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New info
- Effective immediately... the only visitor access to the camp will be
via the tunnel. The Gate at Bldg C39 / Hwy 97 has been permanently
closed. All Guests are directed to enter the camp via the
tunnel and report to the New Reception Centre in Bldg B35 (the old
Laundry area). |
Located on the southern outskirts of the
City of Vernon, VACSTC is perhaps one of the most picturesque Summer
Training Centres in all of Canada along with Quadra on BC's west coast and the former camp
in Banff, Alberta.
Vernon opened as an army cadet camp in July 1949, just 2 years after the
camp had been stood down as a WWII Canadian Army Basic Infantry Training
Centre and support camp for the Coldstream Ranch Battle Drill School.
That summer, some 1000 army cadets from BC and Alberta arrived by
passenger train and trained for 10 days, a further 240 stayed behind to
take 6 weeks of trades training. Since 1949 some 75,000 cadets from across Canada have trained at this
famous camp. In the 1940s and 50s, training focused on Infantry Basic
Training, Driver Mechanic and Signals, over the years training changed
with the times and today the emphasis is on leadership, adventure
training, and fitness all with a military flavour.
Aerial of the
camp looking southwest 2000 (Wayne Emde)
The camp's name has changed
over the years, "Alberta - British Columbia Western Command Trades
Training Camp" 1949-52, "Western Command Trades Training
Camp" 1950s, "Vernon Cadet Trades Training Camp" 1956-61,
"Vernon Army Cadet Camp" 1962-1996, but it very much still reflects its early days with most
of it's WWII constructed H-Huts barracks and mess halls still standing
and used every summer albeit updated. HM Queen Elizabeth II visited
the camp in 1959 during her cross-country tour. In the 1967 celebrating
Canada's centennial, Band Company and the Guard toured the province
after camp for a 2-week Tattoo tour of BC. In 1977, USMC Jr ROTC Cadets
from Washington State began a 13 year exchange program with the camp. In
1994 the camp hosted the first ever reunion for an army cadet camp, some
1800 former cadets and staff returned for the 4 day reunion. In 1999 the
camp celebrated it's 50th anniversary with another successful reunion
and museum exhibit. In 2009 the third Vernon reunion is being planned
coinciding with the camp's 60th anniversary.
It is now the oldest continuous serving army cadet training centre in Canada having surpassed Banff in 1999 and
Ipperwash in 1994. Ipperwash was also a WWII era H-Hut camp. Today only
a few 1941-45 constructed H-Huts remain elsewhere in Canada, most have
been demolished or forgotten. Camp Vernon
has the largest and best conditioned examples of these once ubiquitous
buildings. The photo gallery has an
extensive collection of the camp's building photos with over 200 photos
posted.
Those attending Vernon take peculiar
pride in bragging and/or complaining about the heat, daily summer
temperatures are usually 28-32c, it's not uncommon for the thermometer
to hit the mid 30s and on some instances have touched 40c. The saving grace is the low humidity and a remarkable
lack of insects and mosquitoes. The scenery is extraordinary, whether at
6AM on the sports field for morning PT or an evening sunset with failing
light on Vernon Mountain.
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The VACSTC Challenge Coin
is now available, see the kit shop for details.
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