Author: Wayne Wiebe
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From Boot Camp to Community: The Transformation of Cornwallis
From Boot Camp to Community: The Transformation of Cornwallis For more than 50 years, the grounds of Canadian Forces Base Cornwallis echoed with shouted commands, marching boots, and the intensity of military life. Then, in 1994, it all stopped. What followed wasn’t abandonment—it was one of the most remarkable transformations of a military site in…
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After the War: The Changing Role of Cornwallis
After the War: The Changing Role of Cornwallis When the guns fell silent after the Second World War, many assumed that places like HMCS Cornwallis would simply fade into history. But Cornwallis didn’t disappear. Instead, it entered a new phase—one that reflected the shifting needs of a country moving from total war into an uncertain…
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The Reality of Training at HMCS / CFB Cornwallis
The Reality of Training at HMCS / CFB Cornwallis For over half a century, HMCS Cornwallis—later CFB Cornwallis—stood as the beating heart of Canadian military training. Between 1942 and 1994, more than 500,000 recruits passed through its gates, each subjected to a system designed to transform civilians into disciplined sailors and soldiers. (Canada) What happened…
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Service life at HMCS Cornwallis
An average day in Canada’s great recruit school Where you are: “Learn to Serve” in the Valley HMCS Cornwallis sat near Deep Brook, Nova Scotia, between Digby and Annapolis Royal, and for decades it was the beating heart of basic training for the Royal Canadian Navy and, later, the unified Canadian Forces. At its height…
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The Cornwallis Wrens: A Forgotten Chapter of Local Wartime Service
The Cornwallis Wrens: A Forgotten Chapter of Local Wartime Service Introduction During the Second World War, communities across Canada contributed to the war effort in ways that extended far beyond the battlefield. One of the most remarkable — and often overlooked — contributions came from the young women who served in naval support roles. Among…
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The Enduring Legacy of Cornwallis
The Enduring Legacy of Cornwallis: From Colonial Foundations to Modern Remembrance Introduction Nestled along the serene shores of the Annapolis Basin in Nova Scotia, the story of HMCS Cornwallis and CFB Cornwallis is one of transformation, resilience, and profound impact on Canada’s military heritage. Over more than five decades, this site trained over 500,000 service…
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Historical Timeline of HMCS Cornwallis & CFB Cornwallis
Historical Timeline of HMCS Cornwallis & CFB CornwallisFor Cornwallis Museum OnlineThis timeline preserves the full arc of Cornwallis—from its wartime origins to its modern legacy—and honours every civilian and Veteran whose life passed through its gates. Pre‑History: The Name Behind the Base1749 — Edward Cornwallis founds HalifaxThe future base takes its name from Edward Cornwallis,…