Amazing restoration of history! I just might have to visit, but for another reason as well… I recently FOUND a Civil Defense Canada shoulder bag from what appears to be early 1950’s, complete with the first aid supplies, and some different sized magazines (empty of course!), two of which are stamped with the initials “BW” and “K.I.” (as I have spelled them is as I see them.) I tried to do an online search, but no pictures look identical or even close to mine, so I’d like to know a little more information about this item.
Thank you.
Do you have a record of people who were stationed there? I knew a Jim Richardson who was stationed there in approximately 1969-70. Lost track of him a couple of years later. Trying to locate him. No luck on social media. Thank you.
The program was discontinued in 1996, however municipalities had the option to take them over from the government. I suspect that Winnipeg discontinued usage in 1996 as all large cities did. I suggest visiting the Winnipeg archives.
There was one near Taylor and pembina behind where the Hockey Hutch and Cambrian Credit Union branch used to be. I remember them testing it once when I was a kid, it scared the hell out of me. I first lived 2 blocks away, then later into my early twenties 4 blocks from there. I both banked at that Cambrian, and often went to Hockey Hutch.
I was posted at CFS Yorkton from 1984 until station closing. I was a radar tech working in the ‘search’ tower with Sgt. ‘Stretch’ Hill, Mcpl Tom Hardy, Greg Catley and many others. I also was a volunteer firefighter working under fire chief PO (or P2?) Ennis.
Spent many times at the other ranks mess with MSE ops Norm Brown and Andy Deveau and most of the other ranks posted there.
I remember my Army Cadet Unit, the 19th Alberta Dragoons, being taken on a tour of this bunker around 1977 or 1978, when I was a lad of 16 or 17, when the bunker was still active. I remember going down a very long winding staircase that I think must of taken us down at least 10 stories and maybe as much as 20 or more stories to an area not much bigger than my house. I remember seeing workspaces, a small kitchen, and I think a sleeping areas with bunk beds. One thing that sticks in my mind from this tour of over 45 years ago, was seeing large bookshelves full of paperback novels that I guess was there to give the people in the bunker something to occupy their minds when not at work until conditions outside the bunker became safe after a nuclear strike. Thankfully this bunker never had to be used for this purpose.
I am with The Army Museum Halifax Citadel (Nova Scotia) and have a Report from the Ontario Civilian Defence Committee Conference January 1943 and wonder if this would be of interest to you. We could send it via mail as it is a soft cover paper publication.
i was in Yorkton 1967-72 again in 1977 as senior PERI
after serving 5 years in Yorkton i didnt want to spend
another five so took my discharge
i enjoyed my first time around great Posting many
friends
trying to find old photos of commix airfield ambulances . when it was ADC in 52. i just got a 1956 land rover that was said to be a ambulance for the commix airstrip .
I was watching a Wired episode on YouTube about nuclear war FAQ. https://youtu.be/CJTA2OinEHw?si=he1wYVoRTk40gN0G …I did a duck-duck-go search and eventually found your article. Thank you for keeping this document alive online. “Beyond Diefenbunker…” outlined a part of the continuation-of-government that I didn’t appreciate. There were satellite installations meant to support the big bad C.A.R.P.
It’s August 14, 2025, and I’m writing from my off-grid house up here on the North Bruce Peninsula. Unfortunately(?) one of the reasons we purchased property ~1/2h south of Tobermory, was that Bruce Power’s fallout zone is just beyond its maximum coverage… assuming zero wind spread. Yeah.
May all this infrastructure you outlined NEVER be needed.
In the early 70,s I served on the HMCS Rainbow SS75 submarine. We sailed up the inlet to CFB Holberg and stayed a couple days.
Anyone remember this?
One of our former crew members was posted there. David Radmore
I spent some months in Broughton Island in 1970 and waiting for the sea ice to drift south I spent many evenings at the base with the very hospitable crew.
Å little bit of background, I participated five summers excavating the Norse Sitej in Newfoundland and in St. Anthony was my first encounter with thr DEW line
Hi, Just to let you know that you had an Air Raid Warden for City of North Vancouver during the Secord World War.
His name is Charles Dean OSBORNE the Air Raid Head Quarters was at Pauline Johnson School in West Vancouver.
Charles had to go around to all of the houses to ensure no lights were on, not even flashlights. He had to work by moon light.
He had an assistant to relay massages, his daughter, Grace Elisabeth OSBORNE.
If lights were left on the planes would bomb the city.
[Charles is my Grandfather and Grace is my Aunt].
I was in Alsask from June 1978 to June 1981 inclusive
Do you have a list of other military personnel in that
same time frame??!!
Just Curious
Amazing restoration of history! I just might have to visit, but for another reason as well… I recently FOUND a Civil Defense Canada shoulder bag from what appears to be early 1950’s, complete with the first aid supplies, and some different sized magazines (empty of course!), two of which are stamped with the initials “BW” and “K.I.” (as I have spelled them is as I see them.) I tried to do an online search, but no pictures look identical or even close to mine, so I’d like to know a little more information about this item.
Thank you.
Station there from 1958 to 1960, looking to connect to anyone who was on crew one at that time.
Do you have a record of people who were stationed there? I knew a Jim Richardson who was stationed there in approximately 1969-70. Lost track of him a couple of years later. Trying to locate him. No luck on social media. Thank you.
I’m sorry but we don’t.
What year did the last siren ring in Winnipeg?
The program was discontinued in 1996, however municipalities had the option to take them over from the government. I suspect that Winnipeg discontinued usage in 1996 as all large cities did. I suggest visiting the Winnipeg archives.
There was one near Taylor and pembina behind where the Hockey Hutch and Cambrian Credit Union branch used to be. I remember them testing it once when I was a kid, it scared the hell out of me. I first lived 2 blocks away, then later into my early twenties 4 blocks from there. I both banked at that Cambrian, and often went to Hockey Hutch.
Dont know the exact year,but i remember all of us hearing them in the early 70s.
Wow, this is a straight mini-encyclopedia – cool!
Thank you very much!
I WAS STATIOND THERE FOR 3 YEARS MANY FOND MEMORIES I WAS IN MSE HAVE LOST TRACK OF MENY OF THE PERSONNEL THERE AT THAT TIME
GATR 1981 to 1983 for me.
Wonderful pictures in the archives!
I was posted at CFS Yorkton from 1984 until station closing. I was a radar tech working in the ‘search’ tower with Sgt. ‘Stretch’ Hill, Mcpl Tom Hardy, Greg Catley and many others. I also was a volunteer firefighter working under fire chief PO (or P2?) Ennis.
Spent many times at the other ranks mess with MSE ops Norm Brown and Andy Deveau and most of the other ranks posted there.
I remember my Army Cadet Unit, the 19th Alberta Dragoons, being taken on a tour of this bunker around 1977 or 1978, when I was a lad of 16 or 17, when the bunker was still active. I remember going down a very long winding staircase that I think must of taken us down at least 10 stories and maybe as much as 20 or more stories to an area not much bigger than my house. I remember seeing workspaces, a small kitchen, and I think a sleeping areas with bunk beds. One thing that sticks in my mind from this tour of over 45 years ago, was seeing large bookshelves full of paperback novels that I guess was there to give the people in the bunker something to occupy their minds when not at work until conditions outside the bunker became safe after a nuclear strike. Thankfully this bunker never had to be used for this purpose.
Good Afternoon,
I am with The Army Museum Halifax Citadel (Nova Scotia) and have a Report from the Ontario Civilian Defence Committee Conference January 1943 and wonder if this would be of interest to you. We could send it via mail as it is a soft cover paper publication.
– Chara
Collections Management
Good morning yes were interested in this and thank you for contacting us. Please email Fred Armbruster at fred.a@civildefence.ca
Thank you
i was in Yorkton 1967-72 again in 1977 as senior PERI
after serving 5 years in Yorkton i didnt want to spend
another five so took my discharge
i enjoyed my first time around great Posting many
friends
Hey Bob. Do you recall WO1 Hal Walsh? We were at yorkton 67 to 69. I understand there was an army WO1 there too
trying to find old photos of commix airfield ambulances . when it was ADC in 52. i just got a 1956 land rover that was said to be a ambulance for the commix airstrip .
I was watching a Wired episode on YouTube about nuclear war FAQ. https://youtu.be/CJTA2OinEHw?si=he1wYVoRTk40gN0G …I did a duck-duck-go search and eventually found your article. Thank you for keeping this document alive online. “Beyond Diefenbunker…” outlined a part of the continuation-of-government that I didn’t appreciate. There were satellite installations meant to support the big bad C.A.R.P.
It’s August 14, 2025, and I’m writing from my off-grid house up here on the North Bruce Peninsula. Unfortunately(?) one of the reasons we purchased property ~1/2h south of Tobermory, was that Bruce Power’s fallout zone is just beyond its maximum coverage… assuming zero wind spread. Yeah.
May all this infrastructure you outlined NEVER be needed.
In the early 70,s I served on the HMCS Rainbow SS75 submarine. We sailed up the inlet to CFB Holberg and stayed a couple days.
Anyone remember this?
One of our former crew members was posted there. David Radmore
great i used for history fair
I spent some months in Broughton Island in 1970 and waiting for the sea ice to drift south I spent many evenings at the base with the very hospitable crew.
Å little bit of background, I participated five summers excavating the Norse Sitej in Newfoundland and in St. Anthony was my first encounter with thr DEW line
Glad you are doing this. We need to be proud about our history.
Hi, I am putting together a civil defence display and I was wondering if you had any information about two BC publications.
The first was “The BC Civil Defencer” and the second was called the “Civil defence circular.”
Both seem to be government of BC publications.
I was interested in knowing when publication started and ended, but would welcome any background or historical information you may have.
Thanks for your time and any information you may have.
Sincerely yours,
Dave Enns
We don’t have these on file however we have Alberta publications on file.
Hi, Just to let you know that you had an Air Raid Warden for City of North Vancouver during the Secord World War.
His name is Charles Dean OSBORNE the Air Raid Head Quarters was at Pauline Johnson School in West Vancouver.
Charles had to go around to all of the houses to ensure no lights were on, not even flashlights. He had to work by moon light.
He had an assistant to relay massages, his daughter, Grace Elisabeth OSBORNE.
If lights were left on the planes would bomb the city.
[Charles is my Grandfather and Grace is my Aunt].
Thank you for sharing!