Published in January/February 2010 issue of Halifax magazine
By Marjorie Simmins
Commander Josee Kurtz has three words of advice for young Canadians considering a career in the navy: “Go for it!”
The 41-year-old captains HMCS Halifax, one of the 12 Canadian-designed and -built frigates that have served the Canadian Forces since 1992. “I think the navy offers opportunities that no employer anywhere in Canada will give you,” she says. “There are demands that come with it. You’ll be away from home and there are long hours. But the rewards – the lasting friendships, all the benefits this employer gives you, the travel and training opportunities – any job in the navy will pay back, in many ways.”
Growing up in Joliette, Quebec, Josee Boisclair didnÕt come from a military family. At age seven or eight, her interest was caught by the stories a neighbour’s son told her about his time in the military. From then on, she began thinking about a military career. At 18, she went to a recruiting office. “I didn’t know what I wanted to join,” she says. “I never thought about joining the navy. It was presented as an option at the recruiting centre.”
In the 1980s, the navy was opening up to women. “They said, ‘Try the navy,'” she recalls. “I said yes.”
On April 6, 2009, after 23 years of service, intense training and extensive education, which includes a masters in defence studies from the Royal Military College of Canada, Kurtz took command of her warship.
Has her daughter Dominique, eight years old and fluently bilingual, been heard to say: “That’s my mommy’s warship/C’est le navire de guerre a ma mama”?
“Yes,” smiles Kurtz, “she is quite vocal about that.” Despite having a mother who is a naval commander and a father who is a retired naval officer, Dominique has no interest in a naval career for herself.
“I deployed for six months last year,” explains Kurtz. “She is still burned by that [separation].” She adds that, unsurprisingly, Dominique is currently more interested in Hannah Montana and becoming a rock star. “She understands that her mother’s career is important, both to me and in terms of what the military does, in Canada and for Canada and abroad,” she says. “She’s just not that keen on sharing her mom with the sea and with the military.”
Others, however, jump at the chance to see navy life up close. Each year, HMCS Halifax and other Halifax-based navy vessels open their doors to the general public, youth organizations and sports teams and school children. “There is a very strong desire by the navy to accommodate groups of people who want to visit the ship,” says Kurtz. “Children get a hands-on tour. You set a fire hose and you get them to wear the firefighting gear or they get to push the buttons in the operations room. You adapt your tour to the group age.”
Life at sea may remain mysterious to most Haligonians; the life of the sailor alongside (the periods when HMCS Halifax is in port), doesn’t have to be. In port, naval vessels are never idle. Crew may be preparing for overseas deployment, executing maintenance and upgrades or readying their vessels to be the next “Ready-Duty” ship. “This means the vessel would be at eight hours notice to respond to any contingency,” says Kurtz. “There is always one ship, on a rotation basis.”
HMCS Halifax deploys to the Caribbean early in 2010. Part of the five-week mission will involve the monitoring of illegal migrant and drug activities. “This is a teamwork effort between Canada and the U.S.,” says Kurtz.
HMCS Halifax’s own team comprises 170 to 180 sailors. “We have 206 ‘on books,’ ” says Kurtz. “Of these, some 20 or so may be on restricted duty or on course. We have 18 women onboard, serving at all levels, from Ordinary Seaman to Lieutenant Navy.” The highest-ranking woman on board is the Commander herself.
Kurtz, however, is more interested in the number of sailors aboard who are originally from Halifax (20) and from the rest of Nova Scotia (20 again) than in their genders. “It gives an additional level of pride to match sailors to their hometown vessels,” she says.
At home, Kurtz and her husband like to take their daughter skating at the local arena where they live in Bedford, or go to see a movie or, amusingly for a sailor on off time, “be a tourist in our hometown and walk the waterfront.” The family also likes to walk with their 10-year-old yellow Labrador/German shepherd cross, Morgan, who Kurtz affectionately describes as “one of our children” but also, “one of the most neurotic animals you would ever meet. We have done that to her,” she gives a laugh and a rueful smile. “I take full responsibility!”
Kurtz also takes responsibility for setting the tone for a comfortable and respectful work atmosphere. Part of this means keeping open the lines of communication between herself and the crew. “If I can show them that I am also working within the same constraints as they are below decks, that’s the message I like to send.”
Kurtz relishes all aspects of her work, from “driving your ship fast and well,” to the careful maneuvering of two ships when performing a “RAS” (fuel replenishment at sea), to the deployments. “There are many satisfying moments,” she says. “But equally satisfying for me is cooking breakfast for my crew on Sunday morning when we are at sea or in foreign ports. The chance to flip some eggs for them and interact. “I do this at home, for my family and I try to carry on that [tradition] at sea as well,” she says. “Small conversations go a long way with the sailors.”
Kurtz recognizes that HMCS Halifax, as a namesake city vessel, is important to the residents of Halifax, as are her crew. So too, she thinks, are the interactions between residents and all navy members, which occur each day, around the city.
There are many arms to the navy’s involvement with the city community. Each year crew from HMCS Halifax take part in the annual Barrington Street clean-up, which this year saw the collection of 80 bags of garbage in one day. The navy also supports The Children’s Wish Foundation, its charity of choice, by taking part in a variety of events throughout the year. This includes the annual Run Nova Scotia fundraiser, in which the navy has participated for seven years. The fundraising effort for 2009 was just over $13,000.
“The navy is an overwhelmingly positive presence in the city,” says Councillor Dawn Sloane, who has represented Halifax Downtown on city council since 2000. “Not only are they a significant provider of employment, but they also support families and groups within the community.
“The military has done so much for District 12,” she continues, including patronizing the many downtown businesses, the yearly street clean-ups and the ongoing charity works. Councillor SloaneÕs own father was a navy mechanic who worked on the Sea King helicopters. Remembering the long deployments her father undertook in the 1970s, Councillor Sloane sympathizes with Cdr KurtzÕs young daughter.
“These are our neighbours, husbands, fathers and mothers,” says Councillor Sloane. “They protect Canada and our rights.” In return, Haligonians support their military, in spirit and action.
“In November, many of my friends organized a Stop, Drop and Party event,” says Councillor Sloan. The event saw the compilation of five boxes of homey items for the troops in Afghanistan, such as socks, mitts, toothbrushes, disposable cameras and books. “The troops can be so busy and stressed – they need to get their minds off their work sometimes,” she says.
The Canadian Navy turns 100 in 2010. The celebration’s theme will be “Bringing the Navy to Canadians.” The city of Halifax has this one covered.
“Canadian Forces Base Halifax is the largest military base in Canada,” says Cdr Kurtz. “While the ship takes a portion of the stage, this is a significant military base which contributes a lot to the city of Halifax. Every sailor, whether they are from here or elsewhere, has a significant level of loyalty to the city while they are posted here. It’s truly their hometown.”
It’s a loyalty that comes from the top on down: “Absolutely,” says Kurtz, nodding firmly.