HMCS Vancouver sailor inspires her family to join the Royal Canadian Navy

For Sailor 1st Class (S1) Gabrielle Bissainthe, 22, a Naval Communicator in His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Vancouver, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has become a family business.

After growing up listening to her father Paul talk about his time as a gunner’s mate in the United States Navy, she decided to try the Canadian Navy out for herself. What she didn’t realize at the time, however, was that her sister was interested too.

“My dad inspired me to join the Navy, and I inspired my sister to do it, and I guess that inspired my dad as well,” says S1 Bissainthe. “My dad has shown me that it’s never too late to get into the stuff you love.”

Paul served with the U.S. Sixth Fleet for six years, including international operations in Europe. He decided to leave the U.S. Navy to become an auto technician. The family left for Canada in 2010 in search of better job prospects, and now holds dual citizenship.

Shortly after S1 Bissainthe completed her Basic Military Qualification, her sister Kayla joined the RCN as a human resources administrator. Paul then followed suit and joined the Naval Reserve as a boatswain at Toronto’s Naval Reserve Division, HMCS York. He still works as an auto technician in his civilian life.

During her first sail, S1 Bissainthe says she experienced déjà vu, courtesy of her dad – living out firsts in the Navy just like he did.

“There was this moment when I was firing the .50 calibre machine gun for the first time, and I asked a friend to take a photo of me because I was in the same position as a photo I have of my dad being in. I now have side-by-side photos of us doing the same thing.”

Growing up in Queens, N.Y., S1 Bissainthe says she was raised on her dad’s navy stories. When her family eventually settled in Toronto, he suggested she give the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Vanguard at HMCS York a try.

“Gabrielle joined as a cadet at 12 years old and I would share stories of my time in the navy with her. She was always interested and wanting to know more,” says her dad, Sailor 3rd Class Paul Bissainthe. “I am more than proud to hear and see [Gabrielle and Kayla’s] journeys so far, and what more they have yet to accomplish.” 

Vancouver’s deployment on Operations Projection and Neon is S1 Bissainthe’s first deployment, and she says she is enjoying every minute of it.

“Life at sea really highlights that it is the little things that are important. It’s always the little things – snacks from home – it really doesn’t take a lot to make you happy. Being reminded of home while at sea does that,” she says.

S1 Bissainthe says the best part of being a naval communicator, besides being part of a section that feels more like family, is working on the ship’s bridge. There she gets to work with the other trades and see foreign ports she hasn’t visited before.   

“If you’re looking for an experience that’s never dull, and exploring the world, the Navy is for you.”