Exercise Goldrush 2025 Builds Skills and Partnerships in the Pacific Northwest
Three Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Orcaclass vessels (Cougar 61, Raven 56, and Grizzly 60) recently spent the past weeks engaged in Exercise Goldrush 2025 (EXGR2025), a coastal training exercise conducted amidst the scenic and challenging waterways of B.C. and Alaska.
The exercise united junior officers, sailors, Naval Reservists, Royal Military College (RMC) students, and Naval Experience Program participants for a dynamic, hands-on experience. Effectively operating together, EXGR2025 participants navigated narrow channels, conducted complex mariner deck evolutions, and honed real-world maritime skills to boost operability.
In addition to providing opportunities for participants to engage in towing drills, tidal narrows navigation, person-overboard and search and rescue exercises, Goldrush 2025 also supported the new Naval Warfare Officer Professional Qualification (NWOPQ). As a result, Junior Bridge Watchkeepers can log up to 150 hours towards the 600-hour qualification requirement, in addition to the practical experience gained in challenging waterways.
Flight Test Centre of Excellence (3C) has announced the establishment of its Industry Advisory Board, composed of distinguished leaders from across the Canadian aerospace and defence sector. This move marks a key milestone in 3C’s strategic vision to advance innovation, operational excellence, and long-term global competitiveness in both civilian and defence aerospace markets.
Formed as part of 3C’s growth strategy and following extensive consultations with industry stakeholders, the 3C Advisory Board will provide high-level strategic guidance, expert industry insight, and independent advice to 3C’s executive team. Their mandate is to help refine and drive forward 3C’s medium- and long-term plans to meet the evolving demands of Canada’s aerospace and defence sector and a rapidly shifting global industry landscape.
Each Advisory Board member brings a legacy of excellence, leadership, and technical achievement in aerospace:
Alain Pelletier. LGen (ret’d) Pelletier joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1983. Graduate of the Royal Military College of Kingston (BSc. Mechanical Engineering) 1988, he was selected to fly the CF-18 fighter aircraft. Four tours of operational flying and instructional training on the CF-18, two tours of duty in the Balkans theatre, including Operation Allied Force, where he took part in combat missions. He also deployed in support of U.S. Air Force Central (AFCENT) Command as the Combined Air Operations Center Director responsible for air tasking in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria. Pelletier had multiple assignments at the strategic level: section head for air requirements for fighters and trainers, Director of Air Requirements, and Chief Fighter Capability Program in National Defence Headquarters. He also held several command positions: Commander 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Commander 3 Wing Bagotville, Que., Commander Canadian Air Component to NATO’s Operation Unified Protector over Libya. He was appointed Commander 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region in 2019 and then assumed the role of Deputy Commander NORAD in 2020. Pelletier is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Air War College (M.Sc. Strategic Studies). He is also a graduate of the Canadian Fighter Weapons Instructor Course (FWIC) and has over 3,000 hours of flying time, of which over 2,500 hours are in the CF-18. He retired from the CAF in 2023 and is now contributing as a volunteer and a grandfather.
Halifax Regional Council appoints acting Chief Administrative Officer
Halifax Regional Council has appointed Brad Anguish CMR RMC 1987 as the acting Chief Administrative Officer (A/CAO) of the Halifax Regional Municipality. Mr. Anguish assumes his new responsibilities as A/CAO on Sept. 8, 2025.
“We are at a pivotal point for the future of the municipality,” says Mayor Andy Fillmore. “Mr. Anguish’s long history of public service, including at the executive level of many of our operational business units will ensure the delivery of many major projects and initiatives under his leadership.”
Mr. Anguish brings a wealth of organizational knowledge to this role as the longest serving member of the Executive Leadership Team and more than 22 years of public service with the municipality. He’s held a variety of roles over his career, including Commissioner of Operations, Executive Director of Public Works and Executive Director of Parks & Recreation.
He has also led several major projects for the municipality such as the Harbour Clean Up and Cogswell District project.
Mr. Anguish is certified as a Professional Engineer, with a Diploma in Engineering Sciences from CEGEP St-Jean, PQ, a Bachelor of Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, and a Master of Business Administration from St. Mary’s University, Halifax, NS.
As the senior administrator for the municipality, the CAO oversees a municipal budget of over $1 billion and a team of approximately 5,000 employees.
CHCH News anchor Matt Ingram spoke with Jane Boulden, an expert in international affairs, following the recent show of unity between China, Russia and North Korea. Boulden is a professor at the Royal Military College in Kingston, who told Ingram that the three countries’ grouping is acting as a counterweight to the United States and its allies. She agrees with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s point that this is a significant shift of global affairs, and underlines Canada’s decision to increase defence spending. Ingram asks if Carney is right in saying the world has become more dangerous for Canada and Canadians. Boulden then spoke about how the new unity may embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine, and how it encourages the leader to continue the war.
If Canada’s military wants the best and brightest, it needs to change its recruitment approach
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-military-recruitment-canada-rmc/
Springwater’s new CAO brings ‘wealth’ of planning experience to township
https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/springwaters-new-cao-brings-wealth-of-planning-experience-to-township-11171888
The Township of Springwater is pleased to announce the appointment of Stacey Forfar as the new chief administrative officer (CAO), effective Oct. 20, 2025. With over a decade of expertise in municipal planning and development, Stacey brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Springwater.
Stacey joins Springwater from her previous role as general manager of community services for the City of Sarnia.
Her academic background consists of a master in business administration (MBA) from the Royal Military College of Canada and a bachelor of urban and regional planning from Toronto Metropolitan University.
She is also a registered professional planner, actively engaged with both the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and the Canadian Institute of Planners.
“Springwater is excited to welcome Stacey Forfar as our new chief administrative officer,” said Mayor Jennifer Coughlin. “Stacey’s enthusiasm and dedication align perfectly with our mission to enhance the lives of our residents in Springwater through exceptional public service. I am confident that she will play a pivotal role in guiding the strategies and fiscal goals of the municipality.”
“I am honoured to join the Township of Springwater and work alongside such a committed team of professionals,” said Forfar. “I am excited to contribute to the community’s future by delivering on our strategic priorities and fostering an environment of growth and excellence.”
We invite everyone in the community to join us in welcoming Stacey Forfar as she leads us towards a promising future for Springwater.
The Gloucester Rangers are proud to announce Keri Kettle (former RMC Men’s Hockey Assistant Coach under Kelly Nobes) as the Head Coach of our U18 AA team for the 2025–26 season!
Keri brings a wealth of experience to the role, with a background that includes:
12 years as an Army Logistics Officer (RMC graduate, NATO Medal, Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, Canadian Forces Decoration)
PhD in Consumer Behaviour and university professor (University of Miami, University of Manitoba, University of Ottawa)
Extensive coaching experience as a competitive athlete, hockey/baseball/CrossFit coach, and mentor
Keri’s coaching philosophy is rooted in leadership, discipline, and support. His principles are clear: Practice with Intensity, Communicate with Each Other and Believe in Ourselves and Each Other
The U18 Rangers program is all about development, preparing athletes for Junior B/A and beyond. With Keri’s leadership, our players will build the strength, confidence, and habits they need to take that next step.
RMC would like to bring to your attention an extraordinary accomplishment by one of our own, Maj Stephanie Bigelow (33 CF H Svcs) RMC 2008, over the previous weekend. Stephanie became the second Canadian military member in history to successfully swim across the English Channel. The last Canadian military member to complete this challenge was Winnie Roach of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps in 1951.
Stephanie’s feat is nothing short of historic. She swam for nearly 14 hours, covering over 51km in open, rough and unfamiliar water. Her resilience was evident as she pushed through 9.5 hours of complete darkness, and even endured a painful jellyfish sting to the face, yet remained unwavering in her determination to finish.
Le CMR tient à souligner l’exploit extraordinaire réalisé par une des nôtres, la Maj Stephanie Bigelow (du 33 C Svc S FC), la fin de semaine dernière. Elle a accomplie un tour de force qui a fait d’elle le deuxième membre des Forces armées canadiennes de l’histoire à avoir traversé la Manche à la nage, l’autre à avoir relevé le défi étant Winnie Roach, du Service féminin de l’Armée canadienne, en 1951.
Il s’agit là d’un véritable exploit historique. La Maj Bigelow a nagé pendant près de 14 heures, parcourant plus de 51 km dans des eaux libres, agitées et inconnues. Elle a fait ses preuves au chapitre de la résilience, nageant 9 heures et demie dans l’obscurité totale et endurant même une douloureuse blessure de méduse au visage sans jamais perdre sa détermination à se rendre à bon port.
Vermilion Catholic has new head softball coach, receiver coach
https://www.gueydantoday.com/sports/vermilion-catholic-has-new-head-softball-coach-receiver-coach
Jason Lopez joined the VC family in July. Aside from coaching, he teaches seventh and eighth-grade Social Studies as well as high school English.
Lopez is a 1997 graduate of Rayne High School. He then attended both UL-Lafayette and LSU before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history from UL in 2001. From there, Lopez went to law school. That decision led to his first experience with Abbeville.
From there, Lopez went to law school. That decision led to his first experience with Abbeville.
“I went to law school for a year and figured out that I really hated that,” Lopez said. “I actually lived in Abbeville for a year after that. I was working offshore and lived on State Street. It’s wild because I didn’t think I’d ever be back, but you never know what life has in store for you.”
Lopez then decided to join the United States Army, where he enjoyed a career spanning over 20 years. He earned his master’s degree in history from LSU in 2012 before earning a second master’s degree in military studies from Marine Corps University in 2016. He is currently a doctoral candidate in war studies at the Royal Military College of Canada.
Under the radar: The possible link between U.S. Baltic security cuts and airspace incursions
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/russian-drone-incursions-1.7640816
Some things fly underneath the radar, both figuratively and literally.
A Canadian expert on Russian warfare says he believes a direct line can be drawn between Moscow’s repeated testing of the airspace belonging to NATO allies in Eastern Europe and the Pentagon’s recent, quietly announced plan to cut security assistance to the Baltic states.
Sean Maloney, a Royal Military College history professor, said he believes what we’ve witnessed in Eastern Europe over the last couple of weeks is ripped straight out of the old Cold War playbook.
“This is part of the ongoing information war directed at us, designed to undermine our will … to understand our will to resist Russian objectives throughout Europe and elsewhere,” Maloney said.
It’s been generally accepted by defence analysts that Moscow’s recent actions in Estonia, Poland and Romania — and possibly Latvia as well — are all part of a pattern to probe allied air defences, but Maloney said it’s important to take in the wider political context.
In a decision that garnered little notice at the end of August, U.S. defence officials announced a plan to eliminate funding for the Baltic Security Initiative, which began during the first Trump administration.
“I’m more concerned about what it means as a message, as opposed to the specifics of what equipment is provided,” Maloney said of the program’s demise in Washington’s next fiscal year.
“In terms of conveying a message, I think it’s a bad one, especially when we’re dealing with the adversaries that we’re dealing with right now. Any form of weakness will be exploited in the information sphere.”
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen addresses nation ahead of Artemis II Mission
If all goes to plan, four astronauts will soon blast off on a mission that’s been a long time coming, a return to the moon.
London-born astronaut Jeremy Hansen RMC 1999 addressed Canadians at NASA’s Artemis II Mission news conference in Houston Wednesday morning.
“Artemis II is about much more than just going back to the moon,” said Hansen. “It is about the pursuit of excellence.”
“It wasn’t a gift,” said Hansen, “you earned it.”
He said he is hopeful the mission will inspire not just Canadians but people around the world.
“You see this concrete example of what humanity can do,” said Hansen. “This extraordinary thing when we set big goals and we work together to achieve them.”
“We have this great group of simulation trainers who come up with these sorts of evil tests for us,” explained Hansen. “We’ll be sitting in the sim, all of our controls are in mission control and then things will just start breaking.”
Navy vessel visits Sault area in homecoming for two high-ranking officers
It isn’t often that a Royal Canadian Navy ship stops by the Sault and area but one of its newest vessels – HMCS Margaret Brooke – is currently anchored in the waters off Gros Cap.
HMCS Margaret Brooke is an Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV), commissioned in 2022.
The ship and its crew – including some special guests – are on a tour promoting the RCN in Great Lakes communities.
VIPs currently on board the vessel include Rear Admiral Jason Armstrong RMC 1993.
Born in Germany as the son of an army officer and coming from a long line of navy personnel, Armstrong lived most of his early years in Sault Ste. Marie.
“It’s a great place to come from and it’s the place I call home. The Sault is in my heart. I still cheer for the Greyhounds all the time even though I’m far away,” Armstrong said in an interview with SooToday on the ship’s deck Friday.
Armstrong, a Sir James Dunn Collegiate graduate, attended Royal Military College and has served in the navy for 35 years.
“It really is an opportunity to travel the world. I’ve had great experiences. I’ve been to every continent and numerous countries and I’ve just thoroughly enjoyed it the whole time.”
Armstrong has been on many missions, including a deployment after Russia’s invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014.
As the RCN’s Director General of Future Ship Capability, Armstrong plays a vital role for Canada’s fleet.
“I’m responsible for everything from uniforms to the construction of our future River-class destroyers and everything in between,” Armstrong said.
Congratulations, Colonel (Ret.) Chris Lythgo, CD, P.Eng MBA, CPM RRMC RMC 1968, on your lifetime of service to Canada. Recipient of the Governor General of Canada’s Sovereign’s Medal for service to your country and the Commissionaires Canada’s Long Service Award. You arrived in this country, you committed yourself to service, and you built a wonderful family.
