Canadian Naval Technical History Association

The CANDIB working group's mission under the Canadian Naval Technical History Association is to gather and document as much historical information as possible on naval construction and repair programs and the effect they have had on Canadian industry. Our aim is to identify how Canadian industry has responded to the challenge of naval requirements over the years, and how the National Industrial Base has been affected by these naval programs, identifying any direct spin-off benefits that arose. The plan is to trace the legacy of this developmental activity, calling on the experience and recollections of as many people as possible who were involved in any way in these important events in Canada's history.

As it is proving difficult getting people to write down their experiences, one of the ongoing initiatives of the committee has been the practice of interviewing Naval Engineers and industry officials past and present and recording these oral interviews. The Directorate of History and Heritage has generously offered its financial support for this endeavor, and CANDIB has already successfully completed more than a dozen interviews. We intend to continue conducting interviews in the Ottawa area and, now, on the two coasts.

We have watched our archive of interview transcripts grow steadily into a quite impressive collection. The transcripts are formally lodged with DND's Department of History and Heritage and also posted here for our website visitors. This page will continue to expand as transcripts are received.

Calling all potential Interviewees: The CANDIB working group is currently assembling a list of potential persons to interview. If you have personal experience with the industrial aspects of Canadian naval shipbuilding or naval equipment procurement programs, to see how you can contribute to this major effort to capture an important part of Canada's naval technical history, please contact Tony Thatcher, Chairman of the CANDIB working group by e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or the CANDIB team member managing the oral history program, Douglas Hearnshaw at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The following have been interviewed with links provided for those transcripts that are posted:

*Histories are not yet completed.