took place at CFB Esquimalt with firefighter Matthew Arnsdorf, raised $2,400.“I am always amazed by how generous military members and DND employees are,” said SLt Leblanc. “Thank you to everyone at CFB Esquimalt who helped organize, and participated. Thank you to Thrifty Foods too, who donated all the food.”SLt Leblanc enjoys the spin-a-thons because it not only raises funds, but it also helps raise awareness of pediatric cancer and Tour de Rock, the seminal event of the Cops for Cancer charity on Vancouver Island. He admits they could just be standing behind a table or doing a barbecue, but Tour de Rock is a cycling journey, so they spin.“It is not so much about doing a lot of kilometres, it is to speak with people, connect with the community,” he said.Tour de Rock is the biggest community charity event on Vancouver Island and it has raised over $24 million in the last 20 years. This year they are projecting to raise $1.25 million. This community event, which takes place between Sept. 22 and Oct. 6, is a team of emergency personnel who ride the length of Vancouver Island from Port Alice to Victoria, with a few detours to places such as Ucluelet and Tofino, raising funds along the way.“MPs...

[caption id="attachment_19411" align="alignnone" width="590"] Participants from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria were joined by Pacific Fleet Club Executive committee members and HMCS Victoria and HMCS Chicoutimi crew members.[/caption]SLt M.X. Déry, MARPAC PA Office ~Six “littles”, as they are affectionately known, from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria were accompanied by four adult mentors and family members on an unusual sightseeing tour last week. The youth had the rare opportunity to venture down into the submarine HMCS Chicoutimi and walk the decks of Halifax-class frigate HMCS Regina. The Saturday tour was at the suggestion of PO2 Devin Maxwell, a naval communicator in Chicoutimi.One by one the group crossed the brow onto the black hull and then traversed down the hatch via ladder into the submarine. Once inside, submariners showed them the inner workings of the Victoria-class diesel boat, something very few members of the public get to see.Awaiting the youth on the jetty as they climbed out of the hatch at the tour’s end was a police cruiser and fire truck brought over by the Military Police and Esquimalt Fire Services. It was a hands-on moment as the youth donned fire gear, climbed the fire truck and let the police cruiser siren bellow. In the afternoon, the group moved to Regina for a tour of the surface ship. “Half the kids wanted to become submariners and the other half wanted to be surface sailors,” said PO2 Maxwell.At the end of the day, the sailors surprised the group with a $1,600 donation from the Pacific Fleet Club executive committee and the Submarine Forces. “It is such a unique experience,” said Danielle Gumbley, team lead and mentoring coordinator at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria. “Not only did they plan this fantastic day, but they also supported the agency. We wouldn’t be able...

[caption id="attachment_19407" align="alignnone" width="590"] Firefighter Jon MacDonald helps Able Seaman Conner Dulisch repel from a training tower at the CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue Aug. 20. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Students from Naval Fleet School (Pacific) (NFS(P)) are getting difficult rescue training from CFB Esquimalt Fire and Rescue after the launch of a new partnership. Last Monday, two members of the base fire department were perched high atop a training tower located at the rear of the fire hall on Esquimalt Road. Firefighters Jon MacDonald and Keith Lee were kept busy helping 15 students complete the Helo Rescue portion of their Hull Technician Qualification Level 5 (QL5) training course. Marine Technicians (MarTech), a new trade that combines elements of the Marine Engineer, Hull Technician and Electrical Technician, are responsible for firefighter billets while at sea. That includes employing the proper procedures for rope rescues.“The training is a sharp learning curve for most and with this type of training it’s always about safety,” said Lee. “We explain all of the safety devices and procedures to build their confidence. It’s not a rush, we don’t want them to rush into anything. We give them an opportunity to learn by watching other people.”Students learn procedures for tying rope knots, the details of their personal protective equipment, the mechanics of the repelling manoeuvre, and how to use the hardware and repelling devices. On day two of training the group focusses on patient packaging and how to rescue an accident victim from a difficult area. While the first two days of training had students learning how to use their equipment in a controlled environment and the relative safety of the fire department’s training centre, on Aug. 22 they took their skills into the real world. Students and firefighters embarked in HMCS Vancouver to learn more about proper rope techniques on Canadian warship ladders, rescues in tight engine spaces, and hangar-top rescues.Sergeant Stephanie Harding, Senior Firefighter with NFS(P) Damage Control School, says an...

[caption id="attachment_19404" align="alignnone" width="590"] Members of the British Columbia Forest Service pick up their bags after being dropped off by a Sea King in support of OP LENTUS Aug. 21. Photo by Cpl Jeffrey Clement[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~As more than 565 wildfires burned across British Columbia last week, CFB Esquimalt’s defence community stepped up its relief efforts in the ongoing provincial state of emergency. Approximately 40 personnel from Joint Task Force Pacific (JTFP) are covering around-the-clock shifts at Dockyard’s Battle Watch Operations Centre. They are acting in support of the Province of British Columbia as part of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) ongoing disaster relief effort known as Operation Lentus. The provincial government made its formal request to the Federal Government for wildfire assistance on Aug. 12. JTFP is now playing a key role in directing and coordinating approximately 400 personnel and military equipment in support of that effort. Captain(N) Steve Jorgensen, Joint Task Force Pacific Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, says the scope of this year’s forest fires is significant.No fewer than 2,000 B.C. properties are under an evacuation order, and around 12,000 are also on evacuation alert. A thick blanket of smoke from the fires has prompted prolonged air quality advisories across Western Canada. Approximately 300 soldiers from 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group from CFB Edmonton were deployed Aug. 15 and 16 and are stationed at the Vernon Cadet Camp, and in Merritt. This Land Task Force is tasked with conducting mop-up activities, making sure extinguished wild fires don’t re-ignite. Deployed in small groups, each team of 20 soldiers is working under a supervisor, also known as a Strike Lead, from the B.C. Wildfire Service. The efforts of multiple teams are focused on the 633-hectare Gottfriedson Mountain Fire, west of West Kelowna, which is now under control....

M.X. Déry, Contributor ~I love that almost everyone nowadays takes photos, but there are several of you, and you know who you are, that commit every photography sin, and I shutter to think what people in the future will say about our walls of rubbish photos.As I stated last week, the fact that everyone now has a miniature camera in their cell phones is a boon, since it allows for more casual, everyday activities to be photographed. What they are not meant for is to replace actual cameras outright. I’ve had friends leave on a long vacation with nothing but a cell phone to capture their memories of foreign landscapes, strange flora and exotic fauna. A cell phone is akin to a multitool or a swiss army knife in that it can do a lot of things in small quantities, but does not replace the original tool. If you are in an isolated cabin and need to remove Philips head screws on a portable generator, a multitool can be a life saver, but renovating a kitchen would require a screwdriver, and preferably a powered one.A cell phone is not purpose built for the task of high resolution photography. The sensor is tiny, the lens equally so and the aperture nearly microscopic. High Dynamic Range (HDR) on smartphones masks how poor the built-in camera is at low-light and contrast.It is the software on your smartphone that is doing the heavy lifting, using more and more processing to convert two to three images into a single corrected photo, but this makes smartphones more power hungry.This is also the device that people rely on for communication, navigation and information; battery power is a finite resource, so taking photos and videos with a cell phone burns through that resource quickly.Imagine you are on a hike...

[caption id="attachment_19384" align="alignnone" width="590"] NCdt Marc Mahadeo takes his turn cranking the winch on board STV Goldcrest.[/caption]2Lt Chelsea Howard, CFB Esquimalt PA Office ~When you think about a typical summer job in-between a school semester, you probably think fast food or retail. However, for a few Royal Military College (RMC) students the ocean was their workplace and learning to sail in Sailing Training Vessel Goldcrest was their job, and they got paid to do it.“We run a program through the International Sail and Power Association, so they’re doing a explains course that shows up on their Military Personnel Record Resume (MPRR),” explains John Haggis, second officer in charge of Royal Canadian Navy Sail, and the skipper of STV Goldcrest. “They get qualifications they can use to move up the different sailing tiers such as crew, day skipper, coastal navigator, coastal skipper, then offshore navigator,” But it isn’t all work and no play. “They get to do what people pay a lot of money to do, and that’s tour the Gulf Islands,” says Haggis. “We do port visits in places like Ganges, Sidney, Thetis Island, Port Browning and Poet’s Cove, and these are all sought-after places for people to go visit.”The program is open to RMC students and personnel awaiting training. It provides a platform for junior military members to learn basic principles of leadership and how to function at sea. Having this kind of hand’s-on experience early in one’s career provides a considerable jump on further training, especially for future Naval Warfare Officers such as Naval Cadet Ken Yim. “We’re learning a lot on the sailing vessel and really familiarizing ourselves such that when we get on the actual frigates, we will have lots of experience already,” says NCdt Yim. Some of that experience includes navigating through a difficult area of...

[caption id="attachment_19381" align="alignnone" width="591"] Petty Officer First Class Kim Chaisson[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A sailor with Regional Cadets Support Unit Pacific gave herself a confidence boosting, early 50th birthday present by completing her first Ironman Race. It took Petty Officer First Class Kim Chaisson from dawn to dusk to complete the gruelling Ironman Canada course at Whistler on July 29 during in an energy-sapping heatwave. She finished near the bottom in a field of 1,191 racers but says she was proud of her perseverance to complete the race course that involves 3.8 kilometres of open-water swimming, 180 km of cycling and a 42 km of running. “When I crossed the finish line I thought to myself, I can’t believe it’s finished. I did it, it made me feel better than graduating college,” said PO1 Chaisson. “It was a great 50th birthday present to give to myself.”PO1 Chaisson finished in 1,148th place, with a time of 16:47:05. A range of emotions, from relief to jubilation, swept over her as she crossed the finish line in the darkness of late evening. “Conquering the course was an internal battle and a process because throughout the race my mind was constantly working to shut my body down,” said PO1 Chaisson. “As the race continued, I continually asked myself: Why are you doing this and can’t I just stop and walk for a little while?”At several points she did take a break to walk or get off her bike to rest and rehydrate at one of the designated rest stops, but says she was determined not to quit.“I was thinking to myself, how you are going to feel tomorrow if you don’t get this check in the box as one of your life’s accomplishments. I needed to get it done, so throughout the race I was...

Lt(N) Paul LePrieur, HMCS Calgary ~HMCS Calgary is leading the way on environmental protection.It became the first ship in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) to install an engineering change for use of fresh water as their ballasting medium to achieve compliance with the recently ratified International Maritime Organizations Ballast Water Management Convention. Fresh water is generated from the ship’s reverse osmosis desalination units and eliminates the threat of transferring aquatic invasive species in the ship’s ballast water.Ballasting is necessary for ship stability to adjust for varying sea states and loads. Traditionally, this has been accomplished by pumping in sea water directly from the environment. However, this can be a transport mechanism for thousands of species, including hard to detect life such as larva of aquatic animals, or microbes. These non-native species can overrun local ecosystems without the checks and balances of predators, or the natural competition of their original environment.Many invasive species to Canada have the potential to be carried in ballast water, such as the Zebra Mussel, European Green Crab and Japanese Skeleton Shrimp. Reports indicate these invasions have caused approximately $54 billion in damage worldwide in the last five years alone.Zebra mussel is a well-known example, having colonized many of North America’s inland water ways, now reaching as far west as California and being detected on recreational craft entering B.C. Zebra mussels completely cover surfaces in newly established waters, suffocating native mussels, clams and plants, altering the food chain, and even the water composition through its filter feeding. Severe economic impacts occur through the clogging of water intakes and fouling in-water structures and vessels. It has been speculated the first wave of the invasion was started by ballast water released into the Great Lakes in the late 1980s from a vessel originating in the mussel’s native Black Sea habitat.In...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Award-winning athlete Lieutenant(N) Nicholas Lightbody has reached new heights after his second-place finish in the Open Age Ironman Canada 70.3 race at Whistler, B.C. Lightbody, formerly at Base Information Services (BIS) and currently posted to HMCS Discovery, recorded a personal best time of 4:09:10 in the Subaru racing series event held under a scorching summer sun on July 29. “I’m absolutely ecstatic about the race; it shattered all my expectations and I couldn’t be happier with how everything came together,” said Lt(N) Lightbody. The race was half the distance of a standard Ironman race and involved a 1.9 kilometre swim, 90 km bike ride and 21.1 km run.  Competitors battled extreme heat with temperatures topping out at 35°C with higher humidex values. The 26-year-old was runner-up in a field of 1,150 amateur competitors from across Canada and around the world. With his second place finish, Lt(N) Lightbody beat his personal best by 15 minutes. After crossing the finish line with his arms raised above his head in celebration he was quick to congratulate his coach Mike Neill from Victoria’s Human Powered Racing.“All the hard work that I have been putting in during training has been paying off,” said Lt(N) Lightbody. “Mike has created a great program that has help cultivate me into the athlete that I currently am.”Lt(N) Lightbody started off strong in the opening swimming portion of the race and was first out of the water with a time of 25:30. He was particularly surprised by his performance in the half marathon portion of the event where he finished 1:23:21. But he still wasn’t fast enough to catch winner Holtham Elliot of Canada, who bettered Lt(N) Lightbody by just 20 seconds. Holtham is an accomplished competitor who won the 2014 Ironman Australia, and so is third-place...