Overview

• Formal ‘pay-off’ ceremonies will commence this fall, lowering the naval jack, ensign and commissioning pennant as crews depart their vessels for the last time.
• Five pay-off events in Halifax will honor HMCS Shawinigan, Summerside, Goose Bay, Glace Bay and Kingston while three ceremonies in Esquimalt will mark the retirements of HMCS Saskatoon, Whitehorse and Brandon.
• Under Canadian Fleet Atlantic, the four active Kingston-class ships—HMCS Moncton, Yellowknife, Edmonton and Nanaimo—will consolidate in Halifax to support efficient crewing and maintenance.
• The navy will redistribute coastal surveillance, patrol and mine-countermeasure duties across existing fleets, new Harry DeWolf-class ships, expanded Orca-class trainers and remote-operated systems to ensure no capability gaps.
• HMCS Yellowknife, Edmonton, Moncton and Nanaimo are slated for pay-off between 2026 and 2028 as part of the Royal Canadian Navy’s broader strategy to modernize its maritime capabilities.