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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