It\u2019s hard to believe that the holiday season is upon us already! Looking back at 2021, we\u2019ve had quite a year. Our Defence community (and indeed all Canadians and citizens across the globe) have been managing our personal and professional lives amidst multiple and ongoing waves and surges of the COVID-19 virus. Despite these challenges, I am incredibly proud of how our CFB Halifax team has been able to continue supporting our people and operations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Our Base team has had many successes this past year, supporting multiple large-scale activities including CUTLASS FURY 21, the 2021 National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign, helping HMCS <\/span>Harry DeWolf<\/span><\/i> prepare for its inaugural voyage and, of course, supporting normal operations locally and abroad including OP REASSURANCE, OP PROJECTION and OP LENTUS. These are just a few of a long list of Base accomplishments in 2021; I can\u2019t thank our team enough for its dedication through this difficult period. I encourage you to learn about some other great successes from our team through the CFB Halifax Year in Review social media series which launches on our Base social media channels on December 14! Follow along on <\/span>Facebook<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Instagram<\/span><\/a> et <\/span>Twitter<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Did you know that our Year in Review series is one of many projects led by student employees at CFB Halifax? I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge all co-operative education and Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) students who have been employed across the Base in 2021. Our Base Business Management (BBM) team and units\u2019 student supervisors have been absolutely critical to the success of the Base\u2019s student hiring initiative, which gives high school and post-secondary students the opportunity to explore career options with the Department of National Defence (DND) and CFB Halifax. I have no doubt that these efforts to employ students are helping to shape the diverse and highly capable Base team of the future. I want to extend my sincere thanks to all those who enable the success of this initiative each year, most importantly the students (or students-turned-fulltime employees) who are contributing so positively to our CFB Halifax community and culture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Beyond our core Base team, local lodger units have performed some absolutely critical tasks this year. I would like to take a moment to thank the team at Canadian Forces (CF) Health Services Centre (Atlantic) for its successful roll-out of the local Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which resulted in the full vaccination of 94% of local CAF members. CF Health Services Centre (Atlantic) also played an important role in the CAF-run Nova Scotia civilian COVID-19 vaccination clinic that launched in June 2021 as part of OP VECTOR. Personnel from CF Health Services Centre (Atlantic) assisted with this clinic from mid-June to mid-July and administered an impressive number of doses to Nova Scotians. The expertise and professionalism displayed by this team cannot be understated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In order to further support our workforce\u2019s fight against COVID-19 in 2021, Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) established a well-received Rapid Testing initiative across the Base which is still in operation. I encourage all military and civilian members of our Defence Team to continue getting tested weekly, even if you are fully vaccinated. The main location for rapid testing is located at HMC Dockyard in the main lobby of building D200, Monday-Friday from 0700-1300. Weekly testing sites continue to take place in the main lobby of D201 on Wednesdays from 0800-1200, the Shearwater Sea King Club on Thursdays from 0800-1200, and in the main lobby of Base headquarters, Stadacona S90, on Fridays from 0800-1200. Moving forward, in addition to making rapid testing part of our regular routine, it is important that each and every one of us continue to follow all public health measures and restrictions identified internally (via MARLANT Safety & Environment) and externally (via provincial and territorial governments).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s no surprise that 2021 has handed our Defence family some additional challenges above and beyond COVID-19. I know that many of us are feeling the strain and repercussions of the ongoing sexual misconduct and discrimination crisis that that has come into sharp focus this year. These situations have been difficult on our entire Defence community. We, as a Base team, have done our best to respond through the introduction of town halls, workshops and our adherence to mandatory, online training that has provided much needed education on these issues. Just last month we were happy to host Madame Justice Louise Arbour on Base during which she spoke with our members as part of an independent, external review into harassment and sexual misconduct within the Department of National Defence (DND) and the CAF. We all need to commit to listening, learning, and continuing to call out and take action against inappropriate, discriminatory and derogatory behaviours \u2013 no matter how big or small \u2013 in order to foster positive culture change within our Defence community. And while our Base team looks forward to some policy direction from the national level, we remain committed to identifying local solutions as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In a year that has presented its share of successes and challenges, I want to thank our Base family and lodger units for everything you have done to keep our community safe and secure. Whether it be practicing physical distancing, performing critical custodial duties across Base facilities, wearing a mask, getting vaccinated, or ensuring our ships receive the materiel, IT and administrative supports they need in order to deploy, you are the ones who have kept us moving forward. I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to our incredible military families. While many of our Defence Team members are far from home each year, their families are still serving and sacrificing right along with them. Every single one of these families deserves our everlasting thanks, respect and support. Also, we can\u2019t forget to acknowledge the important work done by our local Base emergency services \u2013 including the Military Police Unit Halifax, the Halifax Naval Fire Department, the Commissionaires and emergency response personnel \u2013 who are working hard every day (including the holiday season) to ensure that the Base remains safe and operational. Please join me in acknowledging our Defence Team members and their families, today and every day!<\/span><\/p>\n Wishing you all a safe, happy and healthy holiday season with your loved ones, and a prosperous New Year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Remember to take care of yourselves and check on your neighbours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Le commandant de la base,\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Capt(N) Sean Williams\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Bonjour chers membres de la BFC\u00a0Halifax,<\/span><\/p>\n Il est difficile de croire que la p\u00e9riode des f\u00eates est d\u00e9j\u00e0 \u00e0 nos portes! Avec le recul, 2021 fut toute une ann\u00e9e. Notre communaut\u00e9 de la D\u00e9fense (et en fait tous les Canadiens et citoyens partout dans le monde) a d\u00fb concilier vie personnelle et vie professionnelle avec les multiples vagues et augmentations soudaines des cas de COVID-19. Je suis toutefois tr\u00e8s fier de la fa\u00e7on dont l\u2019\u00e9quipe de la BFC\u00a0Halifax a continu\u00e9 de soutenir nos gens et nos op\u00e9rations malgr\u00e9 ces difficult\u00e9s.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n L\u2019\u00e9quipe de la Base a accumul\u00e9 de nombreuses r\u00e9ussites au cours de la derni\u00e8re ann\u00e9e. Elle a notamment contribu\u00e9 \u00e0 plusieurs activit\u00e9s \u00e0 grande \u00e9chelle comme l\u2019exercice\u00a0CUTLASS FURY\u00a021 et la Campagne de charit\u00e9 en milieu de travail de la D\u00e9fense nationale\u00a02021. Elle a aid\u00e9 le NCSM\u00a0<\/span>HARRY\u00a0DEWOLF<\/span> \u00e0 se pr\u00e9parer pour son voyage inaugural et, bien s\u00fbr, elle a soutenu les op\u00e9rations normales au pays et \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9tranger, notamment les op\u00e9rations\u00a0REASSURANCE, PROJECTION et LENTUS. Ce ne sont l\u00e0 que quelques-unes des nombreuses r\u00e9alisations du personnel de la Base en 2021. Je ne remercierais jamais assez l\u2019\u00e9quipe pour son d\u00e9vouement pendant cette p\u00e9riode difficile. Je vous invite \u00e0 d\u00e9couvrir d\u2019autres des grandes r\u00e9ussites de l\u2019\u00e9quipe dans le cadre de la s\u00e9rie r\u00e9trospective de l\u2019ann\u00e9e de la BFC\u00a0Halifax qui sera publi\u00e9e sur les m\u00e9dias sociaux de la Base le 14\u00a0d\u00e9cembre. <\/span>Suivez-nous sur <\/span>Facebook<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> Instagram<\/span><\/a> et <\/span>Twitter<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Saviez-vous que notre s\u00e9rie r\u00e9trospective de l\u2019ann\u00e9e est l\u2019un des nombreux projets men\u00e9s par des \u00e9tudiants \u00e0 la BFC\u00a0Halifax? Je souhaite donc profiter de l\u2019occasion pour remercier tous les \u00e9tudiants du programme d\u2019enseignement coop\u00e9ratif et du Programme f\u00e9d\u00e9ral d\u2019exp\u00e9rience de travail \u00e9tudiant (PFETE) qui ont travaill\u00e9 \u00e0 la Base en 2021. Notre \u00e9quipe de gestion op\u00e9rationnelle de la Base (EGOB) et les superviseurs des \u00e9tudiants dans les unit\u00e9s ont jou\u00e9 un r\u00f4le essentiel dans le succ\u00e8s de l\u2019initiative d\u2019embauche d\u2019\u00e9tudiants de la Base, qui donne aux \u00e9tudiants de niveau secondaire et postsecondaire l\u2019occasion d\u2019explorer les possibilit\u00e9s qu\u2019offre une carri\u00e8re au sein du minist\u00e8re de la D\u00e9fense nationale (MDN) et de la BFC\u00a0Halifax. Je n\u2019ai aucun doute sur le fait que les efforts d\u00e9ploy\u00e9s pour l\u2019embauche des \u00e9tudiants contribueront \u00e0 doter la Base d\u2019une \u00e9quipe diversifi\u00e9e et hautement comp\u00e9tente dans l\u2019avenir. Je tiens \u00e0 remercier sinc\u00e8rement tous ceux qui contribuent au succ\u00e8s de cette initiative chaque ann\u00e9e, et surtout les \u00e9tudiants (ou les \u00e9tudiants devenus employ\u00e9s \u00e0 temps plein) qui contribuent de fa\u00e7on si positive \u00e0 la communaut\u00e9 et \u00e0 la culture de la BFC\u00a0Halifax.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Outre l\u2019\u00e9quipe principale, les unit\u00e9s h\u00e9berg\u00e9es de la Base ont accompli des t\u00e2ches absolument essentielles cette ann\u00e9e. Je tiens \u00e0 remercier l\u2019\u00e9quipe du Centre des services de sant\u00e9 des Forces canadiennes (Atlantique) d\u2019avoir lanc\u00e9 la campagne locale de vaccination contre la COVID-19 des Forces arm\u00e9es canadiennes (FAC), qui a permis de vacciner enti\u00e8rement 94\u00a0p. 100 des militaires de la r\u00e9gion. Le Centre des services de sant\u00e9 des FC (Atlantique) a \u00e9galement jou\u00e9 un r\u00f4le important dans la campagne de vaccination civile contre la COVID-19 en Nouvelle-\u00c9cosse, dirig\u00e9e par les FAC. Cette initiative a \u00e9t\u00e9 lanc\u00e9e en juin\u00a02021 dans le cadre de l\u2019op\u00e9ration\u00a0VECTOR. Le personnel du Centre des services de sant\u00e9 des FC (Atlantique) a particip\u00e9 \u00e0 la campagne de la mi-juin \u00e0 la mi-juillet et a vaccin\u00e9 un nombre impressionnant de N\u00e9o-\u00c9cossais. L\u2019expertise et le professionnalisme dont fait preuve cette \u00e9quipe ne peuvent \u00eatre sous-estim\u00e9s.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Afin de soutenir davantage notre personnel dans sa lutte contre la COVID-19 en 2021, les Forces maritimes de l\u2019Atlantique (FMAR [A]) ont mis en place une initiative de test rapide sur l\u2019ensemble de la Base, laquelle a \u00e9t\u00e9 bien accueillie et est toujours en cours. J\u2019encourage tous les militaires et les civils de l\u2019\u00e9quipe de la D\u00e9fense \u00e0 continuer \u00e0 se faire tester chaque semaine, m\u00eame s\u2019ils sont enti\u00e8rement vaccin\u00e9s. Les tests rapides sont effectu\u00e9s principalement \u00e0 l\u2019arsenal CSM, dans le hall principal du b\u00e2timent\u00a0D200, du lundi au vendredi, de 7\u00a0h \u00e0 13\u00a0h. Chaque semaine, il est \u00e9galement possible de faire un test dans le hall principal du b\u00e2timent\u00a0D201 les mercredis, de 8\u00a0h \u00e0 12\u00a0h, au Club Sea King\u00a0de Shearwater les jeudis, de 8\u00a0h \u00e0 12\u00a0h, et dans le hall principal du quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral de la Base, b\u00e2timent\u00a0S90 Stadacona, les vendredis, de 8\u00a0h \u00e0 12\u00a0h. Par ailleurs, nous int\u00e9grerons les tests rapides dans notre routine, mais il sera aussi important que chacun d\u2019entre nous continue \u00e0 respecter toutes les mesures et restrictions de la sant\u00e9 publique internes (du service S\u00e9curit\u00e9 et environnement des FMAR [A]) et externes (des gouvernements provinciaux et territoriaux).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sans surprise, l\u2019ann\u00e9e\u00a02021 a apport\u00e9 \u00e0 notre famille de la D\u00e9fense des difficult\u00e9s suppl\u00e9mentaires, en plus de la COVID-19. Je sais que beaucoup d\u2019entre nous subissent des pressions ou les r\u00e9percussions de la crise li\u00e9e \u00e0 l\u2019inconduite sexuelle et \u00e0 la discrimination qui a fait l\u2019objet d\u2019une attention particuli\u00e8re cette ann\u00e9e. Ces situations ont \u00e9t\u00e9 difficiles pour l\u2019ensemble de la communaut\u00e9 de la D\u00e9fense. En tant qu\u2019\u00e9quipe de la Base, nous avons fait de notre mieux pour r\u00e9pondre \u00e0 cette crise en organisant des assembl\u00e9es publiques et des ateliers, ainsi qu\u2019en participant \u00e0 une formation en ligne obligatoire qui a permis de fournir des renseignements indispensables sur ces enjeux. Le mois dernier, nous avons eu le plaisir d\u2019accueillir la juge Louise\u00a0Arbour \u00e0 la Base. Au cours de sa visite, cette derni\u00e8re s\u2019est entretenue avec nos membres dans le cadre d\u2019un examen externe ind\u00e9pendant sur le harc\u00e8lement et l\u2019inconduite sexuelle au sein du MDN et des FAC. Nous devons tous nous engager \u00e0 \u00e9couter, \u00e0 apprendre, \u00e0 continuer \u00e0 d\u00e9noncer les comportements inappropri\u00e9s, discriminatoires et d\u00e9sobligeants \u2013\u00a0peu importe leur importance\u00a0\u2013 et \u00e0 prendre des mesures contre ceux-ci afin de favoriser un changement de culture positif au sein de notre communaut\u00e9 de la D\u00e9fense. M\u00eame si l\u2019\u00e9quipe de la Base attend avec impatience les orientations strat\u00e9giques \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9chelle nationale, nous restons d\u00e9termin\u00e9s \u00e0 trouver \u00e9galement des solutions \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9chelle locale.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Au terme d\u2019une ann\u00e9e qui a pr\u00e9sent\u00e9 son lot de r\u00e9ussites et de d\u00e9fis, je tiens \u00e0 remercier notre famille de la Base et nos unit\u00e9s h\u00e9berg\u00e9es de tout ce qu\u2019elles ont fait pour assurer la s\u00e9curit\u00e9 de notre communaut\u00e9. Que vous ayez pratiqu\u00e9 la distanciation physique, effectu\u00e9 des t\u00e2ches de surveillance essentielles dans les installations de la Base, port\u00e9 un masque, veill\u00e9 \u00e0 ce que nos navires re\u00e7oivent le mat\u00e9riel, les TI et le soutien administratif dont ils ont besoin pour \u00eatre d\u00e9ploy\u00e9s ou que vous vous soyez fait vacciner, vous \u00eates ceux qui nous ont permis d\u2019avancer. Je tiens \u00e9galement \u00e0 exprimer ma sinc\u00e8re gratitude aux incroyables familles de nos militaires. Beaucoup de membres de l\u2019\u00c9quipe de la D\u00e9fense sont loin de chez eux chaque ann\u00e9e, et comme eux, leurs familles servent le Canada et consentent des sacrifices. Chacune d\u2019entre elles m\u00e9rite nos remerciements, notre respect et notre soutien \u00e0 jamais. Enfin, n\u2019oublions pas de mentionner le travail essentiel des services d\u2019urgence de la Base, notamment l\u2019Unit\u00e9 de police militaire de Halifax, le Service d\u2019incendie de la Marine d\u2019Halifax, les commissionnaires et le personnel d\u2019intervention en cas d\u2019urgence. Ces hommes et ces femmes travaillent d\u2019arrache-pied tous les jours (y compris pendant la p\u00e9riode des f\u00eates) pour que la Base reste s\u00e9curitaire et op\u00e9rationnelle. Je vous invite aujourd\u2019hui \u00e0 vous joindre \u00e0 moi pour remercier les membres de l\u2019\u00c9quipe de la D\u00e9fense et leurs familles, aujourd\u2019hui et tous les jours de l\u2019ann\u00e9e!<\/span><\/p>\n Je vous souhaite \u00e0 tous un temps des f\u00eates tout en s\u00e9curit\u00e9, en bonheur et en sant\u00e9 avec vos proches ainsi qu\u2019une nouvelle ann\u00e9e prosp\u00e8re.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n N\u2019oubliez de prendre soin de vous et de veiller sur vos proches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Le commandant de la Base,\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Capv\u00a0Sean Williams <\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A Holiday Message from the CFB Halifax Base Commander Greetings, CFB Halifax. It\u2019s hard to believe that the holiday season is upon us already! Looking back at 2021, we\u2019ve had quite a year. Our Defence community (and indeed all Canadians and citizens across the globe) have been managing our personal […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7371,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tridentnewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/BComd-Holiday-message.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nMessage des f\u00eates du commandant de la BFC\u00a0Halifax<\/b><\/h3>\n