SUMMARY OF CANADIAN SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE STATIONS

Using a list originally compiled by Bill Robinson and found on BLOG: Lux Ex Umbra, this is a summary of Canadian SIGINT stations past and present. Additions and refinements to the base data are provided by Doug Stewart, Jerry Proc and references from "History of Canadian Signal Intelligence" by Lynn Wortman and George Fraser. The intent of this document is to list those stations under complete Canadian control. The table does not show Canadian SIGINT detachments who are currently deployed with U.S. Naval Security Group sites. Naval Security Group Headquarters is now the Naval Network Warfare Command Information Operations Directorate, Fort Meade, Maryland. Bill also states some dates for the World War II sites tend to be uncertain,  so further refinement is undoubtedly needed.
 
LOCATION and COMMAND
YEARS OF OPERATION
Aklavik, Northwest Territories (RCN) 1949 - 1961 
Alert, Nunavut (RCAF/RCCS/SRS/CFIOG)  1958 - present 
Alliford Bay, B.C (RCAF and RCN) 1941 - 1943
Amherst, Nova Scotia (RCCS)  1941 - 1942 
Augsburg, Germany (SRS detachment)  1989 - 1993
   
Bermuda (RCN/SRS)  1963 - 1993 
Botwood, Newfoundland (DOT)  1939 - 1946 
   
Cap D’Espoir, Quebec (RCAF and RCN)  1939 - Jan 1946
Chelsea, Quebec (RCN Research) 1940 - 1947
Churchill, Manitoba (RCN/SRS)  1948 - 1968 
Coal Harbour, B.C. (RCN and RCAF)  1940 - 1942 
Coverdale, New Brunswick (RCN/SRS)  1942 - 1971
   
Darwin, Australia: McMillan’s Road Camp (RCCS) 1945 - 1945
   
Esquimalt, B.C. (RCN intercept for RN) 1925 - 1940?
Esquimalt, BC. (MARPAC support element) 1988 - Present. (Note 1)
   
Forrest, Manitoba (DOT) 1940 - 1942
Fort Chimo (now Kuujjuaq), Quebec (RCN) 1949 - 1952
Frobisher Bay (now Iqaluit), Nunavut (RCN) 1953 - 1967
   
Gander, Newfoundland (RCN/SRS/CFIOG) 1942 - present 
Gloucester, Ontario (RCN HF-DF/training/admin site) 1943 - 1972
Gordon Head, British Columbia (RCN) 1940 - 1945
Grande Prairie, Alberta (RCCS)
#2 Special Wireless Station
1942 - 1947
   
Halifax, Nova Scotia (MARLANT support element) 1988 - Present. (Note 1)
Harbour Grace, Newfoundland (RCN) 1941 - 1946 (Note 4) 
Hartlen Point, Nova Scotia (DOT) 1941? - 1945?
   
Inuvik, NWT (RCN/SRS) 1961 - 1986
   
Kingston, Ontario CFSE (SRS/CFIOG). Training 1972 - present
Kingston, Ontario (2 EW Sqn of 1 CSR/1CDHSR/CFJSR) ? - present
Kingston, Ontario (Res EW Sqn/772 EW Sqn) 1986 - present
   
Lambeth Ont, (RCN) 1943 to 1945.
Ladner, British Columbia (RCCS/SRS) . Was the former 
Vancouver Wireless Station 
1949 - 1971
Leitrim, Ontario (RCCS/SRS/CFIOG)
#1 Special Wireless Station
1942 - present
Louisbourg, Nova Scotia (DOT) 1939 - 1946
Lulu Island, British Columbia (DOT) 1945 - 1945
   
Masset, British Columbia (RCN/SRS/CFIOG) 1944 - 1945 and 1949 to present
   
Ottawa, Ontario (DOT) 1939 - 1945
Ottawa, Ont,  Radio CFF  1940 - 1947
Ottawa, Ontario (771 CRS) 1987 - 2002
   
Pennfield, New Brunswick (RCAF and RCN ) 1941 - 1945 or 1946
Point Grey, British Columbia (DOT) 1940 - 1945
Point No Point, BC (RCAF) VHF/DF installation ?
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba (RCAF and RCN) 1941 - 1945 or 1946
Prince Rupert, British Columbia (RCN) 1946 - 1948/49
   
Riske Creek, B.C. (RCCS; never operational)
#4 Special Wireless Station
April to July 1944   (Note 2)
Rivers, Manitoba (RCAF and RCN) 1941 - 1945/46
Rockcliffe, Ontario (RCCS)
#1 Special Wireless for this period only
1939 – 1942
   
Shediac, New Brunswick (DOT) 1939 - 1946
St. Hubert, Quebec (DOT) 1939 - 1946
Ste. Hyacinthe, Quebec (Training) 1944 - 1945?
Steveston , (Lulu Island) BC (DOT) 194(?) - 1945
Strathburn, Ontario (DOT) 1939 - 1946
Sydney, Nova Scotia (RCAF and RCN) 1941 - 1945/6
   
Ucluelet, British Columbia (RCAF and RCN) 1941 - 1942
   
Victoria, British Columbia (RCCS)
#3 Special Wireless Station
10 January 1942 - 1949
   
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory (RCAF/SRS) 1948 - 1968
Winnipeg, Manitoba (DOT) 1942 - 1945 (Note 3)
Winnipeg, Manitoba (AIRCOM support element) ? - present

LEGEND

AFTC - Air Force Training Command
CFSE - Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics
CFIOG - Canadian Forces Information Group
DOT - Department of Transport
RCAF - Royal Canadian Air Force
RCCS - Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
RCN - Royal Canadian Navy
SRS - Supplementary Radio System

Additional information on some of the ablove stations can be found at this link.

FOOTNOTES

Note 1: Direct SIGINT support to MARLANT  and MARPAC began during 1982 on an adhoc basis. It was in 1988 that a memorandum of understanding between concerned authorities thereby sanctioned direct support to Fleet units. This program continues and is ever expanding in its field of operations and support facilities.

Note 2: The war diary for #4 SWS indicates the station continued to have 2 or 3 on staff until 1946. The book "Scarlet to Green" also has #4 SWS listed the station as open until April 1946 [p. 466]. The book "History of Canadian Signals Intelligence and Direction Finding " by Fraser/Wortman indicates that the station was only open from April to July 1944.

Note 3: Winnipeg took over from Forrest in 1942.

Note 4: From  "A Nation’s Navy"  by Michael L. Hadley: "The first RCN built and operated station, at Harbour Grace, Newfoundland became operational in July 1941"
 


Credits and References:

1) Bill Robinson . Table source Source http://Lux Ex Umbra.blogspot.com/2005_05_01_luxexumbra_archive.html
2) Douglas Stewart <dougjoy(at)"Douglas Stewart" <dougjoy@ns.sympatico.ca>ns.sympatico.ca>
3) jerry.proc(at)sympatico.ca
4) History of Canadian Signals Intelligence by Lynn Wortman lynn.wortman(a)rogers.com and George Fraser caperfca(at)sympatico.ca
5) History of Canadian Communication Electronic Support Measures (CESM) by S.A. Gray
 

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Apr 30/20