Cranbrook City Council received special visit and gift during its regular meeting on Monday night.

Commander Stan Bates of the Canadian Navy presented Cranbrook City Council with a framed photo and history of HMCS Cranbrook and gave them some background on the Canadian Navy.

Bates, a 1983 graduate of Mount Baker Secondary School, is Commanding Officer of HMCS Protecteur. He told City Council it is the centennial of the Canadian Navy.

“The Canadian Navy is celebrating its centennial in 2010 with the theme of ‘Bringing the Navy to Canadians,’” Bates said. “It is supported by the slogan Commemorate, Celebrate, Commit. Commemorate the Past, Celebrate Today and Commit to the future.

“I have the honour of representing the 11,000 sailors of Canada’s Navy and making a presentation to you today. Three-hundred and twenty Canadian warships have been named for Canadian cities, provinces, First Nation communities and prominent geographical features. This was particularly true during the Second World War, when Canada had the third largest allied navy.”

HMCS Cranbrook was one of 10 wooden-hulled Llewellyn Class minesweepers and was built at the Star Shipyard Ltd., in New Westminster, B.C. and was commissioned on May 12, 1944. She was equipped with “double-L” magnetic minesweeping gear.

HMCS Cranbrook was employed on the west coast mainly as a patrol vessel, alternating between Esquimalt Force and Prince Rupert Force until the end of 1945.

On August 27, 1945 HMCS Cranbrook received a message ordering her to sail to Esquimalt, B.C. pending instructions as to her disposal. She was paid off on November 3, 1945 and sold in 1947.

Acting Mayor Denise Pallesen accepted the gift on behalf of the City.