I trust this note finds you renewed from an enjoyable summer leave. For those newly posted to Kingston, welcome to the Base and to a fantastic community.
While you were enjoying the summer, you may have missed the success of our numerous Base Kingston sports teams. For example, the CFB Kingston Women’s Slo-pitch Team and the CFB Kingston Men’s Soccer Team both won regionals. Most recently, Base Kingston won the St. Lawrence Cup, the 68th annual golf tournament against Fort Drum / 10th Mountain Division.
September promises to be a busy and exciting month:
- Parents rejoice as kids go back to school.
- Garrison Family Fun Fest occurs the weekend of 8-9 September – quite simply the best military appreciation day in the country.
- On 7 September we will gather for our annual Terry Fox Run. Join us in the fight against cancer and help celebrate the legacy of a true Canadian hero.
- Many of us will gather to celebrate the inaugural parade of 77 Line Regiment as their members concentrate in Kingston from across Canada.
- On 19 September the Garrison kicks off its annual Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign. Know that the Defence Team here in Kingston plays a critical role in helping to address the increasingly complex needs that exist within our community.
Fall individual training is underway across the Garrison – our classrooms, quarters and dining facilities are at capacity. At the same time, many units continue to support operations around the world as well as emerging operational tasks.
From a staff perspective, the CFB Kingston team is working a number of initiatives to improve force protection and security across the Garrison. Focus areas will include a revitalized Base Auxiliary Security Force and increased preparedness for critical incidents. Improving our posture and preparedness will be a collective effort that requires support from all.
To conclude, CWO Aman and I continue to be impressed by the high quality of work that happens across the Base and how units and individuals step up to help each other. I encourage you to visit our Base Intranet site (http://kingston.mil.ca/index-en.aspx) and the Kingston portal of the CAF Connections site (https://www.cafconnection.ca/Kingston/Home.aspx). Both sites showcase what is happening around the Base and the wide range of services that are available to you.
Colonel Kirk Gallinger