August 4, 2020 CANADIAN MILITARY’S TRUSTED NEWS SOURCE • CELEBRATING 76 YEARS PROVIDING RCN NEWS LOOKOUT • 7

Dr. Bonnie Henry's military roots

SLt M.X. Déry MARPAC PAO

Photo courtesy Colin Smith Takes Pics

he journey to Dr. ally to Provincial Health Officer cial training that exposed her to in HMCS Annapolis, HMCS away, straight down.” Bonnie Henry becom- for British Columbia managing physical and mental stressors. Provider and HMCS Regina, In 1995, Dr. Henry retired ing a household name COVID-19, the first woman to “They were all physically and attended to the medical from the military at the rank of Tin B.C. and across the hold that position. demanding and intellectually needs of the crew. She recalls Lieutenant (Navy), exchanging rest of Canada began decades An interest in medicine led stimulating,” she says. “I really many late night knocks at her her weighted diver’s boots and ago as the child of a military her to Dalhousie University enjoyed the physical part as cabin door from a sailor need- sailor footwear for her signa- family. Faculty of Medicine in Halifax, well as the understanding, from ing something minor such as a ture Fluevog shoes. When she She still has the stereotypical Nova Scotia. While completing a medical perspective, of the Band-Aid. joined the civilian workforce, answer to the question, “Where her medical degree, she decided occupational challenges life in “As a medical officer, my job she took with her the many les- are you from?” to follow her father’s path the military and specific things was 90 per cent boredom and sons learned about leadership “I was born in Fredericton and join the Canadian Armed such as diving or flying have on 10 per cent panic,” she says and decision making. when my father was posted to Forces. people.” wryly. “My role in the ship was “I learned the importance of CFB Gagetown, but I consider “Being an armoured corps She dove with Fleet Diving also a public health one.” understanding what people do Charlottetown my hometown,” officer, he was sorely disap- Unit clearance divers to under- During port visits, she held the to deal with a crisis. In a crisis she says, because her father pointed when I joined the navy,” stand the unique challenges customary briefings to explain it is important to make deci- was a Major with the Lord she quips. of the underwater environ- the importance of protective sions with the best information Strathcona's Horse, Canadian The military, always in need ment and their medical needs measures in foreign cities, from you have at the time, but often Army. “We moved around a of medical staff, paid for the last should a situation arise where food dangers to sexual safety. the information is imperfect and lot.” two years of her degree. the decompression chamber She was even at the forefront there may be things we don’t She grew up in towns across Like her current position, would be required. While she of banning smoking in warships. yet know. Not everybody is Canada and abroad - from back in the 1990s she was a wasn’t the strongest diver, she At that time sailors could puff comfortable making a decision Charlottetown to Calgary to female rarity in the medical, persevered through the training away inside the ship, even in in these circumstances.” Saint John’s and even as far navy, and diving world. She and managed donning the com- the racks. Her wisdom has grown away as the Netherlands. spent almost 10 years showcas- plex dive gear and operating the “I walked into a meeting and through her work with UNICEF, But it was summer employ- ing how woman can excel in heavy dive equipment. most of the men there were the World Health Organization, ment with the Naval Reserves the military domain. During her As a medical officer, she sailed smokers. We had done a survey and dealing with public health as a Naval Warfare Officer, then service, she was a ship’s and 50 per cent of the crises at varying levels in known as a Naval Control of diver, flight surgeon, and crew were smokers,” she Canada, such as Anthrax, Polio, Shipping officer, that would medical diver. Each of said. Ebola, SARS and H1N1. Now lead her to B.C., and eventu- those roles required spe- Despite coming pre- she advises the province on how pared to argue for the to handle this global pandemic. ban, it wasn’t required. To her health care colleagues “It surprised me that currently in uniform thinking of they all agreed smok- careers after military service, she ing was bad and it was offers this advice. banned [inside the “Be confident that the training ship].” and experience you have from Above Right: Bonnie Henry with Capt(N) Steve The uniqueness of the military will hold you in Foldesi as they watch a replenishment at sea from sailing in a warship stays good stead in the civilian world the deck of HMCS Provider. with her to this day. as well. That and the extra expe- “I remember sail- rience you get from a leader- ing down to RIMPAC; ship perspective can be readily Right: Bonnie Henry conducts surface supplied half way to Hawaii we transferable. Just don’t expect diving from the YDT 11 platform using the Surface stopped the ship to have everyone in the ‘real’ world to Supplied Breathing Apparatus at Fleet Diving Unit a swim. There is some- follow your advice!” Pacific in 1995. thing about swimming As the pandemic continues in the middle of the around the world, B.C. residents Ocean when you real- should continue to follow Dr. ize the closest piece of Henry’s advice: “Be kind. Be land is one nautical mile calm. Be safe.”