Title: Deployment Coffee NightLocation: CPACDescription: Title: Deployment Coffee Night Location: CPAC Description: Is your military member away or planning to be away soon? Would you like to meet others dealing with a deployment? Would you like to make some new connections before you member goes away? Would you like to “take a child-free break” with others like yourself? These evenings are an opportunity for people to connect and share over a cup of coffee! MFRC staff will be on hand to provide information. Share your tips about dealing with military deployments. Come and learn from those who have done it all before. You are not alone. Free child care provided if registered in advance. Registration for this program is required for all participants at least 5 days in advance of session dates. Call the MFRC at 250-363-2640 to register. Location: CPAC MFRC 621 Wednesday July 2, 16 & 30, August 6, 27 6:30-8:30pm FreeStart Time: 18:30Date: 2014-08-30End Time: 20:30

Title: Submarine Centenary BanquetLocation: CFB Esquimalt WardroomDescription: Submarine Centenary Banquet August 7, 2014, at the CFB Esquimalt Wardroom. Date: 2014-08-07

Title: Deployment Coffee NightLocation: CPACDescription: Title: Deployment Coffee Night Location: CPAC Description: Is your military member away or planning to be away soon? Would you like to meet others dealing with a deployment? Would you like to make some new connections before you member goes away? Would you like to “take a child-free break” with others like yourself? These evenings are an opportunity for people to connect and share over a cup of coffee! MFRC staff will be on hand to provide information. Share your tips about dealing with military deployments. Come and learn from those who have done it all before. You are not alone. Free child care provided if registered in advance. Registration for this program is required for all participants at least 5 days in advance of session dates. Call the MFRC at 250-363-2640 to register. Location: CPAC MFRC 621 Wednesday August 6, 27, September 13 6:30-8:30pm FreeStart Time: 18:30Date: 2014-08-27End Time: 20:30

Title: Deployment Coffee NightLocation: CPACLink out: Click hereDescription: Title: Deployment Coffee Night Location: CPAC Description: Is your military member away or planning to be away soon? Would you like to meet others dealing with a deployment? Would you like to make some new connections before you member goes away? Would you like to “take a child-free break” with others like yourself? These evenings are an opportunity for people to connect and share over a cup of coffee! MFRC staff will be on hand to provide information. Share your tips about dealing with military deployments. Come and learn from those who have done it all before. You are not alone. Free child care provided if registered in advance. Registration for this program is required for all participants at least 5 days in advance of session dates. Call the MFRC at 250-363-2640 to register. Location: CPAC MFRC 621 Wednesday July 2, 16 & 30, August 6, 27 6:30-8:30pm FreeStart Time: 18:30Date: 2014-07-16End Time: 20:30

Title: Deployment Coffee NightLocation: CPACLink out: Click hereDescription: Title: Deployment Coffee Night Location: CPAC Description: Is your military member away or planning to be away soon? Would you like to meet others dealing with a deployment? Would you like to make some new connections before you member goes away? Would you like to “take a child-free break” with others like yourself? These evenings are an opportunity for people to connect and share over a cup of coffee! MFRC staff will be on hand to provide information. Share your tips about dealing with military deployments. Come and learn from those who have done it all before. You are not alone. Free child care provided if registered in advance. Registration for this program is required for all participants at least 5 days in advance of session dates. Call the MFRC at 250-363-2640 to register. Location: CPAC MFRC 621 Wednesday June 4, 18, July 2, 16 & 30, August 6, 27 6:30-8:30pm FreeStart Time: 18:30Date: 2014-05-06End Time: 20:30

Title: Industrial Trade Show September 18, 2014Location: NADEN Drill HallRegistration for Vendors: Click hereDescription: CFB Esquimalt Industrial Supplier Trade Show Date: Thursday Sept 18, 2014 Time: 10am - 3:30pm Location: NADEN Drill Hall CFB Esquimalt Victoria, BCStart Time: 10:00Date: 2014-09-18End Time: 15:30

  Title: Base Commander’s Golf TournamentLocation: Olympic View Golf Club - 643 Latoria Rd. MORE INFO: BC-Golf-Tourn-Poster Description: Base Commander’s Golf Tournament June 25, 2014 Olympic View Golf Club - 643 Latoria Rd. Start Time: 07:00Date: 2014-06-25

Ceremony will be held at CFB Esquimalt on Friday May 9 to recognize and to salute those who contributed to Canada’s mission in Afghanistan.

Title: Back to School Shopping Event Location: CPAC Description: Does the first day of school seem to sneak up on you? Are you prepared? Is your member away? Get the back to school shopping done in peace while the MFRC cares for your child. Buy a ticket for our annual Back to School Shopping Event - your child enjoys dinner, movie, snack and a craft at CPAC - you enjoy shopping alone! Advance tickets only - available until August 13. Location: CPAC MFRC 640 Wed August 20 5-8:30pm $5/child (max $10/family) Call the MFRC at 250-363-2640 to register (toll free: 1-800-353-3329). Start Time: 17:00Date: 2014-07-20End Time: 20:30

The National Day of Honour on May 9 recognizes the service of Canadians in Afghanistan over the past 12 years. CFB Esquimalt will hold a local ceremony at the Wall of Valour, below the Wardroom at 9:45 a.m.

Title: Children’s Deployment Workbooks: Info SessionLocation: CPACLink out: Click hereDescription: If your child can’t make it into a deployment workshop, there are workbooks for kids age 3-12 available for you to use at home. There is also an easy-to-use parent guide for the at-home parent that includes tips and activities for the deployed parent. Come learn more the workbooks, the parent guide and how to use them in this valuable 90-minute information session. Call the MFRC at 250-363-2640 to register (toll free: 1-800-353-3329). Location: CPAC MFRC 606 Monday June 16 6:30-8pm Free Children's Deployment Workshops Children’s Deployment Workshops help children adjust to a parent being away on deployment. Workshops offer an opportunity for children to interact with other children who are going through the same experience. These workshops will help validate your child’s feelings about deployment. There are programs for Preschool (age 3-5yrs), School Age (age 5-8yrs) and Preteen (age 9-12yrs). If you are interested in registering your child up for one of the following workshops, call 250-363-2640 or email Tracy Beck directly at tracy.beck@forces.gc.ca. Space is limited, please register your child in advance. Age 3 - 5 years Location: CPAC MFRC 600A Tuesday 9:30-10:45am Location: Lampson MFRC 600B Monday 9:30-10:45am Age 5 - 8 years Location: CPAC MFRC 601A Tuesday or Thursday 3:30-4:45pm Location: Lampson MFRC 601B Wednesday 3:45-5pm Age 9 - 12 years Location: CPAC MFRC 602 Monday 3:30-4:45pm Start Time: 18:30Date: 2014-06-16End Time: 20:00

Title: Canada Day CelebrationsLocation: To be decidedLink out: Click hereDescription: Happy Birthday Canada! Show your Canadian Pride! Enjoy celebrating with other families, partners and spouses of our military community. Share your Canada Day with others in your community. Watch the Family Network emails for details. Location: TBD Tuesday July 1 Date: 2014-06-01

Title: Navy BallLocation: Government House (1401 Rockland Avenue, Victoria, BC) Description: Navy Ball Navy Ball Poster in PDF *This event is open to the public On June 7th, there will be an all ranks Naval Ball at the beautiful Government House. Join us for an elegant evening of delicious food, dancing and celebrating the west coast military. Tickets will be available for purchase online. For more information on the event, call 250-363-2640. Location: Government House (1401 Rockland Avenue, Victoria, BC) [MAP] Saturday June 7, 2014 7pm Purchase tickets online now Special Hotel Rate: Get a special rate from the Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites Recommended Dress: Military: Mess Dress or N2 (servicewomen may wear ball gown) Civilian: Black tie Retired military: Black tie or Mess Kit (with permission) **all may wear miniature decorations Start Time: 19:00Date: 2014-05-07End Time: 24:00

Title: Deployment Coffee NightLocation: CPAC Description: Is your military member away or planning to be away soon? Would you like to meet others dealing with a deployment? Would you like to make some new connections before you member goes away? Would you like to "take a child-free break" with others like yourself? These evenings are an opportunity for people to connect and share over a cup of coffee! MFRC staff will be on hand to provide information. Share your tips about dealing with military deployments. Come and learn from those who have done it all before. You are not alone. Free child care provided if registered in advance. Registration for this program is required for all participants at least 5 days in advance of session dates. Call the MFRC at 250-363-2640 to register. Location: CPAC MFRC 621 Wednesday May 7, 21, June 4, 18, July 2, 16 & 30, August 6, 27 6:30-8:30pm Free

The remains of WE John Ernest Rawson (1917-2011) were committed to deep during a Committal of Ashes ceremony HMCS Regina at sea on May 4, 2014 during Operation ARTEMIS.

Cmdr Dan Charlebois, addresses the ship's company during the Battle of the Atlantic ceremony held at sea on HMCS Regina, May 4, 2014 during Operation ARTEMIS.

MWO Florent Charest signs the Book of Remembrance at the Afghanistan Memorial Vigil at the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial in Trenton, Ontario on May 4, 2014.

MCpl Nicole Falardeau places the plaque of a fallen Canadian soldier on the Afghanistan Memorial Vigil prior to the Soldier On Afghanistan Relay.

[caption id="attachment_6393" align="alignnone" width="300"] MS Keith Bruce sits next to a stack of ordnance recovered from an Improvised Explosive Device during Op Medusa.[/caption] It’s been seven years since the white Afghanistan dust coated his uniform, but MS Keith Bruce continues to remember his eight months service as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician in the war torn country. Many of those days were spent “outside the wire”, combing the landscape for booby traps, and when necessary, skilfully disarming bombs to put an end to their destructive role. From August 2006 to February 2007 he called the Kandahar Air Field (KAF) home, and members of the 2 Combat Engineer Regiment his family. While his regiment maintained a headquarters at KAF, he spent most of his time living in the surrounding territory. “I’d be on base for a day or two and spend a few weeks in the field,” he says. “The barracks were nice, but for most of the deployment we were sleeping on or in our vehicles, or on a cot beside. It was a rough go, but we had a job to do.” The job of EOD/IED technicians was a multi-faceted one. Besides the gruelling and dangerous work of disarming a bomb, they also conducted Post-Blast Forensics. This work had them investigating the scene of a detonation to try and glean as much intelligence about the device. This job took up much of MS Bruce’s time during Operation Medusa, the largest Canadian-led offensive in Afghanistan. “If a vehicle was damaged or destroyed, or someone was killed in a blast, we would investigate the area afterwards to try and find information,” he says. “Anything that could be used at the HQ to identify the bomb maker, or figured out the materials used would be catalogued by us and sent back.”...

[caption id="attachment_6390" align="alignnone" width="300"] Besides writing, Ed Brown has also taken up carving to honour his First Nations heritage. He stands proudly holding one of his own designs.[/caption] Local poet and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) veteran Cpl (Ret’d) Ed Brown has hung up his uniform and taken up the pen. The 19-year veteran of the CAF recently self-published “A Soldier’s Fortune and Other Poems: Moving Past PTSD and Creating a Fun-Loving Life.” The book is a collection of Brown’s musings on his struggles with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), life in the military, and the personal effects of war. “I wanted to put my work out there as a way of showing others who suffer from PTSD that there’s help for them,” says Brown. “I came from a very old school of thought, that if you were hurting and needed help you just sucked it up and did your job. That isn’t healthy, and it isn’t right. If you need help you have to talk about it.” During his long and varied career, Brown served in all three branches of the military, seeing three tours of duty including the former Yugoslavia in 1994, Israel and Syria in 2004, and a support mission in Istanbul serving forces in Afghanistan in 2007. “I came back from Istanbul and I was angry. I was really angry,” he says. “After each deployment I came back with a head full of things I’d rather forget. Losing friends, having your life in mortal danger, the stress, the tension, the fear, it all just became too much.” Returning home that third and final time Brown took to drugs and drink to keep his demons at bay. His marriage and family life were in shambles, and he was a man on the verge of breaking. “I dealt with my...

[caption id="attachment_6387" align="alignnone" width="300"] Capt Sandy Robinson works with the medical team on a patient in Afghanistan.[/caption]Captain Sandy Robinson is counting down the days to retirement, about 1,200 are left. Retirement is driven by her desire to now put her family first after 26 years of military service.“After I came back from Afghanistan, I knew the most important thing was family. I’ve since looked after my 85-year-old parents, and had a baby – I put all that on hold throughout my career, and I can’t wait to retire, get back to Esquimalt and be together.”She is currently posted at 14 Wing Greenwood as the 2IC of clinical services.Capt Robinson was posted from Esquimalt to the Kandahar multinational medical clinic from July 2006 through February 2007. Her rotation experienced the heaviest load of mass casualty events to date in Afghanistan.She says the medical team handled those casualties in a plywood hospital with attached trailers with extending walls, and nothing painted.“It was gross,” she says. “Plywood is porous; it was about 55 degrees outside, with the air conditioner inside bringing it down to about 40 degrees, and there were flies.”But, she adds, “It was the most professionally fulfilling thing I’ve ever done.”She credits her medical peers, who all worked at the highest calibre, for the camaraderie and the satisfaction of being able to meet the challenge of handling multiple traumas that arrived through bay doors. Together, they provided reassurance and care to injured soldiers, and contacted family at home on their behalf to share information.“It’s like being on a baseball team, and practicing – and finally, there’s a game. But, you don’t know if you can do it. Afghanistan was the epitome of 20 years of training. I don’t feel like I ever have to prove anything to anyone – I’ve done...

Underwater exploration of the Breadalbane during Operation Nunalivut.

Hull Technician students on their Qualification Level 5 (QL5) course demonstrate firefighting techniques used to combat a helicopter fire on board Canadian Navy Ships.

Hull Technicians on their Qualification Level 5 (QL5) Course battle a simulated helicopter fire at Damage Control Training Facility Galiano.

MCpl Clint Lewis gets the hook ready in preparation to hoist simulated casualties during Exercise Cooperación III, a key Latin American multinational exercise near, Pisco, Peru.

[caption id="attachment_6311" align="alignnone" width="300"] HMCS Chicoutimi crew members prepare the submarine for camber dives at Ogden Point.[/caption] HMCS Chicoutimi was under tow to Ogden Point April 16 to conduct a camber dive. This was a key moment in the submarine’s Extended Docking Work Period that began in 2010. The camber dive is an early stepping stone in Chicoutimi’s return to the fleet, expected later this year, as it advances through an extensive test and trial program. A camber dive verifies the submarine’s watertight integrity, as well as the functionality of communications and other key systems. Dives occur in protected harbours where the water is deep enough for the submarine to be fully submerged. Before returning to operational service, a submarine must be certified following the successful completion of alongside tests and sea trials. The submarine must also be manned with a qualified and experienced crew, and be deemed safe to sail, conduct trials, and execute operations in accordance with their readiness status. Chicoutimi will return to operational service with the Royal Canadian Navy once it completes its period of testing and trials required under the tiered readiness program. The submarine is expected to complete testing and trials by mid-2014.  

[caption id="attachment_6307" align="alignnone" width="300"] LS Brandon South[/caption] Family, friends and the crew of HMCS Regina are mourning the loss of Leading Seaman Brandon South. LS South died in a Tanzanian hospital on April 21. The sailor was en route to Canada for a scheduled leave period from the ship, which is currently sailing in the Indian Ocean on Operation Artemis. The circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated. “I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of LS South. His presence will be dearly missed by all the ship’s company of HMCS Regina,” said Cdr Daniel Charlebois, the ship’s Commanding Officer. The Canadian Military Police are working with authorities in Dar Es Salaam to investigate the matter. LS South joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2000.  He was serving with Regina on Operation Artemis as a sonar operator at the time of his death. “I am deeply saddened by the death of Leading Seaman Brandon South, which occurred while he was deployed overseas. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues, and we will ensure that support is provided for them during their time of need,” said LGen Stuart Beare, Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command. Operation Artemis is the Canadian Armed Forces’ current participation in maritime security and counter-terrorism operations in the Arabian Sea, which demonstrates Canada’s solidarity with partners and allies to work together for peace and security in the maritime environment of the greater Middle East region.

[caption id="attachment_6282" align="alignnone" width="300"] A thumbs up from military and civilian technicians at 14 Wing Greenwood, as a CH-149 Cormorant with an Air Transportation Kit makes it way up the ramp into at CC-177 Globemaster III, April 17.[/caption] Aircrews from the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) have deployed to Peru to take part in Exercise Cooperación III, a key Latin American multinational exercise. The exercise, which has a focus on disaster relief, is taking place from April 19 to May 2. This deployment highlights two milestones for the RCAF: it is the first time a CH-149 Cormorant has been transported by a CC-177 Globemaster III, and it is the first time a Cormorant has been deployed outside of North America. “This is the first time a Cormorant helicopter will be transported by a CC-177,” said Colonel Jim Benninger, commander of the RCAF Air Task Force. “Cormorant crews have demonstrated time and again they can help those in need at home, and through this exercise, Canadians can be proud to know we are demonstrating our ability to help those in need abroad.” The exercise will test the air-transportability of the helicopter in an expeditionary setting to simulate response to an international crisis. In addition to testing the air-transportablity of the Cormorant via the Globemaster, the RCAF will conduct air expeditionary training, search and rescue, and humanitarian aid delivery training. The Globemaster is from 429 Transport Squadron at 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario, and the Cormorant is from 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron at 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia. Also participating in the exercise is a CC-130J Hercules from 426 Transport Training Squadron at 8 Wing, as well as crews from 9 Wing Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, and 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia. As part of the Government of Canada’s Global Engagement Strategy,...