February 20, 2015
OTTAWA — On the occasion of the awarding of a Meritorious Unit Commendation to HMCS Toronto by the United States Navy, in recognition of the ship’s outstanding work during Operation ARTEMIS, the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence, and Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy issued the following statements.
Minister Kenney:
“I am proud to congratulate Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Toronto on its Meritorious Unit Commendation, which recognizes the outstanding work of our sailors, and air men and women, who work in partnership with our allies to increase peace and security in the maritime environment of the greater Middle East region, helping to deny international terrorists the use of shipping lanes and disrupting the drug trade funding their activities.
“The members of HMCS Toronto are a reflection of our Canadian Armed Forces as a whole, who conduct themselves with honour and professionalism, both in defending Canada at home and in increasing safety and security abroad on international missions such as Operation ARTEMIS.
“On behalf of all Canadians, I thank our colleagues from the United States for recognizing the outstanding service of these men and women with this prestigious commendation.”
“On behalf of all the men and women serving in the RCN, I congratulate the current and former members of HMCS Toronto on receiving this Meritorious Unit Commendation.
“An honour such as this continues to demonstrate the world-class capabilities of the Royal Canadian Navy’s ships and their crews. The training and hard work of the sailors on board HMCS Toronto enabled the ship to conduct over 60 intercepts during 2013, which resulted in nine major drug seizures and the destruction of more than 8,500 kilograms of illegal narcotics.
“I would like to thank Admiral Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations for the United States Navy, for bestowing this honour on HMCS Toronto and its crews and I congratulate the officers and sailors receiving this commendation today for modelling what duty and dedication entails and for upholding the Royal Canadian Navy’s tremendous reputation for excellence at sea.”
Lauren Armstrong
Press Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Office of the Minister of National Defence
(613) 996-3100
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca
For more information on the Royal Canadian Navy please visit www.navy-marine.forces.gc.ca or follow us @RCN_MRC
