Celebrating the Canadian Naval Centennial
with AC™ Navy Lady
Announcing the 2010 Canadian Naval Centennial
Rose. The Wren Association of Toronto, along with Wren
Associations across Canada, chose this rose developed by Agriculture
and Agri-Foods Canada at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, and grown exclusively
by J.C. Bakker Nurseries in St Catharines, to celebrate the Canadian
Naval Centennial, 1910-2010. Ceremonial plantings will take place
across Canada in the commemorative year 2010 and onward, in locations
of naval significance, attended by Wrens, other Naval Veterans,
serving Naval personnel and local officials.
"Navy Lady" has been named as a dedication to the thousands
of Canadian women who served in the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval
Service (WRCNS), known as Wrens, and the women who continue to
serve today as members of the Canadian Navy.
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Our rose can be purchased through selected retail
nurseries across Canada. Details of availability...
Click
here for current list AS OF February
8th, 2010. This list is mostly complete.
Some retailers will be carrying
small numbers of plants. You might want to try and
pre-order from the retailer.
If you already have contacted
us about a planned ceremonial or memorial planting
please pre-order
your plants NOW through a retailer near you
so that they can have the plants available for you.
If there is not one
listed, contact someone close by and ask them to contact
the grower, JC Bakker to order some -
this should be done soon! If you are interested
in planning an event please be sure to email
us.
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In the 2010 celebration year we dedicate this rose as a tribute
to our Shipmates, all the gallant men and women who served at
sea and ashore in Canadian Navy, past, present and future.
Due to the serious wartime shortage of sailors for sea billets,
the Navy decided to organize a women's division of the Royal Canadian
Navy (RCN) "to release a man to go to sea." On July
31, 1942, the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service was established.
The WRCNS, unlike other Allied female units, was not an auxiliary
but rather a formed unit of the RCN and its officers held the
King's ommission. At peak strength, over 6,000 women were fulfilling
the various roles of coders, confidential clerks, messengers,
telegraphists, cooks, stewards and some 35 other important duties.
The WRCNS was disbanded in 1946. In 1951 a Wren section was reformed
in the RCN, initially in the Reserve but becoming full-time regulars
by 1955. Wrens continued to serve in the RCN and RCNR (reserve)
until unification of the Canadian Forces. Women in the navy were
still known as Wrens until the late eighties. Today, no longer
called Wrens, women serve in the Canadian Navy, both regular and
reserve, ashore and at sea.
  The
aim of the Canadian
Naval Centennial is to build and strengthen in Canadians an
appreciation for their navy and, as Canada is a maritime nation,
to promote the role of the navy within the Canadian Forces. The
focus is to honour the past, to showcase the current navy, and
to reinforce the future.
“Commemorate, Celebrate, Commit” ™
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Our rose AC™ Navy Lady, 2010 and beyond.
The shape and colour of the flowers are a beautiful,
dark red velvet, with a very light fragrance. Between
June and the autumn frosts it has reflowering blooms.
Height & Habit: average, good vigor
Fragrance: light |
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To those in the naval community... please consider planting the
rose bushes in your ceremonial events 2010 and beyond.
Available in planting season 2010 at selected retailers across
Canada.
Please do not send the Wrens money for purchase, but please
let us know if you would like us to try and reserve them for you.
For ceremonial events, we will make every effort to have the nurseries
reserve plants if you contact us in advance, or at least let you
know where you can get the rose close to you.
Mailing address:
Wren Association of Toronto,
P.O. Box 14, Station F,
Toronto, Ontario. M4Y 2L4
or email us at navylady@thewrens.com
Many groups have contacted the Wrens regarding platings at
Naval locations, Legions, Museums, events etc. Thank you so much
for your participation! Should you be installing a plaque at the
location, we would be pleased if you would include the following:
The Canadian Naval Centennial
Rose
1910-2010
AC™ Navy Lady
Then add your own text as appropriate.
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