Re:Unexploded Mortar Found on Blair Range, March 2 front-page story.
The recent announcement that a three-inch mortar had been found on the site of the former Blair Rifle Range in North Vancouver is not really a surprise.
There could be more. Since this property was used by the military for over 40 years, a property survey is long overdue.
It was the B.C. government’s decision last fall to take over recreational administration of the property that forced the hand of senior government. Shame on CMHC, the military and our elected representatives for turning a blind eye for all these years.
While the current focus is on the search for unexploded ordinances, let’s not lose sight of the important history of the property and the lessons to be learned.
Anecdotal evidence and personal recollections are important and should not be ignored. During my research I encountered both verbal and written accounts of mortars (and grenades) being used on the range, although such possibilities were dismissed by many people.
The site’s history is a reminder of major events in the social and military history of Canada. Its use as an unemployed relief camp during the 1930s links the location to Canada’s experiences during the Great Depression and its legacy of activism, protest and the resulting birth of national social programs.
The Blair Rifle Range also symbolizes the immense mobilization that occurred during the Second World War and the military presence in the Seymour area during the war years. Post-war use by Vancouver area regiments, cadets and marksmen championships extends its relevance.
That’s all separate from the early efforts by the feds to keep the land out of the hands of the Squamish Nation, and later CMHC taking the District of North Vancouver to court over their efforts to prevent development.
History gives us an opportunity to reflect on the past, but also gives us a chance to move forward in an informed way.
Donna Sacuta is a local historian, Blueridge resident and executive director of the BC Labour Heritage Centre. In 2015, she published Building Andy’s Range: The History of the Blair Rifle Range in North Vancouver.
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