For Father’s Day, I took my two boys to go see HMCS Haida, a museum ship in Hamilton, Ontario. This is not the first time I’ve visited Haida, or even reviewed it for this site, however it’s been a few years. This was the first time visiting with children, and the first time since I’ve become a maritime professional.
The approach to Haida remains the same, with admission ($4.50) very nearly the same as the last time I visited. Fantastically (for family visits), children and most teens have free admission.
I had some worries about this visit- I was going with my 3 year old and my 6 year old. I was confident that my older kid would handle the ship’s ladders and structure just fine, but I was a little worried that we wouldn’t be able to access much of the ship because of my 3 year old.
my boys on the Gangway
First of all- big shout out and thanks to the National Parks staff and volunteers. None of whom were phased by my extremely active and enthusiastic kids (whom I refer to as my blond hurricane). I appreciate the kid’s activity book that they provided, which was definitely aimed at kids in the say 6-12 age range.
Marking off the activity book having successfully spotted the bright yellow Carley Float
Lennox at the secondary/emergency steering position amidships
Duncan and Lennox in one of the Bofors 40mm mounts
This is fixed to the compass mount on the bridge
Duncan examines a mess space
Lennox exploring one of the mess spaces/ammunition hoists
Ammunition handling system for one of the guns. I think it’s the 4″ forward mounts
Model of a Flower Class corvette
Singer Sewing Machine, I believe in one of the Petty Officers’ Mess spaces
Forward end of the Bridge in the sheltered area- communication to the various rooms below such as the Operations Room, Radar and Sonar Rooms, Wheelhouse
It was clear that the Bridge was the boys’ favourite space on the ship, and probably mine as well. Mine because I knew what most things were and could explain to them. Theirs, because of the sheer amount of equipment there with buttons, knobs, switches. Things they can flick, push, depress. rotate. The volunteer there was excessively patient with my boys insisting on touching and playing with everything. I think they tried to simultaneously launch multiple broadsides from the torpedo launcher at the same time. In opposite directions. Honestly, we could have spent an hour there just letting the boys use their imagination. If you go with small kids and the weather is good enough to spend time on the bridge, take advantage and let them play and get the fidgets out.
Here we have the 3″/50 guns, which replaced the C 4.7″ twin turret in the refit to the Destroyer Escort configuration. I was stunned to find out this had a crew of 16. Please enjoy this archival video below which describes the functioning of this nearly automatic weapon.
Before I mentioned that there were veterans aboard as volunteer guides. I would especially like to draw attention to Maggie Mathers, who was in the Engine Room. She was the first woman to serve aboard a Canadian warship as a stoker, and when I went down she was giving a masterclass on the function and design of a warship’s steam plant. It was really something to listen to.
Maggie explaining Engine Room machinery to my younger son and another guest
The ladder to the engine room was the only one that my younger (3 year old) son true struggled with, as it is simply a ladder through a circular access in the main deck. I had to go a few rungs down the ladder, brace myself against the coaming, and then lift him onto the ladder sideways, then proceed down ahead of him. We reversed the process to go back. Obviously, the engine room is the area that is the least hospitable for young children, as the deck plates are placed on gantries built around the machinery and it could be a dangerous space. However, my boys were fine though I wouldn’t advise bringing anybody much smaller.
Haida continues to be in good condition, and the staff and volunteers are knowledgeable, and dealt well not only with my two kids but with other families and visitor groups as well. I very much recommend taking the time to visit the ship whether by yourself or with a group, it’ a great visit. And it is in fact manageable for children as young as about 3.
