\"SASKATCHEWAN'S NAVY\" RECEIVES CENTENNIAL MEDAL

Lieutenant Governor Lynda Haverstock presented the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal to 12 members of the Canadian Navy in a ceremony on the flight deck of HMCS Regina in Esquimalt, B.C. today.

The recipients included sailors from HMCS Regina, a Halifax Class frigate and HMCS Saskatoon, a Kingston Class coastal defence vessel, both based in Esquimalt, as well as sailors from HMCS Queen, the Naval Reserve Division in the City of Regina.

"I am very pleased to be able to present these medals today to members of 'Saskatchewan's Navy'," Haverstock said. "They say that the best sailors come from the prairies – and I can say on behalf of all the people of Saskatchewan that we are proud of all of our sailors, wherever they may be from."

Among the recipients were:

• Captain (Navy) Mike Jellinek, originally from Estevan. Jellinek was the first Commanding Officer of HMCS Regina. He was later assigned to the NORAD in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he was in charge of the Command Centre on the morning of September 11th, 2001;

• Commander (Retired) Neil Sorsdahl, originally from the Moose Jaw area, who was the last Commanding Officer of the destroyer escort HMCS Saskatchewan; and

• Lieutenant-Commander Jeff White, Commanding Officer of HMCS Saskatoon.

Recipients are selected based on the recommendation of government and non-government organizations and Members of the Legislative Assembly. Community leaders, MLAs, Members of Parliament and judges also receive the medal.

By the end of this year, approximately 4,200 Saskatchewan Centennial Medals will have been presented at special ceremonies.

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For More Information, Contact:

Michelle Burns Government Relations Regina Phone: (306) 787-2155