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New commander, region’s ‘14th mayor,’ takes the helm at base

Uniformed women and men of the three branches of the Canadian Armed Forces paraded Thursday to mark the change in command at CFB Esquimalt. Navy Capt. Jason Boyd had his pennant raised as commanding officer of Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt.
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Navy Capt. Jason Boyd, left, took over from Commodore Steve Waddell as commanding officer of Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt on Thursday, June 22, 2017. After three years, Waddell is moving on to a position in Ottawa.

Uniformed women and men of the three branches of the Canadian Armed Forces paraded Thursday to mark the change in command at CFB Esquimalt.

Navy Capt. Jason Boyd had his pennant raised as commanding officer of Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt. He takes over from the newly promoted Commodore Steve Waddell, who is taking a position in Ottawa after three years.

Boyd, originally from Rosetown, Sask., has served on land and at sea. He was recruited in 1994 to play hockey at the Royal Military College while studying political science and economics.

After graduating, he trained at CFB Esquimalt as a naval officer and has served as commander of HMCS Regina and executive officer of HMCS Ottawa, two vessels that called CFB Esquimalt home port. He is married with two children.

Boyd told the media that while he has no immediate “to-do list,” his first task is to become acquainted with people on the base and officials in the surrounding communities.

“It’s just a matter of getting to know all those folks, and I am looking forward to working with them,” Boyd said.

Base commander is an influential appointment that puts Boyd in a position local military people call “the 14th mayor,” a reference to the capital region’s 13 municipalities.

The base has a total workforce of about 7,000 people, including about 2,000 civilians. That doesn’t include the 2,600 or so military members who move through every year to train or work at temporary assignments. Total annual economic impact from CFB Esquimalt is estimated at $800 million, while the annual disposable income of people working there is estimated at about $241 million.

The base supplies many services normally undertaken by local government: It has its own fire department and police officers, collects its own garbage and supplies recreation facilities to members.

Rear Admiral Art Mcdonald, commander of Maritime Forces Pacific, acknowledged the impact of the base on the local community.

Mcdonald said he is most proud of the personal community contributions made by women and men from the base, noting they take part in nearly 500,000 community service hours every year.

CFB Esquimalt “is where we are connected to a greater community we are proud to call home,” he said.

“It’s also part of a greater community we are proud to represent when we are away.

“And it’s also a community we are proud to contribute to when we are home, or ‘alongside,’ as we say.”

rwatts@timescolonist.com