News Releases
Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us  

January 13, 1997
(Executive Council)

 

The following is being distributed at the request of Land Force Atlantic Area:

Canadian rangers to travel 4,000 kilometres to mark Cabot 500 anniversary

Starting this Thursday, members of the Canadian Rangers in Newfoundland and Labrador will begin a six month, 4,000 kilometre journey to mark the Cabot 500 anniversary. The Rangers will travel by dog-team, snowmobile, boat or on foot to pass a ceremonial silver axe from the patrol in Labrador City through every patrol area in the province, finishing on June 24 in Bonavista. The relay will demonstrate the Ranger's operational capability and celebrate the spirit of adventure demonstrated by John Cabot in his voyage to the New World.

Major General Ray Crabbe, commander Land Force Atlantic Area, the army's regional command, will present the axe to commander of the Labrador City patrol, in a ceremony at Small Point, Labrador City at 10 a.m. Thursday, January 16. Lieutenant Finlay will lead the first leg of the relay overland by snowmobile to the patrol in Churchill Falls. From there, the axe will be carried north to Hebron, south along the coast of Labrador, across the Straits of Belle Isle and around the island of Newfoundland before being presented in a ceremony at Bonavista. On each leg of the journey the local patrol will visit the maximum number of communities along the route.

The Canadian Rangers provide a military presence in sparsely populated northern, coastal and isolated areas of Canada. Currently the Rangers consist of over 3,000 personnel in 132 units called patrols and under the Ranger Enhancement Program, this being expanded by the addition of 11 additional patrols in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Quebec.

The Cabot 500 Relay will provide a test of the Rangers' essential skills and training. They will use the modes of travel, as well as navigation and survival skills under arduous conditions that are fundamental to their military jobs.

Contact: Lieutenant Ed Hollett, Army Public Affairs, (709) 570- 4900, Ext: 4774

NOTE: Media representatives are able to accompany the patrols during this relay. Prior coordination is necessary to arrange transportation and equipment, including winter clothing, rations and sleeping bags, etc. Given the terrain, media representatives accompanying the Rangers should be prepared to spend at least 48 hours with the patrol. The Rangers are also employing communications systems which would enable live interviews from the field.

________________________ Canadian Rangers Atlantic Cabot 500 Relay Movement Table

Ser  From/To                  Approx    Date/Time      Contact          
                                km      Estimates      Point &
                                                       Remarks

1    Labrador City -               
     Churchill Falls            300     16-20 Jan.     land
2    Churchill Falls - Nain     400     20-28 Jan.     land(pre
                                                       posn fuel)
3    Nain - Hebron(return)      400     28 Jan. -      land/sea ice   
                                        02 Feb.         
4    Nain - Hopedale            150     02-07 Feb.     land/sea ice
5    Hopedale - Postville        70     07-09 Feb.     land/sea ice
6    Postville - Makkovik        50     09-10 Feb.     land/sea ice
7    Makkovik - Rigolet         120     10-11 Feb.     land/sea ice
8    Rigolet - Goose Bay        200     11-15 Feb.     land/sea ice
9    Goose Bay - Cartwright     220     15-21 Feb.     land/sea ice
10   Cartwright - Port Hope     220     21-28 Feb.     land/sea ice
     Simpson                             
11   Port Hope Simpson        
     - Red Bay                  160     28 Feb. -      land/sea ice   
                                        07 Mar.
12   Red Bay - Port Saunders     80     07-13 Mar.     land/sea
                                                       (St.Barbe)
13   Port Saunders    
     - St. Anthony              100     13-21 Mar.     Land/sea
14   St. Anthony - Roddickton   110     21-30 Mar.     sea
15   Roddickton - Springdale    120     30 Mar. -      sea (Baie Verte)
                                        08 Apr.
16   Springdale 
     - Rocky Harbour            180     08-15 Apr.     land (Wiltondale)
17   Rocky Hr - St.Georges      140     15-23 Apr.     sea (Lourdes)
18   St.Georges - Channel       150     23-30 Apr.     sea
19   Channel - Burgeo           110     30 Apr. -      sea
                                        07 May
20   Burgeo - Hermitage         110     07-15 May      sea
21   Hermitage - Milltown        45     15-19 May      sea (Conne River)
22   Milltown - Marystown        80     19-25 May      sea (Garnish)
23   Marystown - Clarenville    170     25-30 May      land
                                                       (Swift Current)
24   Clarenville - Terra Nova    90     30 May -       land 
                                        05 June        (week display)
25   Terra Nova - Lewisporte    150     05-10 June     land (Gander)
26   Lewisporte 
     - Bonavista North          100     10-17 June     sea (Musgrave)
27   Bonavista North -          110     17-24 June     sea 
     Bonavista                                         (Axe presentation
                                                       Bonavista
                                                       24 June 97)

Cabot 500 - Total distance covered: 4,135 (+) or approximately 4,000 kms

1997 01 13 3:20 p.m.

SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement