2012 is the
70th Anniversary of the Canadian Wrens

Seventy years ago many young women signed up for the duration of World War II putting family and careers on the back burner. When the war was over 6,700 Wrens from all parts of Canada returned to their hometowns and their lives were altered forever. Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service as a division of the Royal Canadian Navy was created by Order in Council July 31, 1942. WRCNS (Wrens), Navy Ladies are celebrating their 70th anniversary in 2012. Celebrate the Canadian Wrens 70th With Our Canadian Naval Centennial Rose, Navy Lady

There have been about 35 plantings of AC^™ Navy Lady across Canada that we know of. Some formal and ceremonial, some not so formal. We would like to thank everyone who planted Navy Lady in places of Naval significance, places of remembrance, and other locations. We'd also like to thank everyone who has planted Navy Lady in their own garden, or a garden of a loved one, or perhaps a seniors' residence for many to enjoy.

Navy Lady will be available for years to come. If you were not able to purchase one this year, please check with your local nursery this fall to see if they will be available there. If they didn't carry them this year, perhaps they will order them in from our grower JC Bakker for next spring.

We are very proud of our lovely Navy Lady, she has a beautiful deep dark red flower, a very spectacular colour, with many blooms on the plant. The foliage comes in as a deep red which changes to green.

We are collecting stories and photos from many of the plantings, and will list them here as we get them.

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.

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 commission. 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” ™

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

Available in planting season 2011 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!