HALIFAX — Carrying on an age-old tradition, Canada's navy received its Queen's Colour on Saturday during a parade full of pomp and circumstance at the foot of Halifax's historic Citadel.

The new colours or flag, were presented by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, who during an address to 500 sailors and officers from across the country, contrasted her girlhood fear of Haitian military thugs with the pride she feels wearing the uniform as commander-in-chief of Canada's armed forces.

"I grew up under the yoke of of a ruthless dictatorship, where the military uniform came to symbolize the brutal repression of the people, tyranny and massacres," Jean told the assembled ranks.

"You can see how far I have come, from the child who saw her parents, her family, her friends grappling with the horrors of oppression ... And I can say before you now with absolute certainty that it is an honour and a source of great pride for me to wear your uniform."

Jean's speech also cited recent relief work by the navy in the wake of four devastating hurricanes that hit Haiti and its role in battling piracy off the coast of Somalia as examples of a "rich tradition of service and valour."

Jean also thanked navy families for "their tremendous sacrifices" over long separations endured while loved ones serve at sea.

"Know that wherever your duty may take you, you can count on the recognition and respect of your fellow citizens," she said.

The presentation of the colours is a prized tradition in the Canadian military and is seen as a symbol of duty to Queen and country.

The navy, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, received its first colours from King George V in 1924, but King George VI became the first sovereign to present them in Canada in 1939.

The colours were next presented by Queen Elizabeth II in Halifax in 1959.

Saturday's parade marked the first time the navy had received its official colours since 1979, when the late Queen Mother presided over the ceremony.

The design of the flag, which is kept at defence headquarters in Ottawa, is the same as the 1979 version.

The navy's Queen's Colour is a silken white flag with the Canadian flag in the upper corner, the Royal Cypher for Canada in the centre and the navy's symbol in the lower edge. The edge of the colour is trimmed in gold.

Jean presented the colours after the new flag had been consecrated on an altar draped over military drums.

"It's a celebration of institution, every once in a while you have to reaffirm those vows of service to country," said Capt. John Newton, the commander of Canadian Forces Base Halifax.

Newton expressed great pride that the nearly three-hour parade went off without a hitch, but told reporters the highlight was the Governor General's speech.

"Those very profound words are what it means to be in military service in the true sense of the word," said Newton.

The sailors on parade came from elements of the east and west coast fleets as well as from reserve units from across the country.

Parade commander, Capt. David Hudock, said he was proud of the precision displayed throughout the lengthy ceremony, which cost $400,000 to stage.

He called it "a production" that was the culmination of over a month of training aimed at building stamina for a day that turned out to be warm and muggy.

"That group that you saw today was out for the past month every day, training, rehearsing, putting the little bits together," said Hudock. "It's an opportunity for us to, with a little bit of pomp and ceremony, to recognize it (the flag) and to let Canadians . . . understand that we are very proud of what we do."

The ceremony, watched by several thousand from the slope of Citadel hill, also included a 21-gun salute and a fly past by three helicopters including two Sea Kings and a Cormorant.

Gen. Walt Natynczyk, the chief of defence staff, Nova Scotia's Lt. Gov. Mayann Francis and newly elected Premier Darrell Dexter were among the dignitaries in attendance.

Military officials say the retired flag will eventually go on display at the hall of colours at the National Military Cemetery in Ottawa.