Defence Team gathers for harbour cleanup

Jessica Wyllie, Health Promotion Specialist, displays a piece of rope she picked from the compression fender at C-Jetty in Dockyard during the Harbour Shoreline Cleanup.

Peter Mallett
Staff Writer

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It was ‘mission accomplished’ for a hardy group of volunteers in their goal to remove waste from the shoreline of Esquimalt Harbour.

Military members and Department of National Defence civilian employees of CFB Esquimalt volunteered to clean up the Harbour on Tuesday morning following the Thanksgiving long weekend. Starting at the Small Boats Jetty in Naden in wet and blustery conditions, the team boarded a 38-foot-long Sea Truck vessel of the King’s Harbour Master (KHM) and set out to complete their morning task.

The Harbour Cleanup event was part of the MARPAC Health and Wellness Strategy’s (MHWS) Healthy Workplace Month. It included five employees of the Port Operations and Emergency Services Branch (POESB).

The typical autumn weather for Victoria didn’t seem to faze most attendees, including Sailor Third Class (S3) Jade Mok of Naval Fleet School (Pacific).

“I really wanted to come out today and help in the efforts,” said S3 Mok, a Naval Combat Information Officer in Training. “I have read about the sea creatures that live in Esquimalt Harbour and I don’t want them to be threatened by plastic waste and the garbage that builds up here. Participating in this event gave me a sense of accomplishment.”

Armed with nets, garbage bags and plastic gloves, S3 Mok and the rest of the clean-up team got to work under the guidance of the KHM crew who guided the flat bottom boat and its landing ramp to the edge of the fenders.

The team pulled 55 kg of waste in total from the compression fenders that line the ‘F’ Jetty in Colwood and ‘C’ Jetty in Dockyard.

The items recovered included plastic cups, chocolate bar wrappers, rope, plastic zip ties, a tiny Lego man, BBQ sauce bottle, bubble wrap, ear plugs, a flare shell, and plastic bags.

Lorraine Crinkley of POESB’s Environmental Protection Office who guided the team says she was delighted to take part.

“We at POESB are very passionate about keeping our harbour clean,” said Crinkley. “We welcomed guests from other units who share the same passion and everyone had an enjoyable experience while doing the job.”

The Harbour Shoreline Cleanup was facilitated by the MHWS’ Organizational Wellness Working Group. Jessica Wyllie, organizer of the event and Health Promotion Specialist with Personnel Support Programs (PSP), says the wet and windy conditions caused some additional challenges but those who came out to the event really seemed to enjoy themselves. 

Members of the Harbour Shoreline Cleanup team gather at the Small Boats Jetty in Naden for a group photo following the successful completion of their mission. Photos: Peter Mallett/Lookout Newspaper

“This was part of our community well-being initiative for Healthy Workplace Month and a really cool opportunity for people who never get a chance to get out and explore the harbour,” said Wyllie.

Their excursion through Esquimalt Harbour wasn’t just about picking up garbage, says Wyllie. It also gave the volunteers an up-close look at some of the sea life that lives in the harbour including seals, eagles, otters, blue herons, crabs, starfish and fishes. Participants also visited the historic Cole Island where they viewed its restored colonial-era buildings including the Royal Navy’s former guardhouse and ammunition magazine stores buildings.

Healthy Workplace Month kicked off on Oct. 3. This week, join the activities with three events hosted at noon at the Naden Athletic Centre (NAC): Introduction to Stress Reduction Techniques on Oct. 17, Mindful Movement Yoga Practice on Oct. 18, and Staying In Charge, How to get back to your Window of Tolerance on Oct. 19.

Healthy Workplace Month wraps up with fitness classes in the NAC and Dockyard Gym, Go-By-Bike Week Celebration (Oct. 25), National Sports Day (Oct 26) and the monthly Formation Run on Oct. 27.