2006 Honourable John James Kinley Award
for Maritime Affairs

The J.J. Kinley Award is awarded by the National Board of Directors of The Navy League of Canada to members, employees or units of the Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans or the Canadian Forces who have made remarkable contributions in support of naval and maritime interests, which are in keeping with the highest principles of The Navy League of Canada.

Only one award will be approved per annum.  Should there be no suitable applicant; the award may not be presented.

(l-r Ken Bowering, VP Maritime Affairs; Capt(N) Harry Harsch, Commanding Officer; Leading Seaman Tyler Reid, Naval Weapons Technician; Leading Seaman Charlene Evans, Naval Communicator; Vice-Admiral Drew Robertson, Chief of Maritime Staff; Leading Seaman Lawrence Lahaye, Boatswain and Pierre Yans, National President)

HMCS Athabaskan Recognized for Outstanding Contributions to Maritime Safety and Security

The Crew of HMCS Athabaskan has been recognized as the 2006 recipient of the Kinley Award. The ship was nominated for the prestigious award following the daring high seas rescue of 3 crew members from the yacht La Pierva, which was adrift without power in a fierce Atlantic storm approximately 225 miles southeast of Yarmouth, N.S.

HMCS Athabaskan was in the area, and was diverted from its mission, the Standing Contingency Force Integrated Tactical Effects Experiment, to affect the rescue in swells of up to 8 metres and 50 knot (92.5kph) winds. Having steamed all night at high speed in rough seas, HMCS Athabaskan found La Pierva at approximately 4:30 am. Sea conditions were too rough to risk a rescue, so Athabaskan stayed with the disabled vessel, and removed its crew at approximately 1p.m. that afternoon.

Captain(Navy) Harry Harsch, the Commanding Officer of Athabaskan, provided a rousing account of the rescue at the presentation ceremony, which took place in Ottawa on March 23rd, 2007. Capt(N) Harsch was quick to praise the actions of his boat crew, which plucked the crew of La Pierva to safety. "There were times when the Zodiac was on the crest of a wave, looking down at our ship. It was very dangerous, and there is no doubt that these men are heroes." noted Harsch, "but they are not unique. There are over 55,000 other men and women in uniform who would have done the same thing, it was just their turn."

He also had abundant praise for his Bridge Crew, which had been decimated by sea sickness in the hours leading up to the rescue. "By the time we reached La Pierva, we were down to three on the Bridge, myself, the Officer-of-the-Watch and Leading Seaman [Charlene] Evans. We were all doing multiple jobs... at one point Leading Seaman Evans even had to take the ship's helm. I asked her if she had ever driven the ship before, and she replied 'No'. Now if the Sea State wasn't scary enough, having a Nav Com [Naval Communicator] drive certainly was" he joked, also adding that her previous service as a Sea Cadet and Cadet Instructor Cadre officer gave her an edge when it came to job performance, and that she certainly demonstrated this with her exceptional service on that day.

Ken Bowering, the Navy League's Vice-President of Maritime Affairs, noted in his remarks that this is not the first time HMCS Athabaskan has been singled out over its long and storied career. “Over its thirty five year history of service, HMCS Athabaskan has served Canada with distinction. From the Persian Gulf during Operation Friction to the Gulf of Mexico for Operation Unison, and most recently as the flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group One, Athabaskan has continually demonstrated the versatile capabilities of this class of ship and her crew has continually demonstrated the hallmarks of excellence that sadly, Canadians often take for granted when it comes to our service personnel. Anyone who has ever served aboard her should be very proud of what they have accomplished for our country.”

Background

The Honourable John James Kinley, O.N.S., C.D., S.M., D.Eng., P.Eng., F.E.I.C.
The J.J. Kinley Award was established in 1996, thanks to a generous donation by the Honourable J. James Kinley, former Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia (1994-2000) and a former National President of The Navy League of Canada (1980-1982). The Hon. Mr. Kinley has maintained an abiding interest in the health and vitality of Canada’s maritime sector and is a stalwart supporter of Canada’s Navy and Coast Guard.

The Award
The J.J. Kinley Award is magnificent bronze casting of the famed Bluenose, mounted on a hardwood base. The trophy was made at Mr. Kinley’s Lunenburg Foundry and Engineering Ltd.

Only 4 copies of Bluenose were cast. Hon. Mr. Kinley retained one copy and in addition to the one presented to the Navy League, presented one to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and one to Rideau Hall.

 Recipients will have their name placed on the trophy and will also receive a ‘keeper’ plaque.

Previous Recipients