CFS Beausejour is located near the hamlet of Milner Ridge in eastern Manitoba. By road, the station is located approximately 90 kilometers east of Winnipeg and 25 miles northeast of the town of Beausejour. The town of Lac du Bonnet, situated along the banks of the Winnipeg River, is 22 kilometers northeast of the station.
From the east - our station is approximately 175 kilometers from Kenora, Ontario. From the east - follow the Trans-Canada highway west, Manitoba Highway 1, to the junction of Highway 11. Turn north (your right) onto Highway 11 and proceed until you meet Highway 44 just outside the town of Whitemouth. Turn west (your left) and follow Highway 44 until you reach Seddon's Corner (junction of Highways 214 and 44). Just before you approach Seddon's Corner you will descend a slight hill. At the foot of the grade the highway will divide. This is the hamlet of Seddon's Corner with its two gas stations. Turn north (your right) onto Provincial Highway 214 and proceed for 10 kilometers. At this point you will see a large CFS Beausejour sign. Turn right and follow the access road for two kilometers to the main gate.
From the west - follow Highway 59 north from Winnipeg to the junction of Highway 44. At the cloverleaf intersection keep to your right and follow the Beausejour Highway 44 east exit. Keep on Highway 44, pass around the town of Beausejour and proceed along Highway 44 to Seddon's Corner. Turn north (your right) onto Provincial Highway 214 and proceed for 10 kilometers. At this point you will see a large CFS Beausejour sign. Turn right and follow the access road for two kilometers to the main gate.
The base offers eight detached TMQ's and 37 DND owned three bedroom mobile homes. Other facilities available on the base include a Canex store, an auto club, a snack bar, a station library, chapel services, and medical facilities.
Canadian Forces Station Beausejour is situated on the south-western edge of the great Canadian Shield. It is an integral part of NORAD, protecting Canada from hostile attack, thereby allowing her people freedom to develop and enjoy her natural resources to the fullest possible extent.
The station is located near the tiny hamlet of Milner Ridge in the Agassiz Forest Reserve of southeastern Manitoba. Milner Ridge is no more than a ghost town today, brought about by the closing of its only industry, a sawmill, in 1966. The site was chosen for the station mainly due to the fact that its elevation of 1000 feet above sea level is the highest within the required area.
CFS Beausejour commenced operations in 1952 when it was built and operated by the USAF as 916 AC&W Squadron. In 1961 an agreement was reached between the United States and Canada whereby CF101B Voodoo supersonic jet aircraft were supplied by the USAF to the RCAF fighter squadrons, and in return the RCAF assumed maintenance, manning and responsibility for several USAF AC&W Squadrons in Canada.
In 1969 the NORAD Regional Control Organization was reconfigured. CFS Beausejour became part of the 24th NORAD Region reporting to Malmstrom AFB at Great Falls, Montana. The former direction centre for the unit was located at Duluth, Minnesota. 48 Squadron now reports to ROCC West in North Bay, Ontario.
--Extracts from a 1983 Welcome to Beausejour Booklet, courtesy of Bob Tucker