View source for HMCS York

{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{italic title prefixed|4}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2016}}{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = HMCS ''York''
| image = File:HMCS York.JPG
| caption = HMCS ''York'' in 2009
| dates = 1923-Present
| country = {{flagicon|Canada}} Canada
| branch = {{navy|Canada}}
| type = [[Naval Reserve Division]]
| role = Reserve unit
| size = Approx. 300 sailors and officers
| garrison = {{nowrap|659 Lake Shore Boulevard West}}<br />[[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]<br />M5V 1A7
| motto = ''Bon Espoir'' (Good hope)
| colours = Azure Blue and White
| equipment = {{convert|24|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat|RHIB]] (ZH-733 CDO)
| battle_honours = Pre-The First World War

* Lowestoft, 1665
* Orfordness, 1666
* Sole Bay, 1672
* Schooneveld, 1673
* Texel, 1673
* Louisburg, 1758
* Martinique, 1809

Post-The First World War

* Atlantic, 1939
* Norway, 1940
* Mediterranean, 1940–41
* Malta Convoys, 1941
| commander1 = Commander Paul Smith, MSM, CD
}}
'''HMCS ''York''''' is a [[Canadian Forces Naval Reserve|Royal Canadian Navy Reserve]] Division (NRD) located in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]. Dubbed a [[stone frigate]], HMCS ''York'' is a land-based naval establishment for part-time sailors as well as a local recruitment centre for the [[Canadian Naval Reserve]].

== History ==
The unit was established in 1942 to replace the [[Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve]] Half Company created in 1923.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.torontohistory.org/Pages_PQR/Royal_Canadian_Naval_Volunteer_Reserve.html |title=Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Historical Plaque |website=www.torontohistory.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326062622/http://www.torontohistory.org/Pages_PQR/Royal_Canadian_Naval_Volunteer_Reserve.html |archive-date=2012-03-26}}</ref> During [[World War II]], it was a premiere naval recruiting depot in the [[British Commonwealth]] through which over 17,000 personnel passed during the years of the war.

HMCS ''York'' was named after [[York, Upper Canada|the original name]] of the city of Toronto and the first British commercial craft on Lake Ontario.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/ol-lo/vol-tom-2/par1/york-eng.asp|title=HMCS York|last=Personnel|first=Government of Canada, National Defence, Chief Military|website=www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca|date=9 March 2005|language=en|access-date=2017-03-29}}</ref>

''York'' is home to the Canadian Forces Sailing Association's Toronto establishment.

== Athletics ==
During the Second World War, Toronto HMCS ''York'' fielded a football team in the [[Ontario Rugby Football Union]] (ORFU). Some of the notable players and coaches associated with the team were: [[Royal Copeland (Canadian football)|Royal Copeland]], [[Steve Karrys]], [[Bob Stewart (Canadian football)|Bob Stewart]] and the coach [[Teddy Morris]].

== Facilities ==

Although located on the [[Lake Ontario]] shoreline, York has no facilities for naval ships. Rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) are deployed at the division, but the mooring facilities to the south of HMCS ''York'' belong to Toronto's branch of the Canadian Forces Sailing Association, the [https://www.thenyc.com] [[National Yacht Club]], and Alexandra Yacht Club, and are for pleasure craft and such working vessels as serve the clubs.

Prior to 1947, the division was located at two other locations:

1395 Lake Shore Boulevard West: 1926–1959<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rcl344.com/BranchInfo.html |title=Branch 344 - Branch Information |website=rcl344.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709072154/http://www.rcl344.com/BranchInfo.html |archive-date=2013-07-09}}</ref>
* home to Sea Cadet Corps and the Navy League of Canada (RCSCC Vanguard merged with RCSCC Haida, Ark Royal and the Navy League Wrenettes Corps in 1958) until 1959
* sold Rameses Shrine Temple which remained here until 1983 when it became home to the [[Royal Canadian Legion]] Branch 344

[[Canadian National Exhibition]] [[Automotive Building]]: 1942–1947

HMCS ''York'' moved to its current location in 1959.

==Band==
[[File:HMCS YORK Band and Guest June 2013.jpeg|thumb|A small ensemble from [[HMCS York Band]] with [[Condoleezza Rice]] in [[Toronto]], June 2013.]]
HMCS ''York'' parades one of the five [[Canadian Forces Naval Reserve]] Ship's Bands in [[Canada]]. The band is a professional brass and reed band with approximately 30 members. Their primary operational and training period is from September to May.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/whatson/music.cfm?id=7196&festival_id=206|title=Harbourfront Centre - Music}}</ref>

The band is composed of the following assets:

*Brass quintet
*Jazz combos
*Big Band
*Concert Band
*Parade Band
*Soloists

It was formed in 1939 from the a Naval School of Music that was established at HMCS ''York'' by Lieutenant Commander Alfred Zeally (who is today regarded as the "Father of the Royal Canadian Navy bands").<ref>https://navalandmilitarymuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/CFB-Esquimalt-Museum-Crowsnest-Volume13-Number-09-Jul-1961.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjZwPKq0M_mAhWVZM0KHfZLDCIQFjAAegQIBRAC&usg=AOvVaw1KM298OjrMj8BBGDBy7fI9 {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis |url=https://curve.carleton.ca/system/files/etd/995a2466-839e-48f5-bdc9-9ce5a82c09f9/etd_pdf/2a3f4fa47622f5a74b67b1419d5e8e42/alaimo-musicalperformanceinthecanadianmilitaryapreliminary.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiS_9uUvO_nAhUIPK0KHRy8C404KBAWMAJ6BAgIEAE&usg=AOvVaw0ggxuvLW8ec0D2BwQzD6cT |title=Musical Performance in the Canadian Military: A Preliminary Analysis of an Institution |last=Alaimo |first=Lucie |publisher=Carleton University |type=Masters |date=15 August 2011 |access-date=7 June 2022}}</ref> A notable director of the band includes Robert Hartford Plunkett, who served as the band director in its early years as an official reserve band.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/amp/obituaries/theglobeandmail/189762998|title=Robert PLUNKETT Obituary (2002) |work=The Globe and Mail|via=[[Legacy.com]]}}</ref>

== Badge ==
Description: [[Azure (heraldry)|Azure]] a white rose of York [[Line (heraldry)|rayonne]] [[Or (heraldry)|Or]].<ref name=":0" />[[File:HMCS York - panoramio.jpg|thumb|HMCS ''York'' Facilities]][[Image:HMCSYork-plaque-Toronto-CNEGrounds Sept1-05.jpg|thumb|HMCS ''York'' plaque at the [[Canadian National Exhibition]] grounds in Toronto]]Significance: HMCS ''York'' was named after the original name of the [[Toronto|City of Toronto]] and the first British commercial craft on Lake Ontario. The badge design was designed by the Admiralty who granted its use as the ship's badge for York.<ref name=":0" />

== Personnel ==

HMCS ''York'' serves as a [[Naval Reserve Division]] with more than 350 full-time and part-time naval personnel. The current Commanding Officer is [[Commander]] Paul Smith, 
MSM, CD.

Lodger units at HMCS ''York'':

* Naval Reserve air squadron, VC 920: 1953–1963.
* 18 [[Royal Canadian Sea Cadet]] Corps ''Vanguard'':<ref>[http://www.18vanguard.org]</ref> 1958–present.
* 618 "Queen City" [[Royal Canadian Air Cadet]] Squadron:<ref>[https://www.618aircadets.com/]</ref> January 10, 1956 – present.

== Notable former members ==
* [[Leading Seaman]] [[Robert Binder]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=MB}}, recipient of the [[Medal of Bravery (Canada)|Medal of Bravery]].
* [[Lieutenant (Royal Canadian Navy)|Lieutenant(N)]] Chris Devita {{Post-nominals|post-noms=MB, CD}}, recipient of the [[Medal of Bravery (Canada)|Medal of Bravery]].
* [[Captain (naval)|Captain(N)]] [[Peter C. Newman]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=CC, CD}}, author of non-fiction Canadiana (mainly in the field of business) and former editor of [[The Toronto Star]] and [[Maclean's]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090225101055/http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/navres/1/1-n_eng.asp?category=97 HMCS ''York'']

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{{Royal Canadian Navy}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:York}}
[[Category:Canadian Forces Naval Reserve]]
[[Category:Canadian Forces bases in Ontario]]
[[Category:Naval installations of Canada]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Toronto]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of Canada in World War II]]
[[Category:Military installations established in 1942]]
[[Category:1942 establishments in Ontario]]