Saturday, 23 September is the culmination of the centennial celebrations of the Canadian Naval Reserve and Hamilton’s Naval Reserve unit, HMCS STAR.

When the Canadian Forces Reorganization Act came into effect on February 1st, 1968, it changed HMCS STAR from a commissioned ship into a unit of the Canadian Forces. Fifty-five years later, that error is being rectified on Saturday morning, September 23rd when HMCS STAR and the twenty-three other naval reserve divisions will be recommissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy.

Following that short ceremony, the ship’s company will head uptown to city hall to exercise their freedom of the city, first granted them on May 5th, 1985.

The afternoon will see a memorial soccer game at Eastwood Park in honour of LS Matthew Pinczak, a member of STAR, who was lost to us in 2019.

As well, HMCS ORIOLE, Canada’s oldest commissioned vessel at 102, is alongside Pier Eight and open for public tours.

Saturday, 23 September

09:15 Recommissioning Ceremony at HMCS STAR

11:00 Freedom of the City Ceremony at Hamilton City Hall

12:00 Dinner in messes at HMCS STAR

13:00 LS Matthew Pinczak Memorial Soccer game at Eastwood Park