Canadian Merchant Navy

Canada, like several other Commonwealth nations, created the Canadian Merchant Navy (French: Marine marchande Canadienne) in a large-scale effort during World War II.

An informal merchant navy appeared in 1914 at the start of World War I and was renamed Canadian Government Merchant Marine (Marine marchande du gouvernement canadien) in 1918, but slowly disappeared by 1930.

[2] Within hours of Canada's declaration of war on September 10, 1939, the Canadian government passed laws to create the Canadian Merchant Navy setting out rules and controls to provide a workforce for wartime shipping.

Manning pools, or barracks, were built in major Canadian ports to house Merchant Mariners.

An important gesture in 2003 was the designation by the Canadian Parliament of the Merchant Navy Remembrance Day on September 3 as a day to recognize the contributions and sacrifice of Canadian Merchant Mariners.