New 39 Canadian Brigade Group headquarters officially opens
News Release
September 24, 2016 – Vancouver, British Columbia – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
Today, Minister of Defence Harjit S. Sajjan attended the official opening of the Seaforth Armouries, welcoming the storied Seaforth Highlanders of Vancouver to their new home and headquarters of 39 Canadian Brigade Group. Minister Sajjan, himself a former reservist in the Canadian Armed Forces, underscored the Government of Canada’s commitment to support the Reserve Force with the necessary facilities and tools to serve both at home and abroad.
In addition to bringing infrastructure jobs to Vancouver, the construction of the new Armoury provides an improved centre of operations for any future CAF response in the Greater Vancouver area that may be necessary. Not only is the building reinforced to withstand a substantial earthquake, it is also designed to provide all necessary accommodation, equipment and vehicle storage to support a training activities and domestic operations.
Sustained improvements to military infrastructure are needed to provide the women and men of the CAF with the facilities they need to train and operate successfully. The two Seaforth Armoury site infrastructure investments worth a total $55 million are also vital to creating middle class jobs and sustained economic growth for years to come
Quotes
“As a former 39 Canadian Brigade Group reservist, I am aware of how essential it is for reserve personnel to have the necessary facilities and equipment to train effectively and successfully fulfill their missions. This new building and the retrofit of the Seaforth Armoury will improve the Canadian Army’s overall effectiveness in the region. These investments demonstrate the Government of Canada’s commitment to properly equip the women and men in Canada’s reserves, who serve Canadians in their most critical moments.”
Harjit S. Sajjan, Defence Minister
“This is an auspicious day marking the opening of the new home of 39 Canadian Brigade Group in Vancouver, Major-General Bert Hoffmeister Building. The naming of the building is significant as it recognises an individual who was not only a prominent Vancouverite but also an accomplished military officer whose roots were in the Vancouver Militia. This building is state-of-the-art, earthquake resistant, and will serve for years as the headquarters of the Reserve Army in British Columbia.”
Colonel David Awalt, Commander of 39 Canadian Brigade Group
Quick Facts
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39 Canadian Brigade Group is a reserve brigade formation within the 3rd Canadian Division (Western Canada), and supports the efforts of Joint Task Force Pacific (in British Columbia) during times of domestic emergencies, such as forest fires and flood watch. During expeditionary operations, 39 CBG provides individual augmentation to regular force battle groups.
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There are approximately 1,508 fulltime and part-time reserve soldiers serving within 39 CBG in four geographical regions in British Columbia: Lower Mainland (Greater Vancouver), the Fraser Valley Regional Area, the Interior and Cariboo regions, and Vancouver Island (from Victoria to the Cowichan Valley).
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The building is named after Major-General Bertram Meryl "Bert" Hoffmeister OC CB CBE DSO ED, a Canadian Army officer, businessman, and conservationist. He was one of Canada’s best combat leaders—a man who made his mark as a battalion, brigade, and divisional commander in operations against some of the ablest formations of the Nazi German Army.
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The new four-storey headquarters located at the Seaforth Armoury site primarily consists of office space, meeting rooms, classrooms, storage bays, locker rooms, a fitness facility, a medical and dental clinic, and a support centre for military families.
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These two facilities represent a total investment of $55 million, which includes all aspects of the project, such as studies, design, construction, administration, contingencies, and taxes. The new 39 CBG headquarters project cost $41 million and the Seaforth Armoury project cost $14 million.
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The new building was constructed to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification, incorporating the principles of sustainable and eco-friendly design in planning, investment analysis, and programming of operational activities.
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Associated Links
Contacts
Jordan Owens
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Defence
613-996-3100
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca
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