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PHOTOS: Folks tour former CFB Chilliwack grounds on Legacy Walk

Bell Tent Monument stop on tour reflects early years of what camp in Chilliwack looked like in 1942

A small group of people came out on a cool and wet November morning to take a tour of the former CFB grounds in Chilliwack on Saturday.

About 16 people took part in the Legacy Walk, a free guided tour led by veteran Jim Harris of the Chilliwack Military Museum on Nov. 4.

He recounted stories about life on the old base before it was transformed into Garrison Crossing and Canada Education Park.

The extensive history of the military in the area is mapped out in 27 plaques on the walk, known as “plinths” in military lingo, with details of note printed on each. The tour stopped at about 20 of the plinths that day.

One of the stops was All Sappers’ Memorial Park at the corner of Keith Wilson and Vedder roads.

There, Harris spoke about two monuments: a tan-coloured one called the Bell Tent Monument in the shape of a military tent which reflects the early years of what the tented camp in Chilliwack looked like in 1942; and the other monument celebrates CFB Chilliwack’s 50 years of existence from 1942 to 1992.

– with files from Jennifer Feinberg

READ MORE: Legacy Walk will bring history of Chilliwack military base to life



Jenna Hauck

About the Author: Jenna Hauck

I started my career at The Chilliwack Progress in 2000 as a photojournalist.
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