Resolution Island, NWT

It is safe to say that the buildings presently located at Cape Warwick on Resolution Island can fall into one of three categories.

The number of original buildings which belonged to the Pinetree Line radar site continue to decrease with the passing of every year. This is probably a result of time, and as was the case during the summer of 1999, four of the original barrack blocks were torn down by the Cleanup Project. A close study of aerial site photos (1971), a site building diagram (1961), and available photos taken in 1987 and 1999 will identify exactly what has "disappeared" over the years.

Some of the original buildings which were part of the 920^th AC&W Squadron were blasted to make room for the new North Warning System complex. Other buildings, such as the four barrack blocks previously mentioned, have been demolished to make room for required road access, or due to contamination from PCB.

All of the remaining buildings which formed the original radar station have been abandoned and none are in use – well most of them fall into this category. All of the remaining buildings which are abandoned are not locked, nor are they boarded, and all provide easy access.

We should qualify the situation somewhat. The Mess Hall is gone, as are at least four of the barrack blocks. The original Officers Mess and BOQ remain. Beds, dressers, chairs desks etc. still remain in the rooms. There is a move to preserve some of the remaining history which dates back to the days of the 920^th AC&W Squadron. As a result, the Officers Mess is being used as a form of a "Museum". Only time will tell as to exactly how this "mini-project" develops.

The maintenance building, located at Yellow Beach (lower site) is now used for PCB storage by the Cleanup Crew. The maintenance buildings at the upper site POL compound were repaired during the summer of 1999 and now offer additional storage space for the Cleanup Crew. The main site motor pool is now used as a garage; the dry goods building is used as a warehouse; the cold storage and refrigerator building now provides accommodation and a recreation area for the Cleanup Crew. One of the communications buildings is now used as a training center. So – as you can see – the current group (Cleanup Crew) is making use of buildings which have been unused for some 30 or more years.

The North Warning System complex is an entity of its own. This is an unmanned site that is serviced when necessary by technicians from Iqaluit.

Finally, the Cleanup Project commenced their work in 1998, and it would appear that they will continue to work on their objectives for another 4 or 5 years. As a rule, this group numbers 50 to 60 personnel, and they are on site between June and September. Being on site during the summer months does not guarantee "warm weather" as was evidenced in June 1999 when snow accumulated to depths greater than 10 feet in some locations, and again in July 1999 when an ice storm brought things to a grinding halt.

The equipment which is being used by the Cleanup Project crew came from Iqaluit and Montreal by boat. Trailers form a core camp and part of this has been connected to buildings which were a part of the original radar station. The Cleanup Crew has constructed two non hazardous landfills – which are being used for refuse.

Life at this location is somewhat easier at the moment, than it was during the 1950s. Satellite TV reception and VHS movies are well attended. The crew has constructed a six-hole golf course at the airstrip. I don’t recall ever reading about anyone "flying a kite" at Resolution Island, but this is yet another form of recreation being practiced by the Cleanup crew. Exercise facilities will also add to "passing the time away".

This information was obtained from Scott Mitchell during a visit to Victoria, BC on 19 January 2000 and is being added to the Pinetree Line web site to provide current detail about the situation at Resolution Island.