Royal Canadian Navy

Former Navy stoker Robert ‘Bob’ Haden shows off his centenary letter from King Charles. Haden will turn 100 years old on Jan. 18. (News Staff/Thomas Eley)

Guardian angel on his shoulder: Langford Navy veteran turns 100

Haden served in the Canadian Navy during the Second World War Two

 

Kearra Guldemond is overjoyed to see her boyfriend Jiseop Kim after four months at sea. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Navy ships return to Victoria for kisses and family after months at sea

The HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Vancouver, and MV Asterix return from Japan and Korea

 

A Navy ship returns to CFB Esquimalt after a two-and-a-half month deployment in a multi-nation narcotics-combatting operation off of Central America. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

‘Things are hard’: Navy sails into cost of living crisis at CFB Esquimalt

There are about 8,000 service members at CFB Esquimalt

 

Divers from the Royal Canadian Navy have travelled to South Korea to take part in the Multinational Mine Warfare Exercise. (Facebook/Fleet Diving Unit Pacific)

CFB Esquimalt navy divers head to South Korea for mine training

Reports say that thousands of mines remain from the Second World War

Divers from the Royal Canadian Navy have travelled to South Korea to take part in the Multinational Mine Warfare Exercise. (Facebook/Fleet Diving Unit Pacific)
Left to right: Vitalii Andriievskyi training in combat systems and Jose Manzano training in naval engineering on HMCS Winnipeg. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Esquimalt-based navy staff learning to ‘work as one mechanism’

‘It’s great because people are coming with great energy’

Left to right: Vitalii Andriievskyi training in combat systems and Jose Manzano training in naval engineering on HMCS Winnipeg. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
After being stolen in April, Mike Rose (left) got a call Sept. 7 that his father Clyde’s (right) family heirloom ship’s bell from his time in the navy had been found and returned to the family. (Courtesy of Mike Rose)

‘Good karma’: Stolen heirloom ship’s bell returned to Island family

Mike Rose thought he would never see his father’s treasured heirloom again after it was taken

After being stolen in April, Mike Rose (left) got a call Sept. 7 that his father Clyde’s (right) family heirloom ship’s bell from his time in the navy had been found and returned to the family. (Courtesy of Mike Rose)
Wife, mother and Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrea Chabassol with her children and their signs in front of the HMCS Vancouver. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

‘Sad day’: Families say goodbye as Esquimalt ships sail across the Pacific

The navy crews return home in 4 months

Wife, mother and Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrea Chabassol with her children and their signs in front of the HMCS Vancouver. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
The HMCS Edmonton was docked at Comox’s Government Wharf on Sunday, July 9. Members of the public were invited to tour the vessel. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)

PHOTOS: A tour of the HMCS Edmonton docked at Comox’s Government Wharf

Built in Halifax and commissioned in 1997, the boat is home-ported in CFB Esquimalt

The HMCS Edmonton was docked at Comox’s Government Wharf on Sunday, July 9. Members of the public were invited to tour the vessel. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)
Former HMCS Saskatchewan shipmen Don Reid and Gary Robertson, during a reunion event June 17 at Nanaimo’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch 256, take a look at the names on an HMCS Saskatchewan banner that was displayed at the ship’s decommissioning ceremony in 1994 in Esquimalt. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

HMCS Saskatchewan, now on Nanaimo’s ocean floor, was once ‘best in the west’

Retired shipmen gather for 60th anniversary of Royal Canadian Navy vessel’s commissioning

Former HMCS Saskatchewan shipmen Don Reid and Gary Robertson, during a reunion event June 17 at Nanaimo’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch 256, take a look at the names on an HMCS Saskatchewan banner that was displayed at the ship’s decommissioning ceremony in 1994 in Esquimalt. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
Riders warm up and chat ahead of the CFB Esquimalt 2023 Navy Nike Ride at Ecole John Stubbs Memorial School in Colwood Saturday, June 3. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: CFB Esquimalt Navy Bike Ride rolls through Colwood

4 km and 28 km rides were available in support of charities

Riders warm up and chat ahead of the CFB Esquimalt 2023 Navy Nike Ride at Ecole John Stubbs Memorial School in Colwood Saturday, June 3. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
A senior defence official says Canadian taxpayers are on the hook when it comes to fixing at least two of the Royal Canadian Navy’s new Arctic patrol vessels. Defence Department deputy minister Bill Matthews says that is because the one-year warranty on those two ships has expired. Matthews and Minister of National Defence Anita Anand arrive to appear before the Standing Committee on National Defence in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Ottawa will pay for repairs to Navy’s new Arctic ships due to expired warranty

Preliminary reports have identified issues with the ships’ engine cooling and drinking water systems

A senior defence official says Canadian taxpayers are on the hook when it comes to fixing at least two of the Royal Canadian Navy’s new Arctic patrol vessels. Defence Department deputy minister Bill Matthews says that is because the one-year warranty on those two ships has expired. Matthews and Minister of National Defence Anita Anand arrive to appear before the Standing Committee on National Defence in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
HMCS Calgary returns to CFB Esquimalt from an overseas operation. The ship will be one of many using Whiskey Hotel to conduct surface gunnery training beginning this year. (Cpl. Jay Naples – Canadian Armed Forces)

Navy resumes surface gunnery training in Juan de Fuca after years-long whale study

The Whiskey Hotel firing range located between Sooke and Port Renfrew

HMCS Calgary returns to CFB Esquimalt from an overseas operation. The ship will be one of many using Whiskey Hotel to conduct surface gunnery training beginning this year. (Cpl. Jay Naples – Canadian Armed Forces)
Wren Petty Officer Dorothy Robertson and Wren Chief Petty Officer Trudy Jardine at the RCN’s secret Japanese radio intercept hut at Gordon Head, 1945. (Courtesy of Dave Freeman)

Victoria veteran preserving stories of navy women

Lt.-Cmdr. Dave Freeman has records from hundreds of Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (Wrens)

Wren Petty Officer Dorothy Robertson and Wren Chief Petty Officer Trudy Jardine at the RCN’s secret Japanese radio intercept hut at Gordon Head, 1945. (Courtesy of Dave Freeman)
Sailor 3rd Class William Black of CFB Esquimalt has been chosen as one of the seven sentries for this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa. (Courtesy Canadian Armed Forces)

Esquimalt sailor chosen as sentry for national Remembrance Day ceremony

Sailor 3rd Class William Black of HMCS Calgary is one of seven to stand vigil on Nov. 11

Sailor 3rd Class William Black of CFB Esquimalt has been chosen as one of the seven sentries for this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa. (Courtesy Canadian Armed Forces)
A new exhibit will open at the Maritime Museum of B.C. featuring sailor DIY culture on Nov. 8 (Courtesy Maritime Museum of B.C.)

The Maritime Museum of B.C. to open new exhibit showing sailors handiwork on long voyages

The new exhibit will feature various DIY projects that sailors would do to entertain themselves

A new exhibit will open at the Maritime Museum of B.C. featuring sailor DIY culture on Nov. 8 (Courtesy Maritime Museum of B.C.)
Ken Nicholson (left) receives a long service award recognizing his 50 years of service to the Department of National Defence and the Government of Canada from Rear Admiral Christopher Robinson, Maritime Forces Pacific commander, as Nicholson’s wife Betty Jean looks on. (Courtesy CFB Esquimalt)

From typewriters to virtual meetings, Ken Nicholson guided the armed forces’ transformation

Celebrating a career that spanned 50 years with the navy

Ken Nicholson (left) receives a long service award recognizing his 50 years of service to the Department of National Defence and the Government of Canada from Rear Admiral Christopher Robinson, Maritime Forces Pacific commander, as Nicholson’s wife Betty Jean looks on. (Courtesy CFB Esquimalt)
A life preserver sits on the bridge of the Royal Canadian Navy’s ORCA class patrol vessel Caribou. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Canada’s Pacific fleet on display in Victoria’s Inner Harbour

Annual Defence on the Dock held at Ship Point for first time

A life preserver sits on the bridge of the Royal Canadian Navy’s ORCA class patrol vessel Caribou. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
HMCS Winnipeg is seen during a previous Defence on The Dock event. The public will be invited to learn more about what the navy does on Sept. 17 as the event returns at Ship Point. (Black Press Media file photo)

Defence on the Dock returns Saturday to Victoria

The open house-style event is being held at Ship Point for the first time

HMCS Winnipeg is seen during a previous Defence on The Dock event. The public will be invited to learn more about what the navy does on Sept. 17 as the event returns at Ship Point. (Black Press Media file photo)
Lack of available and affordable housing in the region has seen some junior members of the Royal Canadian Navy at CFB Esquimalt stay in single quarters largely meant for trainees, months after they were meant to find housing off base. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

New recruits at CFB Esquimalt struggle to find housing after training completed

Some personnel remain in single quarters due to cost, availability of housing in region

Lack of available and affordable housing in the region has seen some junior members of the Royal Canadian Navy at CFB Esquimalt stay in single quarters largely meant for trainees, months after they were meant to find housing off base. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
Chief Petty Officer First Class Tim Blonde has been removed from his position as formation chief petty officer of Maritime Forces Pacific after an investigation into comments he is said to have made about a junior officer during a social event at CFB Esquimalt in May. (Photo by LS Laurance Clarke/Royal Canadian Navy)

Navy strips Esquimalt-based sailor of leadership role for inappropriate comments

Tim Blonde was serving as Formation Chief Petty Officer of Maritime Forces Pacific

Chief Petty Officer First Class Tim Blonde has been removed from his position as formation chief petty officer of Maritime Forces Pacific after an investigation into comments he is said to have made about a junior officer during a social event at CFB Esquimalt in May. (Photo by LS Laurance Clarke/Royal Canadian Navy)