June 11, 2015
Thursday June 11th 2015, Levis, Québec – Today, former sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy who had served in HMCS Algonquin gathered at Davie Shipbuilding to commemorate the paying off of this storied Canadian warship.
HMCS Algonquin is one of the Royal Canadian Navy’s four Tribal-Class Destroyers built at Davie in the early 1970’s and then refitted at Davie in the 1990’s during the Tribal Class Update and Modernization Project (TRUMP).
Ronald Bardier, Director of Production at Davie, who was also a General foreman during the TRUMP, spoke of the great successes of the HMCS Algonquin and her sister ships built at Davie, “The Tribal Class destroyers built at Davie have been the first line of anti-submarine and anti-aircraft defence for Canada for over four decades. We are incredibly proud of the contribution which Davie, awarded the title of North America’s #1 shipbuilder this year, has made to the defence of this nation.”
Serge Bertrand, Captain, Aerospace Controller, who served as Leading Seamen, NCIOp and Anti-Submarine Controller of HMCS Algonquin from 1982 to 1987 stated “Algonquin and her sister ships have been the flagships of the Royal Canadian Navy for the past four decades. Today we stand side by side with the men and women of Davie to pay our respect to this fine ship and pay tribute to those who both built and served in her.”
Alan Bowen, Davie’s Chief Executive Officer said, “The successful operation of these Royal Canadian Navy flagships over the past four decades is testament to the skills of the men and women of Davie who not only built, but also refitted them. We are honoured to be here today with the men and women who served in HMCS Algonquin to pay tribute. Naval shipbuilding has always been a core business for Davie, which has built the largest of ships for the Royal Canadian Navy as well as more recently being a key supplier for US Navy shipbuilding programs. This year we celebrate Davie’s 190th anniversary and the company continues to excel, delivering highly complex, mission-critical ships for export to international markets.”
