Ottawa, Tuesday June 14, 2022 –
In May 2022, Cdr Geoffrey Simpson, Commanding Officer of HMCS HARRY DEWOLF, initiated a partnership with the RCNBF naming the Fund as the ship’s charity of choice.
HMCS HARRY DEWOLF is Canada’s first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel. As many will know, Vice Admiral Harry DeWolf, was a key figure in the establishment of the Fund. From his earliest years as a junior officer, to his time as Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, he was a dedicated champion of the needs of RCN sailors. It is in the spirit of this example that HMCS HARRY DEWOLF selected the Royal Canadian Navy Benevolent Fund as the primary beneficiary of the ship’s charitable endeavors for the next several years.
The ship’s company raised an initial $1,000 during its inaugural deployment in 2021, which saw the ship become the first RCN warship to transit the North West Passage since HMCS LABRADOR in 1954.
“We look forward to working with HMCS HARRY DEWOLF as the crew moves forward in honouring the legacy of Harry DeWolf through the ship’s successes on operations both domestically and internationally,” said Tom Riefesel, President of the RCNBF Board of Directors.