B.C. Mayors get an inside look at navy base

Chris Roy, a sheet metal fabricator who works in the Fleet Maintenance Facility HMCS Cape Breton, displays a project he is working on to a delegation of B.C. mayors. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

A delegation of 28 mayors wrapped up a three-day conference in Victoria Feb. 24 with a tour of Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton and HMCS Regina.

The municipal leaders were taking part in the Mayors’ Caucus, a regular convention that rotates to a different location biannually. It allows municipal leaders to identify common priorities and problems their communities face.

The mayors were given guided tours of the Halifax-Class frigate’s machine control room, bridge, operation room, a review of the vessel’s small arms capability, and a demonstration by Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific).

Their tour of Fleet Maintenance Facility included stops at the electrical, mechanical, machining, sheet metal, combat, chemical cleaning and electroplating, and plant maintenance departments.

Comox Mayor Paul Ives said he was “delighted and fascinated” to visit CFB Esquimalt as part of the convention because of the economic impact it has in Victoria and the province.

Ives is a former naval reservist, serving from 1981 to 1987 with HMCS Scotian in Halifax and HMCS Discovery in Vancouver. He says the visit helped many of his colleagues gain better insight into what CFB Esquimalt is all about.

“It’s great to build awareness among the mayors of B.C. about the role the navy plays for Canada and the impressive facility in FMF for maintaining the fleet,” said Ives. “I would say CFB Esquimalt is almost like the Capital Regional District’s 14th municipality considering the huge role it plays in contributing to both the local and provincial economy.”

Jude Schooner, Mayor of Tahsis, located on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island, said the tour was one of the highlights of the Mayors’ Caucus.

“It was wonderful to be reminded of the dedication, team work and enthusiasm of the members of the Royal Canadian Navy we met during the tour, and their civilian counterparts,” she said.

“Small communities on the coast find solace knowing the Forces contribute to our safety, and play a vital role in the case of a natural disaster by augmenting our emergency preparedness plans (when called upon).”

At a lunch in the Wardroom Honorary Captain (Navy) Mandy Farmer and Dr. James Boutilier, MARPAC’s advisor on Asia Pacific, addressed the Mayors.