Canadian Forces Base/Area Support Unit Wainwright

The history of the Camp Wainwright is rich and colorful. First established as a refuge for nearly extinct buffalo, Camp Wainwright has continually grown in order to meet the changing needs of Canada’s Army. Nomadic tribes of Blackfoot and Cree Indians were the first to inhabit the area. European settlement began in the late 1800s, and the village of Denwood was established in 1905. Five years later, the Town of Wainwright was incorporated nearby.

The Camp was originally established in 1940 as a wartime ammunition and training facility. It then evolved into a Second World War Interment Camp for German Officer POWs and, following the outbreak of the Korean War, was used to train soldiers for Canada’s commitment to the United Nations Commonwealth Contingent. Camp Wainwright has since been used as an operational training detachment and battle school.

Commonly known as “Camp Wainwright”, CFB/ASU Wainwright consists of several distinct units, the most established being the Western Area Training Centre (WATC) and the newest being the Canadian Maneouvre Training Centre (CMTC). Camp Wainwright has been, for some time, the primary training location for the Army units from western Canada (from Thunder Bay to Victoria). It is also soon to be the Army’s primary training location nationally.

The military footprint in the Wainwright community has significantly increased since 2005 in order to meet the demands of the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre (CMTC). The base will once again reorganize, adopting a structure similar to an Area Support Unit, with CMTC, a Training Centre, and other lodger units.

By and large, this expansion is driven by the Army’s plans to situate a new state of the art Weapons Effect Simulation facility at Wainwright.

The camp is supported by 742 Signals Squadron Detachment, Canadian Forces Health Services Centre Wainwright, a Dental Detachment and a Military Police detachment. Approaximately 600 military and 300 civilian personnel currently work at the camp. The transient military popoulation agverages ovrer 1,000 at any given time and in summer it grows significantly, when hundreds of Reservists learn essential military skills.

Camp Wainwright is continually striving to establish closer links with the local community and is actively involved in community initiatives with the Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Board, Town Council and the MD of Wainwright. Many of Camp Wainwright’s members live in or near the Town of Wainwright and participate in many of the local community activities and events, including volunteering and raising money for charity. The extensive ranges and training areas on base are shared with the oil and gas industry, as well as hunters, agricultural groups and wildlife agencies. Members of the public are welcome to view the buffalo in the Bud Cotton Paddock, attend the numerous course graduation parades held throughout the year and attend various social, sports and selected military activies.

As the Canadian Army’s training needs continue to evolve, Camp Wainwright will continue meet those demands in both peace and war.

Revised January, 2009 by, Capt. D. Sklepowich, Adjutant, CFB/ASU Wainwright