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 Canada and grown exclusively by J.C. Bakker Nurseries
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.The AC™ Navy Lady rose 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 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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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. Click here for current list.
Details of availability will be coming shortly - our rose can be purchased through selected retail nurseries 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.
Mailing address:
Wren Association of Toronto,
P.O. Box 14, Station F,
Toronto, Ontario. M4Y 2L4
or email us at navylady@thewrens.com