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
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