The seven Emergency Government Headquarters (commonly referred to as Diefenbunkers) are nuclear fallout shelters that were built across Canada at the height of the Cold War, during the infancy of the ICBM threat. Fallout is the residual radiation hazard from a Nuclear explosion, so named because it "falls out" of the atmosphere into which it is spread during the explosion Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the The nickname, "Diefenbunkers", was coined by federal opposition politicians of the early 1960s, and was derived from the name of the prime minister of the day, John Diefenbaker, who authorized their construction. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 The Prime Minister of Canada ( French: Premier ministre du Canada) is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus
These facilities were built, often in great secrecy, at rural locations outside major cities across Canada. Most were 2-storey underground bunkers capable of withstanding a near-miss from a nuclear explosion. Each underground building had massive blast doors at the surface, as well as extensive air filters to prevent radiation infiltration. Underground storage was built for food, fuel, fresh water, and other supplies for the facility which was capable of supporting several dozen people for weeks.
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Bunker locations
Several "Diefenbunkers" were built in locations across the country. The largest "Diefenbunker" was located west of Ottawa in Carp and was expected to shelter many of the most important federal government bureaucrats, senior military officials, and federal politicians. Ottawa (ˈɒtəwə or sometimes /ˈɒtəwɑː/ is the Capital of Canada and the country's fourth largest municipality. Carp is a large Village west of urban Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. This location was the second chosen. The original location was approximately six miles west of Almonte. The site was abandoned when ground water proved impossible to remove.
The largest bunker was designated the Central Emergency Government Headquarters (CEGHQ):
The seven smaller bunkers were designated as Regional Emergency Government Headquarters (REGHQs):
- Nanaimo, British Columbia (CFS Nanaimo) - REGHQ
- Penhold, Alberta (CFS Penhold) - REGHQ
- Shilo, Manitoba (CFB Shilo) - REGHQ
- Borden, Ontario (CFB Borden) - REGHQ
- Valcartier, Quebec (CFB Valcartier) - REGHQ
- Val-d'Or, Quebec (CFS Val-d'Or) - REGHQ
- Debert, Nova Scotia (CFS Debert) - REGHQ
Other bunkers to note:
- Edenvale, Ontario (CFB Borden)
- Richardson, Ontario (CFS Carp) - Transmitter site (T1) for the CEGHQ
- North Bay, Ontario (NORAD backup)
Other bunkers in Ontario included Central Relocation Units (CRUs) to supplement the CEGHQ in:
Similar sites were chosen to accompany the REGHQs elsewhere in Canada. Carp is a large Village west of urban Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Canadian Forces Station Carp (also CFS Carp) is a former Canadian military facility located in the rural farming community of Carp, Ontario, Penhold is a town in Central Alberta, Canada. Penhold is surrounded by the county of Red Deer No Canadian Forces Base Shilo (or CFB Shilo) is an Operations and Training base of the Canadian Forces, located 35 km east of Brandon Manitoba. Canadian Forces Base Shilo (or CFB Shilo) is an Operations and Training base of the Canadian Forces, located 35 km east of Brandon Manitoba. Canadian Forces Base Borden (also CFB Borden) is a Canadian Forces base located in Ontario. Canadian Forces Base Borden (also CFB Borden) is a Canadian Forces base located in Ontario. Canadian Forces Base Valcartier is located 25 km north of Quebec City. Canadian Forces Base Valcartier is located 25 km north of Quebec City. Canadian Forces Station Val d'Or ( CFS Val d'Or) was a Canadian Forces Station in Val-d'Or, Quebec. Debert is an unincorporated farming community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Canadian Forces Station Debert (also CFS Debert) was a Canadian Air Force and Army facility located in Debert, Nova Scotia The former Village of Edenvale is a Ghost town in the Province of Ontario Canada. Canadian Forces Base Borden (also CFB Borden) is a Canadian Forces base located in Ontario. Drummond/North Elmsley is a township in eastern Ontario, Canada in the County of Lanark. Canadian Forces Station Carp (also CFS Carp) is a former Canadian military facility located in the rural farming community of Carp, Ontario, North Bay ( time zone EST) is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada (2006 population 53966 Kemptville is a town located in the Municipality of North Grenville in Eastern Ontario, Canada in the northernmost part of the United Counties of Leeds Carleton Place (population 10000 is a Town in eastern Ontario, Canada, in Lanark County, about west of Downtown Ottawa on Cornwall is a City in eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont Dundas and Glengarry Ontario. Smiths Falls (2001 population 9977 is a Town in Ontario, Canada. Renfrew, Ontario, Canada is a Town on the Bonnechere River in Renfrew County, located in Eastern Ontario. Arnprior ( 2006 Population 7158 UA population 9076 is a Town in eastern Renfrew County, These would be located in close proximity to the REGHQs. The RUs in general (central or regional) would be used as a backupto the larger equivalent (for redundancy).
There were also MEGHQs and ZEGHQs in Canada, not supervised by the federal government to help with rescue and reconstruction efforts over time of crisis.
Legacy
Following the end of the Cold War, all the Diefenbunkers were decommissioned. Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the Several of the facilities on active Canadian Forces Bases, such as CFB Borden and CFB Valcartier, remain in government control. Diefenbunkers located on smaller Canadian Forces Stations were mostly sold off, or demolished.
Existing Diefenbunkers which members of the public may visit include the facility at the former CFS Carp, now converted into a year-round Cold War museum, as well as the smaller facility at the former CFS Debert, which is opened several times a year for tours. Canadian Forces Station Carp (also CFS Carp) is a former Canadian military facility located in the rural farming community of Carp, Ontario, Canadian Forces Station Debert (also CFS Debert) was a Canadian Air Force and Army facility located in Debert, Nova Scotia As of 2005 the bunker at CFS Debert is home to the cadet regional gliding school in the summer, is available to other groups throughout the year, and is occasionally used as a barracks by military units in transit across Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia (ˌnəʊvəˈskəʊʃə ( Latin for New Scotland; Alba Nuadh Nouvelle-Écosse is a Canadian province located on Canada 's
One interesting footnote surrounds the Diefenbunker that was located at CFS Penhold in Alberta. This facility was decommissioned and at one point a movie studio expressed interest but it was ultimately purchased by a member of the public. When subsequent owners of the Penhold Diefenbunker advertised the facility for resale, there was rumour that a chapter of an outlaw biker gang, such as the Hells Angels, was expressing interest. A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club ( HAMC) is a world-wide " one-percenter " motorcycle gang whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson This prompted the federal government to repurchase the facility and have it systematically demolished and hauled away at considerable expense.