The Atlantic Council of Canada, in association with the Toronto Branch of the Naval Officer’s Association of Canada, is honoured to be hosting the Canadian Naval Centennial Gala.

“It is an honour for The Atlantic Council of Canada (ACC) to be hosting this event along with the Naval Officers’ Association of Canada (Toronto Branch),” said Julie Lindhout, President of the ACC. “The Canadian Navy is an important component of the Canadian Forces. We celebrate its significant achievements from the time of its inception, through two world wars, right up to today when it is performing an important role not only domestically to protect Canada’s coasts, but also with our NATO allies in anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia as part of Operation SAIPH.”

The Canadian Naval Centennial Gala will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2010, at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. The event marks Ontario’s tribute to the Canadian Navy and its storied history.

The black tie dinner and ball will be co-chaired by Honourary Captain (Navy) Sonja Bata, Founding Chairman of the Bata Shoe Museum, Honourary Captain (Navy) Hugh Segal, the Honourable Senator for Kingston-Frontenac-Leeds, and Honourary Colonel Bill Graham, Chairman of the ACC.

“It is an honour to co-chair an event commemorating the triumphs of our Navy throughout its first century,” said the Honourable Bill Graham, who served as Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and later Defence during his long and esteemed public service career. “Since its creation, the Canadian Navy has served with bravery and an internationally recognized professionalism, while defending Canada’s coasts and promoting peace and security in the far corners of the globe. Join us in celebrating a hundred years of achievement by Canada’s ‘senior service’.”

About The Atlantic Council of Canada

The Atlantic Council of Canada (ACC) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded in 1966 to promote knowledge and understanding of international peace and security and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Canada.

The ACC is dedicated to the view that the transatlantic relationship between Canada, the United States, and the nations of Europe, is of critical importance to Canada in terms of culture, security and economic prosperity. In order to realize this vision as the premier sponsor and support organization of NATO in Canada, the ACC performs a number of fund raising, public outreach, and educational initiatives.

The ACC is also a member of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, which coordinates some forty similar organizations in other NATO member and Partnership for Peace nations.

For further information: Robert Baines, ACC Corporate Development Officer, (416) 979-1875, Robert.baines@atlantic-council.ca