Battle of the Atlantic commemorations held online due to COVID-19

Commemorations to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Atlantic were moved online this year because of COVID-19.

It was streamed Sunday on the Royal Canadian Navy's Facebook page and Twitter account.

Naval Capt. Real Brisson, the co-ordinator of Battle of the Atlantic 75th anniversary ceremony, said plans to move the service online began in mid-March.

"It certainly was not a decision that was taken lightly, but at some point we had to realize those types of gatherings would not be possible," Brisson said.

Each year, the Battle of the Atlantic commemoration draws hundreds of people to Point Pleasant Park in Halifax.

While there was not a ceremony at the park this year, there was one held aboard HMCS Ville de Quebec.

The ship was offshore from Point Pleasant Park and the ceremony was livestreamed on Facebook.

Commander Michael Eelhart, the commanding officer of the HMCS Ville de Quebec, said the livestream was a first for the crew.

"We practised it the other day. In general, the entire ship's company will be formed up on the flight deck. We'll have a padre and a flag and a bell out," Eelhart said.

Eelhart said HMCS Moncton was behind painted in the same paint scheme as was used during the Second World War.

"The image itself will be quite powerful and connecting," Eelhart said.

About Battle of the Atlantic

The battle was Canada's longest military engagement during the Second World War. It was fought from the beginning of the war in 1939 until Germany's surrender in 1945.

Nearly 2,000 members of the Royal Canadian Navy died along with 1,600 Canadian merchant seamen. Another 750 Canadian airmen were lost.

The ceremonies and tributes broadcast also made mention of the victims of last week's crash of a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter off the coast of Greece.