HMCS Esquimalt Remembered
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Parles-toi Francais? • CANADIAN MILITARY’S TRUSTED NEWS SOURCE • HARBOUR LANDING WALK TO BASE ! 32 Units from $379,900 Based in Esquimalt, WITS is Canada’s bullying-prevention Volume 65 Number 15 | April 20, 2020 Sales center program. We need a located at Quebecois-french 3194 Douglas WE speaker to help us translate web site Street is NEED content and social NOW media posts. We OPEN! YOU! prefer a volunteer but will consider other newspaper.com Mark Rice arrangements. Merci! 250-588-2339 OCEANSIDE REAL ESTATE MARPAC NEWS CFB Esquimalt, Victoria, B.C. [email protected] Andy Telfer, Executive Director, WITS Programs Foundation, LookoutNewspaperNavyNews @Lookout_news LookoutNavyNews Register today at [email protected] harbourlandingvictoria.com Capt(N) Sam Sader, Base Commander for CFB Esquimalt, lays a wreath at the memorial cairn for Second World War ship HMCS Esquimalt. Because of HMCS Esquimalt physical distancing a full ceremony could not take place to honour the lives lost 75 years ago when the ship was torpedoed by a German U-Boat. Read Remembered the full story on page 12. Photo by Rodney Venis, Base Public Affairs Molly Maids Display 2 (3.322”) x 2” Weekly McCONNAN ASK ABOUT We proudly serve the MILITARY BION DISCOUNTS Canadian Forces Community O’CONNOR & We offer services in Healthy Beautiful Smile! As a military family we understand PETERSON Real Estate, your cleaning needs during ongoing Wills and service, deployment and relocation. Dr. Stephan Picard www.mollymaid.ca Family Law Lawyers 250-382-1541 Suite 420 – 880 Douglas St., Victoria En Français 250.385.1383 • Toll Free 1.888.385.1383 DowntownDentalVictoria.ca (250) 744-3427 www.mcbop.com Aussi! [email protected] 2 • LOOKOUT April 20, 2020 A MESSAGE FROM THE BASE COMMANDER hope this update finds ing is the only way we can military Logisticians last week. most of you recharged crush the curve and ensure we The work of our Base and after a sunny long week- are healthy and ready to serve Formation Logistics staff in end, virtually connecting Canadians if the call comes. support of Operation Laser as withI loved ones and staying Remember that, although they continue to deliver core close to home. we are physically far from our services to our sailors and pro- For those of you who had colleagues and many of our vide ongoing sustainment to to work over this period, I sin- loved ones, this does not mean deployed operations has been cerely thank you and your fam- anyone should feel alone. It’s phenomenal. ilies for your continued dedica- important that our leadership As the current situation con- tion and commitment during teams continue to check in tinues to evolve, the health and these challenging times. I know with their members to make safety of the Defence Team this pandemic has brought a sure they are healthy, informed remains our highest priority. lot of changes and uncertainty and supported. Across the Base, we are to your daily routines and I am As we prepare for Requests updating measures to pro- proud of your ability to adapt for Assistance from the tect on-site personnel based and overcome. Government of Canada, I want on recommendations from As the Minister of National to pass on my appreciation to the Surgeon General and Defence stated in his most everyone who has been sup- the Public Health Agency of recent letter, we will continue porting the Personnel Readiness Canada. to prepare to support any Verifications, especially Base As such, we’re implementing Requests for Assistance from Administration, Base Logistics, new guidance regarding the use the Government of Canada. and our Health Services team. of non-medical masks where This CAF-wide effort has This work is core to fulfilling no specific personal protec- already begun through the our support requirements and I tive equipment requirements recent deployment of Canadian know the planning and execu- already exist. Under this new Rangers, and the forward plan- tion of these verifications was guidance for health protec- ning currently underway by all not easy under short timelines. tive measures, we are directing three elements in response to In the weeks ahead, we will DND/CAF personnel to wear the pandemic and any natural also continue to maintain our non-medical masks at times disasters that may arise in the support to the ships at sea, when they are unable to physi- coming months. who will remain in local waters cally distance themselves from At CFB Esquimalt, our mis- for the foreseeable future, con- others (e.g. on board military sion of preserving the Force for ducting Task Group training transport) and for the short future requests remains para- and preserving the Force for periods of time when they are work environment. a quiet moment to honour mount. As we enter our sixth potential domestic response unable to physically distance Like many historical mile- the courage and sacrifice of week of this response, I con- taskings down the road. themselves from others while stones and celebrations that those who served in HMCS tinue to stress the importance The sustainment of these off duty in public spaces (e.g. have been affected by COVID- Esquimalt on April 16, 1945, of physical distancing and stay- operations requires signifi- grocery shopping). 19, we were not able to pub- and throughout both the Battle ing home whenever possible. cant logistical support and I It is important to remem- licly recognize the 75th anni- of the Atlantic and the Second The numbers are beginning to would like to echo the sen- ber that only non-medical versary of the sinking of HMCS World War. show the effectiveness of our timent expressed by the masks should be worn in Esquimalt. Last Thursday Although many of us are regional efforts; however, this Strategic J4, BGen Christopher these particular instances to marked a solemn day in the working from home, our busi- is not the time to be compla- Zimmer, and Director General ensure there are enough medi- bond between the Base, the ness has been ongoing and I cent and let our guard down. Support CJOC, BGen Carla cal masks available for our Royal Canadian Navy, and the know some have been facing Continued physical distanc- Harding, in their letter to all health care professionals and Township as we remembered a higher than normal tempo. those providing direct care to the torpedoing of the Bangor- Thank you for your continued COVID-19 patients. class minesweeper and its place efforts to keep critical core ser- I also want to stress that in history as the last Canadian vices available to our members physical distancing and fre- warship lost to enemy action and sustain operations. The FIX RUSI AD quent hand washing are still during the Second World War. strength and adaptability of our the best mitigation and pre- The sinking and the ensuing Defence Team during unprec- ventative measures; however, ordeal of the survivors in the edented times has allowed us whenever physical distanc- frigid waters of the Atlantic to overcome each challenge we ing is not possible, wearing represent a stark, timely have faced. non-medical masks provides reminder of courage, patience, Stay healthy. Stay ready to additional protection to our and resilience. While we were support. personnel. Your chain of com- not able to gather at the ship’s Yours Aye, mand will be able to advise memorial to remember the 44 S. Sader on the implementation of sailors who perished that day, Captain (N) this direction in your specific I encourage you all to take Commander Royal United Services Institute We’re of Vancouver Island (RUSI-VI) Call or text for your vehicle today: FOUNDED 1831, IN VICTORIA SINCE 1927 on the Our mission - To promote national defence and security Gorge! GARRY GROTH Steeve Lesperance, MMM, CD issues through discussion and engagement Motorcycle Sales Consultant RUSI-VI is for retired and serving members of the CAF, police and civilians OFFICE (250) 384-1476 Barnes Harley-Davidson, Victoria interested in defence and security issues. Members are kept informed on national 510 Gorge Rd E, MOBILE (250) 886-0129 defence issues through a newsletter and monthly luncheons with expert speakers. www.barneshdvictoria.com Topics cover national defence, terrorism, defence industry and military history. Victoria, BC [email protected] We are also a member of the national Conference of Defence Associations and [email protected] sponsor an annual military history course at the University of Victoria. 250-516-2024 Meetings are on the second Wednesday of each month, September 2940 Ed Nixon Tce, Victoria through May. Single membership is $40.00 per annum. www.vanisleautobrokers.ca ASK ME ABOUT THE MILITARY / VETERANS DISCOUNT Motor Vehicle License # : 8594 715 Bay Street • The Bay St Armoury • Victoria, BC V8T 1R1 www.rusiviccda.org April 20, 2020 LOOKOUT • 3 B.C. Army Reserves join massive mobilization Capt Jeff Manney in our sights,” says Col Ursich. “But Public Affairs Officer, Mother Nature is only just coming 39 Canadian Brigade Group out of hibernation; we’ve got to antici- pate that we might need to help fight Befitting a period where the extraor- floods, fires or any other type of natu- dinary is the new norm, the call-up of ral disaster while we continue to cope Primary Reservists across the country with the virus.” has reached a telling milestone. To ensure rapid response anywhere in The nation-wide activation of the province, Joint Task Force (Pacific) Reservists – just under 1,000 in British has established a Land Component Columbia alone between the Navy Command (LCC), under Col Ursich, Reserve, 39 Canadian Brigade Group, that reports to Rear Admiral Bob and the Canadian Rangers – is set to Auchterlonie, Commander Joint be the largest since the beginning of Task Force (Pacific).