Dartmouth, Nova Scotia - Today, Darren Fisher, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors and Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, officially welcomed Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Capt Jacques Cartier to the fleet, on behalf of the Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
A dockside ceremony was held at the vessel's homeport, the Canadian Coast Guard's base in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Parliamentary Secretary Fisher and Halifax West Member of Parliament, Lena Metlege Diab, were joined by Andy Smith, Deputy Commissioner - Shipbuilding and Materiel of the Canadian Coast Guard and Gary Ivany, Assistant Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard Atlantic Region for the occasion. The ceremony also included the traditional breaking of a bottle on the ship's bow by the vessel sponsor, Faith Scattolon.
In maritime tradition, the vessel sponsor is a civilian who participates in a vessel naming ceremony and takes an ongoing interest in the vessel's operations. The Canadian Coast Guard is proud to have Faith Scattolon as the vessel sponsor for the CCGS Capt Jacques Cartier. Ms. Scattolon joined Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 1981 and was instrumental in the development of the Oceans Branch and implementing the Oceans Act in the Maritimes. This success led to her holding senior leadership roles within Fisheries and Oceans Canada, eventually becoming Regional Director General. She is also an active volunteer within her community, having worked with Special Olympics Dartmouth and other organizations for many years.
The CCGS Capt Jacques Cartier, like its two sister ships the CCGS Sir John Franklin and the CCGS John Cabot, is an Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel equipped to support scientists in the collection and analysis of data on Canada's marine ecosystems and the impacts of climate change. The vessel features a full suite of state-of-the-art systems, including high-tech fishing trawls and four science labs. In addition to performing key science work, this vessel also performs other essential services such as search and rescue, environmental response, maritime security, and humanitarian missions.
