CFS Alert - 50th Anniversary

On September 1st 1958, CFS Alert began its operational role as a signals intelligence unit of the Canadian Forces. In the close to 50 years that have followed, the site has seen many changes and many faces as the "Frozen Chosen" have stood guard on the top of the world.

In order to ensure that the golden anniversary of Alert receives the acknowledgement it deserves, a committee has been put together to orchestrate the celebrations. Plans are in their infancy at the moment, but will include some sort of official ceremony on the ground in Alert. Restrictions on accommodations and aircraft availability will play a large role in keeping that entourage to a minimum, but it's hoped that those who do go up will represent personnel from the site's infancy right up to its current occupants. Stay tuned for further details as they develop.

As well as the events on the ground in Alert, a huge celebration will be held in the CFS Leitrim All Ranks mess here in the south end of Ottawa. Leitrim is the only other remaining station from the Supplementary Radio System days, and has been the "home station" of what was the primary occupant of Alert for a great many years, the Communicator Research 291 trade. The celebration will certainly not be restricted to any one occupation though - a warm welcome will be extended to anyone who ever had the pleasure to serve at CFS Alert. Whether you were there as a cook, a tech in Ops, a met tech, an EGS tech, a PERI, CE crew, Smokey, Bandit, Maxi, Mini, a clerk, Postie, Fuzz O, Madame Adm, or even the CO - all will be welcome.

In addition to the people who did tours at Alert, also warmly invited will be the people who were, and are, the lifeline to Alert - the aircrew. All members of any aircrew who supplied Alert throughout the years are more than welcome. Along with them, folks who served in Alert as part of the construction and engineering teams who built and maintained the station are also included as most welcome participants.

There will be events in Alert, and a weekend of activities at CFS Leitrim that will include some sort of a meet and greet, as well as official ceremonies by dignitaries to be named later.

Again, stay tuned for further developments as they happen.

One thing that has been determined is that we would like to create a book of photos that will show the evolution of Alert from its humble beginnings to what it is today. It's hoped that the book would be available at the event to give to participants, or possibly to sell at a minimal price. In order to create the book, we'll be asking for photographs from those who were there. While people will certainly be in the photos, we want to place the emphasis on the buildings, the quarters, the messes, and the sites in and around Alert. Anyone who has photos they would be willing to share can scan and email them to the address below.

T.G. Jenkins
Captain
Alert 50th Committee Member
Email: jenkins.tg@forces.gc.ca