Seeing double on the seas

Seeing double on the seas 

By SLt Taylor Rhuland 

Sailor 1st Class (S1) Christopher Wannamaker and Sailor 1st Class (S1) Brandon Wannamaker, twin brothers and Cooks in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), both deployed to Operation REASSURANCE in September 2026. 

Originally from Mount Uniacke, Nova Scotia, the brothers moved to Eastern Passage and attended Charles P. Allen High School. Growing up, the twins were often confused for one another, so it may come as no surprise that they both decided to join the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) at 17, and both choose the same trade as Cooks. 

The Wannamaker brothers both developed an interest in the culinary arts at a young age, making a career as a Cook in the Navy a natural fit. Culinary skills run in the family, as the brothers shared that they have an uncle who had the opportunity to cook for Queen Elizabeth II on two separate occasions. 

Although the twins share plenty in common, their individual personalities and interests have also shaped their experiences in the RCN. S1 Christopher Wannamaker enjoys cooking at sea and continuing to expand his culinary skills while deployed, while S1 Brandon Wannamaker said he particularly enjoys the opportunity to travel and experience new places. S1 Christopher Wannamaker’s favourite moment of this deployment was visiting Iceland for the first time, while S1 Brandon Wannamaker has especially enjoyed working alongside the crew. 

The brothers are currently serving aboard different ships within the deployment. S1 Brandon Wannamaker is serving aboard His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Moncton, while S1 Christopher Wannamaker is aboard HMCS Edmonton. Remarkably, this is not the first time the twins have deployed together; it is their second deployment alongside one another, despite serving on two different ships both times. 

For the twins, having a brother deployed alongside you adds a unique connection to an already memorable experience. While they may be separated by the decks and crews of two different ships, they are still sharing the same deployment, the same mission and many of the same experiences. At the same time, both take pride in representing Canada and their home province of Nova Scotia while serving abroad. And although having your twin nearby makes being away from home a little easier, both said they still appreciate the support of their family back home in Nova Scotia. 

Looking back on their decision to join the CAF, neither brother would have done anything differently. For S1 Brandon Wannamaker, the Cook trade is a career anyone can learn from the ground up. “You don’t need to know anything about cooking. The Forces teaches you from the ground up, and you perfect your skills over time.” S1 Christopher Wannamaker agrees, describing the trade as “super enjoyable to get into,” adding that “once you find your rhythm, it gets easy.”