HMCS Haida celebrated its 76th birthday and invited the community to join them aboard the historic ship.

The Haida was built in 1943 and served in the second world war, Korean war and throughout the cold war.

It has now retired to Hamilton’s shore, close to where many of the steel parts were originally created.

The community was invited to climb aboard and become sailors for the day, with crafts, scavenger hunts and cannon firings.

For people on the decks, the ship has many personal memories and familial ties. The veterans aboard welcomed members of the community, saying you’re walking across history when you walk across the decks.