City hall honours HMCS Brandon
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/06/2021 (1603 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Proclaiming June 5 as “Tribute to HMCS Brandon,” Mayor Rick Chrest signed off on recognizing the city’s namesake ship.
Included in the proclamation is that the city is “grateful for all the work the ship and crew of HMCS Brandon are engaged in and for the dedication and sacrifice in the service to our nation protecting and preserving the freedoms enjoyed by each and every Canadian.
The naval ensign will also be flown outside of city hall throughout the week.
Much has been written about the Kingston-class maritime defence ship in recent months.
The first in this string of news coverage came when the ship’s official sponsor, Betty Coleman, died late last year.
Coleman was residing in Victoria, B.C., at the time. She’d relocated seven years earlier, but spent much of her life active in the Brandon community.
Brandon Salutes member at large Brian Midwinter forwarded a quotation from senior naval combat information operator, petty officer second class Robin Moncrief, who had lunch with Coleman last year.
“I’m so grateful to have had the chance to hear all of the amazing stories she shared, including her experiences in Brandon, and her unique view of watching the Navy and the ship growing over the years,” Moncrief said. “Her contributions to the city of Brandon and HMCS Brandon are unlikely to be forgotten by the many crews on board. As a member who has been posted to all of the West Coast Kingston Class Vessels, it’s always greatly appreciated to see all the support that comes from our namesake cities.”
Next up was a major drug bust off the coast of Central America the ship’s crew was central in, during which approximately $55 million in illicit drugs was seized on March 21.
In May, HMCS Brandon Lt.-Cmdr. Maude Ouellet-Savard encouraged Brandonites to follow the ship on social media to see the neat and fun things their raccoon teddy bear is up to.
Similar stuffed animals were displayed in the windows of city hall and other civic buildings to show their support as a reminder of this relationship.
The proclamation date of Saturday is significant because it marks 22 years since the ship came into commission with the Royal Canadian Navy, Midwinter said.
By keeping momentum and interest in the ship going, he said they were “seeding the lawn” and “building toward bigger things in three years’ time” to mark the 25th anniversary.
“We hope to make a substantial splash, if you’ll pardon the pun, over that event.”
That said, he clarified this doesn’t mean nothing will be done in the meantime, as exemplified by Saturday’s proclamation.
More news will come, he said, though the involvement of the HMCS Brandon crew will depend on what operational requirements they have at any given time.
» tclarke@brandonsun.com, with notes from Kimberley Kielley
» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB