BIA's T-shirt campaign supports Canadian sailors

By Andy Comber - July 2, 2008

Residents and local businesses have an opportunity to show their support for sailors aboard a Canadian warship through a unique T-shirt campaign sponsored by the Essex Business Improvement Area (BIA).

Essex BIA chair Morley Bowman said campaigns showing support for troops in the Middle East and Afghanistan are common, but the work of our navy, on patrol in dangerous parts of the world, is often overlooked.

"Our T-shirt campaign is just a small way of saying thanks from the businesses and organizations of the Essex area," said Bowman, announcing the campaign June 25 at the Essex Railway Station.

Bowman said the BIA had chosen to support the crew of the Canadian Patrol Frigate HMCS Calgary, which left Canada in April, by providing T-shirts to the 240-member crew.

"Life aboard a warship is not easy, with the crew apart from families and friends for extended periods of time," said Bowman.

For those wishing to participate, the T-shirts must be new and feature the logo of a business or organization. The T-shirts can be dropped off at the Essex Railway Station, or the BIA office at 35 Victoria Avenue.

"I think it is a great idea," said Essex Mayor Ron McDermott, who presented a "Town of Essex" T-shirt as the first shirt donated to the campaign.

Bowman said the T-shirt campaign was part of the BIA's 30th anniversary celebrations. Collections of the shirts will conclude on Oct. 29 at the Essex BIA's 30th Anniversary Dinner, to be held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Essex.

"The T-shirts will be delivered by Christmas," he said.

A multi-role patrol frigate, the HMCS Calgary carries extensive anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare weapons. The peacetime role of HMCS Calgary includes a variety of important missions including search and rescue, training deployments, sovereignty patrols and combined operations with allies. Early in June, HMCS Calgary saved a commercial vessel from a pirate attack while patrolling off the coast of Somalia, in the Gulf of Aden.

For more information on the T-shirt campaign, contact Marlene Markham-Gay, manager of the Essex BIA, at 519-776-9811.