Practicing UXO Safety at the Former Blair Rifle Range in North Vancouver, B.C.
Training at past military sites often involved the use of ammunition that contained explosives, some of which did not function as intended. These old military munitions are called unexploded explosive ordnance (UXO). UXO may still be present at the former Blair Rifle Range and can be dangerous if disturbed.
The former Blair Rifle Range, located in the Northlands area of North Vancouver, was used by the Canadian Armed Forces for military training from the 1930s to 1960s (figure 1).
As part of the Department of National Defence’s (DND) regular UXO program work, a site survey and UXO clearance were completed along trails and open areas in 2018, and UXO were removed from forested areas in winter 2023. New caution signs were also installed throughout the property.
UXO clearance work in 2024
To ensure continued safe community use of the site, DND will resume UXO clearance work until the end of June, and will return in the Fall of 2024. This work will be performed between trees, with only trees that pose a hazard to workers being removed if absolutely required. Some low-lying brush will be removed in areas with dense vegetation.
- Work starts: September 18, 2023
- Work ends: June 28, 2024
- Follow-on work: Fall 2024
- Location: See mapped area (figure 2)
Temporary trail closures
For safety reasons, select trails will be closed intermittently while this work is underway (figure 3):
- Red trails closed: April 15 to May 31, 2024
- Blue trails closed: May 6 to June 28, 2024
Open trails will continue to be safe for the community to use for walking, jogging or biking.
As with all former military sites, the community should continue to use good judgment and caution when using the property. Stay on designated trails and refrain from digging or making campfires in the area.
To learn more about UXO safety and DND’s UXO program, visit Canada.ca/Blair-UXO-Safety.
If you see something that looks like it may be UXO, please follow these steps:
- Don’t touch it.
- Turn around and leave the area the same way you came in.
- Call 911 or local police.
If you have any questions about DND’s UXO activities at the former Blair Rifle Range, please contact us by e-mail at UXOCanada@forces.gc.ca.
Figure 1 - Map of the former Blair Rifle Range area
Figure 1 – Long description
Map of the former Blair Rifle Range area with surrounding communities from left to right: Blueridge, McCarthy Woods, Windsor Park, Northlands Golf Course, Parkgate, Parkway, and Mount Seymour Provincial Park.
Figure 2
Figure 2 – Long description
UXO clearance work in 2024 will take place in forested areas near trails in the priority area on the map.
Figure 3 – Blair Rifle Range Trial Closures 2024
Figure 3 – Long description
For the safety of the public and UXO contractors, select trails will be closed intermittently temporarily between April 15 and June 28, 2024. Open trails remain safe for community use. The above map shows twelve trail segments that will be closed intermittently within the southern section of the former range at the height of Narthlands Drive, as well as where trail closure signs will be located (at the opening or intersection of each trail segment). Five trail segments located immediately north of Larkhall Crescent on the map will be closed intermittently from 15 April to 31 May 2024; six trail segments located immediately south of Larkhall Crescent, and one in the northern section will be closed intermittently from May 6 to June 28, 2024. The easternmost north-south trail along the golf-course will always remain open. All other trails and trail segments will also remain open. The scale of the map is 1:3000.
Figure 4 – UXO Safety Sign
Figure 4 – Long description
Caution!
Former military training area
If you see something that looks like it may be Unexploded Explosive Ordnance (UXO):
- Don’t touch it
- Turn around and leave the area
- Call 911 or local police
No dig area | Stay on trails | No camp fires
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