CFS Barrington is a radar station, surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean. The unit plays an important role in the air defence of North America. Its electronic eyes scan and probe the skies constantly every hour of the day or night. It is linked with the United States detection network and with Canadian Armed Forces Air Defence Command in the Pinetree Line of special defensive areas.
CFS Barrington is not actually located at Barrington NS. The base is situated at Baccaro, a point of land which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. The Postal Dept. added the name Stone Horse to the postal address of the unit effective January 1967. Stone Horse is the name given to a rock formation located in the ocean just off Baccaro Point.
The first Commanding Officer of CFS Barrington, the fourth American manned Pinetree radar site in Canada to be taken over by the RCAF, was Wing Commander RF Walker of Victoria, BC. Commanding Officers of CFS Barrington are as follows:
Wing Commander RF Walker | May 1962 | August 1964 |
Wing Commander BA Cameron | August 1964 | August 1966 |
LCol C Brown | August 1966 | August 1968 |
LCol G Brennand | August 1968 | July 1970 |
LCol CE Rushton | July 1970 | June 1973 |
LCol RW Found | June 1973 |
CFS Barrington is a compact station with limited recreational facilities. Housing in the local area is also very limited, although 46 furnished mobile homes (60 x 12) provided by the DND are located at Sherose Island near Barrington Passage, which is 17 miles from the station. Nevertheless, I believe we enjoy a spirit of comradeship that is seldom experienced on larger units where more sophisticated facilities are available. Personnel quickly learn to make maximum use of what we have and this contributes greatly to healthy morale.
During your tour you will have the opportunity to improve not only as a tradesman or technician, but also as an individual. You may expect to be given tasks that fall outside your normal trade duties. Further, you will find that you are an important contributor to the spirit of your particular Mess.
This booklet will give you some indication of the facilities available on our station and in the local area. If you should require further information, please write and a member of my staff will endeavor to answer your questions.
Monday | Breakfast | 0700 0815 hours |
To | Lunch | 1130 1300 hours |
Friday | Dinner | 1530 1730 hours |
Snack | 2100 2200 hours | |
Late Meal | 2330 0015 hours |
Saturday | Breakfast | 0700 0900 hours |
Sunday and | Brunch | 1130 1230 hours |
Holidays | Dinner | 1530 1730 hours |
Snack | 2100 2200 hours | |
Late Meal | 2330 0015 hours |
Coffee is available only in the Mess Hall to those in possession of a coffee card. | |
(Cost - $1.00 per month) |
Working Hours | Winter | Summer |
Commence | 0800 hours | 0800 hours |
Cease (Noon) | 1200 hours | 1200 hours |
Commence | 1300 hours | 1300 hours |
Cease (Day) | 1630 hours | 1600 hours |
NOTE: Limited room service is provided for Officers, WOs and Sgts. It is the responsibility of the occupant to maintain his quarters to Armed Forces standards. Quarters are inspected by the CO each Wednesday morning.
There is a shortage of accommodation in both Yarmouth and Shelburne. Yarmouth is too far distant from the unit for commuting daily.
Shelburne is located approximately 29 miles from the unit; Yarmouth approximately 75 miles.
In 1961, four additional classrooms were added to the western end of the school, as well as a balcony and shower room in the gymnasium.
In 1964, a further expansion was necessary and seven more classrooms were provided in the High School Annex. Further expansion followed and Barrington Municipal High School now has the facilities to offer the complete comprehensive program as recommended by the Department of Education. These consist of twenty-eight classrooms (including commercial classroom), three commercial laboratories, and an Industrial Arts department consisting of two woodworking, one drafting, one metal, one welding, and two fisheries areas; four Home Economics areas; two gymnasiums, two Arts Labs, a guidance centre, a large library, three Science Labs, two teacher rooms, and an administrative area. Together with a teaching staff of forty-nine teachers, the facilities provide educational opportunities for almost nine hundred pupils enrolled in either the University Preparatory courses, the General Program, Commercial courses or the Adjusted or Modified programs.
In addition, excellent facilities are provided for grades primary through grade six. Bus transportation is provided for all grades.
--This article contains some detail which was extracted from a CFS Barrington NS, General Information Brochure dated 1 April 1973. It provide a general idea as to what was taking place in the early 1970s.