Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt (CFB Esquimalt) is Canada's Pacific Coast naval base and home port to
Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters.[1] As of 2018[update], 4,411 military personnel and 2,762 civilians work at CFB Esquimalt.[2]
CFB Esquimalt comprises facilities that include Naden (formerly HMCS Naden),[4] His Majesty's Canadian (HMC)[5] Dockyard Esquimalt, Fleet Maintenance Facility – Cape Breton (FMF CB), a Fire Fighting and Damage Control School, the Naval Officer Training Centre (NOTC) Venture, and extensive housing including 716 personnel
married quarters located at nine sites such as Belmont Park, WorkPoint, and
Royal Roads.
The present dockyard and
dry dock, known as HMC Dockyard Esquimalt, dates to the
Royal Navy's
Esquimalt Royal Navy Dockyard (1842–1905) and was the Royal Navy's
Pacific Station until 1911. Today it serves as the Canadian Naval Headquarters in the Pacific.
Due to their significance in
Canadian naval history, four sites at CFB Esquimalt (the
Dockyard, the former Royal Navy Hospital, the Veterans' Cemetery, and the Cole Island Magazine) have been designated the Esquimalt Naval Sites
National Historic Site of Canada.[6]
Ships
This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2015)
In March 2013, CFB Esquimalt services the following ships assigned to Canadian Fleet Pacific
CFB Esquimalt contains several recognized and classified federal heritage buildings on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings.[10]
The Institute for Stained Glass in Canada has documented the stained glass at the Multi-Faith Naval Chapel[65] and the stained glass at the Old Naval and Garrison Church (1866), now known as St Paul's Anglican.[66]
CFB Esquimalt operates a bus service to provide intra-base transportation.
The Lookout is the base newspaper, which covers local, national and international news with specific interest to Navy and
Canadian Forces members and family issues.[69]
Other properties that are part of CFB Esquimalt include the Albert Head training area near
Albert Head, Metchosin, located approximately 30 km (19 mi) by road southwest of
downtown Victoria. It occupies approximately 88 hectares (220 acres), four of which are developed as training facilities. Fort Albert Head was established in the late 1800s along with
Fort Rodd Hill and other installations, to provide shore defence for the
Strait of Juan de Fuca and
Victoria Harbour. The training area is used for Regular and Reserve Force training throughout the year and was previously home to the Regional Cadet Instructor School (Pacific) that trained Canadian Forces
Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC) Branch that deliver the cadet program. Albert Head currently houses the British Columbia Patrol Company of the
4th Canadian Rangers Patrol Group,[70] training facilities for the
Naval Tactical Operations Group,[71] as well as a
cadet summer training centre: Albert Head CTC.[72]Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental Test Range at
Nanoose Bay is also part of CFB Esquimalt. The facility provides non-explosive technical testing of
sonobuoys, torpedoes and other equipment. Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot (CFAD) Rocky Point store excess ammunition for Maritime Forces Pacific and provides maintenance for missiles and torpedoes. The grounds are also used for by Albert Head CTC for survival training.[73]Naval Radio Section Aldergrove in the
Fraser Valley houses transmitting and receiving equipment for long-distance communications. Also, the CFB Esquimalt Base Fire Hall & Emergency Response Centre was founded to provide services to CFB Esquimalt and the civil community in the way of
fire intervention and
emergency response.[74]
Economic facts
CFB Esquimalt contributes about $760 million (in 2023)into the local community annually.[75][76]
CFB Esquimalt is the largest community employer.[77]
CFB Esquimalt provides 7,866 jobs in the community.[2]