By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Normally top-secret Navy test range near Nanaimo hosting open house

Sep 8, 2017 | 5:21 PM

NANOOSE — The Canadian Forces is lifting the veil on their normally top-secret operation in Nanoose Bay.

The Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges (CFMETR) is hosting an open house on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lieutenant Tim Downey said the event, which happens every other year, is a rare chance for people to get a look inside the base.

“We like to welcome the public every couple of years so they don’t forget we’re here,” Downey told NanaimoNewsNOW. “We do keep a low profile but we do important work out in the Strait of Georgia. We do a lot of weapon and torpedo testing…It involves aircraft, submarines and surface ships.”

Downey said people will have a chance to drive right onto the base, tour vessels and displays and see their torpedoes and the helicopter they use to retrieve them. There will also be firetrucks offering rides for children, a pipe band, a concession and the RCMP Dive Team.

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While the work they do is classified, Downey said they always communicate with the public. “We’re very open when the range is operating because we don’t want to endanger any boaters out there…We want to make sure a torpedo doesn’t come up under some poor, unsuspecting boater,” he said, adding the rounds they fire are not live but are real torpedoes.

The facility, opened in 1965, is funded by both the U.S. and Canadian governments. It’s staffed by about 60 people, including members of the Royal Canadian Navy, civilian members of the Department of National Defense and the U.S. Navy. Downey said since the two countries have common weapons platforms, they can cost-share on testing and evaluating systems. The location in the ocean, known as Whiskey Golf, also offers prime conditions for testing.

Downey said upwards of 3,000 people often come to their open house, although weather may dampen turnout a bit this year. CFMETR is near Fairwinds Golf Club, at 3400 Fairwinds Dr.

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