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CFB Esquimalt

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Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt (CFB Esquimalt) is Canada's Pacific Coast naval base and home port to Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters.[1] As of 2018, 4,411 military personnel and 2,762 civilians work at CFB Esquimalt.[2]

CFB Esquimalt
Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada
Canadian naval ships docked at CFB Esquimalt
Coordinates48°25′52″N 123°25′54″W / 48.43111°N 123.43167°W / 48.43111; -123.43167
TypeNaval base
Site information
Controlled byCanadian Armed Forces
Site history
Built1860 to present
In use1860 –present
Battles/wars
Official nameEsquimalt Naval Sites National Historic Site of Canada
Designated1995
Garrison information
GarrisonRoyal Canadian Navy
CFB Esquimalt is located in British Columbia
CFB Esquimalt
CFB Esquimalt
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Location of the base

Geography

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The base occupies approximately 41 km2 (10,000 acres) at the southern tip of Vancouver Island on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, in the municipality of Esquimalt, adjacent to the western limit of the provincial capital, Victoria.[3]

Facilities

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CFB Esquimalt comprises facilities that include Naden (formerly HMCS Naden),[4] His Majesty's Canadian (HMC)[5] Dockyard Esquimalt, Fleet Maintenance Facility – Cape Breton (FMF CB), a Fire Fighting and Damage Control School, the Naval Officer Training Centre (NOTC) Venture, and extensive housing including 716 personnel married quarters at nine sites such as Belmont Park, WorkPoint, and Royal Roads.

The present dockyard and dry dock, known as HMC Dockyard Esquimalt, dates to the Royal Navy's Esquimalt Royal Navy Dockyard (1842–1905) and was the Royal Navy's Pacific Station until 1911. Today it serves as the Canadian Naval Headquarters in the Pacific.

Operational and support units

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Major units of the base are:[2]

Historic site

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HMCS Aurora, HMCS Patriot, and HMCS Patrician at Esquimalt in 1921.

Due to their significance in Canadian naval history, four sites at CFB Esquimalt (the Dockyard, the former Royal Navy Hospital, the Veterans' Cemetery, and the Cole Island Magazine) have been designated the Esquimalt Naval Sites National Historic Site of Canada.[6]

Ships

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HMCS Whitehorse and HMCS Brandon in port
 
Orca of the Orca-class patrol vessels cruises among the Gulf Islands, 1 August 2007.
 
HMCS Brandon, minesweeper based out of CFB Esquimalt.

In March 2013, CFB Esquimalt services the following ships assigned to Canadian Fleet Pacific

Architecture

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CFB Esquimalt on Vancouver Island, in the background the Olympic Peninsula.
 
Map showing the three areas of the base.

CFB Esquimalt contains several recognized and classified federal heritage buildings on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings.[10]

  • Colwood Site
    • Guard House Building 38 Recognized – 2002[11]
    • Belmont Road Main Gatehouse BEL 13 Recognized – 2000[12]
    • Cow Barn / Dairy RR6 Recognized – 2000[13]
    • Gatehouse Lodge RR8 Recognized – 2000[14]
    • Grant Block, Building 24 Recognized – 1990[15]
    • Gymnasium RR22 Recognized – 2000[16]
    • Hatley Castle Classified – 1986[17]
    • Nixon Block RR24A Recognized – 2000[18]
    • Stable / Garage RR4 Recognized – 2000[19]
    • Swimming Pool RR22A Recognized – 2000[20]
  • Dockyard
    • Admiral's Residence, former Naval Storekeeper's Residence, Building D101 Classified – 1991[21]
    • Aldergrove Building DY 199 Recognized – 2001[22]
    • Bickford Tower, Building D118 Recognized – 1988[23]
    • Clothing / Receiving Stores, Building D211 Recognized – 1991[24]
    • Cordage / Furniture Stores, Building D80 Recognized – 1991[25]
    • Dry Dock Pumphouse, Building D175 Recognized – 1991[26]
    • Electrical Shop Building DY 141 Recognized – 2001[citation needed]
    • Engineer's Residence, Building D1 Recognized – 1991[27]
    • Factory, Building 51 Recognized – 1991[28]
    • Guard House Building D214 Recognized – 1991[29]
    • Main Office, Building D70 Recognized – 1991[30]
    • Oil Stores Building D83 Recognized – 1991[31]
    • Ordnance Stores, Building D77 Recognized – 1991[32]
    • Pump House, Graving Dock No. 1 Recognized – 1991[33]
    • Royal Navy Prison, Building D26 Recognized – 1991[34]
    • Rum / Salt Meats Stores, Building D75-D76 Recognized – 1991[35]
    • Sail Loft / Oil Stores, Building D109 Recognized – 1991[36]
    • Shipwrights' Shed / Spar Shed, Building D113 Recognized – 1991[37]
    • Stone Frigate Building D38 Recognized – 1991[38]
    • Transformer House, Graving Dock No. 11 Recognized – 1991[39]
    • Veterans' Cemetery Chapel Recognized – 1996[40]
    • Warehouse Building D85 Recognized – 1986[41]
    • Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton, Buildings D250 & D252 Recognized – 1991; Final Construction Completed – 2020[42][43]
  • Naden
    • Administration Block, Building 37 Recognized – 1990[44]
    • Administration Office, former Offices of the Officer-in-Charge, Building 5 Recognized – 1991[45]
    • Catholic Chapel, Building 35 Recognized – 1990[46]
    • Communications School, Building 67 Recognized – 1991[47]
    • Drill Hall Building 33-33A-33B Recognized – 1991[48]
    • Gunnery School, former Building 50 Recognized – 1991[49]
    • Nelles Block, Building 34 Recognized – 1994[50]
    • Officer's Ward / Base Museum, Building 20 Recognized – 1990[51]
    • Protestant Chapel Building 39 Recognized – 1990[52]
    • Radar Training Building 92A Recognized – 2006[53]
    • Stores / Museum Warehouse, Building 29 Recognized – 1990[54]
    • Torpedo School, former Building 2 Recognized – 1991[55]
    • Trades Training Building 92 Recognized – 2006[56]
  • Signal Hill
    • Armament Artificer's and Sergeant's Quarters, former Building 522 Recognized – 1991[57]
    • Gun Emplacement, Building 578 Recognized – 1990[58]
    • Private Married Quarters, former Building 523 Recognized – 1991[59]
    • Reserve Ordnance Stores, former Building 508 Recognized – 1991[60]
  • Work Point Barracks
    • Administration Building 1020 Recognized – 1991[61]
    • Artillery Barracks, Building 1075 Recognized – 1991[62]
    • Barracks Building 1004 Recognized – 1991[63]
    • Work Point Guard House Recognized – 2011[64]

The Institute for Stained Glass in Canada has documented the stained glass at the Multi-Faith Naval Chapel[65] and the stained glass at the Old Naval and Garrison Church (1866), now known as St Paul's Anglican.[66]

Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum

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Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum
 
 
Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum
 
 
CFB Esquimalt (Canada)
LocationHMCS Naden, Naden Museum Square, Building 37, Esquimalt, British Columbia
Coordinates48°26′10″N 123°25′15″W / 48.43611°N 123.42083°W / 48.43611; -123.42083 (Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum)
Websitehttp://www.navalandmilitarymuseum.org

CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum is at HMCS Naden.[67] Building 20 (c. 1891), part of Naden Museum Square is a Municipal Heritage Property.[51] Building 37 (c. 1889) part of the Naden Museum Square is also a Municipal Heritage Property and is also on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.[44] HMCS Naden was named after the Dominion Government Ship Naden, which was commissioned as a tender for the Royal Naval College of Canada from 1918 to 1922 for training in sail.[68] The museum is affiliated with: Canadian Museums Association (CMA), Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN), Organization of Military Museums of Canada (OMMC) and Virtual Museum of Canada.

Other facilities

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CFB Esquimalt operates a bus service to provide intra-base transportation. The Lookout is the base newspaper, which covers local, national and international news with specific interest to Navy and Canadian Forces members and family issues.[69]

Other properties that are part of CFB Esquimalt include the Albert Head training area near Albert Head, Metchosin, located approximately 30 km (19 mi) by road southwest of downtown Victoria. It occupies approximately 88 hectares (220 acres), four of which are developed as training facilities. Fort Albert Head was established in the late 1800s along with Fort Rodd Hill and other installations, to provide shore defence for the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Victoria Harbour. The training area is used for Regular and Reserve Force training throughout the year and was previously home to the Regional Cadet Instructor School (Pacific) that trained Canadian Forces Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC) Branch that deliver the cadet program. Albert Head currently houses the British Columbia Patrol Company of the 4th Canadian Rangers Patrol Group,[70] training facilities for the Naval Tactical Operations Group,[71] as well as a cadet summer training centre: Albert Head CTC.[72] Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental Test Range at Nanoose Bay is also part of CFB Esquimalt. The facility provides non-explosive technical testing of sonobuoys, torpedoes and other equipment. Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot (CFAD) Rocky Point store excess ammunition for Maritime Forces Pacific and provides maintenance for missiles and torpedoes. The grounds are also used for by Albert Head CTC for survival training.[73] Naval Radio Section Aldergrove in the Fraser Valley houses transmitting and receiving equipment for long-distance communications. Also, the CFB Esquimalt Base Fire Hall & Emergency Response Centre was founded to provide services to CFB Esquimalt and the civil community in the way of fire intervention and emergency response.[74]

Economic facts

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  • CFB Esquimalt contributes about $760 million (in 2023)into the local community annually.[75][76]
  • CFB Esquimalt is the largest community employer.[77]
  • CFB Esquimalt provides 7,866 jobs in the community.[2]
  • CFB Esquimalt spends locally 770,847,000 dollars annually.[2]

See also

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Historical background

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References

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  1. ^ Joint Task Force Pacific
  2. ^ a b c d CFB Esquimalt
  3. ^ "Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt". Archived from the original on 31 January 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  4. ^ Naden lost its "HMCS" designation in unification when all Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) shore establishments became part of the Canadian Forces Base system."Canada – National Defence: CFB Esquimalt – History Archived 13 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine"
  5. ^ His Majesty's Canadian Ships return from outstanding deployment
  6. ^ Esquimalt Naval Sites National Historic Site of Canada. Directory of Federal Heritage Designations. Parks Canada.
  7. ^ HMCS Yellowknife
  8. ^ "Canadian Navy: MARPAC – Maritime Forces Pacific – Esquimalt Harbour". 13 December 2006. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  9. ^ The History of the ORCA
  10. ^ "Search Results: CFB Esquimalt". Directory of Federal Heritage Designations. Parks Canada. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  11. ^ Guard House Building 38. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  12. ^ Belmont Road Main Gatehouse. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  13. ^ Cow Barn and Dairy RR6. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  14. ^ Gatehouse Lodge. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  15. ^ Grant Block, Building 24. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  16. ^ Gymnasium RR22. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  17. ^ Hatley Castle. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  18. ^ Nixon Block RR24A. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  19. ^ Stable / Garage RR4. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  20. ^ Swimming Pool RR22A. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  21. ^ Building D101. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  22. ^ CFB Esquimalt, Dockyard, Aldergrove Building, DY 199. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  23. ^ CFB Esquimalt, Bickford Tower, Building D118. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  24. ^ Building D211. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  25. ^ Building D80, former Cordage / Furniture Stores. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  26. ^ Building D175. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  27. ^ Building D1. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  28. ^ Building D51. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  29. ^ Building D214. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  30. ^ Building D70. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  31. ^ Building D83. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  32. ^ Building D77. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  33. ^ Pump House. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  34. ^ Building D26. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  35. ^ Building D75-D76. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  36. ^ Building D109. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  37. ^ Shipwrights' Shed / Spar Shed, Building D113. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  38. ^ Building D38. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  39. ^ Transformer House. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  40. ^ Veterans' Cemetery Chapel. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  41. ^ Warehouse Building D85. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  42. ^ "EllisDon – Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton". www.ellisdon.com. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  43. ^ DCC. "Pacific Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton approaching final construction phase completion". Defence Construction Canada. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  44. ^ a b Naden Museum Square, Building 37. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  45. ^ Former Offices of the Officer-in-Charge. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  46. ^ Naden, Museum Square, Building No. 35. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  47. ^ Communications School, Building 67. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  48. ^ Naden, Building Nos. 33, 33A, 33B. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  49. ^ Gunnery School, former Building 50. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  50. ^ Building 34. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  51. ^ a b Naden Museum Square, Building 20. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  52. ^ Protestant Chapel Building 39. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  53. ^ Radar Training Building. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  54. ^ Stores / Museum Warehouse, Building 29. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  55. ^ Torpedo School, former Building 2. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  56. ^ Trades Training Building. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  57. ^ Former Armament Artificer's and Sergeant's Quarters, Building 522. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  58. ^ Gun Emplacement, Building 578. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  59. ^ Former Married Privates' Quarters, Building 523. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  60. ^ Signal Hill No. 508. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  61. ^ Work Point Barracks No. 1020. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  62. ^ Royal Garrison Artillery Barracks' Blocks, Building 1075. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  63. ^ Work Point Barracks No. 1004. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  64. ^ Work Point Guard House. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  65. ^ "Multi-Faith Naval Chapel". Institute for Stained Glass In Canada.
  66. ^ "Old Naval and Garrison Church (1866)". Institute for Stained Glass In Canada.
  67. ^ "CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum Home Page". Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  68. ^ Reference: Esquimalt Naval Base: A History of Its Works and Its Defences, by Major F.V. Longstaff, 1941,
  69. ^ "The Look-Out". Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  70. ^ "4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group". Canada.ca. Government of Canada. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  71. ^ "BN33-NTOG.pdf" (PDF). navalassoc.ca. Naval Association of Canada. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  72. ^ "CANCDTGEN 015-17". Canada.ca. Government of Canada. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  73. ^ "Camping Canadian: Canadian Forces Ammunition Depots". campingcdn.blogspot.com. Steffan Watkins. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  74. ^ Minister Findlay announces the opening of the Base Fire Hall and Emergency Response Centre at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt
  75. ^ Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt
  76. ^ "Maritime Forces Pacific". Royal Canadian Navy. 19 April 2013.
  77. ^ An Economic Development Strategy for the Township of Esquimalt
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