Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Published Friday, November 16, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Soon the bell of HMCS Yellowknife will be ringing across the Pacific Ocean as it patrols and maintains Canada's sovereignty on our country's western coast.

The bell has been housed in the chambers of City Hall for the past year while the ship has been going through maintenance.

The bell will be returned to the ship, where it will be rung every morning at 8 a.m.

The ship was christened after the city of Yellowknife on June 5, 1997.

Not only does the ship bear the city's name but the ship's battle colours were given by the Yellowknives Dene.

Lt.-Cmdr. Grant Bannister, the commanding officer of HMCS Yellowknife, said the ship has the most unique battle colours in the Canadian navy.

Battle colours are hoisted many times in the course of a ship's tour, from fuel exchanges to training exercises.

"(Sometimes) we will hoist the battle colours trying to one-up the other ships," Bannister said.

Battle flags help the ship assert herself on the waves.

"(It's also) just to remind the other ship who they're dealing with."

Bannister said the crews of other ships are curious about the Dene flag.

"They often do ask questions about the significance of the flag," he said.Bannister said they're always glad to explain that significance, and said it helps tie the vessel in with the city she was named after.

The ship is staffed by 30 personnel and has 45 bunks. Bannister said that the remaining bunks are filled with trainees.

Come Nov. 23, the ship will be heading back to open waters, though the first two weeks will be sea trials and ensuring that all of the systems are working properly.

Sovereignty sailing will begin in the new year.

Pat McMahon is the ship's local sponsor.

"In essence what it means is you are the connecting link between the community and the ship," she said.

McMahon visits the vessel three to four times a year. She will sometimes sail with the ship for a day or just take a tour and meet the sailors on the boat.

She also helps to find billets for the crew's yearly visit to Yellowknife.

When not out patrolling, the ship is docked in British Columbia.

McMahon and Bannister both said that Yellowknifers visiting the coast of British Columbia are welcome to request a tour of the ship if their paths should cross.

"There's a general invitation to people in the NWT who are down there to visit," said McMahon.