HMCS Fredericton left Halifax Harbor on Sunday for a six-month deployment to Europe in support of NATO operations.
The ship, with 256 sailors on board, departed at 14:00 AT to participate in Operation Reassurance.
The federal government says the Canadian Armed Forces’ support for NATO is helping to make Central and Eastern Europe more secure and stable.
Operation Reassurance began nine years ago and involves about a thousand members of the Canadian Armed Forces deployed for its mission.
Rear Admiral Brian Santarpia is commander of Naval Forces Atlantic. (Paul Leger/CBC)
Speaking after the departure, Rear Admiral Brian Santarpia, commander of Naval Forces Atlantic, said the ship would join other NATO ships in the Mediterranean.
He said there would be a permanent presence in the Mediterranean to monitor Russian activity.
Santarpia said HMCS Montreal and a supply ship will accompany HMCS Fredericton on its journey across the Atlantic.
Hundreds attended the departure ceremony, many of them members of sailors’ families.
Taryn Begin departed for her first deployment on HMCS Fredericton. (Paul Leger/CBC)
Taryn Begin said this is her first deployment and will be her longest absence from her husband and two sons.
“There’s a lot of nerves and apprehension, but one step at a time,” Begin said.
“It’s important to show what Canada stands for and what our values are. The ship is a really visible sign that everyone can see that Canada can send our military to protect the values we hold dear.”
Natasha Leduc said she was there to see off her partner, Kirby Bentley, who is a master sailor and marine technician.
Natasha Leduc says the experience of saying goodbye to her partner was like leaving her best friend. (Paul Leger/CBC)
A tearful Leduc said the experience was like “breaking up with her best friend,” but she understands the importance of Canada having a military presence in the region.
This isn’t Leduc’s first time, and she said she expects this deployment to be more difficult than the last.
“We grew up together,” Leduc said.
Two other naval vessels returned to Halifax in November. They were part of the same mission in support of NATO after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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