Festivals and Events
Many radar sites planned and hosted their own events and festivals, sometimes in conjunction with their local civilian community. Often supported by the Messes at these stations, events like Winter Carnivals, Oktoberfests, Christmas parties or Air Force Days helped bring the community together and offered fun and games for everyone.
Since local communities were often welcomed or involved in the planning, these events kept the relationship between the military and civilian communities strong. In rural and often isolated Canada, events kept morale up and meant for exciting activities away from the daily life of a radar station.
In an edition of the Canadian Forces Station Barrington, Nova Scotia, ‘Byline’, a new Commanding Officer remarks that he was looking forward to his time at the coastal Pinetree Line site, saying "Nobody said it was going to be easy. But he didn’t say it couldn’t be fun.”
Winter Carnivals often began with parades with thematic floats or displays. In the long, dark, cold days of winter, the chance to play games, create snow sculptures and decorate floats, such as this one from Mont Apica, Quebec, was eagerly awaited. Similarly, at the other end of the country, the station personnel at Puntzi Mountain, British Columbia, were so excited for their 2nd annual Winter Carnival in 1966 that there were 11 floats in the opening parade, for a station of only 150 workers!
Personal Stories and Photos
New Years Eve 1956 at Site 403, near Great Whale River, Quebec, (Mid-Canada Line) Fraser Bruce employees. Courtesy John Rowe, reposted with permission from lswilson.dewlineadventures.com
Signed Christmas menu from a DEW Line station. Courtesy Brian Jeffrey and www.DEWLine.ca
St. Patrick's Day feast, Winisk, Ontario (Mid-Canada Line). Courtesy Al Gallant, reposted with permission from lswilson.dewlineadventures.com
Christmas dinner at DEW Line station CAM-4, 1960 (Pelly Bay, Nunavut). Only two of the station members were not present for the photo. Courtesy Brian Jeffrey and www.DEWLine.ca
Submitted by Jim Richmond, CFS Barrington 1982-1985
There was an airshow in the area and this twin huey stopped over at the site. I was talking to the crew and got invited for a ride. They took me over the ocean and proceeded to do a combat turn. Thank god the door was closed because I was looking straight down at the ocean and probably would have freaked out otherwise.
Submitted by CWO (ret.) Giorgio Frausin, Sydney 1984-1989, Barrington 1989-1990, 42 Radar 1990, Gander 1990-1992, NORAD Systems Support Facility (Tyndall AFB), 2000-2004
I was surprised to see that my submission for the 1990 CFS Barrington Winter Carnival Button - The horse leaning on the 27 Tower - on the slide show in the Festival and Events section. Brought back some instant memories!!