Camp Aldershot receives new commander

By Brent Fox

NovaNewsNow.com

The Valley’s historic Camp Aldershot has seen a lot of changes over the past century – but, in more recent years, especially during the last three.

Now the changes includes a new commander.

Major Jamie Hunter, a familiar and popular personality in the Valley in the past three years, is off to a new posting, in New Brunswick.

Hantsport resident Maj. Scott Bland is the new Training Centre Aldershot Detachment commander, taking over in a change of command ceremony at the facility Aug. 6.

A member of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse, Hunter served in Cyprus and Bosnia as well as postings in Canada.

A member of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), Bland is a former member of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. He served in Cyprus, Croatia, Congo, Austria, Egypt, as well as in various locations in Canada.

In his goodbye at the ceremony, Hunter told the crowd how he and his family enjoyed living in Kentville. He thanked the local leadership for their efforts and support.

“This is a tough thing for me,” Hunter acknowledged of leaving the area. “The Valley is an outstanding place to bring up children.”

Giving his staff credit for the successes, Hunter said, “we did outstanding work here. It was a concerted effort of everyone here.” The facility changed from seeing a big increase in training during the summer to year-round courses.

“We supported the training of soldiers, and we did it well,” he said.

The major acknowledged “we asked a lot of folks,” but they all stood up, were proactive and creative. “We worked extremely hard.”

Bland said he hopes to “eventually deepen the partnership between Camp Aldershot and the surrounding area.”

Land Force Atlantic Area GOC Brig. Gen. Dave Neasmith said Hunter and his staff have taken the camp to a new level and that it is “a jewel in the crown” of training centres. “I recognize the efforts of each and every one of you and the local community.”

Neasmith presented Hunter with the Canadian Force’s Land Force commander’s commendation for his accomplishments.

LFAA Training Centres commander Lt. Col. Jean Trudel said that “Camp Aldershot is special. Its place in the community is second to none… Camp Aldershot wouldn’t be what it is without community support. Jamie, you have a lot to be proud of.”

Hunter and his staff saw the most dramatic increase of activity in the camp in recent times, Trudel said.

Kentville Mayor Dave Corkum, Fire Chief Shawn Ripley, as well as RCMP, Legion and Black Watch members attended the ceremony.

Sidebar:

Camp Aldershot snapshot



Camp Aldershot officially opened in 1904, but had hosted troops in the year immediately before, as the facilities – such as they were back then -- were under construction.

The facility was essentially a militia summer training facility until the First World War, when it often housed thousands of troops training to go overseas. Among those that concentrated and trained there in 1916 were the units of the Nova Scotia Highland Brigade, the senior battalion of which was the 85th Nova Scotia Highlanders.

The Second Word War saw the camp become 14 Infantry Training Centre, again hosting thousands of troops destined for deployment overseas.

During the 1950s, Camp Aldershot was the home of regular force units – at one time the two battalions and depot of the Royal Highland Regiment of Canada, the Black Watch. At one point, some 2,000 troops were stationed at the facility.

The Black Watch (Atlantic) Association still regards the camp as its home station.

The camp became a militia training centre in the 1970s, and its infrastructure continued to grow and improve. This was especially true through the1990s and into the new millennium.

The new facilities hosted hundreds of displaced Kosovo refugees in 1999, and travel refugees in the early days of the 9/11 emergency in 2001. It has hosted troops preparing for deployment to the Afghanistan mission in recent years.

The camp – now LFAA Training Centre Detachment Aldershot --has seen more activity in recent years, becoming essential year-round facility providing training and support for troops from Newfoundland to British Columbia, and from around the world.

The home of the West Nova Scotia Regiment, 507 Royal Canadian Air Cadets, and 2444 Kings County Army Cadets; the camp also hosts regular force units, foreign trainees, RCMP, municipal police and other government agency personnel.