Domestic Stories: Navy launches centennial coffee table book

Credit:  MCpl Serge Tremblay Maritime Command historian Dr. Rich Gimblett (left) presents the first official copy of the newly published Navy centennial coffee table book to Chief of the Maritime Staff, VAdm Dean McFadden.

By Darlene Blakeley

A lavishly illustrated commemorative coffee table book celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Navy was launched in Ottawa November 16.

Edited by Maritime Command historian Dr. Rich Gimblett, the volume chronicles a full century of naval service from its origins through to the present, and includes a special section on naval war art. The book incorporates the writings of eleven contributors, highly regarded authorities on particular periods of naval history.

“This was a most rewarding professional and personal experience,” said Dr. Gimblett. “Anyone who has been involved in publishing in any way will realize what a challenging undertaking it [was] to put together what is effectively the popular history of the Navy.”

The book was produced in partnership with the W. Garfield Weston Foundation and the Weston-Loblaw Group of companies, and was published by Dundurn Press of Toronto.

Dr. Gimblett presented the first official copy of the centennial book to Chief of the Maritime Staff, Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden. “It is my great honour to accept this book on behalf of the men and women of the Navy,” said VAdm McFadden. “This book reminds us that all those who have worn the naval uniform, all those who wear it now and those who have yet to don it – are all part of a single story.”

VAdm McFadden praised Dr. Gimblett and the book’s contributors, for their hard work in completing the volume. “The authors, nor I, can pretend to foresee all the challenges that await us in the decades ahead. Neither could Sir Wilfrid Laurier, when he looked forward from 1910,” he said. “But he held an abiding faith in what Canada stood for even then, and a vision of the country as a leading member of the community of nations – a vision that our Navy helped to secure, and that it continues to sustain today.”

The Admiral then presented a copy of the book to the Minister of National Defence, Peter MacKay, who also attended the launch. “[This book] is a beautiful illustration and an informative account of the proud history of our national institution, the senior service, about to celebrate its 100th anniversary,” he said. “It’s meant to tell the story, to remind, to inspire.”

The book is available at major Canadian retailers.

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