(l-r) LCdr(Ret'd) Barry Bevvan recieves the Atlantic Trophy for CIC Officer of the Year from our Honourary Chairman, The Honourable Fred Mifflin.

(l-r) National President, Gary Garnett, presents his commendation to Bonnie Rourke for The Sea Cadet Years on Georgian Bay.

The weather outside might have been frightful, but the mood inside the HMCS Bytown Wardroom for The Navy League of Canada’s Christmas Reception was quite the opposite.  On November 20th the Navy League was proud to host a Christmas event that saw more than eighty-five guests and VIPs.   The Bytown’s Crow’s Nest was a jumble of senators, defence attachés, maritime association representatives and many other supporters of the Navy League who came together in this early festive celebration.  

The reception served not only as a venue to toast those who have been supporters of the Navy League, but also those who have dedicated years of service to the program, as is the case with LCdr (Ret’d) Barry Bevvan.  LCdr Bevvan’s involvement with the cadet program dates back to 1957 when he first joined the Sea Cadet program and has since taken him to RCSCC Quinte where he served four terms as the Commanding Officer before retiring in 2008.  As a recipient of the National President’s Award, LCdr Bevvan was unaware of his award prior to the presentation at the Annual Christmas Reception, though still spoke eloquently and proudly of his time with the cadets.

Another very special guest in attendance was Mrs. Bonnie Rourke, author of “The Sea Cadet Years on Georgian Bay”, a book that is filled with stories from her youth at Prince Alice Sea Cadet Camp, stories from her parents, and a number of stories from former “Georgian Bay Cadets” that she has interviewed.  It is illustrated with more than 300 pictures and offers a foreword and accompanying photos of Ret’d Vice-Admiral Gary Garnett, the National President of The Navy League of Canada.  At the Christmas Reception, Mrs. Rourke was presented with National President’s Commendation Award and given great praise for her work, which was introduced into Parliament the following day by her MP, Bruce Stanton.

The Navy League of Canada would like to thank all those who participated in our Annual Christmas Reception and who continue to support the Navy League and our programs across Canada.  Happy Holidays!