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RCAF Air Base

Closed After Military Cutbacks

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Closed After Military Cutbacks

On 22 February 1994, the federal government announced that as a result of budget cutbacks, CFB Namao was being transferred from Air Command (Air Force) to Land (Army) Command. The airbase was 50 years old.

Precisely six months after this announcement on 22 August 1994, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Squadrons left for their assigned destinations. The last Twin Otter of Squadron 440 left for Yellowknife. The final Hercules aircraft from the 435 Transport Squadron departed for its new home in Winnipeg.

CFB Namao underwent 100 million dollars in changes to become the Edmonton Garrison, now the largest land forces base in Western Canada. The "superbase" encompasses 6,900 acres, divided between the 256-hectare Griesbach Barracks in Castledowns and Lancaster Park, and the 2,535 hectares of land at Namao’s former air base.

Army personnel from downsized CFB Chilliwack and CFB Calgary were relocated to the Edmonton area. Including dependants, it is estimated that the Garrison’s total military population is over 5,000 and will add over 500-million dollars per year to the area’s economy.

Creation of the Edmonton Garrison is billed as the largest mobilization of Canadian troops since the Second World War.

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