In the News

Reprinted with permission from Trident Publications

Virginia Beaton, Trident Staff, Feb 11, 2009

New base access control in place for Stadacona

Following a review of security before Christmas 2008, Stadacona has moved to a position of enhanced security measures, as of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28.

“Security never stops being reviewed,” stated Capt(N) John Newton, Base Commander CFB Halifax. “It’s an ongoing reality of military life and military establishments.”

Capt(N) Newton stated the new measures do not fundamentally change the security of the base and are not necessarily a security upgrade, “It’s that gate access requirements have been upgraded.”

Commissionaires are on duty at the Gottingen St and Lorne Terrace gates. They are present 24/7 at the Gottingen St gate and from 5:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at Lorne Terrace, at which time the gate will be secured for the night. The Barrington St gate at Trinity, the Russell St Gates at the Fleet Club and the cemetery gate will be closed at 5:30 p.m. The Fleet Club pedestrian gate at the north end of the drill shed will remain open each night until closing time at the Fleet Club so that CF members can proceed to their residences on the base. The museum gate on Gottingen St will be closed until further notice.

Commissionaires will conduct 100 per cent verification checks, though this does not automatically mean ID checks that are routine at a higher security location such as the dockyard. They may use their discretion to verify legitimate access for personnel, but uniformed personnel and DND car passes can provide quick verification. Commissionaires may verbally challenge personnel as to the nature of their visit to the base.

According to Capt(N) Newton, the presence of the commissionaires has a visual deterrent effect. “It’s more hands-on and it puts our security people more in touch with what’s actually going on inside the base... It shows we are concerned about security and access, and that there is somebody standing between you and the base, just to confirm your intentions, and to be a first reporter to the military police, should anything untoward develop.”

Capt(N) Newton noted there are people from outside the DND establishment who have arranged access to the base for events at the mess, the museum or the chapel, or for day surgery at the hospital, conferences at the CFMWC or lectures at CFNES or CFNOS. “They have legitimate business on DND property and that group of people is fully welcome to come, present legitimate ID such as a driver’s license and state the nature of their visit, if they’re not recognized by the gate guards.” The gate staff has been informed as to what comprises legitimate business with DND, according to Capt(N) Newton.

“The security of the base is the responsibility of all the members of the DND team who work on the base, and of the people officially charged with the security, such as the military police and commissionaires,” he emphasized.

Further to that, security is achieved when the lodger units on a base “cooperate with the security force and keep everybody informed about who’s coming and going and what events are anticipated.” Cooperation and good communication are key to the security of the base, Capt(N) Newton stated.

For example, if there were a meeting of a recreation club after hours or on the weekend, it would be advisable to inform the gate commissionaires informed of the event and the number of people expected, and for the visitors to come with a recognized ID. Gate personnel have the authority to determine who may legitimately enter the base, Capt(N) Newton stated.