Federal says camp ready as local MP had flagged suitability concerns
The federal government has confirmed the Vernon Cadet Training Centre is available to shelter people displaced by wildfires, even though the region’s Member of Parliament and the minister of national defence previously described the site as unsuitable for routine evacuee accommodation.
Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, posted a statement on Aug. 18 saying the cadet camp would be prepared to receive evacuees as part of the federal response to British Columbia’s request for assistance. The statement said the facility would be ready to take people “if needed in the days and weeks ahead.”
“As part of our response to B.C.’s request for federal assistance, as of Monday, 17 August, the Vernon Cadet Training Centre is prepared to receive evacuees if needed in the days and weeks ahead.”
The statement thanked the Canadian Armed Forces for making the facility available and named the Canadian Red Cross, Salvation Army and St. John Ambulance for their support in operating the location. Olszewski added the federal government remained ready to provide extra support as the provincial response evolves.
Local MP and defence minister had expressed reservations
Earlier in August, Scott Anderson, the federal MP for Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee, posted on social media that the cadet camp "isn’t suitable to receive refugees, except in a massive crisis," and suggested there were more appropriate local options. Anderson said he had discussed the matter with David McGuinty, the minister of national defence, who reportedly agreed the camp should not be used for typical evacuation housing except under extreme circumstances.
McGuinty had also indicated, in response to Anderson, that there was no immediate need at that time for federal facilities to accommodate evacuees, while pledging to act quickly if the wildfire situation changed.
What this means for Vernon residents
The federal statement frames the camp as a contingency resource — a local facility that can be mobilized if provincial shelters become insufficient. For residents, that means the cadet centre is on standby rather than being immediately repurposed as a primary reception centre.
- The facility is designated as a federal resource available to British Columbia upon request.
- Operation of the site would involve non‑governmental organisations including the Red Cross, Salvation Army and St. John Ambulance.
- Local officials and MPs have voiced differing views on whether the site should be used except in extreme circumstances.
As of Aug. 18, many people affected by the Bradley Creek and Quilpitik Creek wildfires have been permitted to return home, reducing immediate displacement needs in the region. However, with wildfire risk fluctuating, contingency planning remains relevant to municipal and provincial emergency management teams.
Officials and their positions
| Official | Role | Position on the cadet camp |
|---|---|---|
| Eleanor Olszewski | Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience | Declared camp available as a federal resource for evacuees |
| Scott Anderson | MP for Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee | Stated camp is unsuitable except in a massive crisis |
| David McGuinty | Minister of National Defence | Agreed facility not ideal for standard evacuee accommodation; would act if needed |
The differing assessments underscore a common tension in emergency planning: balancing speed and available space against suitability and comfort for displaced people. Cadet training facilities can offer large indoor spaces and infrastructure, but they may lack the long-term amenities and privacy found in community centres or hotels used in planned evacuation responses.
Local residents and community groups seeking clarity about evacuation options should follow updates from the City of Vernon, the Regional District and Emergency Management BC. For now, the cadet centre remains an option in the federal toolkit, to be used if provincial resources are overwhelmed or if the wildfire situation deteriorates.
Vernon’s experience this summer — with some evacuees already returning as fires come under control — highlights the importance of layered emergency planning that integrates municipal, provincial and federal assets. The federal readiness to deploy the cadet camp is part of that layered approach, even as local politicians and defence officials weigh its practicality for non‑extreme situations.
