Farewell Message from the Base Commander

Captain (N) S. Sader

It’s still hard for me to believe, but this will be my last update as Base Commander before my Change of Command on July 15.  It has been an honour to serve in this role and to work alongside so many talented professionals here at the base and within the local community and I would like to express my thanks for your support over the last two years.

I’ve always felt a strong sense of purpose throughout my numerous postings at CFB Esquimalt.  There is something special about being part of a dedicated team, responsible for sustaining regular operations and capable of surging its support in times of global crisis or natural disaster response. 

Over the last year and a half, you have all demonstrated just how important that surge capacity is and I have been consistently impressed with the professionalism and dedication of the base team throughout the challenges of COVID-19 and beyond.

Despite the unpredictability of the global pandemic, there are many accomplishments to be proud of.  A high-tempo fleet schedule of international and domestic deployments kept us busy, while we also worked to modernize our processes through numerous digitalization initatives to ensure our people have the right tools for their job. 

Significant progress has been made on our major infrastructure projects in preparation for welcoming the future fleet to our harbour in the coming years. We have also taken steps to address historic industrial contamination within Esquimalt Harbour, helping to restore the local shared ecosystem for future generations as part of the Esquimalt Harbour Remediation Project.  The base joined together in support of those in need during events such as the Tug-of-War Challenge, chili cook-offs, Bring Your Dog to Work Day and countless other events that raised over $440,000 for the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign over the last two years.   These are just a few examples of the many achievements I’ve witnessed during my time as Base Commander and I couldn’t be more proud of the team’s success.

I can say without a doubt that the best part of my time as Base Commander was the people.  With every challenge we faced, I was consistently impressed by the dedicated military and civilian members whose skill and experience ensured that we continue to meet support demands and achieve mission success, no matter the obstacle.  I am especially thankful to the members of our Defence Advisory Groups, whose guidance has been essential in our efforts to build a more inclusive, respectful workplace for everone. There is still much work to be done, but I am proud of the progress we’ve made towards building a modern, respectful, and professional environment for all.

Over the years, CFB Esquimalt has truly become home for my family and saying good-bye isn’t easy, but I know the base will be in good hands under the leadership of Capt(N) Jeff Hutchinson.

Thanks for an awesome two years, team!  It’s been an honour to serve alongside you.

Yours Aye,  
Captain (N) S. Sader 

Capt(N) Sam Sader joined cookbook author Ruwan Samarakoon and formation cooks for a special tutorial on Sri Lankan meals during Food Diversity Week in October 2020.

Members of Base Logistics and Transport Electrical and Mechanical Engineering celebrated the arrival of two new 60-tonne cranes to CFB Esquimalt in March 2020.

Base Logistics Branch celebrated an anniversary pre-COVID19.