SARNIA - The Canadian Coast Guard celebrated its 50th birthday in Sarnia Friday morning, as the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled a silver collector coin honouring the nation's maritime protectors.
The coin features the first surface ship to reach the North Pole, icebreaker CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, the flagship of the Canadian Coast Guard that has been involved in guarding the country's Arctic sovereignty.
Marc Rothwell, commanding officer of the icebreaker CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, welcomed the distinction.
"The whole fleet -- officers, the crew, commanding officers -- are quite proud to serve on our three coasts and inland communities," said Capt. Rothwell, who first sailed to the Arctic 20 years ago, from St. John's, Nfld.
"This is a great milestone. Not just for the Government of Canada to commemorate, but for Canadians to celebrate the tremendous courage of the men and women of the Canadian Coast Guard," said Jeff Watson, MP of Essex.
The 50th milestone comes on the heels of federal cuts to the Coast Guard, which has taken the brunt of Department of Fisheries and Oceans cuts.
The Central and Arctic Region office in Sarnia is to lose about 35 positions over three years, part of a national plan to reduce the Coast Guard's five operating regions to three, and includes moving management positions from Sarnia to Montreal.
Watson doused public and expert concerns over potential jeopardizing of maritime safety and search-and-rescue operations, as Coast Guard communications centres monitor distress calls and broadcast safety information such as weather and traffic warnings.
"The consolidation will enhance marine safety by streamlining the overall organizational command structure of individual communities," said Watson.
Despite job losses, Coast Guard assistant Commissioner Wade Spurrell emphasized Sarnia is "critical" for operations on Great Lakes with its Marine Communications and Traffic Services centre.
"While there will be changes here in Sarnia and its role will change as the new regional headquarters moves to Montreal, there will also be some additions and improvements to our MCTS centre here," said Spurrell.
The red-and-white icebreaker CCGS Griffon, stationed at the Sarnia Government Dock, was chosen as the backdrop for the golden jubilee commemoration.
Each silver coin is accompanied by a vial containing a small piece of steel from the bow of the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, collected when the ship was refitted.
Source: http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2012/07/13/19985486.html
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The coin features the first surface ship to reach the North Pole, icebreaker CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, the flagship of the Canadian Coast Guard that has been involved in guarding the country's Arctic sovereignty.
Marc Rothwell, commanding officer of the icebreaker CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, welcomed the distinction.
"The whole fleet -- officers, the crew, commanding officers -- are quite proud to serve on our three coasts and inland communities," said Capt. Rothwell, who first sailed to the Arctic 20 years ago, from St. John's, Nfld.
"This is a great milestone. Not just for the Government of Canada to commemorate, but for Canadians to celebrate the tremendous courage of the men and women of the Canadian Coast Guard," said Jeff Watson, MP of Essex.
The 50th milestone comes on the heels of federal cuts to the Coast Guard, which has taken the brunt of Department of Fisheries and Oceans cuts.
The Central and Arctic Region office in Sarnia is to lose about 35 positions over three years, part of a national plan to reduce the Coast Guard's five operating regions to three, and includes moving management positions from Sarnia to Montreal.
Watson doused public and expert concerns over potential jeopardizing of maritime safety and search-and-rescue operations, as Coast Guard communications centres monitor distress calls and broadcast safety information such as weather and traffic warnings.
"The consolidation will enhance marine safety by streamlining the overall organizational command structure of individual communities," said Watson.
Despite job losses, Coast Guard assistant Commissioner Wade Spurrell emphasized Sarnia is "critical" for operations on Great Lakes with its Marine Communications and Traffic Services centre.
"While there will be changes here in Sarnia and its role will change as the new regional headquarters moves to Montreal, there will also be some additions and improvements to our MCTS centre here," said Spurrell.
The red-and-white icebreaker CCGS Griffon, stationed at the Sarnia Government Dock, was chosen as the backdrop for the golden jubilee commemoration.
Each silver coin is accompanied by a vial containing a small piece of steel from the bow of the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, collected when the ship was refitted.
Source: http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2012/07/13/19985486.html
Find the best coin supplies on the market - we ship internationally - www.boscastlesupplies.com
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