Pre-Unification to Post-Unification

 

Prior to the Unification, military establishments across the country were identified as either Royal Canadian Air Force Station for the Air Force, His/Her Majesty's Canadian Ship or Naval Radio Station for Naval shore stations or Camp or Barracks for the Army.

Eg: RCAF Station Rockcliffe, HMCS Stadacona, Naval Radio Station Aldergrove, Camp Borden, Work Point Barracks.

After Unification all military establishments were classed as either Canadian Forces Base, for establishments with 2 or more major units, or Canadian Forces Station, for establishments with only one major unit, such as a radar station. Eg: CFB Toronto, CFS Kamloops.

Today, although most bases are still officially Canadian Forces Bases or Canadian Forces Stations, there appears to be somewhat of a push towards re-establishing a separate service identity for Canada's military bases. Air Force Bases are now also referred to as "Wings". Army bases are referred to as "Barracks", "Garrison", "Camp" or "Area Training Centre" in their name. Even Canada's two major Navy bases have made their former names prominent once again.

Eg: Canadian Forces Base Trenton is now commonly known as 8 Wing Trenton.

Canadian Forces Base Edmonton (the former RCAF Station Namao) is now referred to as Steele Barracks. Two of the Army's Training Centres are Camp Wainwright and Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford.

The sign outside CFB Halifax (formerly HMCS Stadacona) reads "Maritime Forces Atlantic Stadacona". Although CFS Mill Cove closed, the radio unit that ran the station was re-named Naval Radio Section Mill Cove to reflect its Naval heritage.

 

Although the names of the RCAF, RCN and the Canadian Army have been restored, it remains to be seen if this will have an effect on the official names of the bases across Canada.  With the re-establishment of the RCAF, RCN and Canadian Army as official entities, it remains to be seen if the names of the military bases across Canada will be changed to reflect this, or if they will remain "Canadian Forces Bases".