Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination
Canadian Armed Forces Training Area (CAFTA) Winona Range and Training Area Upgrades

March 30, 2026 — The Department of National Defence must decide whether the proposed project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this decision, the Department of National Defence is inviting comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment. All comments received will be considered public. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

Written comments must be submitted by April 18, 2026 to:
Julie Dalgard, Environmental Officer, 4th Canadian Division Support Base Petawawa Environment Services / Garrison Toronto
Mailing Address:  701 Oxford St E, London
Ontario, Canada, N5Y 4T7
E-mail:  Julie.Dalgard@forces.gc.ca

or

Rabi Gautam, Engineering Officer, Real Property Operations Unit
Mailing Address:  1 Yukon Lane, Toronto
Ontario, Canada, M3K 0K1
E-mail:  Rabi.Gautam@forces.gc.ca

 

The Proposed Project

The Department of National Defence (DND) proposes a project. The Canadian Armed Forces Training Area (CAFTA) Winona is an active training facility that runs approximately 70 training events per year with the expectation that this number will increase in the coming years. As such, the existing CAFTA Winona is lacking the infrastructure to support the expected increase in training events at this Site. Therefore, DND intends to upgrade the Training Area to be more consistent with the proposed future capabilities and are looking to improve the range infrastructure for the future training requirements.

The project activities include:

Firing Range Modifications:

• Demolition/remediation of the existing backstop berm and construction of replacement with an environmentally friendly rubber chip-style backstop
• Modifications to the existing firing range including reconstruction of existing firing point berms to meet the requirements of the DND Range Area Construction Manual.

Construction of New Buildings:

• New Accommodations Building (120 person capacity)
• New Classroom Facility (60 person capacity)
• New Gas Hut construction (and demolition of current hut)
• New Target Shed.

Various other works:

• Pedestrian traffic control and road upgrades
• Proposed Secure Compound
• Overall site drainage improvements
• Seacan Village Modifications
• Sentry Hut Recommendations
• Electrical Upgrades & Improvements to Lighting systems
• Fire alarm systems with integration between existing and new facilities.

Firing Range Modifications:

• Demolition of the Existing Backstop Berm and Construction of Replacement – Demolition of existing berm involves the removal of existing sand pits, removal and replacement of the backstop, providing new bullet catch areas and filling with rubber mulch. Additionally, a shift of 3 m to the north to allow for a 25 m pistol range, soil management of existing contaminated soil, regrading of the existing berm to meet current range guidelines
• Modifications to Firing Point Berm – Includes the installation of new coloured lane markers at firing points, replacement of the target numbers on the backstop berm and removal and reconstruction of existing firing point berms to meet the requirements of the DND Range Area Construction Manual.

Construction of New Buildings:

• New Accommodations Building – involves new construction of a stand alone, single storey building to accommodate up to 120 people. It will be built above grade, and will house sleeping quarters, and washroom facilities, including universal washroom facilities
• New Classroom Facility – a stand-alone, one storey building, meant to support 60 occupants, with washrooms and a separate mechanical room. Steel framed with interior and exterior block masonry walls. Foundations will be cast-in-place concrete, with shallow spread footings under columns and strip footings under walls
• New Gas Hut Building – a new single storey, standalone building, constructed on a concrete slab with wood framing and air purification system
• New Target Shed – a new single storey, stand alone building, constructed on cast-in-place concrete, with shallow spread footings under columns and strip footings under concrete block walls. Building to be located at north end of the range, near the backstop berm.

Other Works:

• Pedestrian traffic control at waters edge will include the extension of the existing fence to the waters edge to prevent ongoing pedestrian traffic entering the range area
• Proposed Secure Compound would include new perimeter fencing between the rappel tower and Forward Operating Base (FOB) area for vehicle and supply storage
• Improvements to Site Drainage – Overall site drainage improvements throughout the firing range and confidence course area directing water from this area to the existing drainage ditches to eliminate the issue of pooling water. Natural improvements to the site layout such as improved sloping and diverting surface run-off towards swales directing water to Lake Ontario
• Trenching Area Identification – installation of four wooden post markers to identify the trenching area
• Seacan Village Modifications – shifting of one seacan to meet 200 m perimeter distance, and replacement of various wood floors, decking and doors within the village
• Sentry Hut Recommendations – The installation of one new Sentry hut at the northwest corner of the property (East Sentry Hut) and repairs to existing West Sentry Hut
• Electrical Upgrades – New incoming services to accommodate new buildings, installation of new electrical for tenting area, installation of new light poles across the site, and replacement of old power panels to accommodate increased loads.