HMCS Carleton repeats Freedom of the City exercise in Ottawa

Published Sep 23, 2023 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 1 minute read

Commander Officer Chris Knowlton of HMCS Carleton and Riverside South-Findlay Creek Coun. Steve Desroches perform an inspection as part of the unit’s Freedom of the City ceremony on Saturday. Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA

Forty-three years after it was first granted the honour, members of HMCS Carleton again exercised the unit’s Freedom of the City in Ottawa on Saturday.

A ceremony at Ottawa City Hall was accompanied by a parade of HMCS members in the downtown core.

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The event was part of the Canadian Forces’ Naval Reserve centennial celebrations, and permission was officially granted to HMCS Carleton by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.

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According to a release from the City of Ottawa, Freedom of the City is one of the highest honours that a municipality can grant to a military unit and is a tradition dating back to 15th century England. In Canada, the ceremony is symbolic and has often been granted to military units that have a rich local history or that have won battles overseas.

HMCS Carleton was originally granted Freedom of the City in Ottawa in 1980 by then-mayor Marion Dewar.

The HMCS Carleton Freedom of the City event included a ceremony and parade in the downtown core. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia The HMCS Carleton Freedom of the City event included a ceremony and parade in the downtown core. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia

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