The Homecoming
Municipality/Province: Victoria , BC
Memorial number: 59032-050
Type: Statues - bronze, plaques, stones, paver stones
Address: 814 Wharf Street
GPS coordinates: Lat: 48.42326 Long: -123.36924
Photo credit: Bal Sekha (Board Secretary of RCL Br. 127)
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.
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 found on memorial
[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
Street view
Note
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