The Vernon Army Camp has a long history, and now as Canada pushes to expand its armed forces there are local politicians who think the camp is a good option to help train more recruits.

Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee Conservative MP Scott Anderson wrote to local municipalities to get their support to push National Defence Minister David McGuinty to reactivate the Vernon Military Camp for military training and operations.

Anderson said on social media that the camp can be easily expanded and he expects the plan to be considered by the Ministry of Defence.

“I communicated through back channels, and Mr. McGuinty has assured me that the request will be investigated seriously. His senior staff assured mine that it will be as well,” Anderson wrote.
“It makes sense for Vernon, but it also makes sense for Canada, so I hope he comes through. I don’t mind working with the other side when it makes sense.”

The City of Vernon, Village of Lumby and the District of Coldstream are all on board and the councils plan to send letters to the defence minister.

“Council’s letter will highlight the importance of the camp to the region and encourage federal decision-makers to consider Vernon as a location for expanded military training and operations,” the District of Coldstream said in a news release, March 10.

The federal government’s goal is to increase the number of Canadian Armed Forces members by 13,000, totalling 71,500 regular force and 30,000 reserve members before March 31, 2032.

Currently, the Vernon Army Camp is used for cadet training in the summer. It also hosts the B.C. Dragoons, the forces primary reserve armoured reconnaissance regiment.

The camp was established as a training facility in 1912 and thousands of soldiers trained there in the First World War and Second World War. It was shut down in 1946 and reopened as a cadet camp in 1949.

“As people know the federal government has decided to expand the number of people in the Armed Forces and there’s going to be a strategy to add significantly to the reservists,” Vernon mayor Victor Cumming said during a recent council meeting. “We know the Dragoons operate from our Vernon Army Camp and it’s an obvious point for adding to both the reservists and the regulars. So (the letter will) just remind the Minister that this facility is here and significantly under-utilized.”