Victoria-based Coast Guard ship conducts western Arctic operations

CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, a Canadian Coast Guard vessel based in Victoria, British Columbia, is conducting operations across the western Arctic, according to a Canadian Coast Guard news release. The Coast Guard says the ship is the only Western Canada-based vessel deployed to the Arctic each year.

The vessel arrived in Canada’s Arctic on July 16, 2026, after participating in Operation North Pacific Guard. Its work in the region includes charting waters and activities the Coast Guard says are intended to strengthen relationships with Northern communities.

In collaboration with the Canadian Hydrographic Service, the ship has supported seabed mapping using multi-beam technology, the release says.

On August 12, 2026, CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier delivered 43 bicycles to youth in Paulatuk, Northwest Territories, through the Arctic Bikes Program. The Coast Guard described the program as a joint initiative with British Columbia-based RCMP detachments.