Home Human Interest Human interest Skill testing terrain at the Chilcotin Training Area

PostHeaderIcon Skill testing terrain at the Chilcotin Training Area

Human interest

062012_military_trainingBy LeRae Haynes

Residents from the Cariboo Chilcotin had the opportunity this week to get updates on the Chilcotin Training Area, used by the Canadian National Defense Department to provide a valuable training asset to military units and other groups across the county.

(Angela Manweiler, National Resource Technical Officer; Captain Simon Landry-Girard, Area Support Unit and Warrant Officer Martin Brink with the Edmonton Combat Engineer Regiment met with the public at Coast Fraser.)

The Canadian National Defense Department welcomed the public yesterday at the Coast Fraser Inn in Williams Lake, providing maps and information about activities in the Chilcotin Training Area, which is a 40,000-hectare property about 40 minutes east of Williams Lake.

Angela Manweiler is the National Resource Technical Officer, or biologist, from the Area Support Unit in Chilliwack. “We support the training areas for the Army in mainland BC,” she explained. “The Chilcotin location is an unfenced area used by BC Military Units, as well as by groups like the RCMP and Search and Rescue.”

She said that it’s a good location suitable for a range of training activities where there is the least environmental impact, where it is isolated and where public safety is assured.

According to Mike Harrison, Property Officer for the Area Support Unit in Chilliwack, the Department of National Defense exchanged 40,000 hectares of Provincial land in the Chilcotin for land it owned in the Point Grey area of Vancouver (UBC Endowment Lands).   

He explained that the process began in 1912 with an Order in Council authorizing the exchange of Federal Crown land with the Provincial Crown land and was completed on May 10, 1924.

“I believe that the area traded for the Chilcotin Training Area is what is now Stanley Park,” Angela continued.

“We used to have a full base in Chilliwack with an engineering school and the Chilcotin training area was their private ‘playground.’ They used to have a BBQ-type event at the end of the summer and invite all the local residents.”

Captain Simon Landry-Girard, Area Support Unit and Warrant Officer Martin Brink with the Edmonton Combat Engineer Regiment explained that each training area in Canada offers totally different types of terrain, and different atmospheres for ‘focus training.’

“If you go to Suffield, Alberta, the ‘desert of Canada’, there are no trees, for example. The Chilcotin area is mountainous, which is the focus of the brigades,” said Warrant Officer Brink. “There are approximately five training areas between BC and Saskatchewan, and more across Canada. Any unit can make a reservation.”

Angela explained that people ask a big range of questions at the public information sessions. “People ask things like recruitment to the military, questions about our environmental impact and the kids of activities and training that takes place,” she noted. 

Activities in training area include map and compass exercises, demolition and shooting.

“They train to set up a base camp, kitchens and showers, store for tools and equipment, the officers will get their orders and pas them on to the unit. They run a sniper course, do patrols with all their gear, build bridges at night, use explosives and do drills and battle procedures--practice in a realist environment;,” explained Warrant Officer Brink.

“We learn in classrooms and go in the field and practice it—that’s how we become proficient.”

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites



 

Welcome to Williams Lake is a real time news and events website designed specifically for the Williams Lake, BC area in the Cariboo Region of British Columbia.
We provide reputable, factual, non-sensationalized daily, breaking news, community events, sports,entertainment, weather, photo galleries, business listings
and more for residents and visitors in the Williams Lake, BC area.

If you have a news tip, see news happening in the Cariboo/Chilcotin or have an local event to promote,
email us at news@welcometowilliamslake.ca or call 250-398-NEWS or text to 250-398-0508