The first CH-147 Chinook helicopter arrives at Ottawa International Airport where Defence Minister Peter MacKay welcomed the new addition to Canada's tactical transport capability with an official ceremony.

Kids had a blast at the 2013 Navy Run on June 23, sprinting around a 1 km track in Naden.

[caption id="attachment_4234" align="alignnone" width="300"] Outgoing Base Commander, Cmdre Bob Auchterlonie (far left); Reviewing Officer and Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, RAdm Bill Truelove (centre); and Incoming Base Commander Capt(N) Luc Cassivi sign the Change of Command certificates.[/caption] A well attended ceremony under the lofty rafters of the Naden Drill Shed saw Cmdre Bob Auchterlonie pass on the post of Base Commander to Capt(N) Luc Cassivi last Tuesday.Cmdre Auchterlonie received his promotion during the morning’s proceedings, and conducted his first inspection to the thundering tune of famous composer John Williams’ “Imperial March” performed by the Naden Band.Following his sweep of the gathered companies, Cmdre Auchterlonie spoke about his short time as Base Commander to those assembled.“I didn’t know when I was coming in that I’d only be spending a year as Base Commander, but what a year it has been. I couldn’t have done this job were it not for the amazing people I worked with every day, and I know that Luc will be in good hands as Base Commander.”RAdm Bill Truelove then took the stage, taking a moment to thank Cmdre Auchterlonie for his work.“You’ve done a lot of good work in your time commanding the base Bob,” said RAdm Truelove. “You’ve destroyed our roads, dug up our lawns, and wrecked our buildings [referencing the start of infrastructure upgrades]. In all seriousness you had a huge task ahead of you and performed admirably. I look forward to working with you as the Pacific Fleet’s new Commodore.”Following his speech, he joined Capt(N) Cassivi and Cmdre Auchterlonie in signing the change of command certificates. The Commodore’s pennant was lowered and presented to him by Base Chief CPO1 Shawn Taylor, signifying the end of his tenure as Base Commander.In a burst of applause, Capt(N) Cassivi then took to the podium for the first...

[caption id="attachment_4231" align="alignnone" width="300"] Motocross is fun for the whole family.[/caption] Amidst the bouncy castles, marketplace and food vendors at Formation Fun Day, a unique, interactive display will take young and old on a ride.On Saturday, July 6, kids and grown-ups can try motocross.Westshore Motocross will create a safe and easy track on the parade square and hold lessons on how ride 50cc bikes for four to six year olds, and larger rides for adults.“The rush you get from riding a dirt bike is unlike anything else I’ve found,” says Jeff Everden, co-owner of Westshore Motocross. “We wanted to give anyone interested an opportunity to suit up and get on a bike in the safest and most fun way possible.”The activity comes with safety gear, experienced instructors and lots of fun.“Motocross isn’t just for adults, it’s something that people of almost any age can try,” says Everden. “I myself got into it when I was five years old, and I loved every minute of it.”From his Langford-based riding facility, Everden and Westshore Motocross have been providing a place to ride and a way to learn with its Learn to Ride program since 2009.“After I retired from professional motocross I wanted to pass something on to future riders,” says Everden. “I thought Victoria could use a facility where people who didn’t have their own gear could rent it and learn to ride at the same time. The barrier for entry is much lower, since you don’t have to own a bike and all the gear.”For families at Formation Fun Day, Westshore Motocross will also give away prizes including Learn to Ride passes and a Motocross Birthday Party, which includes gear and bike rentals, as well as riding lessons for up to five kids.“The only thing better than learning to ride is...

[caption id="attachment_4228" align="alignnone" width="300"] The charred shell is all that remains of the Goulding family’s home.[/caption] In the early hours of June 20, Wendy Goulding woke to the smell of smoke.She quickly nudged her husband awake, and together they were able to save the lives of their two children and her parents before the entire house in Langford was consumed in flames. “We looked in the backyard and all we could see was red,” says CPO1 Dexter Goulding, Fleet Combat Systems Engineering Chief at CFB Esquimalt. “I ran out back to the garden hose to see if I could keep the fire down at all, but it was completely out of control by then.”Goulding and his wife got son Jefferey, 19, and daughter Taylor, 10, out of the house along with Wendy’s parents May and John, who were living in their downstairs suite. As the house glowed red with flames licking out the windows, all the family could do was watch and wait for help. “The fire department told us the first truck arrived nine minutes after the 911 call was placed, and the second came 10 minutes after,” says CPO1 Goulding. “If that’s true it was the longest nine minutes of my life.”The intensity and speed of the fire meant the Goudings could not retrieve anything from the house. Lost forever are the in-laws’ motor home, boat, computer that held all their electronic photos and important documents, photo albums, furniture, clothing, and even Wendy’s wedding band and engagement ring.“You can’t replace that stuff,” says CPO1 Goulding. “All you can do is accept that it’s gone and move on.”As the loss sinks in and the family begins to map out their future, they’re staying at the Westin Hotel on Bear Mountain. The provincial government covered the cost of the first...

The Yellow Wolf Drummers perform traditional First Nations’ songs at CFB Esquimalt's Aboriginal Day celebrations on June 20.

Cpl Clint Eastman, LS Garrett Achneepineskum, and OS Nathan Millier lead the Grand Entrance at the ceremony for Aborginal Day 2013 at Duntze Head.

Karen White, Jeanette Gibbons, Robyn Krager, and Rachelle Underwood perform traditional dances at Duntze Head on June 20 during a ceremony celebrating National Aboriginal Day.

Boomer's Legacy Ride cyclists, arrive in Victoria on June 15 and proceed down Government Street to the Legislature Lawn. The annual cycling event went national with three rides being held in Ontario, British Columbia and Nova Scotia.

A Search and Rescue team from Comox, B.C. evacuate a person who was stranded in William Watson Lodge in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park during Operation Lentus in Calgary, Alberta on June 22.

Members of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) and citizens pile sandbags to create a retaining wall around the city's water treatment facility during Operation Lentus in Medicine Hat, Alberta, as flood waters rise in the province.

[caption id="attachment_4197" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lt(N) Rob Czekierda receives the Commander’s Commendation from LGen Stuart Beare, the Commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command.[/caption] A former HMCS Vancouver officer was recently commended for actions that may have saved the lives of humanitarian aid workers off the coast of Libya during Operation Unified Protector.In August 2011, Lt(N) Rob Czekierda was serving in Vancouver as Weapons Officer during the conflict in Libya. Vancouver was tasked with protecting the port of Misrata as well as assisting in the enforcement of the no-fly-zone around Libya.  “There were a number of humanitarian aid flights that would come into the Misrata airport near the coast,” explains Lt(N) Czekierda. “We were in close proximity to the coast and in the airport approach corridor, and having aircraft in close quarters to a warship in a warzone can be uncomfortable. We had to make sure all of the planes were identified properly.”Vancouver had identified a humanitarian aid flight coming in when sensors picked up a number of “technicals” (civilian vehicles with jury-rigged mounted weapons) on the beach facing the ocean.“We went to action stations and took our steps, but our radar had created a number of  false tracks that the ops team was cleaning up,” says Lt(N) Czekierda. “With all of the movement and action the humanitarian aid flight had gotten lost in the clutter for a second.”With unknown forces on the beach and a humanitarian flight at a risk of being targeted with weapons systems, Lt(N) Czekierda had to think fast.“I decided that I had to be sure what we were looking at, so I went against procedure and decided not to activate one of our weapon systems,” he says. “I didn’t want to take any chances with a flight full of civilians and humanitarian aid in the air.”Lt(N) Czekierda’s...

[caption id="attachment_4194" align="alignnone" width="300"] HMCS Ottawa left June 10 for Operation Caribbe, Canada’s recurring contribution to a multinational campaign against transnational organized crime in the Americas and the Caribbean.[/caption] The crew of HMCS Ottawa has made a heading for warmer waters as part of their deployment to the eastern Pacific on Operation Caribbe – Canada’s recurring contribution to a multinational campaign against transnational organized crime in the Americas and the Caribbean.The crew pushed off June 10 to participate in the Royal Canadian Navy’s component of Operation Caribbe. Op Caribbe is the Canadian Joint Operations Command mission that supports multinational efforts led by the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF South). JIATF South’s overarching operation, named Op Martillo, brings Canada and other western hemisphere and European nations together in the Caribbean Basin, eastern Pacific and littoral waters of Central America. JIATF South is responsible for the detection and monitoring of suspect air and maritime illicit trafficking activities in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the Eastern Pacific. JIATF South also collects, processes, and disseminates information to assist interagency and partner nation operations.  CPO1 Michael Miller, Coxswain in Ottawa, says preparing the new command team and crew for the deployment has been a successful and exciting time. “We’ve been getting everyone in line for the deployment,” says CPO1 Miller. “Preparations were conducted at a steady pace, and every effort was made to ensure our team had the pre-deployment leave required to set themselves and their families up for success during the mission.”Most of Ottawa’s deployment will be spent under the sizzling South American sun, and the crew has had to take the unfamiliar environment into account.“Working in a tropical climate comes with new challenges, primarily the requirement for more frequent hydration, as well as protection from the sun,” says CPO1 Miller....

[caption id="attachment_4191" align="alignnone" width="300"] PO2 Thomas Templeman instructs students of the Basic Military Officer Qualification course on the construction of roadblocks in the field using a sandbox diorama.[/caption] Huddled around a small, raised sand box at Rocky Point, naval cadets re-created a road block using plastic toy soldiers and cars.Guiding their choices was PO2 Rob Templeman, an instructor with the Basic Military Officer Qualification course (BMOQ), The sandbox diorama was part of the new recruits field training – dubbed Exercise Challenge – that also included establishing observations posts and orienteering in the Metchosin woods. “This is where they get an introduction to in-the-field knowledge they need if they are ever deployed into a theatre of engagement,” says SLt David Lewis, Operations Officer for the BMOQ. “We do our best to provide the most accurate environment possible for the scenarios they’re being trained for.”Once knowledgeable on the diorama, they set about setting up a roadblock on a small forest track using concertina wire, metal barrels, and fencing material.The real test kicked in when truck loads of navy personnel dressed as foreign military attempt to pass through the roadblock. They were met with a vehicle search and pointed questions in order to determine if a threat existed.“Actually having to act on their lessons helps provide a feeling of realism that lets their new skills shine through,” says SLt Lewis. “It’s one thing to sit down and learn it in a classroom, but it’s another to have to really use those skills. It adds that extra edge to the lesson.”Exercise Challenge is only a portion of the BMOQ training. Recruits from 24 reserve units across Canada participate in the 11-week course for the qualifications that will net them a commission as an Acting Sub-lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Navy.“Most of these recruits are...

New Base Fire Hall opens

LCdr Blair Brown, the new Commanding Officer of Her HMCS Edmonton, addresses the ship's company and guests during the Change of Command Ceremony on board the ship.

[caption id="attachment_4174" align="alignnone" width="300"] The King family lace up their runners in preparation for the Navy Run. This family will run together in the 10K portion as a gift to mom for Mother’s Day. Seen here are Kalliana King, Koltin King, PO1 Mike King, and Cathy King holding her Mother’s Day card.[/caption] When military spouse Cathy King saw the June 23 Navy Run on a Facebook post, she thought it would be a great opportunity to involve her whole family in an active day. She suggested her Mother’s Day gift be running the race as a family of four, and the family agreed.“We have been trying to get on a healthier track,” she said. “I thought we could have some fun and lead by example.”Both children are very active at school, but PO1 Mike King says they’ve been preparing on the country roads around Cowichan.“I am hoping it’s the first of many things like this that we can take part in together,” he says.  It will be a busy day for the family. Following the run they’ll head to Cowichan to take part in the Big Bike Ride. -Shelley Lipke, Staff Writer

Not all sport competitions take place on a field, rink, or pitch. Some take place in a closed room, where the panting of players is drowned out only by rally of rackets and the smack of a ball.This little known competitive sport is one of many played by elite Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) athletes. One such player is LS Kyle Weatherby, who recently won the Canadian Armed Forces Squash Nationals in the Under 30 division at CFB Borden, going up against the best CAF players across the country in team and singles events.“It was a great experience,” says LS Weatherby, a radar technician in HMCS Ottawa. “I love the game, so putting my skills to the test against nationally skilled squash players was an excellent opportunity.”LS Weatherby got into the fast-paced game while visiting his father in Halifax during a course in 2008.“He used to play a lot, and when I came to see him he got me playing too. I played a few people on the east coast and when I came back here I just kept playing and playing.”He stuck with the game out of a love for its fast paced, quick thinking nature.“You have to be very fit, physically and mentally,” he says. “The only way to excel is to be at the top of your game in all aspects. It’s a real challenge.”The only way to improve one’s skill at squash is to play the game, he says. His training regimen before nationals had him playing nearly every day, as well as running whenever possible.“Fitness is important because in squash you’re running around so much, you have to be able to push yourself for the whole match. Tactics and skill are important, but if you’re tired and worn out, it’s very difficult to win.”The CAF Squash Nationals, held May 4 to 10, saw five regions (Pacific, Atlantic, Prairie, Ontario, and Quebec) send their best nine players to compete against each other. The two main categories were...

[caption id="attachment_4168" align="alignnone" width="300"] MCpl Dan Marcil and Cpl Alistair Stewart, members of 11 Service Company, answer questions from the public after the Victoria Day Parade.[/caption] It was not just school bands and fancy cars parade-goers watched  during the Victoria Day parade. They also took in 11 Service Company soldiers forming back into ack ack formation from box formation as they drove past the 150th Victoria Day Parade Reviewing Stand. Being near the front of the parade meant it was a great opportunity for the public to see the unit’s vehicles. Through coordination with CFB Esquimalt, MCpl Dan Marcil and 2Lt Tyler Baldwin organized the details in 11 Service Company’s participation at this year’s Victoria Day Parade. Fifteen other soldiers from 11 Service Company also participated.Unit members remained at the legislative buildings after the parade and talked to visitors - some local and others sightseers from the United States and elsewhere. Vehicles and soldiers remained on display for three hours after the parade before heading back to Ashton Armoury.-Sgt Les Gardner, 39 Service Battalion PA

An Orca-class patrol vessel hands over "treasure" to a pirate ship loaded with mischievous pirates during Variety - the Childrens' Charity's Boat for Hope, a day of fun for children with special needs.

Commodore J.F. Newton, Director General Naval Personnel, addresses the parade prior to reviewing the change of command ceremony for Venture, The Naval Officer Training Centre (NOTC). Commander Jason Boyd took over command of the school from Commander Bradley Peats.

Students at Ventre, The Naval Officer Training Centre (NOTC)  give the general salute during the school's change of command ceremony. Commander Jason Boyd took over command of the school from Commander Bradley Peats.

Lieutenant-General Stuart Beare, the Commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC), receives the General salute as he prepares to depart HMCS Ottawa after presenting the ship's crew with the Operational Service Medal.

This year's Fun Day is bigger and better than ever with pirate school, street performers, Funner Inflatables and more! Don't miss out!

It's almost here! If you haven't got your tickets yet, visit the NAC kiosk or contact Laura Spence at the Lookout - 250-363-3127 or laura.spence@forces.gc.ca.

Honouring Aboriginal Week from Lookout on Vimeo.

Navy rolls out recruiting bus from Lookout on Vimeo.