A trip home for HMCS Edmonton

The ship’s company with Mayor Sohi and Mrs. Esther Starkman, HMCS Edmonton’s sponsor. Nine members of the ship’s company took part in the visit, including Lieutenant-Commander Tyler Smith, Commanding Officer, and Lieutenant Christian Walsh, Edmonton’s new Executive Officer. The ship’s crew consisted of a diverse contingent, including Cooks, Engineers, Communicators, and Combat Information Operators – all with varying years of service and experience in the Royal Canadian Navy.

Kateryna Bandura,
Lookout Editor

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HMCS Edmonton’s crew left Esquimalt waters mid-September to visit their namesake city.

Nine members of the ship’s company travelled to the prairies Sept. 26 to mark the 25^th anniversary of Edmonton’s commissioning.

“As we’ve yet to find a way to navigate the ship across the Rocky Mountains, visits like this are the next best way to learn more about the city, and have its residents meet their sailors,” said Sub-Lieutenant (SLt) Gordon Emerslund, Deputy Operations Officer with HMCS Edmonton.

HMCS Edmonton is the first and only ship in the Royal Canadian Navy to carry that name.

SLt Emerslund said the five-day trip was an excellent opportunity to strengthen an incredibly strong connection with the City of Edmonton and its people. The crew was busy with a flurry of engagements, including tours of the City Hall and the Alberta Legislature, and visits to local public schools and cadet units.

“Edmonton has such a vibrant community, and the city staff were invaluable in helping us coordinate our plans,” SLt Emerslund said.

One major highlight of the week’s trip was a visit to Norwood School, where members volunteered to prepare and serve food to students through a meal program run by the charity E4C. The crew used the occasion to present E4C with a cheque for $1,000 from the ship’s charity fund.

Another highlight was meeting the ship’s sponsor, Mrs. Esther Starkman, who served in the role since 1996. 

The crew had two residents of Edmonton city: Sailor Third Class Class Joseph Wright and Aviator Anna Brittain. They proved to be great ambassadors to the city and had a chance to visit their families.

“The namesake city visit was a great occasion for us to engage with the city and community who’ve so generously bestowed upon us their name,” SLt Emerslund said.

Lieutenant-Commander Tyler Smith, HMCS Edmonton’s Commanding Officer, receives an official certificate celebrating HMCS Edmonton’s 25 years of service from Amarjeet Sohi, Mayor of Edmonton.