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
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.