Moose Jaw is the NATO primary flight training base. Most of the Air Force left in 98-99. I was a staff officer at HMCS UNICORN in Saskatoon and Moose Jaw was our support base. When it was decided to go ASD for flight training, Bombardier (who else? (extreme sarcasm here)) took over. I was posted out in the spring of 99 so I don't know how much of the air force infrastructure left.
Work Point - The Navy has completely taken over there. It is now the home of Venture, the Naval Officer Training Centre. That red brick building the Army built is now home to our bridge simulators and a mjority of the classrooms. They are building a new accomodation block and galley. I think we will be moving our PLQ organisation out there also. The only PPCLI presence is Range Control, for Heals Rifle range and Betenick Island (demolitions). While they do good work, I would rather they went back to the PPCLI (I think they could find more meaningful jobs for them) and let us run the ranges, we are the primary users anyway.
As for having a military presence in a major city, we are basically near the centre of Greater Victoria Regional District, our ships are always sailing across the waterfront of Victoria and I bet that half the city don't know or care that we exist. And for opening a base in or near Vancouver, boy we could recruit 20,000 troops for the amount that would cost us. Cheaper to buy C-17 to fly need troops from Edmonton if the big one hits. (they could land in Vic, Comox, Abbotsford or south if Vancouver Airport was unusuable.
As for the moving of 3 PPCLI from Winnipeg to Shilo, (Deep Breath)
Good Christ its 1hr and 1/2 drive down a 4 lane highway to Winnipeg! I think people in TO have a longer drive to work EVERY DAY!
If I hear one more person say that they won't be able to see the RWB, I'll puke!, How many times did you watch them when you lived there
I"m from Killarney, 1 hr south of Shilo, I have heard this crap from Winnipegers for years, get over it! Your in the fricken military!!!!!