Officers from the multi-role Halifax class patrol frigate made a presentation in Streetsville Monday, at the behest of the Mississauga Chinese Board of Professionals and Businesses.
Commander Angus Topshee, the vessel's second-in-command as the executive officer, walked the crowd through the audio-visual presentation dubbed From Africa to the Arctic - A Year in the Life of a Warship.
Last August, the vessel was deployed for Operation Sextant. NATO commissioned a fleet of ships from within its membership to conduct anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Guinea, located southwest of Africa.
There was concern among the Nigerians about sovereignty issues, but Topshee said simply speaking with them and reassuring them about their presence alleviated any potential problems.
"We made it clear NATO was there to help with their security problems," said Topshee. "Seventy-five per cent of oil from Nigeria comes to North America. Instability there will have more of an effect on the price at the pump in Mississauga than anything in the Middle East."
The frigate made a stop in Cape Town, South Africa, which marked the first time a NATO vessel had officially visited the city. The seamen even stopped in the Republic of Seychelles to help raise $6,000 through the Terry Fox Run.
They visited the turbulent waters off of Somalia, which is plagued by pirates. And they helped rescue fishermen when a volcano erupted on an island off Yemen in the Red Sea.
There were Remembrance Day ceremonies in the Gallipoli peninsula in honour of a dozen soldiers with the Newfoundland Regiment who died during the infamous World War I battle.
As well, the HMCS Toronto was called to the Grand Banks in April during a dispute between the protest vessel Farley Mowat, operated by the U.S.-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Canadian seal hunters and the Canadian Coast Guard.
Prior to a brief break earlier this month, the ship stopped in Dublin, Ireland for a VIP reception. While there, the crew of 235 sailors volunteered to help rebuild an orphanage.
The HMCS Toronto has been under the command of Commander Alex Grant since February.
cclay@mississauga.net
