Subdued send off in Halifax for crews aboard the HMCS Fredericton
It was a small departure ceremony without the usual fanfare for 250 Canadian Forces members who departed Halifax Saturday on a six-month NATO mission.
Many families and friends of those leaving aboard HMCS Fredericton watched the departure online after their loved ones said goodbye at home before heading to HMC Dockyard.
"I had to say goodbye to my husband this morning," says Master Sailor Holly White. "I made it short and sweet, so I didn’t get as emotional."
"But he gets it," she adds, "he’s military, so he understands.”
This deployment on Operation Reassurance is Lt. (N) Jackie Kavanagh’s second mission, after spending her first on HMCS Charlottetown.
"Really excited," she says, "beautiful weather for us to depart and hopefully get to wave to some of our families as we leave."
On Monday, HMCS Halifax returned from its NATO deployment with cases of COVID-19 on board.
The Navy has confirmed three cases in total after the entire crew was tested several times. The third round of tests was to be conducted Saturday.
The Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic, Rear Admiral Brian Santarpia says those cases are asymptomatic and have been self-isolating since testing positive.
He also says the entire crew of HMCS is fully vaccinated as of two weeks ago and will follow strict COVID protocols on the mission.
"We consider the state of vaccination on board the ship," he says.
"We consider the prevalence of COVID in the port that they’re going into, and we consider the regulations of the port that we’re going into, and we build a specific plan of whether they can go ashore at all, and (if they do) what measures they’ll take before, during and after to protect themselves."
The commanding officer of HMCS Fredericton, Commander Andrew Graham, says the ship has the capability to do COVID testing.
"We have rapid testing capability, and if there is a positive on a rapid test, we have a full PCR testing capability onboard the ship, so we have plans in place if we do get a positive, to minimize the spread on board and to respond to it."
Crew members are hoping to be able to have some opportunity for time onshore.
"Hopefully COVID restrictions will be lifted so sailors who are on their first time, they can actually get ashore and actually see the places that we're going," says Petty Officer First Class Kelly Spicer.
It has been a difficult year for HMCS Fredericton, not only because the pandemic broke out worldwide during the last mission, but also because of the tragic death of six crew members last April.
The ship’s Cyclone helicopter, known as Stalker 22, crashed into the Mediterranean Sea on that deployment.
Master Cpl. Matthew Cousins, Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough, Capt. Kevin Hagen, Capt. Brenden MacDonald, Capt. Maxime Miron-Morin and Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke died as a result.
Those on board who suffered the loss are not on HMCS Fredericton this time, although a Cyclone helicopter is part of the mission.
Rear Admiral Santarpia says the crew was changed out as standard procedure, regardless of the tragedy.
"Even when tragedies occur, it’s a very resilient group," he says. "So while we recognize the tragedy and while we are conscious of its effect on individuals and on teams, we also at the same time need to build that kind of resilience, so that no matter what happens, in crisis or in conflict, we'll always be able to carry on with the mission."
HMCS Fredericton and the crew are expected to return to Halifax sometime in late December this year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'The world is too messy for bureaucratic hurdles': Canada still bars Afghanistan aid
Ottawa has plans to finally stop blocking Canadian development aid to Afghanistan this year.
Student anti-war protesters dig in as faculties condemn university leadership over calling police
Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at at universities across U.S., some of whom have clashed with police in riot gear, dug in Saturday and vowed to keep their demonstrations going, while several school faculties condemned university presidents who have called in law enforcement to remove protesters.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Hamas is reviewing an Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as possible Rafah offensive looms
Hamas said Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the months-long war and stave off a possible Israeli ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Cisco reveals security breach, warns of state-sponsored spy campaign
State-sponsored actors targeted security devices used by governments around the world, according to technology firm Cisco Systems, which said the network devices are coveted intrusion points by spies.
I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'oesn't get' the global phenomenom.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Russia renews attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector as Kyiv launches drones at southern Russia
Russia launched a barrage of missiles against Ukraine overnight, in attacks that appeared to target the country's energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russia said its air defense systems had intercepted more than 60 Ukrainian drones over the southern Krasnodar region.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.