TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 VOLUME 63, #10 19 WING COMOX S1 Lisa Wallace Exercise TAZ RUNNER Exercise TAZ RUNNER is an annual Improvised The 19 Air Maintenance Squadron Explosives the end of their three year currency.” Explosives Device Disposal (IEDD) exercise that Disposal Flight (EDF) is responsible for the or- The objective in the past was to prepare mem- takes place at 19 Wing Comox. ganization of the exercise. bers for their IEDD Operator course. Between April 26 and June 4, IEDD Operators “TAZ RUNNER 21 was a Taz like no other,” shares “TAZ RUNNER also afforded us the opportunity from all three elements of the Canadian Armed Sgt Levesque, 19 EDF Deputy Commander. “Typi- to use the newly upgraded tEOdor Robot,” adds Forces are conducting numerous IEDD scenarios, cally we run this exercise in February, but this Sgt Levesque. “The tEO EVO came equipped relevant to the current RCAF explosive ordnance year, due to the constraints of COVID-19, we had with better cameras, lighting systems and overall disposal (EOD) mandate. to shift it to the right. This is perhaps the first Taz controls. The cameras alone made the upgrade The annual exercise began in 2012, and EOD to ever feature back to back days of gorgeous a delight to work with.” operators primarily come from trades including weather, and while the Snowbirds did complicate Personnel from across the Canadian Armed clearance diver, ammunition technician, combat things for us with regards to the usage of some of Forces traveled to 19 Wing Comox after taking a engineer, and air weapon systems technician. our training sites, we managed to make it work.” COVID-19 test, and were quarantined at HMCS Beyond the combat implications, there are many The focus of the modified 2021 exercise was Quadra for seven days prior to the start of the situations in which ammunition, pyrotechnics, the conduct qualification renewals for the IEDD exercise. flares and other devices which contain highly Operators in the CAF. Movement has been limited to training sites, and combustible materials must be rendered safe “This provides us with a time effective way to participants have not been permitted to interact or inert. renew operator’s authorization as they come to with the general public. Ne partagez pas votre copie de Totem Times Do not share your copy of the Totem Times Ne la remettez pas dans un présentoir Protégeons PROTECT Do not return it to a display Déposez-la au recyclage Dispose of your copy in a recycling bin Lavez vos mains après usage la FORCE! THE FORCE! Wash your hands after use Approved Service Provider to the DND Integrated Relocation Program Royal LePage In the Comox Valley 1642 TSIMSHIAN AVE., COMOX BEAUTIFUL FAMILY HOME IN COMOX, #121-750 Comox Road, 437-2300 MANSFIELD DRIVE, COURTENAY just a short walk to the rec centre, nature trails Carla Arnold Courtenay, B.C. V9N 3P6 BRIGHT 2 BEDROOM, 2 BATHROOM parks, and downtown Comox by the Sea. Large open concept condo with gorgeous views of Kevin Dol 250-338-3711 bright kitchen opens to the living & dining room. Bus: 250-334-3124 the Island mountains through your over height The living room has a cozy gas fireplace and Toll Free: 1-800-638-4226 windows in the living room, kitchen and pri- 250-898-4158 comoxvalleyrealtors.com there is a sliding door off the dining room that Fax: 250-334-1901 mary bedroom. High - quality upgrades have [email protected] opens to a large deck. Main floor has three bed- www.royallepagecomoxvalley.com been done throughout including new kitchen rooms plus full bath with skylight. Email: [email protected] counters. $675,000 $599,900 2 | MAY 25, 2021 | TOTEM TIMES 19 Wing Comox Employment Equity Working Group Defence Visible Minority Advisory Group | Defence Team Pride Network Words Matter Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group | Defence Women’s Advisory Organization Defence Advisory Group – Persons with Disabilities Empathic communication: How abbreviations diminish meaning “MMIWG2S” – turning a very serious topic into MCpl Cory Bakker, 418 Sqn | something more palatable on paper. Words can invoke feelings. Lack of words can In the current world of social media, it has be- rob them. come so simple to convey support for a cause by To be more efficient, we freely substitute people, superimposing an acronym over a profile photo, places and things with abbreviations that are or adding a hashtag. assumed to be innocuous and appropriate for Consider that many well-intentioned people do official business, in the interest of making com- this, but anecdotally it does not generate a lot of munication more concise. meaningful discussion. The post gathers dozens S This jumble of letters can create a barrier to of arguably impersonal “likes” and people gen- G2 conveying ideas that are important or emotional, erally move on and keep scrolling. MIW and it can actually lead to misunderstanding. It In contrast, by spelling out the difficult issues M might even be harmful. facing First Nations women and their families, it allows us to feel what Red Dress Day, held on s If we go back into history, we can understand genou why simplifying an idea can take us in the wrong May 5, is about – not to just scroll by. By talk- Indi s direction. Since settlers arrived in North America, ing about it, we are inclined to read about the = red rit Murde o-Spi countless traumas associated with colonization Highway of Tears in British Columbia, and why g and nd Tw of First Nations are well understood. Yet despite its moniker was coined from its historical parallel issin irls a our increased awareness, we still find ourselves in the United States, the Trail of Tears. M en, G abbreviating “First Nations” with “FN” in official We have a moral responsibility to be empathetic Wom correspondence. Unintentionally, we have taken in our communication. a great number of the most important people in In the workplace we saturate correspondence Canada, disregarded and minimized them into with robotic efficiency, but an abbreviation or a couple of letters, in the interest of efficiency. acronym can change the understanding of a To further illustrate how simplifying an idea complex topic. It can rob us from having a con- into letters can be harmful to a sensitive topic, versation. We can all be the change if we decide we shorten the title “Missing and Murdered In- not to diminish these issues, but choose to em- digenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirits” into brace the why. The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia was observed on May 17 across the nation. It was a day to reflect on our attitudes towards others, to confront and overcome our biases, and to acknowledge that around the world, LGBTQ2+ individuals are still the victims of violence. “As the Defence Team forges on to create a more step taken by the Defence Team to include the can be used by anybody. inclusive workplace, acknowledging the persis- voices of our LGBTQ2+ communities by officially “B” is for bisexual, and that’s somebody who is tent and frequent misconduct being brought to recognizing a fifth Defence Advisory Group: the attracted to people of their own gender and other light recently, I can’t think of a better time for us Defence Team Pride Advisory Organization (DT- genders. It can also refer to non-binary people. to rally together to combat homophobia, trans- PAO), previously known as the Defence Team “T” is for transgender, a person whose gender phobia, and biphobia,” stated RAdm Luc Cassivi, Pride Network. identity is different from the sex placed on their Champion for the Defence Team Pride Advisory This group of volunteers from across the country birth certificate. Organization. will provide much needed advice, education, and “Q” stands for Queer, an umbrella term often Despite the progress made since the end of the critical support to Defence Team leadership and time used to categorize the entirety of the LG- LGBT Purge, too many people still do not feel they members, to further promote an environment of BTQ2+ community. can be honest with their team members about dignity and respect for all. Next, we have the “2” – it’s for Two-Spirits. It is their own identity for fear of harassment, career On May 19 the Pride flag was raised across the an identity used by some Indigenous folks who, impact or other negative outcomes. They also feel country to show support for and solidarity with just like queer, whose gender identity, sexual that most of our policies and processes are not LGBTQ2+ members, and to reinforce the mes- orientation or spiritual identity differs from the supportive of their identity and lived reality. This sage that everyone belongs. societal norm, and it’s called Two-Spirits because situation negatively impacts their well-being, team Let’s reflect on our values and support a Defence a person may be believed to have both the male cohesion, and our ability to create an inclusive and Team in which everyone feels safe and welcomed and the female spirits within them. respectful environment for all - it must change. to bring their whole selves to the workplace. And then, there’s the “+” sign, which is there to These changes can only take place if we all con- What does the LGBTQ2+ acronym stand for? represent all of the other identities that you may tribute to the effort. All members of the Defence “L” is for lesbian. Basically, a woman who likes have already heard of: non-binary, pansexual, Team deserve to feel safe, and be treated with women. asexual and intersex.