Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Royal Canadian Navy will showcase their warships to an American audience despite the cancellation of Seafair 2020 in Seattle. Usually, the navy sends a few ships to represent Canada in the yearly July event, but with COVID-19 the event has been postponed.The ship tour will now be virtual and available to everyone.Two weeks ago, video footage of HMCS Calgary sailors was filmed by Cpl Jay Naples, MARPAC Imaging, as they walked through the ship. The edited film will join the United States Navy (USN) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) videos for Virtual Fleet Week that will feature vessels and aircraft that were to attend the live event, such as USS Omaha, USS Bunkey Hill, USS Dewey, USCG Cutter Elm, and USCG Cutter Active.The approximately four minute video is hosted by Lieutenant (Navy) John Longstaff, Calgary’s Above Water Warfare Officer.The video opens overlooking Esquimalt harbour with Commodore Angus Topshee, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, welcoming viewers to the Royal Canadian Navy.Commander Lorraine Sammut, Calgary’s Executive Officer, helped coordinate the production of the virtual tour despite the crew busy getting ready for an upcoming sail.“Having Calgary showcased in this manner gives our sailors an extra something to be proud of while providing yet another fantastic opportunity to showcase our navy to Canadians and our partners,” she said.The video tour will be also be shared with the USN’s organizers of Portland’s Rose Festival, an event normally attended by the RCN but also postponed due to COVID-19.The virtual ship tours will be released daily starting July 27 on the Seafair and MARPAC Facebook pages.––––

A/SLt Dale Lui, RCN Sail, Campus Support (Pacific) ~Beneath the unwavering heat of the Pacific sun, sailors, both seasoned and new, are training in cadres this summer to learn hands-on seafaring skills. Despite COVID-19 conditions, which threatened the continuation of this year’s program, Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Sail has managed to once again touch water, being made possible through the support of personnel-awaiting-training (PATs) leading from the helm. Passing on their skills and knowledge are weathered sailors such as CPO2 (Retired) John Haggis who are helping raise a new generation of mariners, skippers, and seafaring leaders.“The number one goal of our mission statement here is to provide the sailing platform as means to give young, on-the-job officers, or non-commissioned members, and personnel-awaiting-training a chance to develop their leadership and teamwork skills. Sailing as a platform is absolutely perfect for that,” he says.A team at Naval Fleet School worked behind the scenes to get the program running in accordance with regulations and safety procedures for COVID-19.“Everything that we did here at the school had to fit into the national picture,” said Lt(N) Konnor Brett. “We had to fall within the orders of the Chief of Defence Staff – directly under those orders – and then determine what it would look like for Naval Fleet School to start working again. So much time and effort was put toward force protection measures and the Commandant’s vision of what it was going to look like to get to a start point.”On the waterWhether it’s aboard a dinghy or a CS36 sail boat, new sailors and experienced trainees rode both wave and wind in the vast ocean blue. With mariners and skippers syncing their efforts, teams let fly the foresail and main the instant the orders are barked.Even though CS36s and dinghies are different from the warships...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A veteran-owned microbrewery in Victoria continues to expand its operations and delight the taste buds of beer connoisseurs despite uncertain economic times. V2V Black Hops Brewing recently released two new brands to its line-up of Canadian military-themed craft beers with Sea King IPA and Gunpowder Stout. The two new brews are already making their way into liquor stores. The company is owned by Capt (Retired) Graham Hafey, a former Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilot. He has a soft spot for Sea King IPA, not only because he logged over 1,200 hours flying the now retired helicopter, but also because of the beer’s unique taste.“It’s a west-coast style India Pale Ale, which means it tastes a little more delicate than the standard British IPA,” he says. “The hops have given it a really nice citrus-like finish and it tastes great.”Gun Powder Stout, like their Victory Ale, is dedicated to the First Responders and anyone battling PTSD. The beer is not as heavy in taste like traditional Irish stouts, but is dark in colour, sweeter to the taste, and still a full-flavoured brew. The science behind his beer comes from his civilian Brewmaster, Duncan Blackman, former owner of Langford’s Happy Homebrewers U-brew, who Hafey says has an impressive resume of awards and recognition in provincial brewing competitions.The duo now have high hopes they can make further in-roads in the craft beer market with their latest offerings, but are also painfully aware of the recent pandemic-related economic slump.  Early 2020, they purchased the 3,900 square foot Axe and Barrel brew pub in Langford and expected to open this year. But that went on hold with the pandemic. “The timing of the opening couldn’t have been worse; it was planned weeks in advance and we had no idea how intense the...

[caption id="attachment_24066" align="aligncenter" width="573"] CPO2 Chris Fraser draws his next cartoon.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Chief Petty Officer Second Class Chris Fraser is making us giggle by releasing his private collection of single-pane pen-and-ink cartoons. Cartooning, he says, comes easily because humour abounds in everyday life and he doesn’t need to look too far to find it. “My art work is really about the process of looking around at the world in front of me in Dockyard, being well versed in common puns, and being able to twist them into a naval situation to add some levity,” he says. “The navy has its own language and sometimes it’s easy to take some of the words, names, and acronyms and make them humorous.”On his list of influencers is legendary cartoonist Gary Larson and his The Far Side comic strip, and classic British comedy television shows Monty Python and Allo Allo! Most of his humour has a “naval, but certainly not a navel” bent, he quips.   He’s let his artistic talent be known in the past; in 2005, while working aboard HMCS Whitehorse, the commanding officer selected CPO2 Fraser’s artwork to appear on the gun shield of the Kingston-Class ship. He has also designed morale patches, crossing the line ceremony certificates, and tattoos. Cartoons are a recent addition stemming from stay-at-home orders because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During his off-time, because he couldn’t get out and socialize, he worked his imagination and art skills.“Other than my family nobody else has seen my drawings. Whenever my son Andriy takes a look he knows right away it’s just my sense of humour or what he calls ‘Dad jokes.’ Meanwhile, my wife [Natalia] isn’t as enthusiastic and normally just rolls her eyes, shakes her head, and walks away.”The 50-year-old says drawing cartoons helps him relax after a hard work day or even a gruelling workout. He’s a seasoned athlete, primarily a marathon runner. Last year, he ran the Goodlife Fitness Victoria 42.2 km Marathon in full firefighting gear including...

DND ~As the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) maintains its momentum toward a more inclusive environment, an effort has been initiated to consider new rank designations for junior ranks that will result in more inclusive and gender-neutral terms rather than the current Ordinary, Able, Leading, and Master Seaman.The navy is engaging currently serving and retired members, stakeholders, and other interested Canadians to receive their feedback on this initiative.The potential alternative rank designations developed by a focus group of Non-Commissioned Members, and were reviewed by the Directorate of Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion using Gender Based Analysis +.Options for consideration are:Replacing “Seaman” with “Sailor” meaning ranks would be Ordinary Sailor, Able Sailor, Leading Sailor and Master Sailor and would maintain their current abbreviated titles (OS, AB, LS and MS); and Sailor classes such as Sailor 3rd Class (S3), Sailor 2nd Class (S2), Sailor 1st Class (S1) and Master Sailor (MS).The RCN is an organization steeped in history, and while traditions provide an important part of the culture, the service also needs to continuously evolve, and live up to the standing as a progressive service and, indeed, one of Canada’s Top Employers (2019).Sailors from across the Canadian Armed Forces will receive an emailed invitation to participate in the poll, and Social Media posts will invite retired members, stakeholders and interested Canadians to also participate. The engagement period runs from July 17, through to the end of the month.There will also be an open feedback field to allow respondents to suggest alternative options for consideration.The results of this poll will be considered before making the final decision to effect changes to these rank designations this fall, corresponding with the 110th Anniversary of the RCN and the 20th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325: Women, Peace and Security. This is an opportunity for the navy to reinforce its...

DND ~The Canadian Armed Forces has released a new policy framework in the form of a Defence Administrative Order and Directive (DAOD) that addresses harassment, violence, and discrimination, including hateful conduct, within the institution. Racism and discrimination exist and they continue to surface in violent and very tragic ways as has been witnessed with the violence experienced by Black and Indigenous persons recently in the news. This has prompted a discussion about where Canada is as a society in terms of respecting the dignity of every person, without prejudice based on race, colour, national or ethnic origin, or other prohibited grounds.Equality is a human right; respect and dignity for all are core values of Canada. We must foster a safe and healthy workplace for all members of the Defence Team which means upholding the Canadian Human Rights Act. It is unacceptable for a Canadian Armed Forces member to participate in an activity or have membership in a group or organization that is connected with hate-related criminal activities, and/or promotes hatred, violence, discrimination, or harassment on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination as defined in the Canadian Human Rights Act.Although a Military Police report for 2013-2018 cited that some CAF members were involved in incidents related to hate/racism during that period, discrimination, including systemic racism, continues to exist in the organization, and it is completely unacceptable. We also know from Statistics Canada research studies that incidents related to hate/racism may be underreported by victims due to fear of retaliation, or the perception no action will be taken to hold the perpetrator(s) accountable. Racism, discrimination, bullying and micro aggression in any form damage or are harmful to an individual, and also undermine the organization’s operational effectiveness. The new DAOD addresses these behaviours and also defines what constitutes hateful conduct. The new policy framework...

Brian Lapierre, Volunteer - Naval Museum of Halifax ~Did you know that Canadians played a significant role in the Submarine Service during the Second World War? Between the First World War and the Second World War, Canada only commissioned two H-Class submarines: CH14 and CH15. They served for a short period of time in the 1920s and were paid off in 1922 and scrapped in 1927.Although Canada did not have any submarines during the Second World War, Canadians continued to serve in the Submarine Service. Up until 1939, trained submariners served with the Royal Navy in their Submarine Service. An accurate count has been hard to determine but around 34 Canadians served in Royal Navy submarines while Canadian officers would command 15 British submarines. Service in the Submarine Service was harsh and hazardous whether you served in the British home waters, the Far East, the Mediterranean, Caribbean, or in the North Atlantic.Dealing with the U-Boat menace in itself was challenging and many a submarine was sunk on both sides. Submarines were sunk on all corners of the oceans throughout the world and many to this day have never been found.Author Julie Ferguson has written a fascinating history of Canada’s Submarine Service in Through a Canadian Periscope: The Story of the Canadian Submarine Service, and subsequently Deeply Canadian: New Submarines for a New Millennium. Her descriptions, whether describing ocean-going submarines, the midget submarines, or X-Craft and the men who served in them, depict the many challenges and dangers associated with their operations. They served with determination and skill and a few did so with gallantry. A handful lost their lives. Everyone is remembered on the Honour Roll of the Canadian Submarine Service in Halifax.One of the officers in the Submarine Service during the Second World War was Fred Sherwood. He joined the...

Song-writing veterans can win the chance to record with a Canadian pop iconVeterans Media Corporation Inc, the first and only global media platform for veterans and first responders, has partnered with Radar Love Records to launch a music challenge for veterans globally who express themselves through song.The VMC team has encountered veterans from all over the world with many gifts and talents. One of the most admirable is song. Between now and Sept. 1, any veteran, of any branch of service (including first responders), from anywhere in the world, is encouraged to submit their own original music composition.Each submission must include either a video, an audio clip, or the song lyrics, along with the veteran’s name and a short description about themselves and their composition. All submissions will be posted to a dedicated music page on VMC’s The Veterans Channel website - www.theveteranschannel.com.“From veterans who play acoustic guitar around the campfire to those playing on a stage in a four-piece band or sitting solo behind a grand piano … all have shown us that they seek to find peace, love, and healing through their own original music,” said Henah Hannah, Founder and Chair of VMC. “We are creating the first musical ‘hub’ of its kind for veterans to share their own songs, and to have their message seen and heard worldwide, loud and clear.”But it’s not just about sharing music.All submissions will also be considered for two awards:Best Original Song (the writer or any chosen vocalist may sing)Best Original Song with Vocal (the writer must also sing)The winners will be announced on Sept. 1.With both awards, the winning songwriter will be invited to have their song fully arranged and produced in Toronto at Radar Love Record’s Altravox Studios by 5-time Juno Award winner and Grammy-nominated Producer Michael Hanson. He is...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer / Ashley Evans ~Larry Fletcher and Steven Faust are usually the first friendly faces returning sailors or visiting sailors see when their ship comes alongside a jetty in HMC Dockyard. They have dubbed themselves the “electrical ambassadors” because they are the ones who hook the ships up to on-shore power.“Larry and I are the first faces sailors meet when they return home. We also really enjoy interacting with visitors from other countries, making the most unique aspect of our job customer service,” says Faust. “We take pride in being the electrical ambassadors for the base, and making shore power hook-ups as easy and efficient as possible.” The two electricians work in the Electrical Shop of Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Breton and provide, maintain, and repair shore power for HMC Ships and those of visiting navies. Fletcher, 54, joined FMF three years ago after working several decades as a technician in the data communications, and film and television industry. He made his way to FMF in 2017 after working five years at Seaspan Shipyard where he became a qualified electrician and earned his ticket with the local branch of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Faust, 39, carved a much quicker path to FMF. After graduating from Camosun College, he worked as a commercial electrician for office buildings and also installing power and data at the University of Victoria with a private company. He upped his credentials by joining FMF’s apprenticeship program.The biggest part of their job is maintaining, testing, repairing, and even manufacturing cables inside the Electrical Shop’s cable repair facility. They have a large inventory of 40 different cables to maintain because the cable requirements for each vessel in the navy and other navies are different. A frigate, for example, needs 12 individual cables organized...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A team of sailors are preparing HMCS Yellowknife for a five-month maintenance project. Led by Lieutenant (Navy) Jayson Scott-Westfield, 20 sailors and members of the D702 logistics branch have been removing and safely storing sensitive materials from the ship, such as computer hardware and software, for the past six weeks. “Literally, every item on the ship that isn’t bolted down or nailed down is being moved,” he said.Before items can be removed and packed for storage, each item is recorded and registered with its own tracking number. The team is taking detailed notes of every step performed in order to create a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document for future refits involving the Kingston-Class ship. He says a procedural blueprint such as this will help the navy develop a phased plan for similar prep work, outlining requirements and timelines, and making recommendations to avoid any slowdowns.With preparations completed, it was officially handed over to SNC Lavalin who will oversee all maintenance work. On July 13, the ship will be towed to Point Hope Shipyards, located in Victoria’s Upper Harbour, by two Queen’s Harbour Master tug boats.Like a standard seasonal tune-up for a car, Yellowknife will be cleaned and repaired or overhauled where needed, as part of a routine maintenance project to keep it operational in the years to come. LCdr Colin Dudeck, Group Technical Officer Coastal Forces Pacific, says this work is fundamental to preserving the lifespan of the six Kingston-Class vessels in the Pacific Fleet, and the six stationed on the Atlantic Coast. “These vessels have been getting a lot of use, logging a lot of sea time, and all while sitting in saltwater,” he said. “Having the ship in dry dock for an extended period is really the only chance we get to see the ship...

 Rae Chadwick, Return to Duty Coordinator and Client Services TC Trenton ~A Trenton Quilts of Valour (QoV) group turned their quilting skills from comfort to safety after one member saw a need to protect military members, their families, and the 8 Wing Trenton community against the spread of COVID-19.“The idea came up as the demand grew,” said Sergeant (Sgt) Luc Jean, Section Coordinator, Transition Centre Trenton (TC Trenton), and 8 Wing’s QoV military liaison. “I approached the Quilts of Valour Trenton group with a Facial Covering for Soldiers challenge, and in less than two weeks hundreds of masks were made.”Out of those masks, some were donated to families attending the recent repatriation ceremony for six Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members who died in a helicopter crash during Operation Reassurance.QoV Canada is a registered charity that acknowledges the significant contribution made by injured CAF members and veterans. They design and produce quilts to support injured CAF members and veterans.“I chose to be a part of Quilts of Valour for many reasons,” said Denise Wenzel, Quinte/Belleville/Trenton Area Representative QoV – Canada Society. “The organization is made up entirely of volunteers and the quilts we make are a way to thank our military members who have made sacrifices most of us can only imagine.”Twelve quilters from the Trenton group are involved in the challenge. To ensure their own safety, quilters are working from home. There are a variety of masks – some have ties and filters while others have elastic around the ears. The design of the masks was created by local quilters, and Sgt Jean personally donated money for supplies to help kick off the challenge. “I donated a small amount of money to support some supply orders. Others have offered generous donations as well. I believe these masks can help keep our military...

[caption id="attachment_24020" align="alignnone" width="591"] Naval reservist Lieutenant (Navy) Joseph Kinley at the main gate of Joint Base Lewis-McChord after completing Warfighter Exercise 20-3 Feb. 13, just before COVID-19 became a pandemic. Photo Credit Sergeant First Class James Lally[/caption]HMCS CataraquiWhile attached to the 26th Yankee Brigade, naval reservist Lieutenant (Navy) Joseph Kinley participated in the Warfighter exercise at the Joint Base Lewis–McChord just south of Seattle, WA, from Feb, 5 to 13.Lt(N) Kinley is attached to 26th Yankee Brigade through the Reserve Foreign Training Program (RFTP). The RFTP is a program supported by the governments of Canada and United States of America that permits reservists to fulfill drill and training requirements while temporarily located in the other nation for civilian commitments. He is a Naval Warfare Officer and member of HMCS Cataraqui located in Kingston, ON. The three-week Warfighter exercise was a conditions-based training event using a Decisive Action Training Environment for corps, divisions, and brigades. A simulated enemy and battlefield provided real-time feedback and results based on command and control decisions. Working from a Tactical Operations Center (TOC), Lt(N) Kinley supported the plans cell to formulate orders given to subordinate units. The 26th Yankee Brigade oversees a variety of elements, including organic units such as military police, engineers, and logistical support elements, and is assigned other units based on the mission.  It is a National Guard formation structured as Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) that provides brigade level combat support to the United States Army.During this training scenario, the MEB was charged with the mission to secure and maintain the rear support area to keep the supply routes open to and from the frontline during a major offensive of two divisions into enemy territory. In the scenario, they controlled an augmented battalion of engineers who built, repaired, and maintained defences and...

[caption id="attachment_24016" align="alignnone" width="591"] Do you know if your new ebike is legal to ride on the road? The owner of this one (inset picture) found out via the courts that it was not.[/caption]SLt M.X. Déry, Contributor ~My first editorial about bicycling was two years ago regarding scooter-like motor-assisted cycles and how they rode a thin legal line. An electric bike, or motor-assisted cycle, is a two- or three-wheeled cycle with a seat, pedals, and an electric motor or motors (power output not exceeding 500 watts in total). They cannot be gas-powered.Recently, the B.C. Supreme Court moved the majority of this type of motor-assisted cycle over that line, making most of them illegal to ride on the roads in B.C.It all started with a cyclist that had been ticketed for riding a 200-pound electric scooter without insurance, which started from the current california car seat law. He fought the charge, but the Court ruled that since the pedals on the motor assisted cycles were not the main form of propulsion, it was actually not a motor-assisted cycle but a limited-speed motorcycle, which requires insurance.The defendant claimed they had attempted to get insurance from ICBC, but that the provincial insurer stated this type of vehicle did not require it. Regardless, his ticket was upheld. While I welcome the ruling that blocked these 200-lb electric scooters from riding in the bike lanes, I am confused by the ruling and the insurance issue. I reached out to ICBC, the City of Victoria, and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (PSSG) for their advice. My goal was to find out how to use these cycles and not be afoul of the law.The City of Victoria is looking to adopt a Motor Vehicle Act pilot project, likely this fall, to allow currently not road...

[caption id="attachment_24012" align="alignnone" width="591"] Former Navy Lieutenant Rex Landis behind the wheel of a 1968 Pontiac Beaumont convertible, completely rebuilt by the Rust Valley Restoration crew.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~This summer, former Navy Lieutenant Rex Landis will ride into Victoria behind the wheel of a 1968 Pontiac Beaumont convertible, completely rebuilt by the Rust Valley Restoration crew. According to www.justcarchecks.co.uk,  this rare classic car, valued at over $102,000, will be given away by Dec. 16 to the lucky winning ticket holder in the Habitat for Humanity Kamloops 2020 Classic Car Raffle.Landis is bringing the Beaumont to Victoria, and to CFB Esquimalt, to entice car enthusiasts to buy a $25 raffle ticket. “Only 50,000 are being sold, so the odds are great,” says Landis, Procurement and Donations Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity Kamloops, B.C., an affiliate of the Habitat Canada. “I know there will be a huge level of interest in winning the Beaumont among sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy, and Army and Air Force members alike.” This car, says Landis, is certainly a “beaut” and one of only 47 made that year.It features a dark cherry red exterior with a deep black leather interior, a 385-horsepower engine, automatic transmission, smoothie rims and baby moon caps, along with a new dashboard, carpet, and convertible top. “Everything on the car is brand new, the motor has zero miles on it; the original car only had 8,000 miles on its odometer,” said Landis.The car was restored by Shuswap classic car specialists The Rust Bros, who are featured in the History Channel series Rust Valley Restorers. The TV series, which is filmed in Tappen, B.C., follows Mike Hall, Avery Shoaf, and Connor Charman-Hall as they fix up cars. They have agreed to restore a 1960’s classic convertible car every year for the next five years, and...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Despite a world pandemic, two Canadian warships will transit to Hawaii in August for a major training exercise. HMC Ships Regina and Winnipeg will represent the Royal Canadian Navy in a scaled-back version of the 27th biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. RIMPAC organizers - the United States Navy - had anticipated this year’s event to be even grander than the past one in 2018. They planned more complex scenarios and more participating nations. However, on March 6, they issued a statement detailing a drastic scaling back of plans due to COVID-19. RIMPAC 2020 will be an at-sea-only event. Both the land and air components of the exercise have been cancelled to minimize international travel and person-to-person contact. There will be a smaller support staff ashore in Honolulu at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, and limited social events surrounding the exercise.Cmdre Angus Topshee, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, says the Royal Canadian Navy is ready to adapt and respond to changes in the world and that includes the navy’s response to COVID-19 mitigation efforts for RIMPAC. Sailors and aviators will be quarantined prior to the exercise, and COVID-19 testing will be conducted in cooperation with the Government of British Columbia.“We will continue to review and adapt all our procedures in light of COVID-19 and I have confidence in the flexible and innovative nature of our sailors and aviators to get the job done safely,” said Cmdre Topshee. “I am extremely proud of the fleet’s accomplishments, and the resilience and leadership shown by all Canadian Fleet Pacific personnel throughout this unprecedented pandemic.”In early August, the ships with a combined 500 sailors, each with an embarked Cyclone air detachment, will sail from Esquimalt Harbour for the Aug. 17 to 31 exercise off Hawaii. Training scenarios will focus on multinational anti-submarine warfare...

[caption id="attachment_24001" align="alignnone" width="591"] Antoniette Yap, a millwright apprentice at Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton, cleans the 57mm barrel of HMCS Winnipeg’s main gun while conducting an inspection of naval ordnance.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~It’s been all hands on deck lately at Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Breton to get HMCS Winnipeg ready for the upcoming RIMPAC 2020 exercise and an overseas deployment afterwards.Their ultimate goal is to get the Halifax-class frigate into a state of high readiness level 3 by the end of July, in time for the August multinational military exercise off Hawaii. The process was more demanding than usual because military personnel and civilian staff have been slowed by the strict physical distancing and COVID-19 mitigation guidelines. It’s been an aggressive work schedule across multiple platforms totalling more than 2,500 employee work hours a week. Currently involved in preparing the ship for sea are the crew, Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton, and the Fleet Technical Authority.There are three major aspects to the work package: preventative maintenance, corrective maintenance, and engineering changes.Some of the preventative and corrective maintenance relate to the high pressure air ship support system that provides air for gas turbine start bottles, the diesel generator start system, and the torpedo tube flasks. New engineering changes include systems and helicopter upgrades for the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter, such as moving ship and deck lighting, and hangar rearrangements to fit gear necessary to support the aircraft. All of the work in Winnipeg’s work package is critical to the ship’s operational readiness and ability to deploy.Geoff Michael, leader of FMF’s Project Management Team, says both the planning and work on Winnipeg are being conducted simultaneously. Due to the time constraints, some jobs had to start in advance of the official work period in order to ensure they were completed on...

[caption id="attachment_23986" align="alignnone" width="591"] Senior engineer watchkeeper students resume classroom instruction at Naval Fleet School (Pacific) on June 22. Schools are opening up at bases across the country as part of a gradual re-opening plan. Photo by Corporal Jay Naples, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Training for military members has started up with a gradual, phased re-opening of facilities across the country.The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), through the Naval Personnel and Training Group (NPTG), has reactivated its Naval Training System (NTS) in the first of a four-phase, conditions-based restart plan in accordance with public health guidelines. “The restart of naval training is predicated on a set of deliberately selected and approved preconditions that places a premium on protecting the health of Defence Team members and civilian employees,” said Capt(N) Jason Boyd, Commander of NPTG. The four-phase re-opening plan was announced following direction from the Chief of the Defence Staff on June 1. It was developed under the parameters of a COVID-19 persistent operating environment, coupled with the training system’s mandate to support fleet readiness and RCN Force Generation. NPTG is headquartered in Esquimalt and is comprised of nine units located in three regions across the country - the Atlantic, Pacific and Quebec. In total, approximately 1,980 military and civilian staff support skills development and training through Naval Fleet Schools Atlantic, Pacific, and Quebec, Naval Training Development Centres Atlantic and Pacific, and Personnel Coordination Centres Atlantic, Pacific, and Quebec for about 8,200 students across the country in a typical year. Of that, 3,900 students receive training in the Pacific. This is, of course, not a typical year. Phase 1 of the re-opening, or the Crawl Stage, saw the resumption of one course in each of Naval Fleet School (Pacific)’s five divisions: Marine Systems Engineering, Seamanship, Combat Systems Engineering, Combat, and Venture Division, with similar undertakings in the Atlantic and Quebec training centres. The aim, says Capt(N) Boyd, is to restart courses that are less complex and short in duration, while testing procedures and protocols...

DND ~The Exceptional Hazard Allowance has been amended to compensate Canadian Armed Forces members who are deployed in COVID-19 risk environments.  Eligible Canadian Armed Forces members deployed on Operation Laser, and the domestic portion of Operation Globe, who were/are at risk of exposure to COVID-19 due to their duties, will receive the allowance. The $78 per day allowance is retroactive to when they commenced their duties, and will be in effect until Sept. 30.Hundreds of Canadian Armed Forces members are currently deployed to long-term care facilities in Ontario and Quebec, supporting Canadians impacted by COVID-19. Canadian Armed Forces members, face the physical hardship of spending all of their shifts wearing the full complement of Personal Protective Equipment for up to 12 hours a day and without appreciable breaks in service.Moreover, our women and men in the military have served in these facilities for months, while being away from their families during a highly challenging time.In January 2020, the Chief of the Defence Staff ordered Operation Globe, a blended domestic and expeditionary operation supporting the repatriation of Canadians from overseas and providing quarantine capability in Trenton. Operation Laser, a domestic operation providing Canadian Armed Forces assistance to provinces was ordered in March, and by April provinces began requesting military assistance for COVID-related situations.Since the start of Operation Laser, CAF personnel have supported civilian authorities within 47 long-term care facilities in Quebec and within seven in Ontario. It is expected that approximately 4,500 CAF members will be eligible to receive this allowance.––––

Attention Regular and Primary Reserve Force Members:Please participate in our study on the impacts of isolation on CAF members during COVID-19.Personnel Support Programs (PSP) would like to know how COVID-19 is affecting your individual operational physical readiness. Are you accessing PSP online programming, and/or maintaining operational fitness through other means?We are looking for study volunteers to identify the impacts of isolation during COVID-19 on CAF Individual Operational Physical Readiness. Specifically, the status and behaviours of physical fitness, nutrition, injury and sleep. We are looking for Regular Force and Primary Reserve CAF members of all ages, fitness levels, and work environments to participate. This study requires a commitment of 10 to 24 minutes per two-week period for as long as the COVID-19 restrictions continue, ending with the full return to work and use of PSP fitness facilities and services. We would like to learn from your experience to better serve your needs during this difficult time. If you are interested, please sign up by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/alanceP4EquilibreCOVID-19––––

[caption id="attachment_23966" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Bill Wilson holds a copy of a local newspaper that reads “Germany Quits”, marking the end of the Second World War.[/caption]Able Seaman (Retired) Bill Wilson, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve ~On the morning of May 8, 1945, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ottawa, along with the destroyer HMCS Restigouche, was alongside on the Dartmouth side of the Halifax Harbour, having just escorted the troopship Steam Ship Sithia into Halifax with returning wounded members of the Canadian Forces and a large number of war brides.It was about 11:15 a.m. I was working on my Oerlikon gun on the starboard flag deck when I heard a merchant ship that was close by blowing its horn repeatedly. While we all knew the war was almost over, when I heard the repeated blowing of the ship’s horn, my first thought was that it could be an emergency such as another Halifax Explosion. I quickly moved to the port side and saw the ship was between the Halifax Dockyard and the Dartmouth side, and heading seaward.At the same time, I passed Signalman “Soup” Campbell from Flin Flon, Man., who was reaching out for the lanyard controlling our ship’s siren and yelling, “The war is over!”Within seconds, the entire harbour was a bedlam of noise as every merchantman and warship, large and small, began blowing its horn and siren. It was Victory in Europe, or V.E., Day.As we were all rushing around slapping backs, the pipe was made to “splice the main brace, all hands lay aft on the quarterdeck.”At that point in time, while I was 20 years of age, I did not draw the daily tot of rum that I was entitled to. I had found that two ounces of rum at 11 a.m. was a little too much and made...

Peter Mallett / Capt Lisa Evong, Staff WritersTwo sailors on board HMCS Regina share a remarkable bond, even more resilient than the tightest of Royal Canadian Navy shipmates. That’s because they are father and son. The unique paternal connection in the Esquimalt-based warship took shape June 1, when 50-year-old Petty Officer Second Class Jay Merriam was officially posted to Regina. The posting fills a staffing shortfall for its upcoming sail to the Rim of the Pacific exercise. After getting word of the posting in March, PO2 Merriam instantly realized he would become a crew mate of his 21-year-old son Able Seaman Corey Merriam, who works in the ship as a Marine Technician. Word of the father-son connection spread quickly in the ship.“Our shipmates are all aware of the family connection and everyone I have spoken to think it’s pretty cool,” says PO2 Merriam. They don’t exactly work side-by-side and haven’t been tasked together on any projects, but the Logistics Department where PO2 Merriam works and AB Merriam’s Marine System Engineering Department are in close proximity. Even though they have different responsibilities and belong to different messes, they cross paths as they transit the ship.“If our shipmates see us walking down the flats of the ship from behind, they both say we walk the same and can’t tell the difference between us,” says AB Merriam.While they have different interests and skills, both admit the family bond is completely evident to others. “We share a lot of the same characteristics and are fairly laid back and chill,” says AB Merriam. When work is done and it’s time to head home, they don’t have to travel far to see each other again. That’s because they both reside in a Belmont Park residential housing unit. Sherry Merriam, step-mother to Corey and spouse to Jay, is happy...

[caption id="attachment_23959" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Photo by John Penner, John’s Photography[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A team of cyclists kept the flame of Boomer’s Legacy burning bright last week.A tribute ride was conducted Saturday, June 20, as this year’s full edition of the annual fundraising bike ride for the charitable foundation was cancelled due to COVID-19.On Saturday morning, cyclists Nigel King, Ron Gaudreault, and Dave Rodgers set off on a two-day 228-kilometre trek from Comox, B.C. to the Mile Zero marker on Douglas Street in Victoria.On Sunday, they arrived in Langford where they were joined by five more riders to help them finish the last leg of their journey. Joining them were Captain Jacqueline Zweng, Karen Hough, and Darren Westwood, along with Commodore Angus Topshee, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, and his daughter Amy. “This year’s run was not so much about the fundraising as it was awareness, and the determination of these dedicated cyclists who decided to ensure people know how important the work of the foundation is,” said CPO2 John Penner, Boomer’s Legacy volunteer and photographer.Boomer’s Legacy was founded by Maureen Eykelenboom, the mother of Cpl Andrew ‘Boomer’ Eykelenboom, a medic with 1 Field Ambulance who was killed in Afghanistan in 2006. The foundation is operated by Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) through the Support Our Troops Program and distributes funds to people in need, both domestically and abroad.Earlier this year, the decision was made to cancel the Legacy Bike Ride, as well as the 2020 Battlefield Bike Ride in the Netherlands. For more information about Boomer’s Legacy visit boomerslegacy.ca––––

While COVID-19 restrictions will mute public celebrations somewhat, our West Coast sunny summer days will still make for a terrific Pride Week in Victoria (June 28 to July 5). This week we join (virtual) hands with our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and 2-spirited (LGBTQ2+) service people and Defence Team members to celebrate the diversity of the Canadian Armed Forces and our community. Even if most events are scaled back or delivered virtually while B.C. continues to “be kind, be calm, and be safe”, let’s take the time to celebrate our diversity, even if it is in small ways.Diverse perspectives compliment how we make decisions, providing valuable and unique viewpoints that strengthen the Royal Canadian Navy not only culturally, but operationally as well. We are proud and fortunate to have these voices in our family.We are on a continuum of continual improvement, and while much work remains to be done, I know we are heading in the right direction and I know we will adhere to the Canadian Armed Forces core values of respect and dignity for our LGBTQ2+ community.I am truly pleased to raise the Pride flag over the Formation in June to demonstrate our solidarity with our LGBTQ2+ soldiers, sailors, aviators, civilians, and community members showcasing the inclusivity and diversity of the CAF, and the pride we all share in serving Canada.As Pride events take place here in Victoria and across Canada, let’s celebrate together and in this challenging time remember to be kind, be calm, and be safe.Rear-Admiral Bob AuchterlonieCommander Maritime Forces Pacific––––

[caption id="attachment_23944" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Amy Gordichuk and Alli Jones, members on the Positive Space Working Group, hold up the new Pride flag that is now on a flag pole at CFB Esquimalt.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The base is bolstering its commemoration of Victoria Pride Week 2020 by raising the rainbow flag for seven days in three locations.Each morning, from June 29 to July 5, the rainbow flag will be hoisted high atop flag poles located at Nelles Block in Naden, Dockyard’s Duntze Head, and at Work Point.Also, an official flag-raising ceremony will be conducted following Morning Colours observances on June 29 at Duntze Head. People attending this event are advised to respect COVID-19 physical distancing measures.For the past few years, Pride has been recognized with a single flag-raising ceremony on one day at Nelles Block. The new initiative to raise three flags was organized by Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) Positive Space Working Group (PSWG). Alli Jones, a member of the PSWG, says the new ceremonies are an improved effort to showcase the military’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.“In past years, CFB Esquimalt has raised the flag on the last Sunday of Pride week to coincide with the Pride parade,” said Jones. “Given this gesture previously took place over a weekend in the summer, the message was not reaching a wide audience within the defence team, so this year the decision was made to enhance these efforts.”The PSWG was stood up in 2019 and is made up of 18 military and civilian volunteers. Members carry out initiatives to support diversity and create a sense of belonging for members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning and Two-Spirit people (LGBTQ2+) within Maritime Forces Pacific.Capt(N) Sam Sader, Base Commander, is helping lead the effort to emphasize the importance and bolster the status of...

[caption id="attachment_23941" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Commodore Topshee as FixO (Fixing Officer – assistant to the NavO) during a day sail to Vancouver in 1998.[/caption]Commodore Angus Topshee,Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific ~T he celebration of HMCS Winnipeg’s 25 years of commissioned service has brought back many fond memories. I was not a part of the commissioning crew in 1995, but many of that crew were still aboard when I joined Winnipeg as my first ship right after completing MARS IV in February 1997. Though I was a brand new subbie (one of only three aboard at the time), I was immediately made welcome in a true spirit of “One with the Strength of Many.”Within days of joining, we were off on a (nearly) round the world adventure to join NATO’s Standing Naval Force Atlantic or SNFL (naturally, this was pronounced ‘sniffle’) for six months. It was the best possible start to a career as the transit around to Europe gave me the opportunity to learn the ship and the basics of frigate watchkeeping before becoming immersed in high intensity NATO exercises in the English Channel, and off the coasts of Spain and Portugal. We also had the opportunity to visit St. John’s, Newfoundland, for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Cabot aboard the tall ship Matthew. It was a replica of the original ship Cabot. It sailed across and the NATO fleet was in St. John’s Harbour to greet it when it arrived. It was pretty cool as they came in at dusk to a harbour symphony and fireworks show.From there, we took part in a MARCOT on the East Coast and made a visit to Halifax with the NATO fleet. Having expressed an interest in becoming a Navigator, I was given the opportunity to try navigating Winnipeg out of harbour and I...

SLt Wilson Ho, HMCS Winnipeg ~Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Winnipeg (FFH 338) turned 25 years old June 23. The second warship to be named HMCS Winnipeg was delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on October 11, 1994, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She would spend the later part of that year conducting sea trials to be ready for operations. In January 1995, Winnipeg left Halifax, bound for Esquimalt, British Columbia. On June 23, 1995, Winnipeg was officially commissioned in the RCN.Winnipeg has been through a variety of exercises and operational deployments during her 25 years. In 2001, the ship deployed to the Arabian Gulf, enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq. The following year, the ship deployed again to the Arabian Gulf as part of the Canadian Naval Task Group on Operation Apollo, the Canadian contribution to the international efforts against terrorism. Winnipeg deployed once more to the region in 2005 in support of Operation Altair. In 2009, they warship deployed as part of Standing North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Maritime Group 1 to conduct counter-piracy missions in the Indian Ocean. In 2015, it was tasked with the unique opportunity to sail around the world. During the deployment, the ship supported Operations Reassurance, Caribbe, Active Endevour, and Artemis. Winnipeg’s most recent deployment was to the Eastern Pacific region with HMCS Ottawa in 2017 for Operation Poseidon Cutlass, which would later on be renamed Operation Projection. In addition to the numerous operations the ship has deployed on, it has also participated in numerous exercises with international maritime partners, including NATO task groups, and multiple Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises off the coast of Hawaii.Commander Mike Stefanson, Commanding Officer, wanted the 25th anniversary to commemorate not only the successes of the ship, but to recognize and thank the countless number of people who have contributed to its day-to-day operations. The morale patch for the 25th anniversary includes the cityscape of the ship’s namesake city and the ship’s mascot. The motto One with the...