Optimal Location

22 Wing North Bay is located in Ontario approximately three and a half hours from centres such as Toronto and Ottawa.

The geographical boundaries for Canadian Forces Base North Bay are bounded by an area North of Tilden Lake, northeast to Balasm, east to Rutherglen, south to Powassan and west to Sturgeon Falls. Requests to live outside this area must be approved by the Wing Personnel Administration Officer who approves / denies these on behalf of the Wing Commander.

22 Wing, home of the Canadian Air Defense Sector is housed in the underground complex, a three-story building underground. Construction began on 14 August 1959 and was completed on 1 October 1963 after the removal of 300,000 cubic yards or 765, 000 tons of rock.

The units currently housed in the complex are the Canadian Air Defense Sector, 21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron, 51 Aerospace Control and Warning (Operational Training) Squadron, Canadian Air Defense Staff, Navcan, Nasittuq, and various logistics and administrative support sections.

Entry to the main complex is through two portals, the north tunnel which is 6,621 feet long and the south tunnel which is 3,350 feet long. At the bottom, there are three entrance ways to the office complex and each has a 20-ton blast door that can be closed should the need ever arise.

Access to the underground complex is controlled by the Master Access Control System (MACS). This special area pass has a card with a personal identification number (PIN), allows entry into both the north and south portals and the required work spaces.

22 Wing is in the process of moving the Canadian Air Defense Sector from underground to above ground level into a new facility on the premises of Canadian Forces Base North Bay. The move will take place sometimes in 2006.