First Winner Announced in the Inaugural Naval Innovation Challenge: Now It’s Your Turn to Vote

August 29, 2025 - Royal Canadian Navy

We’re excited to announce the first official winner of the 2025 RelVel Update Naval Innovation Challenge!

Congratulations to PO2 Simon Dakin (HMCS Ottawa) for his winning submission:
"Trade Insignia on NECU: Renewing Sailor Pride of Ownership in Naval Occupations."

This idea reintroduces trade badge insignias on Naval Environment Combat Uniform (NECU) helping sailors proudly represent their trades in the uniform they wear most. After all the training, time, and dedication sailors put into mastering their occupations, it’s only fitting they get to showcase that with pride.

The insignias will reflect the same trade badge designs currently used on Distinctive Environmental Uniforms (DEU). , The Director of Naval Requirements (DNR) team at is already working on making this idea a reality over the next year.

People’s Choice Award: Help Choose the Second Winner!

Now it's your turn to help choose the next innovation that becomes reality. The People’s Choice Award will be decided by RCN members like you, and voting will happen directly through the MyRCN App.

Keep an eye on the app and coastal dashboards, voting is open: https://apps.forces.mil.ca/rvu/PeoplesChoice

Here are the finalists you'll be voting on:

From Sea to Ice: Recognizing Service in the Polar Regions

MS Brendan Cleary (NFS(A))

An Arctic/Antarctic service insignia to recognize those who’ve served in some of the toughest environments on Earth and to celebrate the experience and expertise they bring back to the fleet.

Streamlining the Watch

PO1 Ryan Kingston (HMCS Venture)

A new app concept that lets sailors view and select duties right from their phone giving more autonomy and helping streamline duty tracking across the board.

Reclaiming What’s Owed: Stat Holiday Reimbursement

PO2 Aquiles Milaya (HMCS Toronto)

This idea calls for formal recognition (and timely reimbursement) of stat holidays missed while at sea giving sailors a fair chance to rest and recharge without dipping into short leave.

FleetSync: Smarter Scheduling for a Smoother Fleet

PO1 Ryan Kingston (HMCS Venture)

An automated, flexible scheduling app to modernize how we plan and adapt to the flex saving time and reducing errors for everyone onboard.

We received 63 submissions this year, an amazing show of innovation, creativity, and commitment from across the fleet. All the finalists delivered top-tier ideas, and now it’s your chance to help decide which one gets brought to life next. Stay tuned to MyRCN and get ready to vote for your 2025 People’s Choice Winner!