‘World is changing’: Retired Maj.-Gen. anticipates more activity at Edmonton military base

Helicopter crews from Canadian Forces Base Edmonton are taking part in a month-long training exercise in the arctic. Miriam Valdes-Carletti reports.

With Edmonton skies seeing military aircraft between Monday and Wednesday, a retired Canadian Forces Maj.-Gen. says it is likely to be a more common occurrence.

“The world is changing,” said David Fraser. “What we’re going to see is a lot more of these exercises … with greater importance and probably frequency.”

Six CH-146 Griffons from the 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force will fly from Edmonton to Fort Wainwright, AK, as part of a large, month-long training mission called Exercise Striking Bat.

The training event is intended to help military personnel prepare for operations in Arctic and sub-Arctic environments and will involve U.S. Army aviation members and soldiers from Norway, Italy and Mongolia.

“Edmonton is hugely important because it’s a major army base,” said Fraser. “This is the biggest base that can project capabilities up north to support the operations, arrangers and our northern command headquarters.”

He says given today’s political tableau, people can expect more action coming to and from Edmonton’s base.

“Given the need to assert our sovereignty, the prime minister wants more of a presence up north, and so these exercises in Edmonton, we’re going to see a lot more projection of army, air force and navy up into the Arctic,” said Fraser.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Gates Guarin