VIDEO – A 37-year career in the Canadian Forces ended Monday with a change of command in Victoria.
After two years as the Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific, Rear-Admiral Nigel Greenwood relinquished command to Rear-Admiral William Truelove. Just 10 days ago, Greenwood was in Powell River for the Tri-Service Annual Ceremonial Review for navy, army and air cadet corps.
Officiating at the change of command ceremony, held at Duntze Head in Her Majesty’s Canadian Dockyard in Victoria, were Commander Royal Canadian Navy Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison and Commander of Canada Command, Lieutenant-General Walter Semianiw.
Greenwood’s parents, Frank and Margaret, were in Victoria for the celebrations. “It’s been overwhelming and exhausting,” Margaret told the Peak on Tuesday. They attended an event on HMCS Ottawa on Friday evening and a private gathering at Admiral’s House on Saturday. “In the process of celebrating, Nigel and Debbie repeated their wedding vows,” she added.
As commander, Nigel had control of Canadian maritime forces for the whole Pacific Ocean. In his role as Commander Joint Task Force Pacific, he could deploy forces to respond to any domestic emergency anywhere in BC. As well he was responsible for the national Search and Rescue response throughout the province and Yukon, and Canadian Cadet Organizations in BC that includes 6,500 members.
It was in his role with the cadet organizations that Nigel was in Powell River. He also returned to his roots where he spent six years as a navy cadet.
Being from Powell River is “something that I’ve been proud of my whole life,” Nigel told those attending the review at Powell River Recreation Complex. He called the review “a terrific display of leadership, confidence and community service.” It included a parade of drill as well as dynamic and static displays. “Without a shadow of exaggeration or bias, this is probably the best cadet parade I’ve seen in my time as admiral,” he said.
Taking in the review, “small but mighty comes to mind,” he added. “Strength is not in the numbers but in the spirit and we’ve seen plenty of spirit here this afternoon.”
In addition to his presence at the ceremonial review, Nigel attended a dinner at Carlson Community Club with cadets, corps officers and their wives, special guests, and two members of his travelling party.
Michele Stewart attended along with her husband Ken who is a naval cadet officer.
“The admiral’s driver was at our table and mentioned she had travelled with him a lot in the last two years,” said Michele. “She commented about how this community was so warm and welcoming. I responded, saying this is his hometown and it was to be expected. She said she knew that but it was still so touching, being here so close to the end of his command.”
Nigel, his twin Richard and their brother Kevin all started as sea cadets. Kevin retired as a four-ring captain and then went into teaching officers at the naval training facility in Esquimalt. Richard also has the rank of rear-admiral and is Canada’s Defence Attaché in Washington, liaising between the Canadian and US governments. He will be retiring in a few weeks. All three will be living in Victoria. The navy still has Greenwoods in its ranks as Frank and Margaret’s three grandsons are now serving.
“Most of the senior officers gave recognition to the Greenwood family for our contributions to the navy,” explained Margaret. “We were asked to stand and there were quite a lot of us.”
During the course of his command, each rear-admiral has a coin that he can give to certain people. Chief Petty Officer Chris Allen, who commanded the ceremonial review parade in Powell River, received a coin from Nigel at the review.
Stewart Alsgard, who had a lengthy naval career, also received a coin, said Michele. “The admiral said, during that presentation, that Stewart had a big influence on him and his brothers, and even converted a British army man, their father Frank, to the navy side when he moved to Powell River. If it was not for Stewart, the admiral said, they wouldn’t have been in uniform.”
Michele said in the 10 years she has been in Powell River, she has seen the former mayor speaking at many different events. “I’ve never seen him so emotional as he was when he received the coin.”
Alsgard travelled to Victoria with the Greenwoods for the change of command.
