Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Halifax deploys on Operation REASSURANCE

March 17, 2022 - Halifax, N.S. - Department of National Defence / Royal Canadian Navy

Media are invited to attend the departure ceremony for Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Halifax, as the ship’s company of 253 set sail for a six-month deployment to the North Atlantic and northern European waters as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) on Operation REASSURANCE, in support of NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe.

This is HMCS Halifax’s third deployment on Operation REASSURANCE. The ship will join HMCS Montreal, which departed its homeport of Halifax, N.S. on January 19, 2022. The Royal Canadian Navy’s increased presence in Europe will bolster NATO’s capability in the area, and further demonstrate Canada’s commitment to promote security and stability in the region.

HMCS Halifax will deploy with an embedded Air Detachment, operating a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter from 12 Wing Shearwater. This marks the eighth Cyclone helicopter to conduct flight operations as part of Op REASSURANCE.

WHEN:             March 19, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. (AST)  

WHERE:           NB Jetty, Her Majesty’s Canadian Dockyard Halifax

In attendance will be The Honourable Anita Anand, P.C., M.P. Minister of National Defence; Chief of the Defence Staff, General Wayne Eyre; and, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic, Rear-Admiral Brian Santarpia. Commander Dale St. Croix, Commanding Officer of HMCS Halifax, and Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic, Rear-Admiral Brian Santarpia, will be available for questions following remarks, with physical distancing measures in place. 

No members of the ship’s company will be available for interviews as they will be isolating immediately prior to the departure.

Note to Editors / News Directors:

Interested media must confirm their attendance with Maritime Forces Atlantic Public Affairs at 902-427-3766, or by email at MARLANTPublicAffairs@forces.gc.ca no later than 2:00 p.m. AST on March 18, 2022.

Media are requested to arrive at Rainbow Gate, HMC Dockyard, with proof of vaccination and photo identification no later than 1:00 p.m. AST, where they will be greeted and escorted to the site to cover the event.  

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, media who confirm they are attending need to review the enclosed document, sign the “COVID-19 Visitor Attestation” form, scan it, and send it back to MARLANT Public Affairs before they arrive at HMC Dockyard. If this is not done, individuals will not be granted access to the event.

Finally, the event will be live steamed via the MARLANT Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MaritimeForcesAtlantic.