The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) was assigned responsibility for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and controlling sea space in the western North Atlantic.

The St Laurent class were built to an operational requirement much like that which produced the British Type 12, and were powered by the same machinery plant.

They were built to counter nuclear, biological and chemical attack conditions, which led to a design with a rounded hull, a continuous main deck, and the addition of a pre-wetting system to wash away contaminants.

The living spaces on the ship were part of a "citadel" which could be sealed off from contamination for the crew safety.

[7] The St. Laurent class was fitted with twin 3-inch (76 mm)/L50 caliber guns in two mounts for engaging both surface and air targets.

As with the British Type 12 design, the provision for long-range homing torpedoes (in this case BIDDER [Mk 20E] or the US Mark 35 were included.

[7] Following successful trials aboard the frigate Buckingham and Ottawa, plans to convert the St. Laurent class took shape.

The hull was strengthened, fueling facilities for the helicopter and activated fin stabilizers installed.

[12] All seven St Laurents were fitted with helicopter platforms and SQS 504 Variable Depth Sonar (VDS).

[4] She was commissioned into the RCN on 10 November 1956 and initially carried the hull number DDE 229 as a destroyer escort.

[4][15] In February 1960, she sailed with sister ships St. Laurent and Saguenay on an operational cruise to Hong Kong and Japan, performing training exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.

[15] In March 1961, the same three ships deployed with the United States Navy's Carrier Division 17 off the coast of Hawaii.

Later in the year, the vessel joined STANAVFORLANT, NATO's standing naval force for two months.