The commanding officer of the warship that helped with relief efforts after a major earthquake in New Zealand said the mission offered a valuable learning experience for the Royal Canadian Navy, which would be called into action in the event of a major earthquake on the West Coast.
The crew of HMCS Vancouver spent five days delivering humanitarian aid to Kaikoura, a coastal town 180 kilometres north of Christchurch, which was cut off after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on Nov. 14 caused landslides and damaged roads.
“It was an excellent opportunity to practise some things we probably need to do if we have a similar event here, so it was great training,” Cmdr. Clive Butler said from a jetty at CFB Esquimalt during the ship’s homecoming ceremony Wednesday. “A number of government departments will have a role to play if there’s an event like that here, and that’s what struck me, it was really an all-government effort there. [There were] civilian emergency-response folks working, police, fire, ambulance and navies from four countries.”
The crew helped repair damaged infrastructure and used the ship’s Sea King helicopter to transport emergency supplies. The highway to Kaikoura remains impassable.
HMCS Vancouver left CFB Esquimalt in mid-June, participating in RIMPAC, the world’s largest international maritime exercise, and visiting several countries in the Asia-Pacific to build relationships.
“[The ship] has done almost nine months away this year, so everyone is really happy to be back and spend some time with their family,” Butler said, while holding his three-year-old son Will.
Spouses, kids and loved ones, bundled up against the winter chill, held signs and waved as the ship pulled alongside the jetty.
Thirteen-year-old Cloe Roux, her younger sisters, 11-year-old Lexi and eight-year-old Heidi, and their mom, Melissa, waved as soon as they spotted Eric Roux hanging onto the lines as the ship pulled alongside the jetty.
Cloe held a sign that showed a photo of her dad next to the words: “Have you seen this man?”
Cloe said the family barely had time to settle down in their new home in Victoria before her father, who had been transferred to the West Coast from Kingston, Ont., had to deploy.
“He calls when he can,” Cloe said of the family’s time apart. “It’s upsetting when the calls cut out.”
Cloe said the family plans to relax and is looking forward to a Christmas surrounded by loved ones.
Racheal Wilkie, 29, was waiting for a kiss from her fiancé, Cpl. John Jamieson, who is part of 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron.
Jamieson proposed to Wilkie on Canada Day 2015 under the fireworks in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. The unpredictability of life in the Forces means a wedding planned for last year had to be postponed until 2017. Wilkie said knowing Jamieson’s job makes a difference internationally makes her proud.
“When he told me they were able to help with the relief effort in New Zealand, it made it all worthwhile,” she said.
CHINESE NAVAL SHIPS VISIT
Three naval ships from China will tie up at Ogden Point today through Monday as part of a goodwill visit. The ships from the navy of the People’s Liberation Army are the replenishment ship Taihu and the guided-missile frigates Yancheng and Daqing. One of the ships will be open for tours at these times:
• Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
