New Westminster to grant Freedom of the City to HMCS Discovery in honour of Naval Centennial

New Westminster, B.C. – The City of New Westminster will grant Freedom of the City to Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Discovery, Metro Vancouver's Naval Reserve Division, in a formal ceremony and parade this Sunday at 1:00 pm outside City Hall. The special event is part of a series of events commemorating the Canadian Navy’s centennial year, replicating a 400 year old tradition and demonstrating the good relations between the City of New Westminster and HMCS Discovery.

“We are very proud to grant this unique privilege to the men and women of HMCS Discovery in honour of the Canadian Navy’s 100th anniversary,” said Mayor Wayne Wright. “New Westminster has a long-standing connection to our armed forces and this is a great way to celebrate their immeasurable contribution to Canada throughout our history.”

The Freedom of the City means, in the physical sense, the granting of the privilege for a military unit to march through the city with “drums beating, colours flying, and bayonets fixed.” This is a prized honour that recognizes the honourable record of the military unit, demonstrates the affection and esteem with which it is held by the community along with the trust the citizenry has in the military to protect its democratic institutions.

As part of the formal ceremony, Lieutenant-Commander Elaine Fisher, Commanding Officer of HMCS Discovery will lead a parade of Naval Reservists, Veterans and Sea Cadets through the streets of New Westminster. The parade will step off at 12:55 pm from the Royal Westminster Regiment Armoury at 530 Queens Avenue and will march to the front steps of New Westminster City Hall, where the Chief Constable of the New Westminster Police Service will challenge the parade's advance. Following a short ceremony involving Lieutenant-Commander Fisher knocking on the front doors of City Hall with the pommel of her ceremonial sword, Mayor Wright will inspect the Guard of Honour and read a proclamation granting Freedom of the City. The Chief Constable will then allow the parade to continue along Royal Avenue and then up 6th Street back to the Armoury.

On May 4, 1910, under the authority of the Naval Service Act, the Canadian Naval Service was created. On August 1911, it was designated the Royal Canadian Navy by King George V. The year 2010 marks the Canadian Navy's 100th anniversary.

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For more information, please contact:

Rick Page
Director of Legislative Services and Communications, City of New Westminster
604-527-4632

Sub-Lieutenant Carli Sussman
Public Affairs Officer, HMCS Discovery
604-834-7731