The Honourable John C. Crosbie, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced today that he is honoured to be the guest of Canada's Navy for a Vice-Regal tour from September 17 to 19. As part of the Canadian Navy's Centennial, HMCS St. John's will be embarking Their Honours, The Honourable John C. Crosbie and Mrs. Jane Furneaux Crosbie at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, September 17, for a Vice-Regal tour of Trinity and Conception Bays. This revives a more than century's old tradition that began when Britain's Royal Navy would annually provide a warship for the governors of Newfoundland to undertake tours of various parts of Newfoundland and Labrador by sea, since there were very few roads in existence.

Prior to boarding HMCS St. John's, His Honour will inspect an Honour Guard from the ship, following which the Lieutenant Governor will receive a 15-gun Vice-Regal Salute. Joining the Vice-Regal party will be day sailor guests consisting of members of local cadet units and other guests invited by the navy. The contingent of day sailors will change on each day of the three-day tour.

His Honour noted that this year's naval tour is the first to take place since 2006. While in Trinity Harbour on September 17, Their Honours will host a reception onboard for community, cultural and business representatives from the Bonavista Peninsula.

On Saturday, September 18, the HMCS St. John's will sail to Cupids and be part of the ongoing Cupids 400^th Anniversary celebrations. While anchored in Cupids Harbour, Their Honours and members of the HMCS St. John's crew will disembark and participate in several activities planned for this Vice Regal visit. This includes the bestowing of the Freedom of the City on HMCS St. John's by the Town of Cupids , a march by the ship's company to the Memorial Garden for a tree planting, and then on to the Discovery Centre where a reception hosted by Cupids 400 will be held for Their Honours and the HMCS St. John's.

While at anchor in Cupids, HMCS St. John's will be open for visitors on its upper decks with local tour boats providing transportation to and from the warship. The ship will be disembarking the members of the crew who will be participating in its annual fundraising Run the Rock team who are being transported to Port aux Basques to commence the 2010 run.

On Sunday, September 19, HMCS St. John's will return Their Honours to St. John's.

"I am extremely pleased and appreciative of the offer by Canada's Navy to provide HMCS St. John's to reinstate this longstanding tradition of a Vice-Regal tour in Newfoundland and Labrador by sea," stated the Lieutenant Governor. "We are proud and honoured to have the opportunity to spend this time with some of Canada's finest sailors, many of whom hail from our own province. Jane and I look forward to meeting residents of the Bonavista Peninsula and Cupids area during our visit."

Throughout the trip, HMCS St. John's will be demonstrating ship capability for its guests.

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Media contact:

Gary Cake
Private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor
Government House
709-729-4494