Families and Community
The remote and isolated nature of many of the radar bases was a challenge for military personnel with families. For single members, their postings to these sites were often only one year, but as the sites grew older, there were increasingly fewer single members and housing, as well as local support (schools, civilian facilities, etc.) were insufficient for a family.
At some sites, depending on the location, families were not permitted at all. This included all of the DEW Line sites, the Mid-Canada Line sites and some of the more remote Pinetree Line sites. These sites could just not be made suitable for anyone but military personnel. For example, some Pinetree Line sites were restricted to either single members or those with children only under 4 years of age as there were no local schools for them to attend.
However, in areas where families were permitted, they were welcomed into the community. For many of the small pre-existing towns near radar sites, military families breathed new life into the community and the relationship between military and civilian families strengthened with shared festivals, sports and local events.
Pinetree Line stations presented unique situations to military families. The varied geography meant that some stations, such as Parent, Quebec, had lovely beaches or ski hills or other natural facilities that would not be found even at larger military installations. However, at some of the more isolated sites, resources for spouses or children could be more limited, resulting in very different experiences.
Personal Stories and Photos
Submitted by Noel and Norma Lagace, CFS Holberg 1973-1976, (also CFS Gypsumville, and Haida Gwai, known as Masset)
My youngest son was born in Holbegr, they sent me to Comox on a plane was there a week and came back and delivered in Holberg, Dr. Frank Eves was our doctor. Many wonderful memories, many friends and fun.
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Submitted by Milt Flynn, CFS Edgar 1958-1961; Parent 1961-1963; Sydney 1963-1965; Moisie 1965-1967; Lac St Dennis 1967-1968
I lived on Radar bases, as a dependant from age 5 through 15. It was a very close knit lifestyle. We moved from one base to another and normally always knew people when we arrived at the new base. I have many fond memories of great family times and community events. In a lot of respects it was like living on a resort (all be a cold one) as we were completely self contained. Our own swimming pool, ski hills, beaches, ball diamonds, snack bars, movie theatres and hockey rinks. My Dad (Charlie Flynn) was always heavily involved in organizing the events and putting on parties. In Moisie my Dad was the publisher/editor of the base news paper. He was a character that everyone knew and loved. It was a wonderful life.
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Submitted by Rudy Martin, CFS Mont Apica 1953, Moosonee 1969-1972, Lac St Denis 1976-1980
Very enjoyable postings. Lots of activities when the family was young. Pleasant and enjoyable days.
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Submitted by Michael Dagenais, PMQ brat, PMQ 19, at CFS Senneterre, 1963-1967
My father, Sgt Maurice Dagenais, was the Senior Supply Tech in CFS Senneterre and we had the pleasure of staying in PMQ 19 for a 4 year period where I got to do all sorts of mischievous things around the radar site. I remember in the summer time, the Tpt [Transport] and CE [Construction Engineering] sections would spray the PMQs with a hearty dose of good ol' DDT. A small pick-up would pass up and down the streets with a fog machine attached at the back, that left a long lasting white cloud that would eradicate swarms of black flies for a few weeks, maybe only a few days. The smog machine was normally followed by a parade of kids on bicycles where they (including yours truly and I shudder at the thought) would remain immersed in the cloud easily for a few hours. This was great fun and a side-effect was less bugs for a few days. Radar sites were situated outside city areas surrounded by swampy forests and bugs and wild life were common. Dad often told us not to venture too far in case we might meet up with black bears, moose or lynx. This did not stop us from building tree forts deep in the woods, with wood found in the radar site dump.
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Submitted by Joe McCarthy, Lowther
I went there in October 1961 and stayed to October 1962. I remember the extreme cold in the winter and the pleasant summer. Lowther was located one mile north of the main east-west highway and 30 miles west of the town of Kapuskasing where we spent many an idle hour. The people were extremely friendly and our kids went with theirs to the town schools. I found the fishing to be excellent. One tragedy occurred when a busload of children on their way to school rammed the rear end of a disabled 30 ton dump truck. The sun was rising directly in the middle of the road effectively preventing the bus driver from seeing the truck. He died instantly as did two children riding in the front seat. I was one of the few base personnel who had a car and I volunteered immediately to go to the scene and transport injured to the hospital. Any chance of an ambulance arriving was remote at best. Anyone with a vehicle was pressed into transporting injured. There was a need for O-negative blood and only two of us on the base with that type. Oddly, we share the same first name and came from the same American city. Our blood saved two kids that day. I'll never forget their names and I often wonder where they are today. 55 years later. I had good times and bad times at Lowther but I don't regret a moment of that year. I remember it took almost a day for Air Force medics to arrive en masse.
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Submitted by Bob Tucker, Parent: 62 till closure, Ramore: 65-68, Moosonee 68-71, Gypsumville, 71-77, Yorkton, 77-83, Beausejour: 83-86, Holberg, 86-closure
Except for one short tour at Moose Jaw, spent my entire career on the Pinetree Line. My wife and I loved the lifestyle, living close to nature, the near at hand fishing and hunting, and the incredible lifelong friends we met and made. Our three kids grew up on the Line, and still consider it to have been the best possible way and place to grow up. We were incredibly fortunate to have lived where we did, when we did and as we did. I would do every day of it over again. Fantastic memories.
Submitted by Sharon Williamson, CFS Holberg
When we were told we were being transferred from North Bay Ontario to Holberg BC we had a bit of advance knowledge about Holberg since Jack had been there unaccompanied a few years earlier. The cross country trip was very enjoyable and educationable [sic]. You don’t really realize how big this country is until you travel it by car.
From Port Hardy to Holberg is an adventure on its own since the trip is over a logging road with lots of curves and hills and somewhat unnerving when you come across the wrecked car and you feel like you will never get there but then of course you do and the next few years are very enjoyable and pass all too quickly. Having bald eagles on your roof, deer walking down the front road and bears at the “zoo” is something to remember. Backpacking out to San Josef Bay, camping on the beach, fishing for supper and getting to know lots of great people are just a few of the memories you take with you.
Wrecked car on the road into Holberg (Sharon Williamson)
Cooking breakfast on the beach at San Josef Bay, near Holberg (Sharon Williamson)
Sharon Williamson Williamson at console of radio station CFHG 1974, Holberg (Sharon Williamson)
Bear at the "zoo" (dump site) at Holberg (Sharon Williamson)
Mike Williamson joining the Cubs at Holberg (Sharon Williamson)