Rock With Nova Scotia in 2010

The Canadian Navy isn’t large. In fact it is rather small as it is not our intention to export our influence throughout the 7 seas as Great Britain once did and the U.S. does now. It sprung from the British Navy, copying the uniform and pomp, and even the music.

Nowhere in Canada is this British tradition more evident than in Halifax, the home of Maritime Command. And although there is a Pacific Command it does not have the storied history of Halifax nor the ships gathered right in the heart of the city as does Halifax.

The ceremony called “The Consecration and Presentation of the Queen’s Colours to Maritime Command” goes back to 1910, the beginning of the Canadian Navy. From King George V through to our present Governor-General, Michealle Jean, there have been four ceremonies. The elder King George approved the Colours, which is a ceremonial flag, and then, in 1939, his son King George VI presented his Colours at Beacon Hill in Victoria, B.C. Queen Elizabeth II presented the Colours in 1959 at the Garrison grounds in Halifax as did the Queen Mother in 1979.

The Queen’s Colours symbolizes Canada’s loyalty to the Sovereign, to the country of Canada and to our Navy. As the Queen is not really our leader the ceremony expresses where we came from rather than where we are going. Because that’s how we can define ourselves as a people. And whether you like having an English Queen or not it bonds us together with our history.

A large contingent of armed sailors marches in the old Colours and then the head of Maritime Command hands them over to another Colour Guard who takes them off the grounds. This flag with be on display at the chapel of our national cemetery in Ottawa.

Before the new Colours are brought in a local Mi’kmaq elder purifies the grounds with smoke from sage and sweet grass, taking away any unwanted spirits or bad energy. After the Governor-General’s address the ceremonial drums are brought out and formed into an altar called the “Piling of the Drum Altar.” The Colours are draped on this altar and then the Governor General passes the flag to the commander of the Maritime Command.

The Guard is amazing in their precision and they put on displays of drill along with three volleys of musketry that crackled down the whole formation.

This part of of our history and these traditions are fascinating to tourists. In addition they give the Armed Forces a chance to show themselves in a manner that is not always put forward by the media.

It also kicks off the beginning of the Royal Halifax International Tattoo and the 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Navy.