Today the Naval Reserve will mark 100 years of service to Canada with approximately 4,000 Naval Reservists marching in Freedom of the City parades across 24 Canadian cities.

“Today we pay homage to our Naval Reserve for a hundred years of dedicated service to Canada. Chief Petty Officer Tom Lizotte and I are thrilled to see so many Canadians celebrate this milestone alongside their local Naval Reserve divisions and grant them the honour of the Freedom of the City. Our exceptional “Citizen Sailors” serve their communities proudly and have achieved Admiral Hose’s vision of connecting Canadians across this great country to their Navy”

Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander Royal Canadian Navy

“In addition to the Naval Reserve Mission of augmenting the Royal Canadian Navy, our citizen sailors provide a Canadian Armed Forces presence and an important connection to their local communities. Freedom of the City parades demonstrate the strength of that connection. As we celebrate our first hundred years, we recognize today’s Naval Reservists, whose dedication and professionalism led to this significant honour.” 

Commodore Patrick. J. Montgomery, Commander Naval Reserve

• Freedom of the City is granted to a military entity that has enjoyed a long and happy relationship with a municipality. The honour entitles the unit, for all time, to march through the city, a historic ceremony dating back to when cities had walls and gates that were barred to both friends and foe.

• Today the Naval Reserve is present across Canada from Victoria, British Columbia, to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Currently, 4,100 members serve in 24 units across the country, called Naval Reserve Divisions, and are coordinated by the Naval Reserve Headquarters located in Quebec City.

• Naval Reserve Divisions remain ready to “Help, Lead, and Fight” as they ensure they maintain the highest levels of training and readiness to support operations at home or abroad. This past year alone, Naval Reservists have served on Operation REASSURANCE in support of NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe, supported counter narcotic operations in the Caribbean, assisted with the cleanup efforts after Hurricane Fiona in the Atlantic provinces and fought wildfires in Quebec.

• Established in 1923, the Naval Reserve provides training and augmentation for the Royal Canadian Navy writ large. By the end of the Second World War, Canada had the third largest navy in the world with 95,000 men and women in uniform, with over three quarters of these men and women being members of the Royal Canadian Navy

• Here is a list of Naval Reserve Divisions across Canada:

  • HMCS Malahat, Victoria (BC)
  • HMCS Discovery, Vancouver (BC)
  • HMCS Nonsuch, Edmonton (AB)
  • HMCS Tecumseh, Calgary (AB)
  • HMCS Unicorn, Saskatoon (SK)
  • HMCS Queen, Regina (SK)
  • HMCS Chippawa, Winnipeg (MB)
  • HMCS Griffon, Thunder Bay (ON)
  • HMCS Prevost, London (ON)
  • HMCS Hunter, Windsor (ON)
  • HMCS Star, Hamilton (ON)
  • HMCS York, Toronto (ON)
  • HMCS Cataraqui, Kingston (ON)
  • HMCS Carleton, Ottawa (ON)
  • HMCS Donnacona, Montréal (QC)
  • HMCS Montcalm, Québec (QC)
  • HMCS d'Iberville, Rimouski (QC)
  • HMCS Radisson, Trois-Rivières (QC)
  • HMCS Champlain, Chicoutimi (QC)
  • HMCS Jolliet, Sept-Îles (QC)
  • HMCS Brunswicker, Saint John (NB)
  • HMCS Queen Charlotte, Charlottetown (PE)
  • HMCS Scotian, Halifax (NS)
  • HMCS Cabot, St. John's (NL)

Related products

• Royal Canadian Navy Twitter Account
• Royal Canadian Navy Facebook Account

Associated links

• Naval Reserve Centennial 2023
• Naval Reserve - Canada.ca
• DND Twitter

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

Lieutenant-Commander Paul Pendergast
Phone: 902-943-6413
Email: paul.pendergast@forces.gc.ca