The Welland Canal portion of the St. Lawrence Seaway will remain open until 23:59 hours on December 26th, weather and operating conditions permitting, the release said.

However, any transits of the Welland Canal after 23:59 hours, December 26th, if permitted, will be subject to prior written agreement. Arrangements are to be made at the Corporation's St. Catharines office.

The release also said the official closing date for the Sault Ste. Marie Locks (USA) is 2400 hours January 15, 2010.

Vessel owners and operators were also being advised that a number of ports east of the Seaway (St. Lambert Lock) on the St. Lawrence River will remain open to navigation during the winter months.

Navigation on the St. Lawrence Seaway will resume sometime in March 2010, with the actual date dependent on when the ice breaks up.

Through its Special Education Program for Non-Commissioned Members, the Canadian Forces are currently offering those who qualify as potential naval technicians an opportunity to receive a subsidized college education in their occupation of choice while also receiving an income. They get paid to learn. The qualifying occupations include that of marine engineering mechanic, naval electronics technician (communications), naval electronics technicians (sonar), naval electronics technician (radar), and naval weapons technician.

"The Navy is committed to being a world-class employer and a compelling career option for Canadians coast to coast to coast," Commander Luc Cassivi, Commanding Officer of HMCS Ville De Quebec, said today. "The Great Lakes Deployment is the best way we have to bring the Navy to central Canada".

Ville De Quebec's first port will be Gaspe, Quebec from August 28th to the 31st. This stopover will feature a reenactment of the arrival of Jacques Cartier to commemorate the 475th anniversary of his first landing on the East Coast. As with all the port visits, the ship will fire its ceremonial gun upon entering the port, perform sunset ceremonies as well as other naval rituals, and conduct public tours. In addition, the Navy recruiting bus and recruiting displays will be set up. Following Gaspe, the ship will visit Toronto, where Ville de Quebec will take part in the Canadian National Exhibition. The ship will then travel to Sarnia, Windsor, Oshawa, Montreal, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, La Malbaie and Saguenay. The final port will be Matane on October 5th and 6th. A complete port schedule is available at www.forces.ca/experience/en/index.aspx.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

For more information on this deployment, please contact the Navy Public Affairs Office in Halifax at (902) 427-3766. The Public Affairs Officer accompanying the ship is Lieutenant (Navy) Alain Blondin. Contact him by email at alain.blondin@forces.gc.ca. For further information on the subsidized education program for non-commissioned members please go to http://www.forces.ca/html/entryplans_en.aspx. For HMCS Ville de Quebec's website, go to http://www.navy.dnd.ca/villedequebec/0/0-s_eng.asp.

Contacts:
For more information on this deployment:
Navy Public Affairs Office in Halifax
902-427-3766

Public Affairs Officer accompanying the ship:
Lieutenant (Navy) Alain Blondin
alain.blondin@forces.gc.ca

For further information on the subsidized education program
for non-commissioned members:
www.forces.ca/html/entryplans_en.aspx

HMCS Ville de Quebec's website:
www.navy.dnd.ca/villedequebec/0/0-s_eng.asp

SOURCE: Department of National Defence and Canadian Navy

mailto:alain.blondin@forces.gc.ca
http://www.forces.ca/html/entryplans_en.aspx
http://www.navy.dnd.ca/villedequebec/0/0-s_eng.asp

Through its Special Education Program for Non-Commissioned Members, the Canadian Forces are currently offering those who qualify as potential naval technicians an opportunity to receive a subsidized college education in their occupation of choice while also receiving an income. They get paid to learn. The qualifying occupations include that of marine engineering mechanic, naval electronics technician (communications), naval electronics technicians (sonar), naval electronics technician (radar), and naval weapons technician.

"The Navy is committed to being a world-class employer and a compelling career option for Canadians coast to coast to coast," Commander Luc Cassivi, Commanding Officer of HMCS Ville De Quebec, said today. "The Great Lakes Deployment is the best way we have to bring the Navy to central Canada".

Ville De Quebec's first port will be Gaspe, Quebec from August 28th to the 31st. This stopover will feature a reenactment of the arrival of Jacques Cartier to commemorate the 475th anniversary of his first landing on the East Coast. As with all the port visits, the ship will fire its ceremonial gun upon entering the port, perform sunset ceremonies as well as other naval rituals, and conduct public tours. In addition, the Navy recruiting bus and recruiting displays will be set up. Following Gaspe, the ship will visit Toronto, where Ville de Quebec will take part in the Canadian National Exhibition. The ship will then travel to Sarnia, Windsor, Oshawa, Montreal, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, La Malbaie and Saguenay. The final port will be Matane on October 5th and 6th. A complete port schedule is available at www.forces.ca/experience/en/index.aspx.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

For more information on this deployment, please contact the Navy Public Affairs Office in Halifax at (902) 427-3766. The Public Affairs Officer accompanying the ship is Lieutenant (Navy) Alain Blondin. Contact him by email at alain.blondin@forces.gc.ca. For further information on the subsidized education program for non-commissioned members please go to http://www.forces.ca/html/entryplans_en.aspx. For HMCS Ville de Quebec's website, go to http://www.navy.dnd.ca/villedequebec/0/0-s_eng.asp.

SOURCE: Department of National Defence

For more information on this deployment:
Navy Public Affairs Office in Halifax
902-427-3766
Public Affairs Officer accompanying the ship:
Lieutenant (Navy) Alain Blondin
alain.blondin@forces.gc.ca
For further information on the subsidized education program
for non-commissioned members:
www.forces.ca/html/entryplans_en.aspx
HMCS Ville de Quebec's website:
www.navy.dnd.ca/villedequebec/0/0-s_eng.asp