Residents of Victoria gathered today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy. Ironically, the Canadian Navy is currently facing a budgetary crisis and desperately needs new ships to replace obsolete supply ships and aging command-and-control destroyers. Naval ships from six countries were scattered beyond the Esquimalt Lagoon this morning for the international fleet review.
Hundreds of onlookers gathered at the Fort Road Hill shoreline with binoculars for an up-close view of HMCS Algonquin as it sailed into the Harbour at 10 a.m. It was from that ship that Governor General Michäelle Jean conducted the much-awaited fleet review of ships from Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, France and the U.S . The event also marked the 150th birthday of the Fisgard Lighthouse.
The cloud-free sky and the Olympic mountains provided a perfect backdrop and, even though the ships looked in the distance, the crowds still marveled at them, particularly the American aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan.
Navy veteran Jim Watt, 74, said he’s proud of his 34 years of service – half spent on the east coast, the other half on the west coast. He’s humbled to see Canadians showing their support.
“I think it’s terrific. It’s great that people are starting to recognize that they have a navy,” he said. “Mind you I’m sure many couldn’t say what RCN stands for.”
By: Shelldrake
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