2007 Blessing of the Fleet
The annual Blessing of the Fleet was held on Saturday June 23 at Thunder Bay’s Marina Park. The MacGillivary Pipe Band opened with a stirring tattoo. 60 people watched the parade of sail that included 26 vessels: the Harbourmaster’s boat, the Coast Guard Cutter Cape Challion, OPP, and Coast Guard Auxiliary Loon Magic. A dragon boat was paddled by breast cancer survivors. The crew in HMCS GRIFFON’s RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) did an admirable job marshalling the parade. We were pleased to overcome a number of technical hurdles: the sound system on land worked well and people in vessels tuned to channel 71 could hear us.
The Blessing of the Fleet is made possible by the help of a number of people, and it is appreciated:
The Officiants: Rev’d Ed Swayze, chaplain to the Mission to Seafarers; the Ven. Andrew Hoskin, Anglican Archdeacon of Thunder Bay, and Rev’d Kerry McLaughlin, chair of the Thunder Bay Council of Clergy.
The volunteers who worked to make the Blessing of the Fleet a success, particularly Barb & Craig Williams;
LCdr Les Newman, master of ceremonies;
Guy Jarvis, Harbourmaster, Thunder Bay Port Authority;
The City of Thunder Bay for the use of Marina Park;
The MacGillivary Pipe Band www.members.shaw.ca/macgillivraypipeband;
LCdr Jill Marrack, Commanding Officer HMCS GRIFFON for GRIFFON’S assistance; and
Rollason Flowers Limited for the donation of flowers.