NAVAL MASCOTS

CFB Esquimalt, B.C.

Creatures furry and feathered featured in the shipboard lives of sailors since ancient times. To celebrate the contribution of such creatures great and small, the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum is planning a temporary exhibit called Creature Comforts. As part of the planning process, exhibit designer and organizer, Ms. Clare Sugrue, would like to speak with anyone willing to share memories and photos of animal companions they’ve encountered aboard Canadian naval vessels or as part of their working environment in the Navy. Clare can be reached at CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum at (250) 363-4312 or via email at: Sugrue.CE@forces.gc.ca.

The exhibit, which opens on June 23, will showcase photos and reminiscences of ships’ cats, dogs and other animal companions befriended by Canadian sailors. This exhibit will include stories about Gertrude the nautical goose (HMCS Hepatica), the reindeer transported by HMCS Haida during WWII, and Ordinary Dog Alice, who saw duty in Korea aboard HMCS Cayuga. Also featured are animal mascots that have represented Canadian ships like Percy the Penguin (HMCS Terra Nova) and HMCS Qu’Appelle’s fox.

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