New Mid-Shore Patrol Vessels Named in Honour of Canadian Heroes

The Government of Canada has announced that the Canadian Coast Guard’s nine new Mid-Shore Patrol Vessels will be named after heroic Canadians who put their duty ahead of their safety in service to our country.

The vessels are currently under construction in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and are expected to enter service by 2013. They will be named:

  • CCGS Corporal Teather C.V., after Corporal Robert Gordon Teather, C.V., a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police diving team in Surrey, British Columbia. Corporal Teather rescued two fishers trapped in the hull of their capsized boat. This heroic rescue occurred in the early morning hours of September 26, 1981. Corporal Teather passed away November 14, 2004. For his actions Corporal Teather was awarded the Cross of Valour.

  • CCGS Constable Carrière, after Constable J.L. François Carrière, a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Underwater Recovery Team in Nova Scotia. Constable Carrière died on November 30, 1997, while conducting an underwater search of a vessel believed to be smuggling illegal drugs. Constable Carrière is listed on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Roll of Honour.

  • CCGS G. Peddle, after Canadian Coast Guard Chief Officer Gregory Paul Peddle, S.C., of Spaniard’s Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. Chief Officer Peddle and his colleagues, Senior Engineer Pierre Gallien and Leading Seaman Raymond C. Welcher, lost their lives on October, 15, 1989, when their fast rescue craft overturned in an attempt to rescue a diver off Middle Cove, Newfoundland. Chief Officer Peddle was awarded the Star of Courage.

  • CCGS Corporal McLaren M.M.V., after Corporal Mark Robert McLaren, M.M.V., of Peterborough, Ontario. Corporal McLaren was killed on December 5, 2008, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, when his Canadian-Afghan patrol was ambushed. During the attack, Corporal McLaren crawled through enemy fire to aid his team’s seriously injured interpreter. He was awarded the Medal of Military Valour.

  • CCGS A. LeBlanc, after Fishery Officer Agapit LeBlanc, of Bouctouche, New Brunswick. Mr. Leblanc joined the Canadian Fisheries and Marine Service in 1920. He was killed on October 20, 1926, while investigating illegal fishing vessels. His murder remains unsolved.

  • CCGS M. Charles, after Canadian Coast Guard Seaman Martin Charles, S.C., M.B., of Bamfield, British Columbia, and Hereditary Chief of the Nitinat Band. Martin Charles, now deceased, devoted his life and career to saving lives. He earned the Medal of Bravery for his instrumental role in a search and rescue incident in 1976 that began with a sunken fishing vessel and ended with the crash of the helicopter assisting in the rescue efforts.

  • CCGS Captain Goddard M.S.M., after Canadian Armed Forces Captain Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goddard, M.S.M., who was born to Canadian and British parents in Papua New Guinea, and lived in various locations, including Black Lake and Lac la Ronge, Saskatchewan; Edmonton, Alberta; and Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Captain Goddard was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for her exemplary service in Afghanistan from January 2006, until her death in combat on May 17, 2006.

In November 2010, the Government of Canada announced that two of the nine new vessels will be named in honour of First World War heroes and recipients of the Victoria Cross:

  • CCGS Caporal Kaeble V.C., after the late Corporal Joseph Kaeble, V.C., born in St. Moise, Quebec. He joined the Royal 22nd Regiment in 1916. He died near Arras on June 9, 1918, while he single-handedly repelled a strong attack with his Lewis gun.

  • CCGS Private Robertson V.C., after the late Private James Peter Robertson, V.C., born in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. He joined the 27th Battalion in 1915. He died in battle on November 6, 1917, while rescuing two badly wounded fellow soldiers under severe fire.

For photos and more information about these nine heroic Canadians, please visit the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Web site at: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Naming Canadian Coast Guard vessels

The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Naming Policy outlines the process for naming vessels and classes of vessels, and provides general guidelines for the selection and approval of those names. Canadian Coast Guard ships are named to promote Canadian culture, geography, sovereignty and history.

According to this policy, Mid-Shore Patrol Vessels can be named for former recipients of the Victoria Cross, Star of Military Valour, Medal of Military Valour, Meritorious Service Medal, Cross of Valour, Star of Courage, Medal of Bravery, Order of Merit of the Police Forces, and RCMP Role of Honour; or for Department of Fisheries and Oceans or Canadian Coast Guard members who died in the line of duty.

About the Mid-Shore Patrol Vessels

CCGS G. Peddle, CCGS Corporal McLaren M.M.V., CCGS A. LeBlanc, CCGS M. Charles and CCGS Captain Goddard M.S.M. will be used primarily to support Department of Fisheries and Oceans conservation and protection programs in the Maritimes, Quebec and Pacific Regions.

CCGS Caporal Kaeble V.C., CCGS Private Robertson V.C., CCGS Corporal Teather C.V. and CCGS Constable Carrière will be used in a joint Canadian Coast Guard/Royal Canadian Mounted Police program to enhance maritime security along the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence system.

Each vessel will be approximately 43 metres in length, with a top speed of 25 knots and a range of 2000 nautical miles, and be able to stay at sea for two weeks without reprovisioning. With greater speed and range, and the ability to operate efficiently in difficult environmental conditions, these new vessels will enable the Canadian Coast Guard to continue to perform duties to the high standards expected by Canadians.

Artist's rendering of the new mid-shore patrol vessel.

News Release:

B-HQ-11-02E(a)