Canadian Coast Guard Officially Opens New Hartley Bay Station and Dedicates CCGS Cadboro Bay into Service
June 28, 2024
Hartley Bay, British Columbia – The Canadian Coast Guard plays an essential role in ensuring the safety of mariners and protection of Canada’s marine environment. Through the $3.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada is supporting that work and improving marine safety and protecting Canada’s waters and coasts today, and for the future.
Last Tuesday, Canadian Coast Guard personnel and members of the Gitga’at First Nation celebrated the grand opening of the newly-constructed Canadian Coast Guard Station Hartley Bay funded under the Oceans Protection Plan and dedicated the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Cadboro Bay into service.
In an unprecedented partnership, the Canadian Coast Guard worked closely with the Gitga’at First Nation throughout the planning and construction of the new station, located on the southwest shore of Hartley Bay. The Hartley Bay station consists of a station building, a residence with sleeping quarters for six personnel, and a large floating concrete breakwater.
The Canadian Coast Guard also held a dedication into service ceremony for the CCGS Cadboro Bay, which included the traditional breaking of a ceremonial bottle on the ship’s bow. The CCGS Cadboro Bay is a high-endurance self-righting lifeboat that has been in operation in British Columbia since 2019. The vessel is one of 20 search and rescue lifeboats that are being constructed and delivered under the National Shipbuilding Strategy to provide the Canadian Coast Guard with safe, modern, and Canadian-made equipment needed to deliver programs and critical services to Canadians.
By tradition, a civilian is invited to sponsor a vessel for its well-being and continued service, and to wish the vessel “good luck.” For the CCGS Cadboro Bay, the Canadian Coast Guard is proud to have three sponsors for a vessel for the first time in its history, representing each of the three clans of the Gitga’at First Nation.
The Oceans Protection Plan is a Canadian success story. When Indigenous Peoples, industry, communities, scientists, and government work together to protect our people and environment, grow our economy, and support good jobs across the country, we deliver real results. A renewed and expanded Oceans Protection Plan will keep our oceans and coasts safe and healthy, advance reconciliation, and build a clean future for our children and grandchildren.