Canada’s oldest naval vessel visits the Sault
Crowds showed up by the thousands to view Canada’s oldest and longest serving naval vessel. HMCS Oriole spent the Canada Day weekend docked at the Port of Sault Ste. Marie, where the crew offered free tours of the 101-year-old sailing ship.
The Oriole was first launched in 1921, and was eventually commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy in 1954. These days, Oriole serves as a training vessel, with a crew complement of 21.
Sailor 3rd Class Miguel Tremblay says unlike the RCN’s modern fleet, every task aboard Oriole is done manually.
“Nothing is mechanical, everything is done by hand,” said Tremblay. “Just to leave a harbour in comparison to our big warships, you undo the lines and it’s all by engine. Here, everything is done by hand. The anchor is the worst thing in the world. Any sort of anchor, that’s all done by hand.”
Tremblay says Oriole has undergone some upgrades over the years, giving the crew some amenities the ship wouldn’t otherwise have.
“We have outlets and plugs now, which is great, we have modern toilets, so that’s a nice feature to have at sea,” he said, adding the navy is also trying out wifi on the ship to give the crew a means to communicate with home.
Tremblay said Sunday over 3,000 people have toured the ship while it was docked in the Sault over the Canada Day weekend. Most remarked on how well the century-old vessel is aging, particularly the wood work. Tremblay says keeping the wood in good condition is in itself a full-time job.
“It’s a lot of work maintaining her,” he said. “One of the skills I’ve learned is wood work, something I never thought I’d (learn) on a navy vessel. Most of our ships are steel and paint. This one is wood, so it’s a lot of wood work, and care and love for sure.”
HMCS Oriole will set sail for Thessalon on Monday, with tours to be offered the following day. The journey from the Sault to Thessalon is expected to take close to nine hours.
Even at 101-years-old, the crew says Oriole will likely remain in service for some time to come.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.