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HMCS St. John’s pays historic visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland

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Community Relations: HMCS St. John’s pays historic visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland

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Credit: Cpl Peter Reed

Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter MacKay is greeted by the piping party aboard HMCS St. John’s during the frigate’s historic visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland.

On the first visit of a Canadian warship since 1960s, HMCS St. John’s sailed into Belfast, Northern Ireland on May 31, 2007. The ship, having just completed NATO Exercise Noble Mariner in the Baltic Sea, stopped at the port city before heading home to Halifax. The visit underlined the political progress of Northern Ireland in the wake of the Belfast Agreement that has restored self-government.

The significance of the visit was marked by a gathering on the ship’s flight deck, hosted by the Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom James R. Wright, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter MacKay, and the Commander of Joint Task Force Atlantic Rear Admiral Dean McFadden. Many Northern Ireland government officals also attended, including the Speaker of the Senate.

“The visit to Belfast was about strengthening ties and renewing the seafaring bond between Canada and Northern Ireland, both of which were soundly achieved,” said Commander Brian Santarpia, Commanding Officer of HMCS St. John’s.

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