Canadian Forces Base Petawawa is one of the largest military installations in Canada, occupying roughly 340 square kilometres of the sandy plains and forests along the Ottawa River in Renfrew County. For more than a century, the base has trained soldiers, housed prisoners, and served as a staging ground for deployments around the world. Its history is inseparable from the history of the Canadian military itself.
The base was established in 1905, when the Department of Militia and Defence acquired a large tract of land on the sandy plains north of the Petawawa River. The location was chosen for its open terrain, which was suitable for artillery training, and its relative isolation from populated areas. The sandy soil that had defeated the area's farmers turned out to be ideal for military exercises.
The World Wars
Camp Petawawa expanded dramatically during both World Wars. During the First World War, thousands of troops trained at the camp before deploying to France and Belgium. The camp also served as an internment facility, holding civilians of enemy nationality under conditions that were, by any standard, unjust. The hidden history of Petawawa examines this chapter in more detail.
During the Second World War, the camp grew even larger. Artillery, infantry, and armoured units trained on the ranges before shipping overseas. The camp also held prisoners of war, including German submarine crews and soldiers captured in North Africa and Europe. Some of these prisoners were put to work in the surrounding forests, cutting timber for the war effort.
The physical infrastructure of the wartime camp was enormous. Barracks, mess halls, training facilities, and administrative buildings covered a large area. Much of this infrastructure was temporary, built of wood and designed to last only for the duration of the war. After 1945, most of these buildings were demolished or left to deteriorate. Foundations and traces of the wartime camp can still be found in areas that have not been redeveloped.
The military base has been continuously evolving for over a century, with each era leaving its own marks on the landscape.
Cold War and Beyond
The Cold War brought new missions to Petawawa. The base became home to airborne units, and the Petawawa area was used for parachute training and other specialized exercises. The base was also involved in Cold War air defence, with connections to the radar stations that were established across northern Ontario during the 1950s.
In more recent decades, Petawawa has been a staging ground for Canadian military deployments to peacekeeping and combat operations around the world. The base's units have served in Cyprus, the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, and numerous other missions. Each deployment has left its mark on the community, and memorials on the base honour those who did not return.
The Landscape of Training
The most distinctive feature of the military landscape at Petawawa is the training area itself. The sandy plains that make up much of the base are a unique ecosystem, supporting jack pine forests and ground cover that is found in few other places in southern Ontario. Ironically, the military's restriction of public access has preserved some natural features that might otherwise have been developed.
The training area also contains the remains of practice ranges, obstacle courses, and other training infrastructure from various eras. Old tank trails, observation posts, and bunker structures can be found throughout the property, though access is restricted and the presence of unexploded ordnance makes unauthorized exploration extremely dangerous.
The Petawawa area beyond the base has been shaped by the military presence in more subtle ways. The town has grown to serve the base community, and the local economy is heavily dependent on military spending. The infrastructure of the area, including roads and bridges, has often been developed or maintained with military needs in mind.