CMFMAG TeamThe Department of National Defence (DND), through the Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA), will construct 668 new residential housing units (RHUs) and renovate more than 600 RHUs across the country over the next five years. Making the announcement recently, Defence Minister Bill Blair stated that this is a significant investment in DND’s housing portfolio and will support DND and CAF operational requirements by focusing on areas with the greatest need.
“The work of the Canadian Armed Forces is only possible because of its people,” remarked Blair. “With Our North, Strong and Free, we are investing in a suite of supports for our service members and their families. The construction of 668 new housing units will help house more military families in affordable homes near bases across the country.”
Mix of Housing Types
The new RHUs will include a mix of housing types, such as multi-unit buildings, row houses and semi-detached units. The minister further explained that by building more on-base housing, DND is helping meet the housing needs of military personnel while alleviating housing demands in surrounding communities.
While on-site, Minister Blair officially opened and toured the new Accommodations Facility at CFB Borden. The new five-storey facility will provide 350 modern sleeping quarters, common lounge areas, study areas, laundry rooms, storage, and office spaces to the recruits who will train on base. This project also includes parking for 300 vehicles, and more bus stops to encourage the use of public transit.
“As Borden is the largest training base in the CAF, with 35 different military units, and more than 5,000 personnel working on the base at any given time, these new accommodations and planned residential housing units will contribute to our members’ success,” remarked LGen Lise Bourgon, Commander Military Personnel Command. “By improving the living accommodations, we are creating an environment that better supports our members’ well-being and ability to perform their duties.”
CFB Borden will see the addition of 120 RHUs across the construction of eight buildings of six units, and six buildings of 12 units. This construction will increase the existing portfolio to 795 RHUs. Construction contracts will be awarded later this year.
According to the media announcement, this is the most recent project in a broader revitalization plan for CFB Borden, which will consolidate a number of existing facilities on the base, co-locating classrooms, accommodations quarters, and student amenities in an area close to training facilities.
$1.4 billion investment
Canada’s renewed Defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free, established the construction of the new RHUs as part of a broader $1.4 billion investment over 20 years for housing projects to support CAF personnel. In order to attract and retain talent from across Canada, the government is investing in improving CAF childcare on bases across Canada to ensure CAF members have continuous health care between provinces and territories, as well as building new and rehabilitating existing housing.
“We are focused on delivering 668 residential housing units across the country,” says Paola Zurro, Chief Executive Officer, CFHA. “These much-needed military houses will contribute to the quality of life of CAF members and their families.”
The Canadian Forces Housing Agency will oversee the construction of the 668 new units at nine priority locations. Plans are underway for construction in:
- Gagetown,
- Halifax,
- Valcartier,
- Trenton,
- Kingston,
The locations have the highest number of CAF entrants members on long-term training and private sector market challenges. Construction is planned to be completed at all nine sites by 2029/30.
In spring 2024, construction began on six residential net-zero-emission-ready buildings in Edmonton, the first of their kind, through a $19 million contract awarded to Bird Construction.
According to the Defence Climate and Sustainability Strategy, all new military housing construction will be net-zero emissions, or net-zero-emissions-ready, and at least 40% less energy intensive than residential housing units and buildings constructed to current code requirements.
About the new accommodations facility
The new accommodations building at CFB Borden was constructed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standards. The facility includes a number of green features, like energy-efficient heating and cooling systems. By modernizing and improving the energy efficiency of defence infrastructure, the government aims to meet the needs of a modern military while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving on energy costs.
The construction contract for this facility was awarded in November 2020 to Corebuild Construction Ltd., of North York, ON, for $50 million. Construction began in March 2021 and was completed in fall 2024. The total project is valued at approximately $75 million.
About the base
CFB Borden is located approximately 100 kilometres north of Toronto, in the heart of Simcoe County. The base is the largest training establishment in the CAF and is home to a variety of other military and defence team organizations.
On average, CFB Borden trains 20,000 military personnel annually. It also employs approximately 3,250 military members and 1,500 civilians. The base is comprised of 21,000 acres of land, including a 6,000-acre training area. The Commander of CFB Borden is also Commander of the Military Personnel Generation Training Group, the headquarters of which are also located at CFB Borden.
