Season’s Greetings from the RCN Command Team

To all members of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) family, Chief Petty Officer 1st Class David Steeves and I would like to take a moment to wish each and every one of you a heartfelt season’s greetings.

We hope you are well this holiday season as we close off what has been another busy and productive year for the RCN. Your service to our country over the past year has once more been exemplary, and we join Canadians in saying thank you for your hard work and dedication. The work that you do – whether at sea or ashore, in uniform or out – makes a real difference in the world we live in. And, as always, our gratitude extends to your families and loved ones, as our work would be impossible without their continued sacrifice and support.

As you are all aware, we have faced some big challenges in the past year and we are absolutely amazed by what you’ve all been able to accomplish at every level of our organization. Whether you are a sailor working in our ships or ashore, or one of our civilian colleagues working in the many shops and offices across the country, you should be proud of what you’ve done this year.

We are amazed at how we’ve come together as an organization to deal with Covid-19. For our deployed sailors, the pandemic has impacted how you have dealt with being far from home, as your ability to go ashore in foreign ports was restricted. For our civilians and shore-based uniformed members, you have embraced new methods of working, ensuring that our camaraderie and teamwork remain strong. Whether those workplaces are at sea, ashore, or in our homes, you’ve all risen to the occasion.

We are amazed at the efforts and dedication our shore-based civilian and military personnel continue to demonstrate in order to maintain our current fleet at sea, as well as to bring new ships online and progress the construction of others.

And we continue to be amazed by how our sailors deal with the risk of being at sea, as evidenced by the recent engine room fire in Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Fredericton. We are all truly grateful that no one was injured on board, and that the ship and its crew are on their way home.

And while our regular business continues, we are amazed at the passion and drive so many of you bring to changing the culture within the RCN to one that is more equitable and safe. After several years of unsuccessful culture change efforts, the frustration felt by many of you has bubbled over into a crisis of confidence and trust in leadership. To all of you we say that we are committed to using the knowledge we have gained in speaking with many of you this past year to keep culture change high on the agenda. We are determined that this is not just a spike in activity, but that we fully realize as an organization what actions are needed to bring about progressive change within the RCN, in the spirit of safety for all, optimism, openness and trust.

So, as we move into the holiday season, the Command Chief and I encourage all of you to take the time to rest and recharge so that when you return to the RCN fold in the New Year, you will be ready to tackle head-on the challenges 2022 will bring.

Finally, as your Senior Leaders, we are humbled, honoured and committed to continue to lead the RCN and we personally want to say thank you to you and your loved ones for your service, dedication and sacrifice. Bravo Zulu to each and every one of you – military and civilian, at sea and ashore.

Wishing you and yours the season’s best,