Navy moves showcase to Inner Harbour
Stephanie Burr
Staff writer
January 28, 2008
Cpl Yannick Bédard
Base Imaging Services
Victoria’s inner harbour will host this year’s Navy Days June 13 and 14.
CFB Esquimalt’s Base Operations has secured a brand new location for Navy Days 2008, one that will be hard to miss - Victoria’s Inner Harbour.
The event is set for June 13 and 14 with a focus on familiarizing Canadians with their armed forces.
“We really want the public to come down to Navy Days and find out more about their forces and who we are and what we do,” says Capt Jeff Haisell, in charge of organizing the event. “We don’t want to be standing on the other side of a table handing out brochures. We want people to come down and try things out, like how it feels sit in the pilot seat of a Cormorant helicopter, or go for a ride in a Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat.”
While the title emphasises the Navy, all three military environments will be present.
“The army, air force, plus Fleet Maintenance Facility will all be represented along with the navy,” says Capt Haisell. “We want the public to get a chance to discover all aspects of the forces including the role civilian employees play. There will be displays and demonstrations from all disciplines.”
The plans for the days’ events offer a variety of options such as static helicopter displays and aircraft flypasts, diving team and naval boarding party demonstrations, and a small arms training simulator where people can learn how to shoot small arms.
“We want to offer a really broad scope of examples of the realities people in the Forces face on a daily basis,” says Capt Haisell. “We plan on having military personnel fully dressed in operational patrol gear worn by the Canadian troops serving in Afghanistan. By exposing the public to the actualities of the Forces we hope to create a strong relationship and dialogue between Canadians and their military, and break down any barriers that might exist between them.”
While 2006’s event had a strong emphasis on recruitment, Naval Cadet Peter Drysdale, a site planner with Base Operations, says this year’s Navy Days will concentrate more on educating the public.
“Canadians get most of their exposure to the Forces on the news and in the papers,” he says. “This year Navy Days is going to let people discover for themselves the limitless possibilities the military has to offer, and how it tries to help make Canadians’ quality of life better.”
As Base Operations is busy planning Navy Days, Capt Haisell says everyone on base should be prepared to help out.
“We see Navy Days as a great opportunity to showcase how proud and enthusiastic the military is about what we do, and how much we enjoy it,” he says. “We really want everyone to get on board and take part to make this event a success.”
