Canada's Secret Army Bunker During the Cold War

Diefenbunker - located in Carp, about 40 minute drive west of Ottawa

I have been to Ottawa before a number of times in the past thirty years visiting my sister and friends.

 An alert system stand guard the entrance to the Cold War bunker

 It is only recently that I learned of the Diefenbunker structure located in Carp, a small town about a forty minute drive from Ottawa.

On our way to Ottawa for the Tulip Festival, we stopped to visit Diefenbunker, Ottawa's most unique historic site.

The Helicopter Patch at the Diefenbunker

Diefenbunker, Canada's response to the Cold War built during the Diefenbaker government, was designed to shelter some government and military officials in the event of a nuclear attack.

Inside the Entrance to the Tunnel of the Nuclear Bunker

The bunker was built in the late 1950's on time and on budget! A rare thing these days.

The Tunnel Leading to the 4 Story Underground Nuclear Shelter

Fortunately, this nuclear shelter for our government officials was never used for its intended purpose.

A Well Equipped Hospital

The only Canadian Prime Minister ever visited this nuclear bunker was Pierre Trudeau whose army helicopter landed right on the bunker's helicopter patch.

The nuclear bunker is a 100,000 square feet facility which could accommodate about three hundred people.

It had a decontaminated area and people entering the site would have been required to shower first then scrubbed and later on with his/her clothes buried underground to prevent the contamination by any nuclear dust carried on people's clothes.

Beds were anchored down by chain in case of earthquakes

It also had a well equipped hospital with a qualified team of medical staff consisted of doctors, nurses and dentists.

Everything was well thought out and many furnishing items were  anchored down by strong chained in case there was an earthquake during a nuclear attack

The cafeteria where soldiers and officers dined

Military personnel and officers dined in a spacious cafeteria.

The Cafeteria also doubled as a recreational space

The cafeteria also doubled as a recreational hall where military officers gathered to relax and to watch movies.

Dances, musical performances an d even weddings were held there.

The Prime Minister's Office

In the case of a nuclear attack, the Prime Minister of Canada,  Cabinet Ministers and some military officials would have worked in the offices located in this bunker.











There was a bedroom for the Prime Minister with his own en suite bathroom.







Though Prime Minister Diefenbaker never even visited this bunker. His bedroom was supplied with blankets with his own insignia.

The Computer Room

The computer room housed gigantic computer machines.

But the guide told us that all the tasks performed by the machines in this computer room could be easily done by one of today's i phone. How about that?

The Meeting Room

In case of a nuclear attack. as long as there were the Prime Minister, the Governor General and three Cabinet Ministers - this would be the legitimate government who could meet and make decisions to continue to govern Canada.

The Door to the Bank of Canada Vault

A vault was also built to shelter Canada's gold reserves during a nuclear conflict.

The Bank of Canada Vault

The door to the Bank of Canada Vault was so heavy and secure that it required four people ( each with different combination of the four locks)  to open and close it.







We were glad that we visited this unique historic site and though the Diefenbunker Government did plan to retreat to this place for protection during the Cuban missile crisis  in 1962, we were really happy to learn that this site was never used for its intended purpose!







R.T.
Diefendbunker
Carp, Ottawa Region