Storming the beaches

Canadian Armed Forces train near Meaford this past summer in this photo provided by 4 Cdn Div/4 CA – JTFC/FOIC

Canadian Armed Forces training in Hillier

A company of about 100 Canadian Armed Forces personel from Petawawa had hoped to slip into the County, stay low, and get out, after a couple of weeks of training exercises, without a trace. But any hopes of maintaining a low profile evaporated almost immediately after barricades were erected on the Hillier beach just north of the Huyck’s Bay outlet. Signage on the barrier urged walkers to turn back by order of the Ministry of Defence. The beach from Hyuck’s Bay to North Beach is popular spot all year round for dog-walkers and hikers, many of whom were alarmed by the invasion.

The barricades were soon removed from the beach and moved farther inland after the military learned its host for the two weeks—the Pentecostal church camp at the end of Bakker Road—doesn’t actually own the beach.

Canadian Armed Forces spokesperson Captain Sally-Ann Cyr told the Times she had asked local authorities to keep the exercise on the down low.

“We had asked the municipality to keep it informal,” said Captain Cyr, “because we didn’t want to attract a lot of attention. We just wanted to do our training and leave.”

She added that as they now have the attention they were hoping to avoid, the Canadian Armed Forces is “very appreciative of the support, patience and cooperation of the community.”

Specifically the troops are participating in littoral combat training, that is, landing on the beach by water and air in small combat boats, and engaging an opposing force.

“These types of exercises are routine for us,” said Captain Cyr.

But not routine in Hillier. Captain Cyr explained that Hillier was chosen because it is unfamiliar territory to its personnel and has large expanses of beach.

“It is something different,” said Captain Cyr. “It is very good for our people to train in a facility they haven’t trained at before. Plus it offers great access to water.”

The troops are stationed for the duration of the exercise at the church camp at the end of Bakker Road. Road access to the beach is barred and guarded at the property line. Only authorized military vehicles are permitted in or out.

A visit to the barricade on Saturday morning offered a warm and gracious greeting by four military personnel—each of whom said they had rarely trained in such a beautiful location. But that graciousness did not extend to permitting the reporter into the camp to take photographs.

Captain Cyr says the exercises are expected to be wrapped up Saturday November 16. She gave assurance that there would be no lasting impact on the dunes or beaches from the exercices.

“We are not using any large track vehicles,” said Captain Cyr. “We are extremely mindful of impact to the environment.”

That sentiment was echoed by some of the folks on the ground on the Bakker Road barricade— who appeared genuinely curious about the nature and history of the dune systems along Hillier beach.

“If I lived here, I would very protective of these beaches too,” said one unidentified military serviceman. “I would be out here all the time with my dog.”