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In Profile: Shilo
By Melissa Hammond
On the warm prairies of Western Manitoba lies CFB/ASU Shilo, the Home Station to The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery. In addition, CFB Shilo is home to The First Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1 RCHA) and The Second Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI) as well as families and supporting entities. Located in south western Manitoba, 35 kilometres east of Brandon, CFB/ASU Shilo has been the site of military activity in the region since 1910. Shilo is a place like no other, often referred to as the gem of south-western Manitoba, Shilo is best described as the place nobody wants to come to, but once here, doesn’t want to leave. The PSP branch of CFB Shilo is made up of an awesome dedicated team who believe that making the best of any situation is critical to success. Always active, the extended staff of PSP takes pride in their work on base everyday.
LCOL A. DOUCETTE – BASE COMMANDER
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When LCol Doucette came to Shilo in 2003 he created a vision: ‘a vibrant community and team approach to accomplish the mission’. “I guess the greatest challenge is to do what we can within reason to realize the vision,” explained LCol Doucette, “I’m all about the people.” He realizes that he can’t satisfy everybody all the time, but still strives to have the greatest satisfaction possible. “There’s nothing better for me than to walk around the base and see people with a smile on their face.”
Shilo is a stand-alone base with a training area of 100,000 acres, which has all types of terrain. “We need that for the soldiers to train,” explained LCol Doucette, “Because, at the end of the day that is what we are all about.”
But, LCol Doucette views the community.aspect of Shilo just as important. He believes that if the spouses and children of the military members are happy, then for the most part the soldiers are happy. “Within the community my centre of gravity is the teens,” said LCol Doucette.
This can be seen throughout the base from the skate park to the teen centre to the many activities planned by the MFRC and Teen Coordinator. “Shilo is the gem in the middle of North America,” LCol Doucette quoted former MP of Brandon-Souris, Rick Borotsik.“You know,” said LCol Doucette, “People don’t want to come to Shilo, but once they get here, they don’t want to leave.”
MIKE MCEWAN – PSP MANAGER
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“A typical day is untypical,” said Mike McEwan, PSP Manager.
He starts his day by checking his email and phone messages when he gets to his offi ce at around 7:30am.
“Then I take the day from there. There are usually meetings programmed at various times throughout the day on a whole marionette of different topics. You never know what the day is going to bring, you rarely stick to the schedule that you had planned,” explained Mr. McEwan.
As PSP Manager he is responsible for the administration and oversight of all of the Personnel Support Programs on base. He is also the Base Commander’s liaison to the CANEX, MFRC, etc. Mr. McEwan fi nds his job rewarding for two reasons. “One of course is the people you meet because it’s such a diverse job. You meet a whole cross-section of people and that is rewarding. The other.aspect is the sense of accomplishment of making the place a better place to be.”
JIM MCKENZIE – FITNESS DIRECTOR
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Since beginning his career as Fitness Director in 2000, Jim McKenzie has accomplished a lot. Two major accomplishments stick out in his mind.
“One is the expansion of this facility in 2000, and now working on the additional fi eld house hopefully within the next two years,” Mr. McKenzie explained the two that are most important to him.
Some of the major events he and his staff are responsible for include the annual Terry Fox Run, Base Sports Day, and this year they are also responsible for the Area Support Group Exercise Western Challenge.
“We also get all the community activities, whether it’s minor ball or minor soccer,” said Mr. McKenzie.
DANNY HAMILTON – SPORTS COORDINATOR
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As Sports Coordinator, Danny Hamilton enjoys interacting with the athletes, but finds it challenging staying current with all rules and regulations, and finding coaches for the various base teams.
He is responsible for all military sports, and travel arrangements and claims for PSP personnel and base teams. Last year he won the CF Dedication to Sports Award at the CF National Old Timers Hockey Championship, he was inducted into the CF Sports Honour Roll for his achievements as an athlete for the sports of hockey and fastball, and he received the ‘Base Commander’s Commendation’.
“It’s quite an honour,” said Mr. Hamilton.
RICK KEHLER – CANEX MANAGER
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Rick Kehler became CANEX Manager in 2002, and since that time has made some tremendous changes to the CANEX. “We’ve installed a gas station and propane exchange, expanded the various sections of the supermarket, installed more check stands, and brought on new concessionaires into the mall,” said Mr. Kehler. All the retail activity for Shilo and area goes on at the CANEX, which has a mall attached to the supermarket. “Because Shilo is rural, we have to anticipate, then provide what would be required in a rural setting,” explained Mr. Kehler.
PATSY MARION – HOSPITALITY MANAGER
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Patsy Marion started her career as a PSP employee at the age of 18 when she was hired as a part-time bartender, and has since worked her way up.
As Hospitality Manager she is in charge of planning, directing, organizing and controlling all.aspects of the messes on a daily basis. She is also involved in hospitality issues such as providing amenities for the VIPs that come to visit. Her favourite part of her job is mess dinners. “I have always loved running mess dinners. I thoroughly enjoy planning every element about them, and seeing how everything pulls together.”
SCOTT RAMSAY – COUNTRY CLUB MANAGER
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A typical day for Scott Ramsay, Country Club Manager, during the golf season involves arriving to the country club at around 6:00am, then spending the day supervising, consulting and working on the golf course.
“Then from November to March things are a little slower. I oversee curling and other issues that arise and plan for the upcoming golf season. There are also a lot of environmental policies, standard operating procedures and research,” said Mr. Ramsay.
The best part of his job is working with the good group of people he has on staff.
“The other part I like about my job is the customer service.aspect of it,” said Mr. Ramsay.
BRENDA CAVANAGH – RECREATION COORDINATOR
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Brenda Cavanagh has brought new programs into the community since becoming Recreation Coordinator in 2003. These programs include drop-in sports, pilates, yoga, spin and step classes, and family road trips to local tourist spots.
Ms. Cavanagh enjoys seeing the smiles on people’s faces when they participate in these programs. “That’s what I like about my job: seeing other people happy within the programs that are developed.”
Ms. Cavanagh’s responsibilities include aquatics, base theatre, base bowling alley, advisory to the community clubs, all the recreation programming and overseeing the community centre.
ANNE TODD – HEALTH PROMOTION DIRECTOR
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As Health Promotion Director, Anne Todd is responsible for coordinating all health promotions, and awareness campaigns on base.
“Every unit seems to have their own unique needs, so trying to meet all those needs is challenging,” said Ms. Todd. She describes the best part of her job as, “...the end of courses when people are really happy with the results.”
Ms. Todd came to Shilo in 2002 from Brandon where she was working in health promotions at Brandon Regional Health Authority. “I was focusing primarily on Nutrition and Activity; this offered an opportunity to work in some other areas that I hadn’t worked in before,” explained Ms. Todd.
LOIS LAMBKIN – NPF ACCOUNTING SUPERVISOR
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Lois Lambkin, NPF Accounting Supervisor, came to Shilo in 1980 and has since then worked her way up through the offi ce. She became the NPF Accounting Supervisor in 1993.
“We look after all the accounting for all the NPF outlets on the base, and produce fi nancial statements for those outlets, pay their bills,” explained Ms. Lambkin.
The best part of her job is meeting the people she deals with; dealing with their questions and concerns is the most challenging part. A typical day for Ms. Lambkin includes answering questions, taking phone calls, dealing with managers and any problems that arise throughout the day.
SHEILA AVERY – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SHILO MFRC
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“There is no typical day at work, in fact I can say this is a job where it is not the same old thing day after day after day,” said Sheila Avery, Executive Director of Shilo MFRC.
Ms. Avery loves all the people she gets to meet, but finds it challenging making everybody happy.
She is responsible for getting funding to operate the MFRC, supervise a large staff, and overseeing MFRC operations. Recently the MFRC moved into the new Community Centre. “I ensure that things are hopefully running smoothly and this year it’s also been overseeing operations, and making sure the staff is happy in the new building,” said Ms. Avery.
JANINE AVERY – EDITOR OF THE SHILO STAG
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Since starting her career at the Shilo Stag as a work term student six years ago Janine Avery has made some tremendous changes. “When I got to the base the Stag was very much like a newsletter and it didn’t really have much of a journalistic touch to it,” explained Ms. Avery. “I think my footprint on the Stag has been bringing it up to an acceptable standard; we look more like a newspaper now than we ever have.”
Being the editor of the community newspaper means Ms. Avery gets to know the people that live in the area. “You’re always heavily involved because the newspaper is at all major community events,” said Ms. Avery.