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Canada lays keel for polar icebreaker CCGS Imnaryuaq in Vancouver, advancing Arctic sovereignty push
Veterans Affairs Minister Jill McKnight, on behalf of Defence Minister David J. McGuinty, joined MP Braeden Caley at Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards on Oct. 14 to mark the keel laying of the Canadian Coast Guard's polar icebreaker CCGS Imnaryuaq — the largest vessel ever built for the CCG.
Why it matters
As Arctic maritime activity grows and the region's geopolitical environment shifts, Canada's physical presence in northern waters is central to its sovereignty policy. A vessel able to operate year-round in the high Arctic, the Imnaryuaq is framed by Ottawa as a strategic asset for sovereignty and Northern communities — and the keel laying is the moment the hull begins to take form.
Full report
On October 14, the Honourable Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs, on behalf of the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, along with Braeden Caley, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver – Capilano, marked the keel laying of the Canadian Coast Guard polar icebreaker CCGS Imnaryuaq at Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards in British Columbia — the milestone when the first constructed section of the vessel is put in place.
Rooted in centuries of shipbuilding tradition, the ceremony placed an Inuit Nunangat Commemorative Coin beneath the keel to symbolize good fortune, strength and safe passage for the crew, reflecting the government's commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
The CCGS Imnaryuaq will be the largest vessel ever built for the Canadian Coast Guard, able to operate year-round in the high Arctic. Its missions cover icebreaking, search and rescue, environmental response, resupply for Northern communities, maritime security and sovereignty, and Arctic science research.
The name honours a cape at the southern end of Banks Island, N.W.T., extending into the Amundsen Gulf — also known as Nelson Head, meaning "big cliff" — and was chosen in collaboration with Inuit organizations. The Coast Guard is acquiring two polar icebreakers: one at Seaspan in Vancouver, the other at Chantier Davie Canada Inc., under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
"Canada's Arctic sovereignty depends on our ability to be present, to operate, and to respond. The keel laying of CCGS Imnaryuaq marks a major step toward strengthening that capability," said Minister McGuinty.
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