HMCS ORIOLE LANDS IN NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE

ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY'S OLDEST SHIP VISITS OLD TOWN

Toni Filipovic was so focused on the task at hand that she wasn't paying too much attention to the woman taking a video.

The petty officer second class aboard HMCS Oriole, and the ship's first-ever female chief boatswain's mate, was guiding the oldest ship in the Royal Canadian Navy into port in Hamilton as part of its summer tour that eventually brought it to Niagaraon-the-Lake last Friday where it stayed through Sunday. It was her first time doing so and so her attention was absolute.

"And when you're steering the ship, you're focused on the jetty, but not the people on the jetty because you want to ensure that you're coming in smoothly and safely," Filipovic said. "So as I was coming in, I was focusing on the jetty, making sure I'm taking into account what he (Lt.-Cmdr. Robert Pelton, the ship's captain) has to say, because I'm telling you, our captain can drive Oriole like nothing else."

A few days earlier, Toni's mom Joan had reached out to the Oriole's social media channels saying she wanted to surprise her daughter. Joan lives in New York state so she hadn't been able to see the sailing ship.

As the Oriole made its way in and Filipovic realized who it was behind the phone taking the video, she got excited, and a little emotional. Nevertheless, the reliable naval person she is, the ship came in safely.

It may be the top highlight for Filipovic and the tight-knit crew of 21 aboard the Oriole, but it's not the only highlight. The crew has been travelling for months from the Maritimes, stopping at ports along the way to meet with Canadians and share some insights about life in the Royal Canadian Navy.

HMCS Oriole is 101 years old this year. It was built in 1921 and originally belonged to the Gooderham family from Toronto, which might be familiar to those who have toured the Distillery District in Toronto.

In its early days, the ship acted as a private sailing yacht. During prohibition, the family, who had been involved with grain earlier, realized they could make rye.

It's possible some of that whiskey may have made its way across the border with the help of HMCS Oriole, acting sub-lieutenant and public affairs officer Scott Ferris said.

But as the Second World War broke out, the family lent the ship to the government to help with the effort. Afterwards, realizing they didn't really use it anymore, the family sold it to the government for $1, on one condition: It must be maintained and used for training.

So even though the navy's fleet is slightly more advanced than the possibly whiskey-running pleasure yacht that is the Oriole, the ship remains in operation to this day to train and perform public outreach.

"We are to the navy what the Snowbirds are to the air force," said Ferris.

Despite seeming outdated, Ferris said the ship does in fact act as a wonderful training vessel, teaching navigation skills, seamanship, rope work and more.

"It encompasses a full range of skills," he said. There have been many modern upgrades to Oriole, including computer and communications systems.

Ferris said the ability to come into some of the smaller towns gives them a unique opportunity to connect with Canadians and show them what the Royal Canadian Navy of 2022 is all about. While seeing the Chateau Frontenac from the St. Lawrence River is special, so too is stopping in at smaller towns like Brockville, Niagara-onthe-Lake, or Midland, where they'll meet up with similar ships at the Tall Ships Challenge later this summer.

Their journey will take them as far as Sault Ste. Marie, where they'll be for Canada Day, before returning back.