HMCS Regina returns from refit with a new patch

Commander Tyson Bergmann, Regina’s Commanding Officer and Chief Petty Officer First Class Ian Biller, Regina’s Coxswain, present Sailor First Class Marianne Maxwell (holding newborn daughter Estella) HMCS Regina’s morale patch, which she designed. Inset: HMCS Regina’s new morale patch design. Photos supplied

Kateryna Bandura
Lookout Editor

HMCS Regina returned to the fleet after a maintenance period on May 19 with a new morale patch.

Designed by Sailor First Class (S1) Marianne Maxwell, Weapons Engineering Technician with HMCS Regina, the patch signifies new beginnings for the ship’s adventures.

“I had fun making it and a majority of the ship’s company loved it,” she said.

HMCS Regina’s new morale patch design. Photos supplied

S1 Maxwell has been Regina’s member since 2019 and has made morale patches for the ship’s company before.

The refreshing design incorporates a trident with the Regina Prairie Bison skull and iconic Regina crown as part of the three prongs. The ship and the waves crashing in the background are an homage to the wartime paint job Regina has carried since 2019.

“I tried to make it look like the paint is washing off in the appearance of waves crashing. I kept the text simple to not take away from the main design,” she said.

She says her favourite element of the patch is the trident.

“Tridents are depicted as powerful weapons forged and used by different gods, sailors, and fishermen in ancient times,” she says. “I thought it was a great idea for a navy morale patch.”

Coming up with the concept and designing it took about one day, but the production of the whole order took about two months. S1 Maxwell says she is thankful the order was completed well before the ship was due back from the maintenance period.

“I think it was a success; I wouldn’t change a thing,” she says. Her designs for various navy-related artwork have been published on social media before, and she has received many requests for more design work.

Although S1 Maxwell could not be present when the morale patches were being distributed to the ship’s company due to her parental leave, the new executive command team of HMCS Regina invited her to the office to present the new morale patch to her personally.

“They asked me to bring my newborn daughter Estella to be part of the presentation,” S1 Maxwell said. “I thought that was very sweet and supportive of them and I enjoyed seeing everyone again after being on parental leave. HMCS Regina has a lovely ships company.”