HMCS CHIPPAWA

Winnipeg Half-Company RCNVR

Winnipeg Division RCNVR

Winnipeg, Manitoba

HMCS CHIPPAWA is named after the vessel which led the line of Commander Robert Barclay into action against the Americans at the Battle of Lake Erie on 10 Sep 1813. The name was derived from the Indian tribe which inhabited the area east of the present site of Winnipeg.

In Feb 1923, Lt Eustace Brock was tasked with establishing a Naval Reserve Division in Winnipeg.  In March 1923, he procured office space for Winnipeg's Navy.  By May 1923, Lt Brock, 5 officers, 2 Petty Officers and over 50 Reservists enrolled.  In the spring of 1924, Naval Headquarters in Ottawa arranged to lease the Rat-Portate Lumber Co. building in Norwood and on 22 Apr 1924, the White Ensign was hosted and flew for the first time in Manitoba. By the summer of 1924, the Winnipeg Half Company RCNVR was up to full strength of 100 personnel. 

The Winnipeg Company became the Winnipeg Division in 1936 and finally HMCS CHIPPAWA in 1941.

In October 1942, an agreement was reached to sell the Winnipeg Winter Club complex to the Royal Canadian Navy for $256,000, which would in turn be invested in Victory Bonds. The deal was approved by the Federal Treasury Board in mid-October, and conversion of the building began. Bowling alleys were converted to rifle ranges, the courts were renovated into living quarters, and the ice rinks were re-purposed into training areas. The building became HMCS CHIPPAWA, replacing services and barracks previously based at a cramped site on Ellice Avenue and a recruiting office on Sherbrook Street. It contained areas for administration, training, mess facilities, housing quarters, and space for women’s naval auxiliary activities. 

In 1973, on the 50th anniversary of the Naval Reserve, HMCS CHIPPAWA adopted the motto "Service".

In 1998 the building was demolished in 1998 to make way for a joint training facility and naval museum. In 1999, the new facility was built by the federal government at a cost of $7.35 million. It was officially opened by senior Manitoba Parliamentarian and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy at a ceremony on 28 November 1999. The 4,200-square-meter facility included classrooms, mess and drill halls, a parade square, and a computer training centre named for Waldron N. “Wally” Fox-Decent (Rear-Admiral and former Commanding Officer of HMCS CHIPPAWA).

The Chippawa Story - Crowsnest Magazine Jun 1961

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

Photos and Documents

(JCS312) SLt Medland in front of Winnipeg Half Company building, RCNVR  //  Jim Silvester included this info with the photo - This was HMCS CHIPPAWA which was originally a storage building and where I served in Sea Cadets and enlisted in the RCNVR Nov 6 . 1939.

(JCS313) SLt Griffin, Cdr Fraye in front of Winnipeg Half Company building, RCNVR

(JCS314) Tommy Young - drafted from Winnipeg to Halifax, Feb 1940

(JCS315) George Burgess, Pat Griffin, Leo Simpson, Roy Sterling, Jack Ryan - drafted from Winnipeg to Halifax, Feb 1940

(JCS315) George Burgess - drafted from Winnipeg to Halifax, Feb 1940

HMCS CHIPPAWA Personnel transferred from Stadacona to Esquimalt

(JCS317) Simpson, Bryan and Jim Silvester

(JCS318) Eric Sinclair

(JCS319) Leo Simpson

(JCS320) Tom Drombolis and Jim Silvester

(JCS321) Bryan, Sterling and Simpson

HMCS CHIPPAWA Personnel transferred from Stadacona to Esquimalt

(JCS322) Murray Dudley

(JCS323) Don

(JCS324) Jim Silvester

(JCS325) Don Esford and Ann

(JCS326) Tom and Don on ferry to Victoria

HMCS CHIPPAWA Personnel transferred from Stadacona to Esquimalt

(JCS327) Jasper, AB, 1940

(JCS328) A stop in the mountains

(JCS329) Mac, ?? and Jimmy

(JCS330 - JCS331) HMCS CHIPPAWA sailors Jack French, Glen Shaw, R. Mackay, J. Machalek and Paul Hooper  //  CHIPPAWA to NADEN for Naval Training - Aug 1956

From the collection of Jim Silvester, Petty Officer 1st Class Quarters Rating, RCN

Courtesy of Jim Silvester, Petty Officer 1st Class Quarters Rating, RCN

Sub-Lieutenants' Mess Dinner at the Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg

From the collection of Lt Richard (Dick) Simon

Courtesy of Rick Simon

(JS-CHW001) The old HMCS CHIPPAWA building from 1942 till 1999

(JS-CHW002) HMCS CHIPPAWA RCNVR jacket patch

Courtesy of Jim Sedgwick