CFS Senneterre, initially called RCAF Station Senneterre prior to 1967, was a long-range radar and Ground Control Intercept station, part of the Pinetree Line radar defence network, situated north of
Val-d'Or, Quebec
Val-d'Or (, , ; "Golden Valley" or "Valley of Gold") is a city in Quebec, Canada with a population of 32,752 inhabitants according to the Canada 2021 Census. The city is located in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region near La Vérendrye Wildlife R ...
. Situated atop Mount Bell, east of the town of
Senneterre, Quebec
Senneterre is a town in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of northwestern Quebec, Canada. It is in the Vallée-de-l'Or Regional County Municipality. The town's territory includes a vast undeveloped area stretching from the Bell River to the M ...
, construction started in 1950. By 1953 the 34 AC&W Squadron became operational. From 1968 to 1973 Senneterre was the backup to
CFB North Bay
Canadian Forces Base North Bay, also CFB North Bay, is an Canadian Forces base, air force base located at the City of North Bay, Ontario, North Bay, Ontario about north of Toronto. The base is subordinate to 1 Canadian Air Division, Winnipeg, ...
, the regional command post; in the event it was incapacitated by a nuclear strike, Senneterre was designated an Alternative Command Post (ALCOP). In 1988 the station was deemed no longer necessary as a long-range radar, and closed.
Post closure
After closure in 1988 some of the facilities were sold to private interests. At the operations site:
*
Telebec purchased the southmost radar building and erected a cell phone tower .
* The height finder building has been demolished for unknown reasons.
* The operations building was demolished after a fire in the early 1990s.
* The SAGE Annex is intact and privately owned.
* The northmost standing radar building is intact and privately owned.
* The TX and RX communications buildings have been repurposed by a local firearms club as indoor target ranges.
References
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Sennet
Senneterre
Senneterre is a town in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of northwestern Quebec, Canada. It is in the Vallée-de-l'Or Regional County Municipality. The town's territory includes a vast undeveloped area stretching from the Bell River to the Ma ...
Military history of Canada