The NATO Council of Canada is pleased to announce that the Canadian Naval Centennial Gala, held this past Saturday, November 6, was a great success. More than 300 distinguished guests arrived at the event to pay tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who have served Canada at sea.
In a message for the event, Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated that “in the past 100 years, our sailors have developed a reputation for bravery, skill and professionalism from combat in both world wars and Korea to current actions such as delivering aid to Haiti and combating piracy and terrorism in the Arabian Sea.”
As part of the celebration of this momentous occasion, The NATO Council of Canada was pleased to honour Peter C. Newman with the St. Laurent Award, in recognition of his 30 years of service in the Canadian Naval Reserves, as well as his career as one Canada’s most prominent journalists.
The evening began with an opening address from The Honourable David Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, who paid homage to the central role that the Canadian Navy has played in Canada’s history.
“Generations of sailors, throughout the century of this Navy’s existence, have made Canadians aware that, in our hearts, we are a maritime nation,” said the Lieutenant Governor.
The men and women of today’s Canadian Navy still stand the watch for Canada, in our own waters and on the world’s oceans. Whether patrolling the Arctic, hunting Somali pirates in the Gulf, or speeding humanitarian relief to earthquake-stricken Haiti, they remain Ready Aye Ready to serve.”
The Gala was well attended by Naval and military personnel, World War II veterans, retired personnel and current serving members. A good deal of the Navy’s command staff was also in attendance, including The Deputy Commander Maritime Command, Rear-Admiral Paul Maddison, as well as Commodore Daniel MacKeigan, Commander, Canadian Forces Recruiting Group, Commodore William Truelove, Commandant of the Royal Military College, and Commodore Jennifer Bennett, Commander of the Naval Reserve.
The Hon. Gordon O’Connor, Minister of State and Chief Government Whip, Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons, and Senator James Cowan, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate were all in attendance, as was Jack Layton, leader of the Federal NDP.
