Free Republic

HALIFAX (CP) - Hundreds of family members and friends, some waving flags and balloons, lined a Halifax dockyard Friday to welcome home the crew of HMCS Toronto more than six months after the vessel left for the Arabian Sea. Defence Minister Bill Graham, who was in Halifax to announce the military will spend $5 billion on 28 Sikorsky Cyclone helicopters, praised the 235 sailors and airmen for their contribution to the U.S.-led war on terrorism. "I wanted to recognize the particularly demanding role that the Toronto played in a very difficult situation," he said at CFB Halifax. "Have a great...

Whether you love your job or hate it, chances are you can go home at the end of a shift and do whatever you please to unwind. But the 235-person crew of HMCS Toronto won't have that convenience. Whether on duty or off, the group will scarcely be able to leave their workplace for the next six months. The ship sails out of Halifax Harbour today as part of Canada's commitment to the U.S.-led war on terrorism to take part in Operation Enduring Freedom. Cmdr. Bruce Belliveau, who will be at the helm, said Monday both ship and crew are...

News Release Canadian Navy Frigate Sets Sail for the Arabian Gulf in the Campaign Against Terrorism CMS 04.001 - January 9, 2004 OTTAWA - A Canadian Patrol Frigate, Her Majesty's Canadian Ship TORONTO, is scheduled to depart her homeport of Halifax, NS on Wednesday, 14 January, to join coalition naval forces as part of Canada's ongoing support to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), the US-led campaign against terrorism. HMCS TORONTO will deploy as part of Operation ALTAIR, initially sailing to Norfolk, Virginia where she will join the George Washington Carrier Strike Group before continuing to the Arabian Gulf Region. Training with...