CFB Esquimalt

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)
CFB Esquimalt’s base hospital has reopened after having been evacuated due to a suspicious package earlier Wednesday morning. (Google Maps)

UPDATE: CFB Esquimalt hospital reopens after bomb scare

A suspicious package was determined to contain no explosives

CFB Esquimalt’s base hospital has reopened after having been evacuated due to a suspicious package earlier Wednesday morning. (Google Maps)
People gather to honour the fallen during a Remembrance Day ceremony at God’s Acre. A candlelight vigil will be held at the cemetery May 26 starting at 6:45 p.m. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito file photo)

Candlelight tribute will glow Thursday at God’s Acre in Esquimalt

The ceremony is set to begin at 6:45 p.m. and will also feature a march and pipe band

People gather to honour the fallen during a Remembrance Day ceremony at God’s Acre. A candlelight vigil will be held at the cemetery May 26 starting at 6:45 p.m. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito file photo)
The Sea to Sky gondola in Squamish. Metchosin resident Geoff Pearce is proposing a similar system across Esquimalt Harbour as a possible solution to reduce commuter traffic between the West Shore and the region’s core. (Flickr)

Gondola pitched as possible West Shore commuter traffic solution

Former city administrator asking stakeholders to study feasibility of concept

The Sea to Sky gondola in Squamish. Metchosin resident Geoff Pearce is proposing a similar system across Esquimalt Harbour as a possible solution to reduce commuter traffic between the West Shore and the region’s core. (Flickr)
HMCS Winnipeg passes Fisgard Lighthouse en route to CFB Esquimalt in 2020. Ceremonial fire will be heard from the navy base on April 26. (Black Press Media file photo)

Ceremonial firings will be heard from Esquimalt on Wednesday

Pacific Naval Fleet School students will fire blank volleys from 10 a.m. to noon

HMCS Winnipeg passes Fisgard Lighthouse en route to CFB Esquimalt in 2020. Ceremonial fire will be heard from the navy base on April 26. (Black Press Media file photo)
Successful collaboration between CFB Esquimalt and the Esquimalt and Songhees nations provides a good example of how non-Indigenous military members across Canada can be educated, according to an expert panel. (Black Press Media file photo)

Look to CFB Esquimalt, First Nations on how to collaborate: military racism report

Lessons from local base and nations could benefit Canadian bases, expert panel says

Successful collaboration between CFB Esquimalt and the Esquimalt and Songhees nations provides a good example of how non-Indigenous military members across Canada can be educated, according to an expert panel. (Black Press Media file photo)
Night firing exercises will occur at Heal’s Rifle Range in Saanich from April 6 to 11. (Google Maps)

Night firing exercises running for nearly a week at Heal’s Rifle Range in Saanich

Public reminded trespassing is prohibited at the gun range

Night firing exercises will occur at Heal’s Rifle Range in Saanich from April 6 to 11. (Google Maps)
A basic training course at CFB Esquimalt was terminated March 11 after multiple incidents of sexual harassment and racism were brought to staff’s attention. (Black Press Media file photo)

Acts of racism, sexual harassment end CFB Esquimalt basic training course

3 individuals kicked out of course, those responsible for racist messages yet to be identified

A basic training course at CFB Esquimalt was terminated March 11 after multiple incidents of sexual harassment and racism were brought to staff’s attention. (Black Press Media file photo)
HMCS Yellowknife sails in the Pacific Ocean on April 11, 2019. Crews aboard helped in an 800-kilogram cocaine bust in the eastern Pacific Ocean on March 6. (Courtesy of navy Capt. Annie Morin)

Esquimalt-based defence crews help intercept more than 1,700 pounds of cocaine

HMCS Yellowknife working with U.S. Coast Guard on security concerns in eastern Pacific Ocean

HMCS Yellowknife sails in the Pacific Ocean on April 11, 2019. Crews aboard helped in an 800-kilogram cocaine bust in the eastern Pacific Ocean on March 6. (Courtesy of navy Capt. Annie Morin)
Canada has rotated 200 soldiers to Ukraine to provide military training under Operation UNIFIER since 2017 and recently expanded the operation to 260. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg)

Greater Victoria-based diver helped build Ukraine’s military capacity

Training provided in 2017 could come into play in the event of a Russian invasion

Canada has rotated 200 soldiers to Ukraine to provide military training under Operation UNIFIER since 2017 and recently expanded the operation to 260. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg)
A screenshot from the live video as HMCS Winnipeg sets sail. (Facebook/HMCS Winnipeg)

VIDEO: Victoria-based warship sets sail under sunny skies

HMCS Winnipeg leaves Esquimalt Harbour on deployment

A screenshot from the live video as HMCS Winnipeg sets sail. (Facebook/HMCS Winnipeg)
A small cluster of COVID-19 cases has been confirmed at CFB Esquimalt. (Black Press Media file photo)

COVID-19 cluster confirmed at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt

Base will not specify exact number due to security and privacy concerns

A small cluster of COVID-19 cases has been confirmed at CFB Esquimalt. (Black Press Media file photo)
Members and vehicles of CFB Esquimalt Fire Rescue responded Sunday afternoon to housing near CFB Esquimalt. A residence suffered what officials describe as “minor damage.” (Submitted)

UPDATED: Sunday afternoon fire displaces family living in Work Point near CFB Esquimalt

Cause of fire remains under investigation, but damage said to be minor

Members and vehicles of CFB Esquimalt Fire Rescue responded Sunday afternoon to housing near CFB Esquimalt. A residence suffered what officials describe as “minor damage.” (Submitted)
Sergeant Francis Dion with the box containing HMCS Calgary’s new secret mascot costume. (HMCSNCSMCalgary/Facebook)

HMCS Calgary set to stream sailpast along Victoria shoreline

Warship leaves on six-month deployment

Sergeant Francis Dion with the box containing HMCS Calgary’s new secret mascot costume. (HMCSNCSMCalgary/Facebook)
CFB Esquimalt. (Black Press Media file photo)

Fifth COVID-19 case added to CFB Esquimalt cluster

Newest case unrelated to others in cluster, navy says

CFB Esquimalt. (Black Press Media file photo)
Four cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at CFB Esquimalt since Feb. 3. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)

Fourth COVID-19 case identified in ‘cluster’ at CFB Esquimalt

First positive case identified on Feb. 3

Four cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at CFB Esquimalt since Feb. 3. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)
Three cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at CFB Esquimalt since Feb. 3. (Black Press file photo)

Three COVID-19 cases confirmed at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt

Three civilian staff members tested positive since Feb. 3

Three cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at CFB Esquimalt since Feb. 3. (Black Press file photo)
CFB Esquimalt’s Chief Petty Officer Robert Cook will retire from his position on Feb. 3 after 37 years of service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Navy. (Courtesy of Kathy Cook)

Colwood woman surprises husband with drive-by military retirement celebration

Robert Cook, 55, retires after 37 years of service at CFB Esquimalt

CFB Esquimalt’s Chief Petty Officer Robert Cook will retire from his position on Feb. 3 after 37 years of service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Navy. (Courtesy of Kathy Cook)
The HMCS Winnipeg ship passing the Fisgard Lighthouse and coming into CFB Esquimalt on Friday, Dec. 18, after 4.5 months at sea. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)

Sombre return to Esquimalt for HMCS Winnipeg

Family of lost sailor Duane Earle attend ceremony

The HMCS Winnipeg ship passing the Fisgard Lighthouse and coming into CFB Esquimalt on Friday, Dec. 18, after 4.5 months at sea. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)