with both Cypress County and the City
Economic Impact Canadian Forces Base Suffield of Medicine Hat. They are home to the
Salaries CF Military $9.5 Million
Ralston Rodeo, which is just one stop
on the Border County Amateur Rodeo
BATUS Military $36 Million pounds
Circuit. This one-day family event is an
Civilian Employees $46 Million
excellent opportunity for the Base to
Operating Budget $80 Million display their military equipment and
Oil & Gas Industry $100 Million (royalties)
soldiers while connecting with fellow
Canadians. It is a perfect opportunity to
Capital Projects $ 100 Million over the
strengthen the bonds between soldiers
next five years
and community members. This year’s
Goods & Services $ $71 Million
rodeo will take place on Saturday August
15th.
and Development Canada (DRDC), training.
and the British Army Training Unit
The Base is also very active in a variety of
Suffield (BATUS). Support is offered The Base takes preservation of our
fundraising activities for local charities.
in such areas as personnel, logistics and environment very seriously and on
With the assistance of the Base Charities
administrative support services. Of at June 19, 2003 the Department of
Committee who work year round, the
least equal if not greater importance, the National Defence and Environment
Base is able to support the local Santa
Base exercises control and stewardship Canada officially established the CFB
Clause Fund, Food Bank, and the United
of the extensive range and training area. Suffield National Wildlife Area. This
Way. The annual Terry Fox Run is also
Their mission is to provide a world-class 458 square kilometres located on the
a major undertaking which on average
range and training area that enables east side of the training area along the
raises $10,000 a year. Commitment to
Defence Research and Development South Saskatchewan River encompass
the men and women who serve as part
Canada, the British Army Training Unit over 1,100 catalogued species including
of the Defence team at CFB Suffield is
Suffield and other potential users to 244 vertebrates, 462 plants, and 436
another important part of the strong
achieve their mandates through effective invertebrates. Fifteen of these species
community ties. With both civilian and
stewardship of all range and training have been listed as “species at risk.” military members deploying over seas,
areas infrastructure and equipment. Examples include the Swift Fox, the growing support of those family
Sprague’s Pipit (bird) and the Tiny members left behind is increasingly
The workforce at Suffield includes Crypanthe (plant). The area has long important. In order to show support to
more than the numbers outlined above. been recognized as ecologically unique those members, the Base engages in a
The British Army has a contingent of and fragile by the Canadian Forces, the variety of activities such as the Wear Red
approximately 220 permanent military Canadian Wildlife Services and our own Friday campaigns, care packages, family
personnel whose primary role is to wildlife biologists monitor it regularly. support groups and the Yellow Ribbon
provide training and training support campaign.
to visiting field units in order to prepare Oil & Gas plays another major part
them for operations. Currently CFB in the overall day-to-day activities at
CFB Suffield has a substantial economic
Suffield including its two lodger units CFB Suffield. In 1975, the Province
impact on the regional economy. The
account for about 0.9 percent of total of Alberta, as the owner of the Suffield
base provides a significant part of the
employment in the Palliser Region. mineral rights, and the Government of
local economy in terms of employment
This figure does not include the influx Canada reached an agreement to permit
and spin off activities. With over $100
of soldiers who pass through Suffield on the Alberta Energy company (now
million in capital projects proposed for
training. EnCana) to develop oil and gas reserves
the next five years and approximately
on the base. At the current time, 12
12000 soldiers whom come to train
Besides military training, the base is also civilian oil and natural gas companies
annually at CFB Suffield, the Base will
host to the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation are operating within the confines of CFB
continue to play a vital component in
Administration (PFRA), which has been Suffield. With more than 11,000 wells
the economic wellbeing of the Palliser
an agency of the Federal Department and over 10,000 kilometres of pipeline,
Region.
of Agriculture since 1977. The PFRA more than $100 million in royalties is
consists of local cattle ranchers who have paid to the Alberta Government each
For more information on CFB Suffield
been permitted to graze approximately year.
you can visit their website at www.army.
5500 head of cattle annually from June
forces.gc.ca/cfb_suffield
through September on parts of the range CFB Suffield prides itself in their
where no conflict exists with military community outreach and relationship
C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r C e • a P r I L 2 0 0 9 5
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