Mr. Chair, honourable committee members, thank you for the important work you are doing.
My name is Bill Woodburn, and I'm here today with my close colleague and good friend, Mr. Wendall Brown. We are both representing the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust. We are both retired naval officers, and I might add, proud veterans.
The trust is an independent, not-for-profit Canadian charity, operated by volunteers. Our unique mandate is to ensure the long-term preservation of HMCS Sackville throughout the 21st century and beyond, and to honour those who served or continue to serve at sea.
Sackville is the last remaining World War II corvette, and is recognized by the Government of Canada as the Canadian naval memorial and a national historic site.
Every year on the first Sunday in May, we commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic. It was the longest continuous battle of the entire war. According to Sir Winston Churchill, it was the only battle that we could not afford to lose. This was not just about the navy; it was a monumental undertaking to save the free world. It forced our country to transform and grow into an independently industrial nation, holding meaningful voice amongst our allies.
Sackville is not just a historic ship or a naval monument; it is a concrete and enduring symbol of one of the greatest achievements of our nation. I suggest that we would not be sitting here today if not for everything that HMCS Sackville signifies. That is what this ship means to Canada.
More than 4,400 Canadian sailors, airmen and merchant mariners perished during the battle. Our navy would expand from six ships to 373 ships. Of the 269 corvettes built worldwide for the war effort, 123 of them were built here in Canada, in Canadian shipyards found coast to coast.
The global importance of Sackville as the last remaining vessel of its kind was recently confirmed by its appearance, using modern-day technology, in the Netflix film Greyhound, championed by Mr. Tom Hanks.
Canadian corvettes were named after Canadian towns and cities and crewed by men from every province and every walk of life. They suffered an endless mission of convoy duty in the North Atlantic under every imaginable condition. Sackville was there through it all, witnessing the hardships and the horrors endured by Canadians at war at sea. This year marks the 80th anniversary of Sackville's commissioning.
Our trust is made up of approximately 1,000 members, spanning every province, the U.S.A. and Europe. Our membership consists of serving military, veterans and civilians alike. Sackville exists today because of the efforts and dedication of our volunteers.
We are funded primarily through donations and the ongoing support of our members. Each summer we open the ship to visitors on the Halifax waterfront. Sackville has been rated as a top tourist destination in this city for several years now, based on its unique historic and commemorative significance.
However, collaboration truly holds the key to our survival. Without doubt, the strong support of the Royal Canadian Navy has been crucial. More recently, we have partnered with like-minded organizations to help create a maritime heritage district on the Halifax waterfront. In addition, we have established an agreement with the RCN and Heritage Canada to assist with the conservation of the ship, and have benefited from a formal agreement with the Canadian government to help us fund a crucial refit, which I'm pleased to say will be completed within a few days.
As a result, we have given Sackville a new lease on life for the next decade or so by addressing significant deterioration in the hull. However, long-term preservation will eventually require the hull to be completely replaced.
We estimate the cost to be in the order of $12 million. Raising this money will be the main focus of the trust in the years ahead. In doing so, we look forward to working with all three levels of government and will need their support and guidance to achieve this vital goal.
HMCS Sackville represents and is a reminder of what Canadians from all walks of life, from all regions of the country, can do in times of peril. From builders and shipyards, to sailors who served, to families who were so tragically affected, Sackville still resonates as a pillar of our collective national history. We must ensure that legacy endures.
I would add that we would be pleased to invite each and every one of you to visit the Sackville at your convenience, should you ever be in Halifax.
Thank you very much.