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Wednesday, February 8, 2012 - PENINSULA
NEWS REVIEW
Keeping watch on Canada’s coast Vessels embark on defence exercise
Forces come together this week for exercise Pacific Guardian. file photo
Erin McCracken News staff
Training to protect Canada from drug or immigrant smug-
glers, polluters, illegal fishing and other criminal activity is now underway for crew members aboard West Coast naval coastal TELUS AUTHORIZED DEALERS
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defence vessels. HMCS Nanaimo, Brandon and Saskatoon, from CFB Esquimalt, are being put through their paces during the annual coastal defence exercise, called Pacific Guardian. Scenarios began Monday and continue until Feb. 17. About 360 personnel are taking part at sea and at a command camp in Vancouver. A Sea King helicopter, a long-range military Aurora airplane and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter will also participate. The action will unfold in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Strait of Georgia and the approaches to Vancouver harbour. “The links that we make with those other agencies in exercises pay tremendous dividends when we conduct those same operations in direct support of a threat to domestic security,” said Cmdr. Jim Sprang, commander of the West Coast naval fleet of maritime coastal defence vessels and Orca training vessels. During Exercise Pacific Guardian, crews will practise boarding the smaller Orcas, conduct hoist training and patrol an RCMPdesignated security zone in the approaches to Vancouver harbour, among other mock scenarios, said Sprang. The role-playing helps prepare personnel for a diverse array of challenging situations. Sailors aboard coastal defence vessel HMCS Whitehorse were called to action to help escort Tamil migrant vessel MV Sun Sea to CFB Esquimalt in 2010, Sprang said. emccracken@vicnews.com
Darwin’s birth celebrated The Victoria Secular Humanist Association celebrates the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin with a presentation by Robert Light. Being Evolved starts at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 12 at at the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre, 3220 Cedar Hill Rd. There’s no charge and all are welcome to the event. Call 250-744-3652 for more information.