Senate of Canada Honours the Canadian Navy and Coast Guard
November 28, 2025 - Royal Canadian Navy
Caption
Representatives of the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard gathered in the Senate of Canada during Navy and Coast Guard Appreciation Day on October 28, 2025.
The Senate of Canada paid tribute to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) during Navy and Coast Guard Appreciation Day on October 28, 2025. The ceremony recognized the dedication and service of those who safeguard Canada’s maritime interests at home and abroad.
Rear-Admiral Dan Charlebois, Deputy Commander of the RCN, and Mario Pelletier, Commissioner of the CCG, attended the ceremony alongside other members of both organizations. They were welcomed to the Senate by the Honourable Senators Danièle Henkel and Rebecca Patterson, who delivered remarks celebrating Canada’s maritime heritage and the people who sustain it.
In her address, Senator Patterson highlighted Canada’s enduring identity as a maritime nation and the vital role of the RCN and CCG in protecting Canada’s sovereignty, economy, and environment. She emphasized that Canada’s maritime future depends not only on ships and infrastructure but also on the skilled, dedicated professionals who keep its waters secure, sustainable, and prosperous.
Senator Patterson also described Canada’s maritime sector as an interconnected ecosystem encompassing the military, public, private, and academic spheres. She called for continued investment in education, training, and workforce development to strengthen national capacity and maintain Canada’s leadership at sea.
Senator Henkel offered her thanks to the men and women of the RCN and CCG, describing their work as essential to Canada’s safety, sovereignty, and global presence. She praised the Coast Guard as a quiet but indispensable force operating across three oceans, the Great Lakes, and the St. Lawrence River to ensure maritime safety, protect the environment, and support northern communities.
Drawing on her experience as the first female Honorary Captain of the Coast Guard, Senator Henkel also spoke about Canada’s innovation and readiness to serve in challenging environments, citing the upcoming Polar Max icebreaker as a symbol of that commitment.
“The Parliament of Canada sees them, recognizes them, and thanks them,” she said. “Long live the Canadian Coast Guard and long live the Royal Canadian Navy.”
In addition to honouring the RCN and CCG, the Senate ceremony also recognized several recipients of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Exceptional Sailor Program for their leadership, professionalism, and courage.
The annual recognition at the Senate reaffirms the value of the RCN and CG’s contributions and Canada’s enduring connection to the sea.
RCN Exceptional Sailor Program recipients
Sailor 3rd Class Olsen
Sailor 3rd Class Olsen outstanding courage and skill when responding to an Engine Room fire on board PCT Orca 55 on the evening of 18 July 2023 while at sea in Constance Bank. He responded immediately upon discovering an electrical fire and extinguished the blaze without direction or hesitation. He then assisted the engineer in isolating power in the space. His courageous actions prevented the spread of the fire and minimized damage, protecting the ship and crew from danger
Sailor First Class Hayley Bragg
As the J2 Naval Analyst in Task Force Latvia Headquarters from May 2023 to January 2024, Sailor First Class Hayley Bragg provided exemplary intelligence acumen and collaboration with allied intelligence that advanced Canadian military intelligence interests and credibility. Sailor First Class Bragg created timely and actionable naval intelligence products in support of the Canadian Armed Forces and allied intelligence services in Europe. Sailor First Class Bragg’s dedication and professionalism demonstrated that Canada is a trusted and credible ally.
MS Brandyn-Alan Anderson
On the evening of 2 May, 2023, Sailor 1st Class Anderson displayed courage and selflessness responding to a residential structure fire in Sooke, British Columbia. Prior to the arrival of emergency services, he immediately took charge of the scene, directing the evacuation of nearby residents for their safety. With little regard for his own safety and sustaining injuries, he took decisive action and extinguished spot fires, ultimately preventing the spread of the fire and further structural damage and loss.
Petty Officer 1st class James Dryburgh
On 29 December 2023 while transiting through Montréal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport, Petty Officer 1st class Dryburgh provided lifesaving first aid to a civilian experiencing a medical emergency. He immediately took control of the scene, instructed bystanders to contact emergency services, and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the victim. His decisive actions allowed paramedics to stabilize the victim on their arrival. Petty Officer 1st class Dryburgh’s professionalism in a crisis saved a life, and brought great credit to the Canadian Armed Forces.
Lieutenant(N) Evan Gilbert
From May to September 2024, Lieutenant(N) Gilbert demonstrated exceptional leadership and impressive technical diving proficiency during back-to-back Operation RENDER SAFE deployments in Nauru and the Soloman Islands. In Naura, he facilitated the safe disposal of 18 unexploded ordnances threatening public infrastructure. In the Soloman Islands, he directly contributed to the clearance of some 3200 legacy munitions including mortars, projectiles, and 100 pound air dropped weapons. Lieutenant(N) Gilbert’s significant efforts during these vital Indo-Pacific operations reflected positively on the Canadian Joint Operations Command.
Lieutenant-Commander Sebastian Harper
As the deputy chief of staff of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 embarked aboard His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Charlottetown from July to December 2024, Lieutenant-Commander Harper’s leadership was vital to NATO operations in the Eastern Mediterranean. In particular, his exemplary professionalism, dedication, and diplomatic approach resulted in tactical proficiency within the Task Group and amongst NATO allies. Lieutenant-Commander Harper’s decisive management of competing priorities, operationally and within the volatile geopolitical environment, ensured NATO’s ability to understand and deter, Russian naval operations.