Day 2 Of Royal Tour

Day Two of the Queen’s visit to Canada features an event in Halifax harbour that’s rarely seen in Canadian waters.

The Queen is reviewing a flotilla of 28 international warships on the city’s waterfront — including the British aircraft carrier Ark Royal and the USS Wasp, an imposing American assault ship.

The review marks the Canadian navy’s 100th anniversary.

The review is one of the highlights of the Queen’s 22nd visit to Canada, which began Monday in Halifax.

The Wasp and Ark Royal are flying Canadian flags that flew on the Peace Tower on Victoria Day.

Two 21-gun salutes are also planned during the review, which the Queen will conduct while on board HMCS St. John’s.

Early Tuesday morning, tugs began moving the massive warships to their spots throughout the harbour and the Bedford Basin in a heavy dawn fog.

Military officials said the scene was reminiscent of the Second World War when the basin was home base for warships and merchant vessels.

Fleet reviews were originally done as a show of military strength.

Princess Margaret conducted the first fleet review in Canada in July 1958 to mark British Columbia’s centenary, and 11 months later the Queen reviewed Canadian and American warships near Montreal at the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Queen Elizabeth reviewed 30 ships and submarines of the Royal Canadian Navy in Halifax harbour later in 1959.

The Defence Department says a fleet review was held on the east and west coasts in 1985 to mark the navy’s 75th year.

Retired vice-admiral Dusty Miller, who is slated to be on HMCS Athabaskan for the fleet review, said the event is important for the navy.

“It rarely happens, so it’s pretty special,” Miller said in an interview in advance of the Queen’s arrival.

The second day of the tour centres on the navy’s history as the Queen and Prince Philip are also scheduled to present a plaque honouring HMCS Sackville, Canada’s naval memorial. The Sackville is a Flower-class corvette that distinguished itself during the Second World War in transatlantic convoys.

On board the HMCS St. John’s, the 84-year-old Queen Elizabeth will be carried between two rows of anchored warships and pass through the basin, under the Macdonald and MacKay bridges, then out the harbour to a line of Canadian vessels.

The crew on each vessel will salute the Queen, give three cheers and wave their caps as her frigate sails past the ships, dressed in the flags and pennants of their home countries.

The first ship she will pass will be HMCS Charlottetown, which will trigger the first 21-gun salute.

Weather permitting, the Snowbirds aerobatic team will be part of a multi-nation flypast that will include vintage aircraft, Hornet fighter jets and helicopters.

“My mother once said that this country felt like home, away from home, for the Queen of Canada. Prime minister, I am delighted to report that it still does and I am delighted to be back amongst you all,” she said in her first of four speeches during her tour of five Canadian cities.

“Canadians have by their own endeavours built a country and a society which is widely admired across the world. I am fortunate to have been a witness to many of the developments and accomplishments of modern Canada. As Queen of Canada for nearly six decades, my pride in this country remains undimmed … It is very good to be home.”