James Bay irked by Navy Days
By Andrea Lavigne
Esquimalt News
Oct 13 2006
Howitzer explosions, CF18 flyovers, loudspeaker announcements - Navy
Days was designed to give Greater Victoria residents a taste of our
military's capabilities, but for James Bay neighbours, the event
gave them a taste of living a war zone.
"My house was rocked by artillery explosions while soldiers across
the street at Ogden Point carried out repeated attacks. A booming
officer informed the neighbourhood over a loudspeaker that these
actions were just like those carried out in Afghanistan," said James
Bay resident Nedjo Rogers.
Rogers, his partner and two children were "forced to evacuate" from
their home on Dallas Road last week during the Navy Days military
event carried out Oct. 6-7 at Ogden Point.
They called navy public affairs to complain, but had trouble getting
their message across.
"Quite literally, my partner phones the navy to complain... and the
woman said that she'd like to take down her number but she couldn't
hear. And my partner said, 'that's because you're bombing across the
street.'"
The two-day event included ship tours, a small arms simulator, an
artillery gun position display and firings, a Kandahar check-point
simulation, airplane fly-overs, high-angle rescue demonstrations and
more.
"The aim is to reach out to local population and expose them to what
happens in the military community," said Capt. Darin Guenette, base
public affairs.
Canadian Forces have held open houses before, but this is the first
time the event has been held off CFB Esquimalt.
"The base was not as attractive because we're physically separate
from downtown and where most of the people are," Guenette said.
Ogden Point was chosen because of its proximity to downtown Victoria
and accessibility for navy ships. And with the ebbing cruise ship
season, it was available. Almost 15,000 people attended the event.
Rogers says he heard Navy Days were coming, but was surprised
neighbours weren't warned more explicitly of the events.
"When there's a marathon, at least they drop off a flyer to let us
know what's going on. I know they advertised, but to me that's just
not the same as actually engaging with us as the people who are
going to be totally directly affected."
And while Rogers saw advertisements, he was not prepared for the
events.
"We were just really, really upset. We had seen the banners, but I
had no idea this involved real military exercises," he said.
The navy did consult with the James Bay Neighbourhood Environment
Association prior to the event; however, the association's chair Tim
Van Alstine, says it had little choice in the matter.
"It was a situation that was almost a fait d'accompli when it was
presented to us. The city council was already very supportive of
it," he said.
Van Alstine received several complaints from neighbours about the
loudspeakers.
"I think the number one thing was it was a bit noisier and some
people, just being anti-military period, were upset by it too," he
said. "The residents in that area are really feeling overwhelmed by
all kinds of activity. It's not just Navy Days. They've got that
cruise ship port going there, they've got the buses, they've got all
that stuff on top of it and that's just one more."
But Rogers says he can put up with the tour buses, the marathons,
the helijets and the cruise ships that operate outside his home, but
Navy Days was invasive and offensive.
"We were inundated with military propaganda all weekend - and in our
homes. We were inundated with military propaganda that glorified
this foreign campaign and that, ultimately, is the thing I find
objectionable. I shouldn't be subjected to that in my home and
driven out of my home.
"They have to know that Canadians are deeply divided about what's
going on in Afghanistan right now, and that this is not a neutral
activity to bring into any community."
Guenette says Navy Days wasn't just about Canadian activities in
Afghanistan.
"We have a variety of tasks. Do you think firefighting is glorifying
war? Our police force is glorifying war? We have a lot of different
roles and we don't see them as glorification of war. That's why I
think people need to be educated."
While Guenette wouldn't say if Navy Days would be staged at Ogden
Point again, Van Alstine said an invitation isn't guaranteed.
"We'd have to really rethink it if something like this were to occur
again," he said.
The association has already requested noise and air quality testing
to be done on Ogden Point on behalf of beleaguered residents.
