The Homecoming

The Homecoming

Victoria , British Columbia

Type

Other

The Homecoming commemorates the Royal Canadian Navy's presence in Victoria and was unveiled on the navy's centenary - May 4, 2010. It marks the nation's gratitude to the tens of thousands of sailors who have served with the force on more than 850 Canadian vessels.

The bronze statues, sculpted by local artist Nathan Scott, depict a Canadian sailor reuniting with his daughter and dog upon return from deployment. Homecoming is a special moment for sailors and their families. The statues sit on a granite and marble base which depicts crests of each ship in the Canadian Navy’s Pacific Fleet.

Honorary Navy Captain Cedric Steele was the driving force behind the project. The site for the monument was donated by Greater Victoria Harbour Authority chairman Bill Wellburn. The patron of the monument was Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Steven Point who was supported by retired Vice-Admiral Nigel Brodeur and then-Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific Rear Admiral Tyrone Pile. It was funded through the sale of pewter small-scale copies of the statues and commemorative bricks. The bricks are engraved in memory of service men and surround the monument.

Near the memorial is another statue, the Veteran Sailor, which overlooks the scene.

Inscription

[front plaques/plaques sur le devant]

HMCS
ALGONQUIN

HMCS
CALGARY

HMCS
OTTAWA

HMCS
REGINA

HMCS
VANCOUVER

HMCS
WINNIPEG

[right side plaques/plaques sur le côté droit]

HMCS
ORIOLE

HMCS
PROTECTEUR

HMCS
VICTORIA

[back plaques/plaques à l’arrière]

HMCS
BRANDON

HMCS
EDMONTON

HMCS
NANAIMO

HMCS
SASKATOON

HMCS
WHITEHORSE

HMCS
YELLOWKNIFE

[left side/côté gauche]
THE HOMECOMING

[stone/pierre]

Service to
Canada

SUPPORTERS

ADM J ANDERSON
LCDR P CROFTON
VADM G GARNETT
CMDRE T HEATH
RADM W HUGHES
CMDRE D MCLEAN
RADM R MOORE
E COLLIER MURPHY
HCAPT(N) C STEELE
CMDRE R WESTWOOD
VADM N BRODEUR
CMDRE J CUMMING
VADM R GEORGE
CMDRE H HENDEL
CMDRE M KAVANAGH
HCMDRE R MARIN
CDM M MORRES
CMDRE R OKROS
RADM K SUMMERS
B CAMPBELL
CMDRE J DRENT
RADM R GIROUARD
CAPT(N) P HINTON
HCAPT(N) L KNOTT
RADM M MARTIN
RADM D MURPHY
HCAPT(N) H SEGAL
VADM C THOMAS
M CHISHOLM
VADM JY FORCIER
VEN R HARRISON
J HORTON
RADM R LEIR
CAPT(N) J MASON
CAPT(N) T MURPHY
CAPT(N) C SHAW
RADM R. WELLAND
RADM R YANOW

“Ready Aye Ready”

[stone/pierre]
(front/devant)

Rock
of Honour

The Butchart Gardens
CAPITAL IRON
PROVINCIAL CAPITAL COMMISSION
LEAGUE
POINT HOPE MARITIME
KEYCORP
BAYVIEW RESIDENCES
HOTEL GRAND PACIFIC
HARTWIG INDUSTRIES
REALTORS of Greater Victoria
OBLUM BROWN
PAVING ISLAND ASPHALT
SCANSA
Scotiabank
TIMES COLONIST
ROYAL LONDON WAX MUSEUM
Greater Victoria CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

TERRY FARMER
& FAMILY

GLOWICKI
& FAMILY

SKENE
& FAMILY

CARSON
& FAMILY

MAY & RON
LOU-POU

LYNN & BILL
MacDONALD

KEITH RETTINGER - MIKE HARTSHORNE - DOUG ENNS - BILL LANG
REG OWENS - DENGORD FAMILY - AKIKO KAMITAKAHARA
GREG ABBOT - BRUCE MCFARLANE - GERRY & DI STEVENSON - WILSON BROS
KEITH REED - KATAJIMA FAMILY - JIM BROWNRIGG - LEN GIBBS
VERA HEAD - NAZ & YASMINE RAYANI

"Inspired by Gratitude"

(back/arrière)

Image of the fouled anchor insignia of the Royal Canadian Navy in bronze.

[stone/pierre]
(front/devant)

100th Anniversary of the Canadian Navy

Prior to 1910, the Royal Navy provided maritime defence of British North America and for the Dominion of Canada from 1867. With World War I brewing in Eurpe early in the 20th century, Great Britain redistrubited the British fleet and reduced its stations in Halifax and Esquimalt. The Government of Canada moved to assume full responsibility to protect Canada's major seaports and the longest coastline in the world. On May 4, 1910, under the authority of the Naval Services Act, the Navy was created. On August 1911 it was designated the Royal Canadian Navy by King George V until in 1968 when Canada's Navy became Maritime Command within the Canadian Armed Forces. During the Navy's first century Canada sent 850 warships to sea under a naval ensign.

One hundred years later, on May 4, 200 this statue is dedicated to the tens of thousands of Canadians who answered both the call of their country and of the sea through service in Canada's Navy. From cities, towns, villages and First Nations communities, they stepped forward to stand their watch at sea through two World Wars, War in Korea, the Cold War, the first Gulf War and the War on Terrorism. These ordinary men and women were extraordinary in their accoplishments and helped shaped the history of Canada as a great maritime nation.

This statue is inspired by public gratitude for their service and is a gift from their fellow citizens and shipmates. It represents the special moment in sailors lives when they return from the sea to once again meet their family.

May 4, 2010.

[slab/dalle]

PROVINCIAL CAPITAL COMMISSION

To commemorate the Canadian Navy's 100th anniversary, the Province of British Columbia and the Provincial Capital Commission are proud to provide the site for the Homecoming Statue, unveiled May 4, 2010.

Hon. Kevin Krueger
Minister of Tourism, Culture & the Arts
and Minister Responsible for the Provincial Capital Commission

Provincial Capital Commission Board of Directors

Bill Wellburn, Chair       Lynda Hundleby
Barbara Brink               Lynn Hunter
Allan Cassidy               Wayne Hunter
Chris Coleman              Russell Irvine
Jane Durante               Susan Marsden
David Everett               Dean Murdock
Christopher Fairbank     William Oppen
                    CEO: Ray Parks

Connecting & Celebrating the Capital with all British Columbians

(back/arrière)

Image of the fouled anchor insignia of the Royal Canadian Navy in bronze/Image de l’insigne d’ancre engagée en bronze de la Marine royale du Canada.

[pave stones/pavés]

ANTARCTIC

INDIAN

ATLANTIC

PACIFIC

ARCTIC