Kelowna veteran receives custom model ship after nationwide effort
HMCS Haida model honors Kelowna veteran Richard Brown with a custom replica See how veterans, hobbyists and the Royal Canadian Navy made it happen
A Kelowna, British Columbia veteran received a custom model of HMCS Haida after a coordinated effort that involved people across Canada.
Richard Brown, who served aboard the warship in 1956, had written to a Canadian military magazine asking for help finding a model of the vessel. That request led veterans, hobbyists, volunteers and members of the Royal Canadian Navy to build a oneofakind replica in secret.
The model was organized by a military magazine and a hobby shop, and took more than 90 days to complete. Brown said the ship brings back memories of his service and the people he served with, while organizers described the gift as a tribute to his years in the forces.