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 [3]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:
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
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.[4]
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").[5][6] 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.[7]
Significance: HMCS York was named after the original name of the 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.[2]
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.
^ abcPersonnel, Government of Canada, National Defence, Chief Military (9 March 2005). "HMCS York". www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 29 March 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)