Julia LennipsOn July 25, 2020, HMCS Toronto set sail with 240 officers, sailors, and aviators onboard for a six-month overseas deployment on Op Reassurance.
This is the third time HMCS Toronto will deploy on Op Reassurance, and the 14th Royal Canadian Navy ship to represent the Government of Canada’s support to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe since 2014.
Cmdre. Richard Feltham, Commander Canadian Fleet Atlantic and Cdr. and Jeff Dargavel, Commanding Officer, HMCS Toronto, made an address prior to departure.
Cmdre. Richard Feltham says the ship had been under quarantine for 40 days before they even left the harbor.
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“As we get ready to go today for a period of an excessive six months in this difficult environment, we should always take a moment to reflect on the strength behind our uniforms that is our friends, family, and communities,” he said.
Cdr. Jeff Dargavel said the crew had to adjust as they worked through the challenges of planning for the deployment from home.
He stated, “I am very proud of the crew for their professionalism, dedication to the mission and resilience they’ve displayed in the lead up to our deployment.”
He continued, “Your support over several months of working from home during the height of pandemic through two weeks of self-isolation prior to our departure of the ship and now into our six-month deployment was and will continue to be critical to our success.”
Operation Reassurance is Canada’s participation in NATO’s deterrence and defence efforts in Europe, contributing to security and stability in the region.
Primarily they will be operating in the Baltic North Sea near the United Kingdom.
