LFCATC Meaford
Encyclopedia
Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford (also LFCA TC Meaford) is a Canadian Forces
training facility operated by Land Force Central Area
(LFCA) of Land Force Command
(LFC).
It is located in Grey County
, Ontario
, northwest of the Meaford
townsite and approximately 25 km east of Owen Sound
on a peninsula extending into Georgian Bay
. Relatively few military personnel are stationed at the training centre as it serves primarily for training Primary Reserve and regular force stationed within LFCA.
The training centre conducts year round courses for Regular Force personnel, Generally the DP1 Infantry for the RCR
, Royal Canadian Regiment, while expanding dramatically during the summer months to accommodate a large number of courses for Primary Reserve personnel.
During the period of June-September every year LFCA TC Meaford serves as the primary training location for Primary Reserve and exercises for units from the Greater Toronto Area
, also other locations across Southern and Eastern, Portions of Ontario.
__FORCETOC__
purchased 68 km² (17,500 acres) of private lands along Georgian Bay
in the St. Vincent Township. The southern edge of this property is 5 km northwest of the town of Meaford
and its western boundary is 15 km northeast of the city of Owen Sound
. The property is centred on Cape Rich, a headland extending into Georgian Bay which divides Owen Sound from Nottawasaga Bay
.
The Meaford Military Camp (also known as Camp Meaford) was intended for tank warfare and artillery gunnery training. Its landscape included limestone cliffs, dense forest and rolling open agricultural land, as well as swamps all based on a topography of heavy clay broken up by a vast distribution of rock, Mountain Lake, and a 22 km shoreline. The facility was administratively an annex to Camp Borden.
From its inception during World War II
until the late 1960s when the Canadian Forces
were unified, Camp Meaford was used extensively by regular force Canadian Army units assigned to Camp Borden. It hosted the following training schools for exercises and driver training:
The integration of the modern-day Canadian Forces
saw the transfer of the Combat Arms School from CFB Borden
to CFB Gagetown
in 1969-1970, dramatically reducing the requirement for Camp Meaford. In 1970 it was decided to mothball the entire facility, reducing staffing from 153 military and civilian personnel to a 5 person security staff of Comissionaires.
During the early 1970s, units of the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve began to make unofficial use of this large DND property only 180 kilometres north of Toronto, rather than face the 380 kilometre drive to CFB Petawawa
for training.
The introduction of new vehicles and weaponry, namely in the form of the Grizzly and Cougar light armoured vehicles
in the early 1980s saw use of MRTA ranges increase substantially, particularly after it was determined CFB Petawawa's ranges were insufficient.
MRTA saw increased use through the late 1980s and early 1990s as the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve began to increase in numbers.
The creation of MTSCM saw all buildings and areas of the camp reactivated in August 1989 and a small number of personnel and civilian employees stationed at the facility full time. By 1995, over $80 million in new construction for buildings, roads, waterworks and sewage disposal had taken place. Over $20 million in equipment and supplies were positioned at MTSCM to complement its training and support role.
saw Force Mobile Command redesignated Land Force Command
, with its units across Canada divided geographically. The newly created Land Forces Central Area redesignated MTSCM into Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford (LFCATC Meaford).
LFCATC Meaford is currently the primary training centre for Land Forces Central Area's reserve units. Regular Force units from CFB Petawawa are also minor users of the facility.
The training centre conducts year round courses for regular force personnel, while expanding dramatically during the summer months to accommodate a large number of courses for reserve personnel. During the period of September-June LFCATC Meaford serves as the primary weekend training location for reserve unit exercises for units from the [Greater Toronto Area] and other locations across Southern Ontario. LFCA TC Meaford currently holds basic qualification courses as well as infantry and artillery training. It is visited by various outside units including multiple police forces and other nations. It also provides minimal simulators and training for urban environments.
A sewage treatment and water purification plant is also on LFCATC Meaford grounds.
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
training facility operated by Land Force Central Area
Land Force Central Area
Land Force Central Area is responsible for the administration of the Canadian Army in the province of Ontario, from the Quebec border to the northern Lakehead region...
(LFCA) of Land Force Command
Canadian Forces Land Force Command
The Canadian Army , previously called Land Force Command, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The current size of the Army is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers...
(LFC).
It is located in Grey County
Grey County, Ontario
Grey County is a county and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is in Owen Sound. The population was 92,411 in 2006. It is located in the subregion of Southern Ontario named Southwestern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, northwest of the Meaford
Meaford, Ontario
Meaford is a Canadian municipality in Grey County, Ontario. Meaford is located on Nottawasaga Bay, a sub-basin of Georgian Bay, in southern Ontario....
townsite and approximately 25 km east of Owen Sound
Owen Sound, Ontario
Owen Sound , the county seat of Grey County, is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada...
on a peninsula extending into Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
. Relatively few military personnel are stationed at the training centre as it serves primarily for training Primary Reserve and regular force stationed within LFCA.
The training centre conducts year round courses for Regular Force personnel, Generally the DP1 Infantry for the RCR
RCR
RCR may stand for:* Radio Caracas Radio* Association of Radio Industries and Businesses* Ramsbottom Carbon Residue* RCR Refrigeracion S.A. de C.V., a mexican HVAC Company* Richard Childress Racing, a championship-winning NASCAR team...
, Royal Canadian Regiment, while expanding dramatically during the summer months to accommodate a large number of courses for Primary Reserve personnel.
During the period of June-September every year LFCA TC Meaford serves as the primary training location for Primary Reserve and exercises for units from the Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
, also other locations across Southern and Eastern, Portions of Ontario.
__FORCETOC__
Camp Meaford
In 1942 the Department of National DefenceDepartment of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
purchased 68 km² (17,500 acres) of private lands along Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
in the St. Vincent Township. The southern edge of this property is 5 km northwest of the town of Meaford
Meaford, Ontario
Meaford is a Canadian municipality in Grey County, Ontario. Meaford is located on Nottawasaga Bay, a sub-basin of Georgian Bay, in southern Ontario....
and its western boundary is 15 km northeast of the city of Owen Sound
Owen Sound, Ontario
Owen Sound , the county seat of Grey County, is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada...
. The property is centred on Cape Rich, a headland extending into Georgian Bay which divides Owen Sound from Nottawasaga Bay
Nottawasaga Bay
Nottawasaga Bay is a bay of Lake Huron in Ontario, at the southernmost end of Georgian Bay. Communities on Nottawasaga Bay include Meaford, Collingwood and Wasaga Beach....
.
The Meaford Military Camp (also known as Camp Meaford) was intended for tank warfare and artillery gunnery training. Its landscape included limestone cliffs, dense forest and rolling open agricultural land, as well as swamps all based on a topography of heavy clay broken up by a vast distribution of rock, Mountain Lake, and a 22 km shoreline. The facility was administratively an annex to Camp Borden.
From its inception during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
until the late 1960s when the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
were unified, Camp Meaford was used extensively by regular force Canadian Army units assigned to Camp Borden. It hosted the following training schools for exercises and driver training:
- Royal Canadian Armoured School
- Royal Canadian School of Infantry
- School of Intelligence and Security
- School of Administration and Logistics(formerly the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps School)
- School of Medical Services
The integration of the modern-day Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
saw the transfer of the Combat Arms School from CFB Borden
CFB Borden
Canadian Forces Base Borden is a Canadian Forces base located in Ontario.The historic birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Force, CFB Borden is the largest training facility in the Canadian Forces...
to CFB Gagetown
CFB Gagetown
Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, referred to as CFB Gagetown is a large Canadian Forces Base located in southwestern New Brunswick.- Construction of the base :...
in 1969-1970, dramatically reducing the requirement for Camp Meaford. In 1970 it was decided to mothball the entire facility, reducing staffing from 153 military and civilian personnel to a 5 person security staff of Comissionaires.
- "...when Meaford Range is dormatized...it will no longer be used for military purposes, including Regular Force and Militia exercises, training and field firing." (April 1970 DND internal communication)http://www.meaford.com/atc_background.html
During the early 1970s, units of the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve began to make unofficial use of this large DND property only 180 kilometres north of Toronto, rather than face the 380 kilometre drive to CFB Petawawa
CFB Petawawa
Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, commonly referred to as CFB Petawawa, or simply "Pet", is a Canadian Forces Base located in Petawawa, Ontario. It is operated as an army base by Canadian Forces Land Force Command.-Base facts:...
for training.
Meaford Range and Training Area
A 1973 study recommended Camp Meaford be reactivated as a Primary Reserve training facility for maneuvres and live firing exercises to save on transportation costs. The Meaford Range and Training Area reopened that year and saw use by Reserve Force, Regular Force, cadets and police forces for training.The introduction of new vehicles and weaponry, namely in the form of the Grizzly and Cougar light armoured vehicles
Mowag Piranha
The MOWAG Piranha is a family of armoured fighting vehicles designed by the Swiss MOWAG , corporation....
in the early 1980s saw use of MRTA ranges increase substantially, particularly after it was determined CFB Petawawa's ranges were insufficient.
MRTA saw increased use through the late 1980s and early 1990s as the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve began to increase in numbers.
Militia Training and Support Centre, Meaford
In September 1988 it was announced that MRTA would be renamed Militia Training and Support Centre, Meaford (MTSCM) and would become the focal point for training all reserve units in Ontario.The creation of MTSCM saw all buildings and areas of the camp reactivated in August 1989 and a small number of personnel and civilian employees stationed at the facility full time. By 1995, over $80 million in new construction for buildings, roads, waterworks and sewage disposal had taken place. Over $20 million in equipment and supplies were positioned at MTSCM to complement its training and support role.
LFCATC Meaford
A mid-1990s reorganization of the Canadian ForcesCanadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
saw Force Mobile Command redesignated Land Force Command
Canadian Forces Land Force Command
The Canadian Army , previously called Land Force Command, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The current size of the Army is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers...
, with its units across Canada divided geographically. The newly created Land Forces Central Area redesignated MTSCM into Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford (LFCATC Meaford).
LFCATC Meaford is currently the primary training centre for Land Forces Central Area's reserve units. Regular Force units from CFB Petawawa are also minor users of the facility.
The training centre conducts year round courses for regular force personnel, while expanding dramatically during the summer months to accommodate a large number of courses for reserve personnel. During the period of September-June LFCATC Meaford serves as the primary weekend training location for reserve unit exercises for units from the [Greater Toronto Area] and other locations across Southern Ontario. LFCA TC Meaford currently holds basic qualification courses as well as infantry and artillery training. It is visited by various outside units including multiple police forces and other nations. It also provides minimal simulators and training for urban environments.
Facilities
Facilities are managed by Canadian Base Operators. There is one large dining hall and several messes.A sewage treatment and water purification plant is also on LFCATC Meaford grounds.