The document provides an overview of HMCS Vancouver's deployment, including introductions of the Command Team, a summary of activities conducted so far such as operations with international partners and time at sea, fun facts about the journey, and information about family support resources and programs available for families of deployed members. The Command Team will hold additional information sessions during the deployment, with dates to be determined.

1. HMCS VANCOUVER Briefing to Families 25 July 2021
For Official Use Only
UNCLASSIFIED
CO’s Update Session #1

2. HMCS Vancouver Command Team
2
CO – Cdr Kevin Whiteside
• From Scarborough, ON
• Proud dad and husband
• Proud Battle Cat Captain
• Honoured to be part of such an incredible
team
XO – LCdr Jordan Thwaites
• From Halifax, NS
• Married 10 days before the ship sailed
• Enjoys cooking
• Excited to be part of Team VAN for Ops
PROJECTION/NEON
Coxn – CPO1 Jon Sorensen
• From Windsor, ON
• Loves making pancakes for his family
• Enjoys skiing with his daughter
• Pumped to have served in VAN at 4 different
ranks and now as Coxn
Équipe de commandement du NCSM Vancouver
Command team with
LCdr Matt Arthur
VAN XO until 30 June
VAN Command team
30 June onwards

3. What We Have Been Up To
Team VAN conducted a group sail
from San Diego to Hawaii with 4
other ships from 3 nations. We
have had two awesome port visits
to San Diego and Pearl Harbor.
Team VAN has been participating
in RIMPAC since June 29th. After a
successful ashore phase, we have
been at sea since July 11th where
we will remain until the maritime
exercise concludes on August 4th.
ce qu'on a fait jusqu'à aujourd'hui

4. What We Have Been Up To
ce qu'on a fait jusqu'à aujourd'hui
Pictured Above: Our mascot Vanguard checking out some of the hot spots during Vancouver’s two port visits

5. What We Have Been Up To
ce qu'on a fait jusqu'à aujourd'hui
Strengthening relations with International Partners
Pictured Above: (Left) A member of the CSE dept explains the CIWS to a sailor from Australian Ship HMAS Supply
(Right) Vancouver’s Ship’s Team Divers conducted a familiarization dive with French divers from FS Prairial

6. What We Have Been Up To
ce qu'on a fait jusqu'à aujourd'hui
Sustaining Operations at Sea

7. Fun facts about our journey so far
• Eggs consumed – 600 dozen or 7,200 total
• Juice – 1,740 L of juice consumed or 7,308 cups
• Coffee – 193 lbs consumed
• An estimated 16,000 meals consumed
• Miles steamed: 4,800 NM
• Fuel used since leaving Esquimalt: 913,230 L
• Water used since leaving Esquimalt: 601,560 L
• Rolls of Toilet Paper used: 240 Industrial rolls (720 regular size)
• Canuck has flown 64.8 hrs over 28 sorties
• Push-up by the Ops dept at watch turnover: 21, 564
• Hoo-rah hollers: Approximately 150
• Laps of the Flight Deck: 3,271
• Jr Ranks NHL 22 PS4 Hockey tourney fave: S2 Helali
Awards Presented Since Leaving:
• CJOC CWO Coin x 2 / Comd CJOC Coin x 3
Above: A Marine Technician waves from the helo
fuel/defuel compartment during a fueling evolution with
Canuck.
faits amusants sur notre voyage jusqu'à présent

8. The Battle Cats Broadcast
8
• The Battle Cats Broadcast is
our periodic newsletter, now
on Edition 3
• Help us spread the word across
Canada about the amazing
things your loved ones are doing
by sharing it with as many
people as you can!

9. Social Media
9
@HMCSVancouver
@HMCSNCSMVancouver
@HMCSNCSMVan
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and
Twitter for the latest updates on Team VAN!
There are tons of great photos of the team
from our very own Sgt Cotton!
Les medias sociaux
Have questions about what our deployment is all about? Listen to Cdr Whiteside’s Podcast interview on the Go
Bold Podcast with Joetey Attariwala here: https://spoti.fi/3PQXn0N (Or find it on our Facebook Page)

10. Questions for the Command Team?
10
Next brief to families will be scheduled for the end of August
Des questions pour l'équipe de commandement ?

11. Family Network
Réseau Familial
HMCS Vancouver Family Network
Réseau familial NCSM Vancouver
Network Volunteers
Bénévoles du réseau: Amber and Lori
443 Squadron Family Network
Réseau familial 443
Network Volunteer
Bénévoles du réseau: Tara

12. Get Connected
Soyez Connectés
Be sure to join the Family Network’s Facebook group!
Assurez-vous de joindre le Groupe Facebook du Réseau Familial!
Register with us to receive deployment support by:
• Becoming a part of your Family Network
• Connecting with the MFRC local to you
• Receiving support in French
Inscrivez-vous auprès de nous pour recevoir du
soutien en matière de déploiement:
• En devenant membre de votre réseau familial
• En vous connectant avec le CRFM local
• En recevant du soutien en français

13. MFRC Deployment App
With the MFRC Deployment App, you can:
• Receive tips to guide you through all
stages of a deployment
• Use checklists to keep track of your
to do lists
• See how far you’ve come with a
customizable countdown clock

14. Morale Mail
Courrier Moral
There are a few different opportunities for mail drop off:
• Regular business hours at the CPAC or Signal Hill MFRCs
• During some evening programming (ie. Coffee Connections)
• Not local to Victoria? Most MFRCs across the country will
accept morale mail for deployed members.
Il existe différentes possibilités de dépôt de courrier :
• Heures d'ouverture régulières au CPAC ou au CRFM de Signal Hill
• Lors de certaines programmations en soirée (c.-à-d. Coffee Connections)
• Pas local à Victoria? La plupart des CRFM à travers le pays accepteront le
courrier de moral des membres déployés.
Care packages are being accepted until November 4, 2022!
Les forfaits de soins sont acceptés jusqu'au 4 novembre 2022!

15. Care Package Collection Box
Boîte de collection de colis de soins
Did you purchase too much for your care package?
Please consider contributing your extras to create care
packages for deployed members not receiving them.
Items are being accepted at the CPAC MFRC location.
Avez-vous acheté trop pour votre forfait de soins? Veuillez
envisager de contribuer vos extras pour créer des forfaits de
soins pour les membres déployés qui ne les reçoivent pas.
Les articles sont acceptés à l'emplacement du CRFM CPAC.

16. Resources & Programs for Parents and Children
Ressources & Programmes pour Parents et Enfants
• Supporting Children Through Absence Workshops
– A variety of workshops for children ages 3 to 12
• Stay & Play in the Park
– August 10 (Belmont Park), August 24 (Work Point)
Download a copy of
Parenting from Afar
Not able to participate in the workshops? Pick up or order a copy of our Children’s
Deployment Workbooks and Parent Guide!
Vous ne pouvez pas participer aux ateliers? Ramassez ou commandez un exemplaire
de nos cahiers d'exercices de déploiement pour enfants et de notre guide des parents!

17. Ages 18 months to 5 years
For deployments or work-related absences of 21 consecutive days
or more, you are entitled to 1 free childcare session per week,
up to 4 free sessions per month. Book up to 8 days in advance by
calling 250-363-2674.
Âge 18 mois - 5 ans
Pour les déploiements ou absences liés au travail de 21 jours ou
plus, vous avez droit à 1 séance de garde gratuite par semaine
jusqu'à 4 séances gratuites par mois. Réservez jusqu'à 8 jours à
l'avance en appelant le 250-363-2674.
Respite Child Care
Soins Occasionels de Répit

18. Coffee Connections
• 6-8pm
• August 3 & August 31 (Signal Hill)
• August 17 (CPAC)
Volunteer run program, staff to assist with mail
drop-offs! Sign your child (ages 5-12 years) up
for our Kids Connect program from 6-7:30pm.

19. New Fall Programs
Community Dinner – New!
- Once monthly starting September 28
- Will be held at the new Gorge Esquimalt Pavilion
- Watch for registration information
Military Lifestyle 2.0 – New!
- For those who are new to the military lifestyle or CFB
Esquimalt
- Get in touch with us as we will run this program based on
interest
Plus lots of other fun programs and events! Watch our website and follow us on
social media so you don’t miss out!

20. .

21. Family Wellness & Counselling Team
• Individual, couples and pre/post natal supports and counselling is available
• Resources for families supporting those with diverse needs
• Intake Phone / Téléphone d’admission: 778-533-7736​
• Intake Email / Courriel d’admission: Intake@emfrc.com
• Des consultations individuelles, de couples et soutiens pré/post natals
sont disponibles
• Ressources pour les familles qui soutiennent les personnes
ayant des besoins divers
Équipe de Bien-être Familial et de Counselling

22. Contact
Esquimalt MFRC / CRFM Esquimalt
(250) 363-2640
Or toll-free anywhere in Canada
Ou sans frais partout au Canada
1-800-353-3329
emfrc@shaw.ca
www.esquimaltmfrc.com
After hours Family information Line
Ligne d’information Familiale après les heures
1-800-866-4546
After hours Duty Padre Line – call the MFRC and Press “2”
Après heures de gardes -appelez le CRFM et Appuyez sur “2”

23. Additional dates for Monthly Information sessions
with HMCS Vancouver's Command Team during the
deployment are to be determined. Information will
be shared when dates are confirmed.
Additional Questions?
Questions Additionnelle?
Dates supplémentaires pour les séances
d'information mensuelles avec l'équipe de
commandement du NCSM Vancouver
pendant le déploiement doivent être
déterminées. Les informations seront
partagées lorsque les dates seront
confirmées.