[caption id="attachment_18179" align="alignnone" width="630"] Photo by PO2 Belinda Groves[/caption]Deployed members disembarking a CC-177 Globemaster aircraft in Resolute Bay Nunavut to participate in Operation NUNALIVUT 2018, March 2, 2018.

 [caption id="attachment_18133" align="alignnone" width="600"] A representative from the Coast Guard  surveys the shoreline with a crew member from PCT Wolf. In the end, no evidence of disturbance to the natural environment was observed. PCT Wolf and crew surveyed the Porlier Pass area following HMCS Calgary’s fuel spill.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Royal Canadian Navy and multiple government agencies came together quickly on Saturday Feb. 24 with a coordinated joint response following a fuel spill from HMCS Calgary. The spill occurred in the Strait of Georgia between Nanaimo and Parksville as the frigate was conducting an internal fuel transfer; the incident involved the release of up to 20,000 litres of F-76 marine distillate fuel. Calgary’s fuel spill response team reacted immediately. The ship reversed course to look for signs of the spill, and informed authorities at Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) who engaged Emergency Management B.C., as per their Safety and Environment Management System guidelines.MARPAC’s Formation Safety and Environment rapidly coordinated response efforts with Environmental Climate Change Canada, Canadian Coast Guard, Emergency Management B.C. and Transport Canada. As a proactive measure Canadian Armed Forces assets at CFMETR Nanoose and the MARPAC Ready Duty Ship were put on alert to assist if needed. Aircraft were launched overhead to look for visual signs of fuel floating on the surface of the ocean and report them to the Regional Joint Operations Centre. Transport Canada deployed their pollution detection aircraft, while private sector companies Harbour Air and B.C. Ferries were alerted to look for signs of the spill. Commodore Jeff Zwick, Commander of Canadian Fleet Pacific, addressed the media at a press conference the next day to bring them up to date on the incident and the response effort. “We take environmental stewardship very seriously and we’re working proactively to address the problem,” said Cmdre Zwick. “Once...

[caption id="attachment_18107" align="alignnone" width="550"] HMCS Winnipeg sails in formation with the Japanese Navy’s JS Izumo and Sazanami during a Passage Exercise in the South China Sea, which included ships from the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia. Photo by LSIS Bradley Darvill[/caption]Lt(N) Ellie Aminaie, HMCS Winnipeg ~After nearly a year as the Flagship of the West Coast Fleet, HMCS Winnipeg handed over the reins to HMCS Calgary Feb. 2, in order to undergo an extended maintenance and upgrade period. During its tenure as Flagship, Winnipeg was involved in many high tempo operations.Starting March 2017Upon completion of Sea Training-led Intermediate Air Ship Readiness Training in March 2017, Winnipeg deployed in company with HMCS Ottawa for Poseidon Cutlass 17-1 in the Indo-Asia Pacific region. The two ships conducted an array of operations with regional foreign navies.These multi-national operations, which had the Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific and his staff embarked in Winnipeg for portions of the deployment, included exercises with the Australian, Indian, Sri Lankan, Japanese, South Korean, New Zealand and United States Navies.During the deployment, Winnipeg had the Maritime Tactical Operations Group embarked, showcasing this advanced capability of the Royal Canadian Navy to our allied navies. Multiple port visits allowed the the ship’s company to represent Canada at global engagement events in the Philippines, Malaysia, India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Japan and South Korea. Most notably, the port visit in Malaysia included a high profile global engagement component in support of the Minister of National Defence.Another notable milestone for this deployment was the proof of concept of the Naval Security Team that consisted of Reserve Force personnel providing enhanced Force Protection to deployed ships while alongside Busan, Korea.Winnipeg’s return transit to Esquimalt after five month abroad included a Replenishment at Sea Force Generation tasking in company with Ottawa and the Chilean Tanker Almirante Montt, where the Deck department was trained in operations with the tanker, conducting 22 seamanship evolutions within the span of two weeks.September 2017This high readiness ship was put to sea...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A pair of teenage entrepreneurs from Shawinigan Lake are donating proceeds from their new line of clothing and merchandise to Wounded Warriors Canada.The two siblings, Mckenna Haz, 19, and her younger brother Cooper Haz, 16, used the annual Wounded Warrior Run B.C. charitable event to launch their new business KidLED and its first line of clothing ‘WW1 Centennial Collection’, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.They will donate 10 percent of profits generated from product sales to Wounded Warriors Canada, which has been raising the bar on public awareness surrounding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and mental illness for military and first responders.Co-founder Mckenna says aligning KidLED with Wounded Warriors Canada, seemed a natural first step for the business because of the cause, and her family’s personal connection to the cause.“Our dad served as a military [police] member for 10 years and we have family friends that suffer with PTSD, so it hits home to us,” says Mckenna. “I also think Wounded Warriors really puts mental illness on a high stage and people need to know it is okay to reach out, because at the end of the day we aren’t alone. People matter.”Wounded Warrior Run B.C. runners set off from Port Hardy Feb. 19 for the six-day, 600-kilometre relay style run that ended in Victoria on Feb. 25. Captain Jacqueline Zweng, Regional Cadet Support Unit (Pacific), is this year’s Wounded Warrior Run B.C. Director, and says the runners are glad to see this kind of support from KidLED.“It is so outstanding to see different groups of people coming together to support the cause. As our new slogan states: We are All in This Together, and it’s wonderful to see the Haz family involved in their community.”The last three letters in...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~As civilian and military employers struggle to recruit and retain the next generation in the workforce, the research of David Coletto may help solve the problem.The MARPAC Health and Wellness Strategy is bringing Coletto to CFB Esquimalt on March 9 to give a presentation entitled Leadership and Millennials: Working Effectively with Generational Change. He will deliver a two-and-a-half hour presentation in the Rainbow Room of the Chiefs’ and Petty Officers’ Mess beginning at 9 a.m. The 200 pre-registered spots for the presentation are filling up quickly.Coletto, 35, is a highly successful millennial who co-founded the Ottawa-based market and public opinion research firm Ababcus Data, and heads its Canadian Millennial Research Practice.His presentation is geared to managers, supervisors, commanding officers and people who deliver on-the-job training, so they can better understand what makes millennials tick and how to better accommodate their needs. Maryse Neilson, CFB Esquimalt’s Health Promotion Manager, says Coletto is renowned for his presentation skills.“He is not only well informed and highly successful in his field, but also an incredible entertainer. He presents his research in a good-natured way that allows you to understand the data,” she says.The Federal Government has been tracking the increasing employee shortfall at the Department of National Defence as people reach the mandatory retirement age of 55, and civilian employees reach the end of their careers.After a review by the Auditor General of Canada, a House of Commons report in June 2017 declared that the DND “must improve its methods of recruitment and retention of personnel.”As a result, a key part of Canada’s new defence policy document Strong, Secure, Engaged was a commitment to grow the military by 3,500 members and the Reserve Force by 15,000.This includes the implementation of a comprehensive CAF Retention Strategy which Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan...

[caption id="attachment_18098" align="alignnone" width="550"] After her participation in the LEARN program, Christina Van Spronsen of Base Information Services says she doesn’t let the rainy days of winter keep her from staying active. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A technical support worker at Base Information Services says a new weight-busting health and wellness program offered by Health Promotion has given her the tools to have a better life.Last April, Christina Van Spronsen enrolled in the LEARN (Lifestyle Education through Activity Resilience and Nutrition), a Health Promotion and fitness program. Prior to taking the course she says stress was mounting in her life, and hopes of leading a healthy lifestyle seemed all but dashed.“This course gave me something I hadn’t had in a long time - hope,” says Van Spronsen “It isn’t an easy path to stay self-motivated, but I do believe that as a creature of routine, exercise has become my new routine in life.”Since enrolling in the program Van Spronsen has lost 45lbs, her stress has reduced, and she has found more energy for day-to-day activities, both at work and home.LEARN is offered at CFB Esquimalt and is open to all military and DND civilian employees and family members. The mandate of the program is to help participants reduce weight circumference and improve overall health. Goals are achieved through education and training modules that combine physical activity, nutrition, mental fitness and resilience training, stress management and conscious relaxation techniques. Class sizes are small with 10 to 12 people meeting three afternoons a week at the Naden Athletic Centre from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. From 1 p.m. to 2:30 students attend lectures, while the last hour of the segment involves physical training exercises.Rave Reviews Claire Grant, Health Promotion program administrator, says 58 people have graduated from the program...

[caption id="attachment_18123" align="alignnone" width="575"] Photo by Cpl Tony Chand, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Maritime Tactical Operations Group Tiger Team and Royal Canadian Navy Ship’s Boarding Party members conduct pistol training on the flight deck of HMCS St. John’s during Operation Reassurance, Feb. 21.

[caption id="attachment_18119" align="alignnone" width="575"] Photo by Cpl Tony Chand, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]HMCS St. John’s currently deployed on Operation Reassurance operates with the HDMS Niels Juel (F363) of Standing NATO Maritime Group One off the Norwegian coast, Feb. 22.

[caption id="attachment_18116" align="alignnone" width="575"] Photo by Cpl Tony Chand, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Royal Canadian Navy members currently deployed on board HMCS St. John’s participate in a Personnel Exchange with a Norwegian Submarine during Operation Reassurance, Feb. 22.

[caption id="attachment_18095" align="alignnone" width="550"] Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, centre, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, and Command Chief Petty Officer Michel Vigneault, right, accept a framed version of the new RCN Stadium Series Sweater from Toronto Maple Leafs alumnus Darryl Sittler.[/caption]Darlene Blakely, Navy Public Affairs Ottawa ~The Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club paid tribute to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) recently when it unveiled a Stadium Series Sweater designed for its outdoor game against the Washington Capitals at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on March 3.The Leafs will wear an all-white uniform, trimmed in blue, representing the Canadian Naval Ensign. In addition to being one of the most recognized visual identifiers of the RCN, the Canadian Naval Ensign is a symbol of excellence portraying the professionalism and dedication of Canadian sailors who deploy around the world.“The Maple Leafs have had a very long and proud association with our Armed Forces throughout the years and this special game is an important opportunity for us to not only pay tribute to the RCN, but to also say thank you to the many men and women who serve our country so bravely,” team president Brendan Shanahan said in a statement. “This unique uniform, to mark a unique occasion, celebrates the traditions of both the RCN and the Toronto Maple Leafs, and it will be a great honour for our players to wear this sweater.”The Maple Leafs will wear white sweaters for the first time in an outdoor game along with white helmets, socks, gloves and pants, all with blue trim. The motto of the RCN, “Ready, Aye, Ready”, will be featured prominently inside the collar of the sweater. The Maple Leafs’ inspiring “Honour. Pride. Courage.” will appear on the top stripe of the left sleeve.Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, Commander RCN, said he...

[caption id="attachment_18092" align="alignnone" width="550"] Team members who attended the official robotics competition startup Jan. 6 in Vancouver hold the base of the robot they put together that day. It has come a very long way since then. Photo courtesy Tina O’Keeffe[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~An organization that inspires students to chart career paths in science and technology is looking for volunteers from the base to help run it’s first-ever B.C. regional robotics competition.FIRST Robotics Canada (FRC) is a non-profit charity affiliated with U.S. parent organization FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology), whose mission it is to inspire high school and elementary school students with hands-on technology experience under the guidance of seasoned tradespeople.Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre is the location for their regional qualifying event March 14, 15 and 16 with winners moving on to this year’s First Robotics World Championship in Houston and Detroit in April.FRC event coordinator Jason Brett is a former high school shop teacher who now teachs electronics and robotics to future shop teachers at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Burnaby.  Brett says he’s excited about the Victoria launch because it means students now have a competition they can call their own.“I have been involved in this event for 15 years and we always had to take the kids from B.C. to other venues,” said Brett. “Now we have a couple of hundred bright talented kids who are converging on Victoria for this challenge, and there are so many people at CFB Esquimalt who are of the same mindset even though they may be a generation or two apart.”Brett says he’s looking for military and civilian volunteers from the base to help mentor teams, judge submissions, and lend a hand in event logistical tasks such as registration and event operations.“I think when word...

[caption id="attachment_18083" align="alignnone" width="575"] Photo by Cpl Tony Chand, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Canadian Armed Forces members currently deployed on board HMCS St. John’s participate in a fitness class lead by Personnel Support Program (PSP) fitness instructor Keira Lee during Operation Reassurance, Feb. 21.

[caption id="attachment_18009" align="alignnone" width="575"] Inset: Members of the Flying Lion Dance Troupe pose for pictures during the 5th International Cultural and Folk Festival held in Concon, Chile.[/caption]Lt(N) Harrison Nguyen, Canadian Submarine Force ~When I was a teenager growing up in Winnipeg I learned Chinese Lion Dance and showcased it during the city’s annual multicultural festival, Folklorama (Twitter: @Folklorama).For those who haven’t experienced Folklorama I highly recommend it. The City of Winnipeg comes alive with over 40 different local communities hosting their own cultural pavilions. What I loved the most was being able to show everyone Chinese Lion Dance and educate people on this important part of Chinese culture.Fifteen years later, I performed for Folklorama again, but this time on the other side of the world.Last September, the President of my dance team asked if I wanted to showcase the Chinese Lion Dance at the 5th International Cultural and Folk Festival in Concon, Chile, Feb. 1 to 4.Excited at the opportunity, I proposed this to my Chain of Command who in turn were more than supportive towards my endeavour.We landed in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 31 where we met with dignitaries from the festival. The whole trip felt like a foreign port visit with the Royal Canadian Navy. There were meetings, gift exchanges, and social events scheduled during our stay.During the four-day festival, my team, the Flying Lion Dance troupe (Twitter: @FlyingLionsWpg) on behalf of Folklorama, represented Chinese Lion Dance Culture by performing four shows in three venues to thousands of people. We were joined by other groups representing cultures from Ukraine, Uruguay, Trinidad & Tobago, Togo, and Argentina.

DND ~Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have a new tool to help facilitate their transition into the civilian workforce.MNET, which officially launched Oct. 16, 2017, is a new, free to use, online career transition tool that matches military occupations with civilian occupations and job openings. MNET is short for Military Occupational Structure ID (MOSID) to National Occupational Classification (NOC) Equivalency Tool.To use MNET, CAF members and Veterans just need to enter information about their military career and a matching civilian occupation with job description, as well as a link to relevant civilian employment opportunities on the Government of Canada’s Job Bank is produced.Employers are also able to use MNET, which can help them to understand a particular military occupation and lets them post forecasted job openings specifically for Veterans.“It is exciting to see the implementation of this great initiative well ahead of schedule. It would not have been possible without the commitment from interdepartmental cooperation throughout this process,” said Brigadier-General Mark Misener, the General Officer leading the creation of the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group. “CAF members often think little of the training and experiences that they have amassed during their careers and the weight it can carry over into the competitive labour market.”MNET is the result of coordinated efforts by the CAF’s Directorate of Casualty Support Management, the Military Personnel Generation Learning Support Centre, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). For example, in order to allow for the translation of military occupations to civilian equivalents, ESDC provided access to its vast catalogue on occupational information in Canada, which categorizes more than 30,000 occupational titles into groups that are organized according to skill types and levels.The online tool, based on a United States Department of Labor application, was created and customized for Canadian...

[caption id="attachment_18080" align="alignnone" width="575"] Photo by Cpl Tony Chand, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Maritime Tactical Operations Group Tiger Team and Royal Canadian Navy Ship’s Boarding Party members conduct pistol training on the flight deck of HMCS St. John’s during Operation Reassurance, off the Norwegian coast Feb. 21.

A new smartphone app is set to turn B.C. bystanders into potential life-savers should a sudden cardiac arrest occurs in a public place.BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) has launched the free PulsePoint application throughout the province. It provides vital information in the case of cardiac arrest, where minutes count in reducing suffering and preventing death.Smartphone users with Pulsepoint are connected to the BCEHS emergency dispatch system. When a sudden cardiac arrest is reported at a p­ublic location through 9-1-1, dispatchers can send the location to people with mobile devices within short walking distance. A user with training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can then go to the patient and begin CPR while paramedics are en route.The smartphone alert also shows users a map pinpointing the location of nearby portable public defibrillators, which are another tool that the general public can use safely before paramedics arrive.British Columbia is the first to have a province-wide program for this public notification service. Pulsepoint also operates in an Ontario municipality and in a number of U.S. counties and cities.The effectiveness of Pulsepoint will be studied in BC and other parts of Canada and the US to determine whether the app increases public participation in cardiac arrest resuscitation. BC is expected to take part in this randomized, controlled research trial starting in 2018.The PulsePoint app can be downloaded from both the Apple Store for iOS and from Google Play Store for Android OSQuick Facts:3 MINUTESThe amount of time after a sudden cardiac arrest in which brain damage occurs if immediate help is not available. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs without notice and leaves patients unconscious.7,101the number of cardiac arrests BCEHS paramedics responded to in 201725%Bystanders performed CPR in approximately 25 per cent of these cases.10%The survival rate beyond 30 days for sudden cardiac arrest in BC is...

[caption id="attachment_17996" align="alignnone" width="575"] The Navy hockey team from HMCS Hunter celebrates their victory with the Grapes Cup on Jan. 20 while participating in the first of what is to be an annual rivalry matchup between Navy players and Army players in Windsor-Essex county.[/caption]A/SLt Moore, HMCS Hunter ~Navy players from HMCS Hunter and the army, featuring players from 31 Canadian Brigade Group (including Essex and Kent Scottish, Windsor Regiment, and 31 Service Battalion), played an outdoor ice hockey game Jan. 20 on the iconic Canadian day known as Hockey Day in Canada.Team Navy quickly seized the lead and eventually went on to win the game 11 – 3 through dominant play.Master Seaman Tyler Thomson, one of Team Navy’s organizers, said the day “went really well. We’re really happy with how it’s going. We’re happy to be able to get out on the ice, to play a friendly game, and to beat Team Army.”This game marked the first annual matchup between the friendly rivals in Windsor Essex. The winner took home the “Grapes Cup,” so named in honour of Don Cherry (“Grapes” is Don Cherry’s nickname).Through its history, Hockey Day in Canada has been about much more than the game of hockey – it has been about bringing the community together. This event successfully did that, bringing dozens of friends, family members, and military personnel together in a time of fun and celebration.Master Seaman Mitchell and Master Seaman Thomson wanted that to be the focus of the match.“Our main priority was to create a fun thing to do - something for families and friends to enjoy while getting to spend time with service members in the public,” said MS Thomson.After the game, guests  enjoyed a public skate. It was an amazing time of strategic outreach and community involvement for the military...

[caption id="attachment_17990" align="alignnone" width="575"] Clockwise from top left: Dana Tremblay displays job opportunities available at B.C. Ferries. Pierre Boucher of the CFB Esquimalt Model Railway Club gets his locomotives on track. Trevor Ball of Fort Street Cycle shows off a bike. Patrons line up at the Deadbeetz food truck for a free lunch. Karl Schneider, Registered Massage Therapist at The Spa at Delta Ocean Pointe Resort, gives a massage. Photos by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Over 120 businesses and community organizations plotted a course for fun and information at the Naden Athletic Centre Feb. 15 at this year’s MARPAC Health and Wellness Expo.Over 1,000 military and DND civilian employees attended this year’s expo held in the upper and lower gymnasium of the sports complex. The annual event features interactive display booths by local non-profits and businesses representing health and wellness, recreation, sports, fitness, outdoor activities, schools and base clubs.One popular feature of the expo were the door prizes offered up by vendors along with the delicious free food samples available to patrons. The first 500 visitors received vouchers for complimentary lunch, courtesy the PSP sponsorship program, for food trucks Deadbeetz and Mai Mai’s Bistro. Those not lucky enough to get their hands on a food voucher could still sate their appetites as Hertels Meats were on hand frying up side and back bacon samples, while Esquimalt’s Melting Moments Catering were offering up sample pasta and desserts, and Serious Coffee provided free coffee and tea to visitors.For those with an appetite for travel they could enter WestJet airlines’ free draw to win a trip to any of its destinations in Canada. This year’s winner was AB Brett Melchior of HMCS Winnipeg.

[caption id="attachment_18022" align="alignnone" width="575"] Photo by LS Valerie LeClair, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]The Financial Service Administrator (FSA) and the Human Resources Administration (HRA) Logistics Departments have a tug-of-war to celebrate the 50th anniversary of CFB Esquimalt Logistics Branch, Feb 8.

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[caption id="attachment_17987" align="alignnone" width="560"] Left: Hazel Braithwaite, United Way of Greater Victoria Director of Community Campaign; Base Chief, Chief Petty Officer Gino Spinelli; Julie Mills, HealthPartners Accounts Manager; and Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd, Base Commander, display a cheque for $300,000 from the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The MARPAC Health and Wellness Expo was the venue to mark the conclusion of this year’s National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC), which began in October 2017. Through a variety of fundraising initiatives, this year’s campaign raised $300,000 for local charities.Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd, Base Commander, made a brief speech to the crowd and then made a cheque presentation to Hazel Braithwaite, United Way Greater Victoria Director of Community Campaign, and Julie Mills, HealthPartners. Braithwaite congratulated Capt(N) Boyd and CFB Esquimalt’s military and civilian employees for another solid contribution this year, noting the sizable donation will go a long way to funding programs in the community.“We are always impressed with the support we get from CFB Esquimalt and are thrilled to have this sizable donation to put back into the community that will help operate so many programs,” said Braithwaite.Capt(N) Boyd said the charitable campaign also helps to highlight the “tremendous efforts” of military personnel and civilian staff in the community, either through financial support, volunteering, and other acts of goodwill.“The point I really want to make about this year’s NDWCC campaign is that it really wasn’t about the size of your wallets but the size of your hearts,” said Capt(N) Boyd. “We are very pleased with the results of this year’s campaign and are able to celebrate MARPAC’s involvement in the community; we give back a lot.”

[caption id="attachment_18017" align="alignnone" width="575"] Photo by LS Valerie LeClair, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]The special Logistics 50th anniversary relay flag made its way to CFB Esquimalt on Feb. 8.

[caption id="attachment_18014" align="alignnone" width="575"] Photo by Cpl Tony Chand, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]LS Michael Thoms, a Marine Systems Technician machines spacers on the lathe in the Marine Systems Engineering workshop on board HMCS St. John’s during Operation REASSURANCE while in Fjords of Norway Feb. 16.

[caption id="attachment_17984" align="alignnone" width="560"] It was 20 years in the making, and a mere minute to lose, but it was all worth it in the end. PO1 Darren Peat’s mustache succumbed to a $,6,225 fundraising goal, and the sailor braved the shaved on HMCS Regina’s flight deck. Photo courtesy HMCS Regina[/caption]SLt M.X. Déry, MARPAC PA ~When HMCS Regina’s crew sets out to do something, they get the job done.So when this year’s National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC) season kicked off, Regina’s crew had their sights on surpassing the previous year’s contribution, and they did. They managed to raise $41,525, a 23 per cent increase on last year’s already substantial sum.“I believe the dramatic increase this year was a direct response to the day sail Regina put on for the Chris Knox Foundation,” said Lt(N) Gregory Kuhn, NDWCC co-ordinator in Regina. “Donating this year became personal – you could now put a face to the organization you were donating to.”The Chris Knox Foundation, Regina’s official charity, will get the lion’s share of the funds - over $20,500 - raised through the ship’s handful of fundraising events. But the highlight of the events was the shaving of heads and mustaches on the flight deck.PO1 Lee Richardson helped raise the funds to shave Lt(N) Tracy Tkachuk’s mustache, but soon discovered that Lt(N) Tkachuk had also been raising funds to shave PO1 Richardson’s head.“When you thought I had the best of Tkachuk, I did not,” said PO1 Richardson. “Remember it’s for the children!”PO1 Darren Peat set a high price for his classic mustache, thinking his lofty goal of $5,000 would never be reached.“PO Richardson suggested it [the mustache shave] so I asked my wife; she said ‘no way!’ So I said name a price, and she said $5,000 assuming there was no way...

[caption id="attachment_17968" align="alignnone" width="575"] Lt(N) Stephenie Murray, left, and Lt(N) Andrea Murray, are twin sisters in the Royal Canadian Navy who are both currently Executive Officers in Kingston-class warships. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption] Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~ If you come to HMC Dockyard in Halifax looking for a naval officer named Lt(N) Murray, you need to be very specific. Even if you know she’s the Executive Officer of a Kingston-class ship, you’ll still need more details. That’s because there are two Murrays. Lt(N) Andrea Murray, Executive Officer of HMCS Kingston, and Lt(N) Stephanie Murray, Executive Officer of HMCS Glace Bay, are twin sisters, which is often news even to their dockyard colleagues. The two aren’t identical twins, but the similarities while in uniform are close enough to create some confusion. “There’s a harbour pilot we’ve been working with for a decade who recently realized we weren’t the same person, so we had to let him know. That happens all the time. We also get mistaken for each other on a daily basis,” says Lt(N) Andrea Murray. The two sisters have been members of the Royal Canadian Navy since 2005, and starting with Basic Training, which they completed together, their careers have progressed in lockstep with each other. “We’ve actually done basically all our positions at the same time. We were Operations Officers together, we were Deck Officers, and now we’re both XOs,” says Lt(N) Andrea Murray. Her sister added that growing up, their parents worked hard to ensure they led independent lives, enrolling the sisters in different classes at school or signing them up for different sports teams and activities. “And now here we are doing the same job, in the same place, in the same uniform,” she jokes. The Murrays come from a family with lots...

[caption id="attachment_17965" align="alignnone" width="575"] Runners from the base left: Lieutenant Commander Simon Brown, Master Seaman Steve Deschamps, and Matt Carlson are joined by Wounded Warrior Run B.C. Director, Captain Jacquieline Zweng (second from right) for the launch event at Jim Pattison Subaru in Colwood Feb. 1.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Four runners from CFB Esquimalt are about to set off on the 5th annual Wounded Warrior Run B.C. and face the physically gruelling task of running the length of Vancouver Island.The team will begin pounding the pavement in Port Hardy Feb. 19 and conclude Feb. 25 at the provincial legislature in Victoria.Organized by Wounded Warriors Canada, the purpose of the approximately 600-kilometre relay-style run is to raise public awareness about mental health and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), along with financial support for programs that benefit affected military members and first responders.Joining the seven-person Wounded Warrior team are Lieutenant Commander Simon Brown of Maritime Forces Pacific, Chief Warrant Officer Mark Dankwerth of Base Administration, Master Seaman Steve Deschamps of Canadian Fleet Pacific, and Matt Carlson, Personnel Support Services Community Recreation Coordinator.The Big LaunchRunners and support staff gathered at Jim Pattison Subaru Feb. 1 for the official launch event. They were flanked by first responders from the Colwood Fire Department, West Shore RCMP, a colour guard from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 91, Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton and members of the Victoria Grizzlies junior hockey team, who were there to show their support.Run Director, Captain Jacqueline Zweng works as a Cadet Instructor at the Regional Cadet Support Unit at Work Point. She was a member of last year’s Wounded Warriors team and shared her own her story of overcoming breast cancer, surgery, and a subsequent car accident to become a runner on last year’s team. While not diagnosed with PTSD herself, she...

[caption id="attachment_17976" align="alignnone" width="580"] Cpl Tony Chand, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]A RCN member currently deployed on board HMCS St. John’s inspects the C-9 Light Machine Gun after departing Bergen, Norway during Operation REASSURANCE on Feb. 12.