CFB Valcartier: Difference between revisions

'''2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier''' ('''2 CDSB Valcartier)'''), formerly known as and commonly referred to as '''Canadian Forces Base Valcartier''' ('''CFB Valcartier'''), is a [[Canadian Forces base]] located in the municipality of [[Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier]], {{Convert|8|NM|lk=in}} north northwest<ref name="CFS"/> of [[Quebec City]], [[Quebec]], Canada.<ref name="bmv">[https://www.quoifaireaquebec.com/lieu/base-militaire-valcartier Base militaire Valcartier]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://mern.gouv.qc.ca/publications/territoire/planification/portrait-capitale-nationale.pdf |title=Capitale-Nationale |access-date=17 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018043055/https://mern.gouv.qc.ca/publications/territoire/planification/portrait-capitale-nationale.pdf |archive-date=18 October 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.quebecoriginal.com/en-ca/listing/things-to-do/sports-and-nature/trails/centre-castor-base-militaire-de-valcartier-32110465 Centre Castor - Base militaire de Valcartier]</ref> The [[2nd Canadian Division]] is stationed at the base,<ref name="2ndbase">[{{cite web |url=http://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/cfb-valcartier/index.page 2nd |title=Canadian Division SupportForces Base Valcartier |website=[[Canadian Army]] |publisher=[[Government of Canada]] ([[Department of National Defence (Canada)|National Defence]]) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828103316/www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/cfb-valcartier/index.page |archive-date=2019-08-28 |language=en |date=25 February 2013}}</ref> comprising the [[5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group]]<ref name="5mbg">{{Cite web |url=http://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/5-cmbg/index.page |title=5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group |access-date=12 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313005906/http://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/5-cmbg/index.page |archive-date=13 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the 2nd Canadian Division Support Group.<ref>[http://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/2-cdsg/index.page 2nd Canadian Division Support Group]</ref>

The site was also used as an [[Ukrainian Canadian internment|internment camp]] for "enemy aliens", mainly [[eastern Europe]]ans.<ref>[http://www.45enord.ca/2012/09/camps-dinternement-au-canada-un-fonds-pour-se-souvenir/ Camps d’internement au Canada: un fonds pour se souvenir]</ref> The name Valcartier comes from the town of [[Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier]],<ref>[http://saint-gabriel-de-valcartier.ca/en/municipality/history/ A Bit of History]</ref> of which a large section was expropriated in order to create the military training camp. Due to its proximity to the [[Port of Quebec]], Valcartier became the largest military camp on Canadian soil, including some 32,000 men, 8,000 horses, and one black bear <ref>{{cite web | title=The real-life Canadian story of Winnie-the-Pooh | website=The real-life Canadian story of Winnie-the-Pooh | date=17 January 2022| url=https://www.cbc.ca/kids/articles/the-real-life-canadian-story-of-winnie-the-pooh {{bare URL inline| access-date=February18 April 2024}}</ref> <ref>[http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/information-for/students/tales-of-animals-in-war/2006/page5 Bears as Mascots? by Win, Winnipeg, Manitoba]</ref>

In 2014, CFB Valcartier celebrated its 100th anniversary. [[David Johnston (governor general)|David Johnston]], then [[Governor General of Canada]], offered a message about the role the base and its soldiers who have played in the history of Canada. Prime minister [[Stephen Harper]] also thanked the soldiers.<ref name="vtdf"/><ref>[https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2014/06/100th-anniversary-cfb-valcartier.html Message from the Governor General of Canada on the Occasion of the 100th Anniversary of CFB Valcartier]</ref><ref>[https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2014/06/statement-prime-minister-canada-100th-anniversary-cfb-valcartier.html Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on the 100th anniversary of CFB Valcartier]</ref>

In 1997, a cancer-causing chemical, [[trichloroethylene]], was found in the water supply of CFB Valcartier and the nearby town of [[Shannon, Quebec]]. Trichloroethylene, which has been linked to [[liver cancer]], was used for degreasing metal parts at the base for decades. The Shannon Citizens Committee (Regroupement des Citoyens de Shannon) launched a class-action lawsuit against the Department of National Defence in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eau contaminée : les résidents de Shannon ne perdent pas espoir|url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1071565/eau-contaminee-residents-shannon-tce-valcartier-quebec|last=ICI.Radio-Canada.ca|first=Zone Société -|website=Radio-Canada.ca|date=7 December 2017 |language=fr-ca|access-date=2018-08-12}}</ref><ref>[https://www.lesoleil.com/actualite/environnement/recours-collectif-a-shannon-on-sen-va-probablement-vers-une-18e-annee-44156360c5e2ecc009620d7478e41022 Recours collectif à Shannon: «on s'en va probablement vers une 18e année»]</ref><ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/dnd-denies-blame-for-cancer-in-shannon-que-1.869817 DND denies blame for cancer in Shannon, Que.]</ref><ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/residents-say-canadian-forces-to-blame-for-cancer-crisis/article669518/ Residents say Canadian Forces to blame for 'cancer crisis']</ref>

*[http://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/cfb-valcartier/index.page Canada government CFB Valcartier] official site{{dead link|date=August 2024}}