Gypsumville, MB

1325-1 (CO)

Canadian Forces Station
Gypsumville,
Pineimuta, Manitoba
R0C 2M0

03 July 87

National Defence Headquarters
Ottawa, Canada,
K1A 0K2

ANNUAL HISTORICAL REPORT
1987 CFS GYPSUMVILLE

Reference -- : A. CFAO 71-7
B. FGO 71-7

1. The following report, prepared in accordance with references, consists of a brief record of activities on the Station listed in chronological order from 1 Jan to 3 Jul 87. Attached at Annex A is a list of Officers, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers and the number of Men on strength as of 3 Jul 87.

SISIP briefings were conducted for all personnel by Sgt. Gene Legros.

Captain Terry Verlinden took over as Station Comptroller while a Command Comptroller Inspection was being carried out that same week.

Participated in Exercise FABRIC LIBEL.

The Hockey Team participated in the small Base Prairie Region Hockey Championship and returned with a Silver Medal.

Employment and Immigration Canada gave a briefing to all civilian employees in regards to resumes and job searching techniques.

Participated in a joint CW/NW BRAVE 87-2.

The last Winter Carnival was held.

Major Haavisto from NDHQ/Director Infrastructure and Planning held a meeting with Mr. Rene Toupin and other representatives of the Interlake Reserves Tribal Council in regard to their project for the site, the Rehabilitation Centre/Training Institute.

Representatives from NDHQ Staff Relations, AIRCOM DCOS Civilian Personnel, and from the national and regional office of the Union of National Defence Employees gave a briefing to civilian employees. The CANEX Service Station tanks were pumped out and the pumps removed.

The Civilian Personnel Officer, Mrs. Judy Hickman, was transferred to CFB Winnipeg and Mrs. Carol Coughlan assumed the duties.

Participated in WINTEX/CIMEX 87 and local inputs were introduced; a bomb threat at Headquarters and an explosion at the GATR Site.

The AIRCOM Chief Warrant Officer conducted a visit.

At 1800 hours local, all Communications and Electronics equipment at the Operations Site ceased.

All operations at CFS Gypsumville officially ceased.

The CANEX Retail Store closed permanently on 2 May followed by the CANEX Grocery Store on 16 May following a phased discount program reaching 60% in the last weeks.

The Junior Ranks Mess and the combined Officer’s, Warrant and Sergeant’s Mess officially closed with the conduct of an all ranks Mess Dinner.

The last Chief Ground Environment Officer, Captain Andre Gravel, departs.

The Commanding Officer attended the official opening of the Moosehorn Heritage Museum. The station donated radar scopes and other memorabilia to the museum.

The Pineimuta School No. 2416 closed permanently. The fence adjacent to the station monument was relocated to facilitate access to the public. The Recreation Centre is now used as a warehouse to store all the moveable assets donated to the new occupant. Three babies are delivered during May by the medical staff.

733 Communications Squadron Detachment ceased operating and a FAX machine was installed to process messages.

The Regional Audit Directorate Winnipeg performed their closure audit.

The last Chief Administration Officer, Captain Wilf Johnston departed for his new posting, Royal Military College Kingston.

The Command Comptroller staff, assisted by personnel from CFB Winnipeg and CFB Portage la Prairie performed their last inspection.

Contractors arrive to demolish the Refrigeration & Maintenance Tower and the Height Tower.

The Financial Information System Mark III was disconnected.

The inflated dome on the search tower and the radar sail are lowered. The Height Tower is leveled around 22-23 Jun.

The last Ground Environment Operations Officer, Captain Andy Wilson departs.

The station post office closed at 1200 hours.

The Comptroller, Captain Terry Verlinden departed for Communications Group in Trenton as well as the last Station Construction and Engineering Officer, Captain Henry Chan, who is headed for CFB Kingston. The cable TV system ceased operating.

A final parade was held. Sequence of events included a presentation of the Canadian Distinction (CD) to MCpl. Bruce Patton, a promotion to Cpl. Pte. Spook Leblanc, a retirement pin and certificate to Warrant Officer Regional Lamore. Also a mini-handover to Captain Mark Strong, who will be Commanding Officer till the closure, 31 Jul 87 and a symbolic transfer to the new occupant, the Interlake Reserves Tribal Council (with their flag being flown till out closure).

The last Commanding Officer, Captain Denis Caty, departed for his new posting at NDHQ/Directive of Non-Public Funds Services.

2. Other significant events included:

1. the Mobile Support Equipment fleet logged 110,846 kilometers in the past 6 months;
2. in the past 6 months, incoming freight amounted to 826 pieces, weighing 79,567 lbs. and outgoing freight amounted to 863 pieces, weighing 111,814 lbs.
3. as of 22 Jun 87, the status of the intermediate civilian employees was 18 retiring, approximately 32 accepted transfers and 6 are still mobile and remain to relocate.
4. as a goodwill gesture to the local community, some church assets were donated to the Ashern Catholic Church, fire fighting equipment were donated to the Gypsumville Fire Hall, school textbooks and stationery were donated to local schools, trophies belonging to the station’s Northern Interlake Curling Club were donated to the town of St. Martin which will soon be operating a curling club under the name of Northern Interlake Curling Club.
5. the historical book of CFS Gypsumville will be published shortly.

3. These milestones and the other events contributed to the overall operational capabilities and effectiveness of this station. CFS Gypsumville enjoyed a successful year in 1987.

Signed by:

JGD Caty
Captain
Commanding Officer

Attachment: Annex A