Toronto (February 6, 2015) – On Sunday, February 8, PortsToronto CEO Geoffrey Wilson will welcome Commander Jason Armstrong, Commanding Officer Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Toronto and his ship’s companyto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which will serve as the final stop in their namesake tour of Toronto following their ship’s return from a seven-month mission oversees in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. The frigate, the first Canadian ship to operate in the Black Sea in 22 years, was taking part in a NATO exercise responding to Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine.
Prior to their arrival at Billy Bishop Airport, the Commander and his company will have also visited His Worship, John Tory, Mayor of Toronto; SickKids; Covenant House; Toronto Fire Services; and other locations throughout the city as part of their tour. Namesake city tours afford an opportunity for the Royal Canadian Navy to maintain strong ties between a ship and the city after which it is named, while providing the ship’s company with an opportunity to thank and give back to the local community. The last time members of HMCS Toronto visited the city was in 2012.
WHAT:
Commander Armstrong and his company will be welcomed at the airport, prior to the Commander taking the helm of the Marilyn Bell ferry and transporting passengers across the Western Gap. The Commander and his company will then depart from Billy Bishop Airport and return home to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
WHO:
Jason Armstrong, Commanding Officer, HMCS Toronto
Sheldon Gillis, Lieutenant Commander, HMCS Toronto
Gilles Grégoire, Chief Petty Officer First Class, HMCS Toronto
Geoffrey Wilson, CEO, PortsToronto
WHEN:
Sunday, February 8, 2015 at 2 p.m. ET
WHERE:
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
Mainland Ferry Passenger Terminal
Ground Level
PHOTO OP:
Media are invited to take photos of the ship’s company arrival at Billy Bishop Airport as well as photos of Commander Armstrong steering the Marilyn Bell ferry across the Western Gap.
NOTE:
The airport will be operational during this media event. Please ensure that you are not blocking passenger access to the ferry terminal or ferry.
PortsToronto (www.portstoronto.com)
For more than 100 years PortsToronto (formerly Toronto Port Authority) has worked with its partners at the federal, provincial and municipal levels to enhance the economic growth of the City of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. A financially self-sustaining government business enterprise, PortsToronto owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which welcomes more than two million passengers each year; the Outer Harbour Marina, one of Canada’s largest freshwater marinas; and Terminals 51 and 52, which provide transportation, distribution, storage and container services to businesses at the Port of Toronto. PortsToronto is committed to fostering strong, healthy and sustainable communities and has invested more than $5.6 million since 2009 in charitable initiatives and environmental programs that benefit communities along Toronto’s waterfront and beyond. PortsToronto operates in accordance with the Canada Marine Act and is guided by a nine-member board with representation from all three levels of government.
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Media Contacts:
Erin Mikaluk
Senior Manager, Communications & Media Relations
PortsToronto
Tel: (416) 863-2065; Cell: (647) 298-0544;
Major Lena Angell
National Defence Public Affairs Office (Ontario) region
Cell: (647) 456-7562
Lena.angell@forces.gc.ca