New Arctic patrol vessel commemorates Victoria Cross recipient from Nova Scotia

A naming ceremony was held for Canada's newest Arctic patrol vessel at the Irving Shipyard in Halifax on Friday.

HMCS William Hall is the first Royal Canadian Navy ship to be named for a Black Canadian.

"Bravery, perseveranceand duty. These are characteristics that Petty Officer William Hall demonstrated throughout his entire military career," Defence Minister Anita Anandtold the crowd gathered at the shipyard.

Hall holds the distinction of being the firstBlack Canadian, the first Canadian sailor and the first Nova Scotian to earn the Victoria Cross.

He received the honourafter the Siege of Lucknow in India more than 160 years ago while serving in the Royal Navy.

Hall was born in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley in 1827. He was the son of former American slaves.

Anand said Hall "grew up in a time of wooden ships when many boys dreamed of travelling the world and sailing vessels."

She said he worked at the shipyard in Hantsport, building wooden ships for the merchant marine. He eventually joined the crew of a trading vessel andhad travelled to ports all over the world before the age of 18.

As for the ship itself, Anand said it will be one of six used to enhance the Canadian Armed Forces' capabilityand presence in the Arctic. It will be able to operate in ice 100 centimetres thick, allowing the navy to have "unescorted access to areas of the Arctic previously inaccessible [by Royal Canadian Navy] ships."

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of.You can read more stories here.