176097 Monday, November 4, 2019 Volume 53, Issue 22 www.tridentnewspaper.com Remembering HMCS Kootenay On Wednesday October 23, 2019, the 50th anniversary of the explosion and fire aboard HMCS Kootenay was com- memorated during a ceremony at the Bonaventure Anchor Memorial in Point Pleasant Park. The memorial commemo- rates sailors who died in service during peacetime, and 46 new names were added to the memorial during the ceremony. PTE SARINA MCNEILL, FIS HALIFAX Recognizing exceptional Honorary degree for Remembrance 2019 Movember Marathon service Pg. 6 Comd MARLANT Pg. 9 Pgs. 12-17 Pg. 20 DON’T PAY UNTIL On Now MARCH 2020! 176082 2 TRIDENT NEWS NOVEMBER 4, 2019 A CH-148 Cyclone provided a fly- past for the ceremony, while HMCS Glace Bay acted as a backdrop. RYAN MELANSON, TRIDENT STAFF At the reception following the ceremony, RAdm Craig Baines presented HMCS Koote- nay survivors with the inaugural Commander RCN Unit Commendation for gal- lantry and bravery. MONA GHIZ, MARLANT PA HMCS Kootenay survivors mark 50 years since RCN’s deadliest peacetime incident By Ryan Melanson, and specially recognized during the Trident Staff event. Both were also awarded long overdue wound stripes earlier this The explosion that took place in year in recognition of the injuries HMCS Kootenay on October 23, 1969, they sustained on that day. killed nine sailors and injured 53 John Montague, who was a junior more, who suffered from burns and officer on board Kootenay, spoke at the SISIP Financial Literacy inhalation of toxic smoke. As Steve ceremony, touching on the actions of Display, 5.04" x 6pt29" Rowland explains, however, the dam- the crew in the immediate aftermath, Colour. Print Ready Proof age caused on that tragic day went far as sailors fought to save their col- beyond physical injuries. leagues and their ship through black Trident, October 2019 “Make no mistake, not one person smoke, with limited equipment, and got off that ship unscathed. Fifty with the vessel steaming uncontrol- years later, we all carry scars, either lably at full power through the North physical, emotional, or psychological, Atlantic. related to what happened,” said Row- “There were many acts of extreme land, who was a young sailor in just bravery that day, and outstanding his second year of service in 1969. manifestations of courage by every- The survivors didn’t shy away from one involved. Many sailors acted those difficulties as they gathered on valiantly and volunteered for danger- October 23 at the Bonaventure Anchor ous tasks they had never done before Memorial in Point Pleasant Park to in an effort to save the ship and help mark the 50th anniversary of the ex- their fellow sailors,” he said. He also plosion, which remains the Royal Ca- recalled the well-known quote from nadian Navy’s deadliest incident at sea Kootenay CO Cdr Neil Norton, who during peacetime. The ceremony drew said at the time that “a less profes- a large crowd, with politicians and sional crew could easily have finished dignitaries, including The Honourable the day in liferafts.” Arthur J. LeBlanc, Lieutenant Gov- “The aftermath, however, was as ernor of Nova Scotia, Halifax Mayor bad as the incident itself,” Montague Mike Savage, and local MPs, joining added, as crews got the fire under survivors, families, and members of control and learned that several col- the CAF and RCN community for the leagues had perished. Four were bur- occasion. All wore the new HMCS ied in England, four were buried at Kootenay ribbon, which has now been sea, and only one in Halifax, because approved for RCN members and others of repatriation policies at the time. to wear every October 23 in perpetuity. “On the homefront in Halifax, there The explosion took place about 200 were eight women who suddenly be- miles off the southwest coast of Eng- came widows, and 18 children who no land – Kootenay was ordered to break longer had a father,” he said. off from its nine-ship task group to “And back in 1969, we had never conduct routine full power trials. The heard of post-traumatic stress disor- trouble came from an improperly der.” installed bearing casing in the ship’s He said the annual gatherings for starboard gearbox, which allowed oil Kootenay survivors, which began 20 to overheat to the point it caught fire, years ago, have helped many of them causing the devastating explosion. cope with the difficult memories and The 10 sailors in the engine room mental health issues stemming from suffered the worst, and struggled to the incident, and many have begun scramble up a melting aluminum receiving professional help as well, ladder as the room filled with flames. which has helped pave the way toward The two remaining survivors from the closure. engine room, Allan “Dinger” Bell and 176088 Al Kennedy, were both in attendance Continued on page 3 Print Ready PLEASE READ OVER YOUR AD PROOF CAREFULLY AND SIGN. In approving this copy, I warrant that I am authorized RUSH RETURN AT ONCE to use the advertising copy, cuts, illustrations, trade Please verify Proof for style and complete- marks, trade names specified. I agree to pay within ness Ensure your FIRM NAME, ADDRESS, and 30 days of receiving an invoice. I am aware I will be TELEPHONE NUMBER are correct. Please sign and charged 2%/month on overdue unpaid balances. return. If not returned before deadline, the Publisher assumes that there are no corrections and accepts no responsibility for errors. Thank you for allowing us ❏ OK WITH CORRECTIONS to serve you. If you have any questions, please call. (Please mark on proof) JOSHUA BUCK - SALES ❏ OK AS IS. PHONE: 250-363-8602 FAX: 250-363-3015 If this is not correct please contact Joshua ____________________________________ (Authorized Signature) right away, sign this form and return it by fax. NOVEMBER 4, 2019 TRIDENT NEWS 3 A large crowd gathered for the 50th anniversary ceremony, including Kootenay survivors, their families, RCN members, and local community leaders. PTE SARINA MCNEILL, FIS HALIFAX HMCS Kootenay survivors mark 50 years since RCN’s deadliest peacetime incident Continued from page 2 HMCS Kootenay. The citation reads guished service. This event directly nay and held by Damage Control as follows: contributed to positive change in the Training Facility Kootenay, which Members of the crew also find “On 23 October, 1969, Her Majesty’s Navy and our ships, leading to safety continues the proud legacy of that comfort in the lessons learned from Canadian Ship Kootenay was off improvements and a greater com- crew. Their actions in the face of Kootenay, which led to major chang- Plymouth, United Kingdom, when, mitment to the dignity of our sailors the Navy’s worst peacetime disaster es in the way navies prepare for and at 0821, an explosion in the engine and respect for our honoured dead. brought tremendous credit to their combat fires and other incidents room set fire to the ship and filled The inaugural Commander Royal namesake unit and the Royal Cana- on ships. New types of equipment, it with toxic smoke. Several of the Canadian Navy Unit Commendation dian Navy.” procedures, and training initiatives crew would perish and many more is thus presented to HMCS Koote- have a direct link back to would be wounded. How- the tragedy in 1969. ever, the courage “We consider these posi- and profes- tive changes to be Koote- sionalism of nay’s legacy, and that’s the crew pre- something we are very vented a far proud of,” Montague worse result. said. They responded The day also quickly and served as a without panic, chance to saving both lives rededi- and the ship, cate the which would Bonaven- see a further ture 26 years of Anchor distin- Memo- rial, which serves as a monument to all men and women who died serving the RCN during peacetime. The day saw 46 new names added to the plaques around the memorial. This addition, along with refurbishment work completed on the anchor in 2018, has long been sought by members of the Koo- tenay crew and fam- ily members of other deceased sailors. During the recep- tion at Tribute Tower RAdm Bob Auchterlonie, Commander MARPAC and following the ceremony, Joint Task Force (Pacific), was one of the senior RCN Commander Royal Cana- leaders who travelled to Halifax to mark the 50th an- dian Navy Unit Commen- niversary of the disaster. dation was presented to RYAN MELANSON, TRIDENT STAFF 175759 4 TRIDENT NEWS NOVEMBER 4, 2019 www.tridentnewspaper.com Community Calendar Publication Reunion and event notices must be submitted by email. Schedule [email protected] include the sender’s name and phone number. for 2019 A notice will not be published if the event is to happen more that one year from publication date. Submissions may be edited. January 14 — MFRC & Money Matters January 28 February 11 — MFRC 615 (Bluenose) Royal Canadian sued photo ID and their health card. individual's military unit, and consult February 25 Air Cadet Squadron There are no registration fees. For various digitized resources such as March 11 — MFRC March 25 — Posting Season Time: 6:15-915 p.m. more information: cadets3036@gmail. war diaries to learn the context of a April 8 — MFRC & Spring Automotive Location: CFB Halifax com or Facebook.com/cadets3036 person's military service. To register, April 22 — Battle of the Atlantic May 6 — MFRC Flight principles, air navigation, call (902) 426-4031 or email bac.halifax. May 21 — Spring Home and Garden meteorology, first aid, airframes, The Women’s Royal Canadian [email protected]. June 3 — MFRC & Family Days June 17 engines, marksmanship, effective Naval Service: 1942-1946 July 2 — MFRC speaking, instructional techniques Time: 7 - 8:30 p.m.