Access to CFB Shilo will be permitted only with identification as of Sept. 15.  Photo: File/Shilo Stag.

Shilo Stag Media

CFB Shilo to Change Base Access

Visitors, staff and residents of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Shilo will see a change in September to how they enter the Base.

As of September 15, the South Gate, accessed off the highway, will be staffed around the clock seven days a week. The North Gate, accessed through Sprucewoods, will be closed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., plus all day on weekends and holidays.  Everyone entering the Base will be required to undergo an information check with government-issued identification.

“CFB Shilo needs to align its security and access policy with that of all other Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) installations in Canada. We have installed fencing and gates. The next step is to implement controlled access,” said Lieutenant-Colonel J.P. Nguyen, Base Commander CFB Shilo.

Visitors can still access the Base through the Main (South) Gate. All visitors will be required to have government-issued identification to enter. 

“CAF installations are taking these steps to ensure the safety and security of their members and the community. In Shilo, these steps must include the residential area because of how the Base is set up. We’ve looked at and are learning from the lessons identified at other Bases and Wings. We believe we have found solutions to permit access that is safe, controlled and equitable and will continue to engage with affected communities”.

Shilo Emergency Service will be able to exit through the North Gate during quiet hours if there is an emergency that requires them to use that access point. 

LCol Nguyen acknowledges there are questions about some school students who frequently use the North Gate to get to school and activities at General Strange Hall.  Typically, children too young for ID would be accompanied by an adult who must have ID and be able to vouch for them.  He reminds neighbours that the North Gate is still open under controlled access during typical work and school operational hours. 

“We acknowledge that the Main (South) Gate is not convenient for pedestrian or cycling traffic. Many people will be escorting their kids onto Base in the evenings and after dark to attend activities or sports. We’re still working through some of the details, such as how unescorted minors can get to school and onto Base safely.”

CFB Shilo has always been a controlled access area with certain restrictions on movement. For example, no civilian vehicles are allowed into the training area without permission. The “open” posture, permitting free flow of vehicles and personnel through both access gates, has been in place for decades. There have been exceptions, such as post-9/11, national security posture changes in 2014 after the attack on Parliament Hill and most recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CFB Shilo team will continue working with stakeholders as they implement this security posture change.