RCAF Station Edgar
Encyclopedia
RCAF Station Edgar was part of the Pinetree Line
of radar
stations and was located at Edgar, Ontario
Canada
, about 20 kilometres northeast of Barrie
. Built in 1952, the site was home to the 31st Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron and was operational in its intended role between 1952 and 1964. The complex was sold to the provincial government
of Ontario in November 1964 for CA$
218,225, and was used as an Adult Occupational Centre for developmentally disabled or handicapped adults until 1999.
The base consisted of 84 residences, 2 office buildings, a swimming pool
, bowling alley, baseball diamond, infirmary
, church, and a school
.
As a part of the de-instutionalization scheme the government began shutting down all its institutions, and by 1999 the Edgar Adult Occupational Centre was completely shut down.
The Ontario Provincial Police
then assumed use of the old recreational hall for instruction. They had been using the base off and on for police training and a number of other functions.
In 1999, the government attempted to sell the 628,300 m² (155¼ acre
) site to Nishnawbe Homes for $2.95 million, an organisation dedicated to building respectable communities for first-nations people, but this deal fell through.
From 1999 - 2011, the base sat mostly unused, except for occasional use by military and police as a training centre. Despite the site being idle, there is 24/7 security posted at the gatehouse making the site inaccessible to the public.
In July 2011, a developer purchased the remainder of the property for $2,500 and by the fall of 2011, all the buildings had been demolished. Developer Miya Consulting plans to build 82 houses on the property.
Pinetree Line
The Pinetree Line was a series of radar stations located across the northern United States and southern Canada at about the 50th parallel north, along with a number of other stations located on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Run by NORAD , over half were manned by United States Air Force...
of radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
stations and was located at Edgar, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, about 20 kilometres northeast of Barrie
Barrie, Ontario
Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe, approximately 90 km north of Toronto. Although located in Simcoe County, the city is politically independent...
. Built in 1952, the site was home to the 31st Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron and was operational in its intended role between 1952 and 1964. The complex was sold to the provincial government
Government of Ontario
The Government of Ontario refers to the provincial government of the province of Ontario, Canada. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
of Ontario in November 1964 for CA$
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
218,225, and was used as an Adult Occupational Centre for developmentally disabled or handicapped adults until 1999.
The base consisted of 84 residences, 2 office buildings, a swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
, bowling alley, baseball diamond, infirmary
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
, church, and a school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
.
As a part of the de-instutionalization scheme the government began shutting down all its institutions, and by 1999 the Edgar Adult Occupational Centre was completely shut down.
The Ontario Provincial Police
Ontario Provincial Police
The Ontario Provincial Police is the Provincial Police service for the province of Ontario, Canada.-Overview:The OPP is the the largest deployed police force in Ontario, and the second largest in Canada. The service is responsible for providing policing services throughout the province in areas...
then assumed use of the old recreational hall for instruction. They had been using the base off and on for police training and a number of other functions.
In 1999, the government attempted to sell the 628,300 m² (155¼ acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
) site to Nishnawbe Homes for $2.95 million, an organisation dedicated to building respectable communities for first-nations people, but this deal fell through.
From 1999 - 2011, the base sat mostly unused, except for occasional use by military and police as a training centre. Despite the site being idle, there is 24/7 security posted at the gatehouse making the site inaccessible to the public.
In July 2011, a developer purchased the remainder of the property for $2,500 and by the fall of 2011, all the buildings had been demolished. Developer Miya Consulting plans to build 82 houses on the property.
Popular culture
- The Canadian TV reality show Canada's Worst Driver 3Canada's Worst Driver 3Canada's Worst Driver 3 is the third season of Canada's Worst Driver, a Discovery Channel Canada television series which seeks to improve the driving of eight nominated contestants, each of which trying to avoid being named Canada's Worst Driver...
did some filming at the former station. - RCAF Station Edgar was featured in the second season episode "Sky's The Limit" of Life After People: The Series as an example of a town that has been left unmaintained.