Last week (05-09 Sep, 2016) I was in Halifax to cover the Defence, Security and Aerospace Exhibition Atlantic 2016 (a.k.a. DEFSEC) which is a trade show of manufacturers trying to sell equipment to the government. In this case, most vendors were involved in ship building, systems for ships (weapons and other systems), or aircraft and were aiming for the new Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) program, Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS), Auxillary Oiler Replenisher (AOR), or Fixed Wing Search and Rescue (FWSAR) and other programs. There were other companies that handled systems integration, in service support and other functions around the acquiring and use of capital equipment.
The journey started by train from Ottawa to Montreal and then overnight (in a cabin) from Montreal to Halifax. This trip is a story in itself and shan’t be recited here. Once in Halifax and ensconced in accommodations at the Juno Towers at CFB Halifax, the week started with a reception out at the IMP Aerospace hanger where Team Spartan put on a briefing touting the virtues of the C-27J as the next FWSAR (I like this aircraft). Following that reception, we went to the opening night reception for DEFSEC at the Cunard Centre where we mingled, met new people, and ran into some friends. The fog rolled in as the sun set and completely encased the HMCS Sackville, moored alongside the conference venue for the duration of the exhibition.
The next morning was spent in and around the base waiting to head out to DEFSEC where I later photographed mostly exhibitors’ booths but was on hand when Lockheed-Martin handed over a $5000 cheque to the Halifax Military Family Resource Centre. On the way back to the room, I walked the Halifax boardwalk so I could see the new “The Last Steps Memorial Arch” which is a small arch at the end of a pier with boot prints burned into the pier boards leading to the arch. It symbolizes all the men and women who departed from Halifax in WWI and never returned.
Our last day on duty was Thursday where the day was spent at the CFB Halifax dockyards onboard ships. It started with the French FREMM Frigate Languedoc coming into harbour and being moored beside the British type 23 frigate HMS Monmouth (a.k.a. the Black Duke). Because other ships were in the way, the French consulate obtained permission for us to board the HMCS Athabaskan and use the flight deck as our platform for photography giving us an unobstructed view as the Languedoc came in. The French and British ships are important because of the consortiums (led by DCNS for the FREMM frigate and BAE for the Type 26 frigate) vying for the billions for the new CSC purchase and using the ships to host defence industry and government/military receptions later in the day. As the Languedoc came in, it was difficult to get pictures because you were photographing a gray ship on a gray ocean under a gray sky in fog. Hard to make the ship stand out. Notwithstanding, it came in and settled in its’ berth.
At noon, I attended a luncheon reception onboard the HMS Monmouth and then had a tour of this 23 year old frigate. It was a curry luncheon with cheesecake desserts followed by a very good tour which included a simulated attack on the ship, which was beaten back by missiles and guns. Following this tour, I was able to board the Languedoc and take a tour of their ship, barely 5 months old. This thing is state of the art, with lots of room (comparatively) to move around. It still had that new car smell, albeit peppered with diesel. Again, a very thorough tour of about 1.5 hours and another reception in the hanger afterwards with bacon wrapped scallops, stuffed mushrooms, meatballs, BIG shrimp, fruit, veggie platters, and, of course, French wine.
The last event of the trip was covering the fundraiser hockey game between the Esprit de Corps Commands team (augmented by defence industry types and four players from Dalhousie) against the Royal Canadian Navy Mariners. The puck was dropped by the Mayor, Michael Savage, and the national anthem played by the Stadacona Band of the RCN. The game was fast and well played but the Commandos came out ahead with the score 7-3. At the after party, a cheque was given to the Halifax Military Family Resource Centre for $2700 which was followed by food, drink, and music by the “Boarding Party”.
The week was ended and the only thing left to do was the 26 hour trip back to Ottawa courtesy of Via Rail.
to see all the pictures from DEFSEC, including the ships, speakers, trade floor, and receptions, CLICK HERE
