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The Canadian Naval Technical History Association is made up of a group of volunteers, many of whom are retired Naval Engineers. There is a great deal of energy around Committee tables, taking advantage of the considerable knowledge and experience available. Over the past number of years, the CNTHA group - more specifically the CANDIB Project group - has provided valuable information to be included in the Collection and lodged with DND's Department of History and Heritage.
At the end of July 2004, steps were taken to register the 'cntha.ca' domain and subsequently the CNTHA website was moved to its own home. The Canadian Naval History Association website is now operating under its own name and with our own website. Visitors will find our CNTHA Forum - but will have to "sign up" and obtain a user name and password before gaining access to the Forum. There is no cost for joining.
The Canadian Naval Technical History Association (CNTHA) is a volunteer organization working in support of the Directorate of History and Heritage (DHH) in Canada's Department of National Defence. DHH has an ongoing project to capture and preserve our country's naval technical history. Interested persons may become members of the CNTHA by contacting DHH or the CNTHA Chair, Pat Barnhouse.
A prime purpose of the CNTHA is to make its information available to researchers and casual readers alike. So how can you get to read some of it? For the moment there is only one copy of the Collection situated at the Directorate of History and Heritage located at 2429 Holly Lane (near the intersection of Heron and Walkley Roads) in Ottawa. Additional information is available on the Collection pages on this website.
Earlier writings
Several years ago, our former CNTHA Chair, Mike Saker, wrote the following for the CNTHA Newsletter:
New group to look at Navy's industrial history.
In late November a group of about 20 interested people gathered in downtown Ottawa for a special meeting of the Canadian Naval Technical History Association. In addition to many of our usual members, half a dozen new participants joined us at the request of Rolfe Monteith to discuss the challenge of assembling the story of the industrial side of our naval technical heritage. As many of you know, Rolfe is one of our Association's founding fathers, but to me he also represents our conscience. When Rolfe calls from somewhere in England, asking . .How's it going?. . things tend to get going as a result! This occasion was one such event. While it is still early days, a core of interested people has started to construct a framework around which the history of Canada.s naval industry can be preserved. I am most pleased to see this new initiative. Those currently engaged in this activity are: Don Jones (group leader), Doug Hearnshaw, Colin Brown, Gord Moyer and Brian McNally.
Alas, another of our founding members, Phil Munro, has announced that he will be stepping down from the executive of the CNTHA. Over the years, Phil has performed sterling duty in managing our ever-growing collection of documents. On behalf of the Association, I want to thank Phil for his service and guidance along the way. We hope that he will be able to continue to participate in our meetings.
Canadian Naval Defence Industrial Base (CANDIB) Research Project
A group established to organize and coordinate the gathering of historically interesting information, data and the anecdotal recollections of participants in the Defence Industrial Base developed in Canada in response to Canadian Naval requirements in the period from 1950 to 2003. The role of the Team portrayed here is to establish realistic goals for the Project, set guidelines for the gathering of information, determine the manner in which the information will be stored and made accessible and to gather together an array ofsubject Team Leaders to manage the collection of information for each of the areas of activity in which the navy's activities impacted the industrial base throughout this period.
Earlier the CANDIB Project Team was Chaired by Ron Rhodenizer who, unfortunately passed away at an early age - having placed his stamp on the Team, its objectives and method of operation. The Chair was then taken up by Tony Thatcher who continues to this day as CANDIB Chair.
The CANDIB Mission Statement:
To document the development of the Canadian industrial base as it evolved in support of warship construction and naval equipment programs between 1930 and 2003, and the affects these programs had on that industrial base.
Other Work Groups
At a meeting in the fall of 2009, it was decided to roll CANDIB and all other working groups together under the overall umbrella of CNTHA. Henceforth, CANDIB would become a Working Group and continue its work related to the Naval Defence Industrial Base. Another working group formed in 2009 to conduct research related to Combat Systems.
It is anticipated there will be other groups formed later in 2009 or early in 2010 to embrace other systems that make up Naval ships. Site visitors are invited to browse the Working Groups menu item.
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