It was an honour for me, as Acting Mayor, to represent Oak Bay on March 14th, to welcome home HMCS Regina from a nine-month deployment on a NATO-led maritime counter-terrorism mission. My colleague from Esquimalt Council, Councillor Lynda Hundleby, also attended and we were the only two local government representatives from the region to share in this special homecoming ceremony.
It was my first experience to welcome a naval destroyer escort. What struck me was the emotional tension and excitement of family members, loved ones, children and friends who gathered in the hundreds to join the NADEN Band and dignitaries on the huge jetty where the ship anchored upon its arrival.
I also had the honour of meeting our new Lieutenant-Governor, Rear-Admiral Truelove and his wife Brenda, Chief of Defence General Lawson and the newly appointed Associate Deputy Minister of Defence.
I hope that you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed the experience of welcoming, on behalf of our community, the dedicated women and men who serve in Canada’s Royal Canadian Navy.