Harper Government Names New Coast Guard Vessels in Honour of Canadian Heroes
the Harper Government announced that seven new Hero Class Canadian Coast Guard vessels will be named in honour of fallen Canadian heroes. The announcement was made by the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, together with the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs, and the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety.
“Our Government is proud to name these new Coast Guard vessels in honour of Canadian heroes who put their duty ahead of their own safety in service to our country,” said Minister Shea. “As proud Canadians, we must always remember those who have paid the greatest price for our safety, security and freedom.”
A total of nine new Hero Class mid-shore patrol vessels are being built by our government. In November 2010, our government announced that two of these new vessels would be named in honour of two fallen First World War soldiers, Corporal Joseph Kaeble, V.C., and
Private James Peter Robertson, V.C.
The remaining seven Hero Class vessels will be named in honour of:
· Royal Canadian Mounted Police members Corporal Gordon Robert Teather, C.V., and Constable J.L. François Carrière;
· Canadian Coast Guard Chief Officer Gregory Paul Peddle, S.C., and Seaman Martin Charles, M.B.;
· Canadian Fisheries and Marine Service Fishery Officer Agapit LeBlanc; and
· Corporal Mark Robert McLaren, M.M.V., and Captain Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goddard, M.S.M., Canadian Forces members who served in Afghanistan.
With the exceptions of Corporal Gordon Robert Teather and Seaman Martin Charles, all individuals died in the line of duty.
“Today we are unveiling the Canadian Coast Guard’s new Hero Class of vessels,” said Minister MacKay. “Each of these vessels will feature a new, more efficient design, and are tributes to Canadians whose heroic efforts define bravery and sacrifice.”
A couple of years ago Captain Terry Hunter of PEI was serving in the Sudan. That country has now split into 2 separate countries. The Canadian Military continues their very important work in the Sudan. I have very good friends living and working in Khartoum Bill McCarthy and his wife Annamaria have been in the Sudan since just before Christmas 2010. More Canadians doing great work on behalf of Canada and the Global Community.
Op SAFARI: Being prepared for everything
by Cheryl MacLeod
CF observers deployed on Operation SAFARI pack their kit and head out into the bush on five- or six-day patrols. They carry not only food, water and tents but also a generator, because there is no electricity or telephone service in small Sudanese villages.
Op SAFARI is Canada’s contribution to the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS). It is also the military component of the Canadian whole-of-government engagement in southern Sudan that also includes activities by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Canadian International Development Agency and the RCMP.
“We spend six days in the bush,” says Major Ed Smith, a UN military observer (UNMO) at Team Site (TS) Rumbek in the Sudan. “Our job is to know what is going on everywhere in this state, and send reports back to the United Nations.
There are no lines of communication, no phones, no electricity, no running water, nothing – not even paved roads in this state. The only way the UN has of monitoring situations is through the UNMO, so we go and spend our time in the bush, then write up reports on what we see.”
To read more on both of these news flashes please go to :
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/home-accueil-eng.asp#panel-2
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Nil Sine Labore
Robby
