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Approximately 500 personnel from the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force‎ are taking part in Exercise NIHILO SAPPER 2017.

The exercise is described by the Canadian Forces as “a large construction engineering exercise” taking place in various locations throughout Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It started November 1 and runs until Nov. 20.

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Exercise NIHILO SAPPER is an annual training event led by 4 Engineer Support Regiment based out of 5 Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown to help military engineers maintain a high-level of readiness.

During the exercise, participants will complete the following projects:

o Construct a 500-person camp in Sydney’s Open Hearth Park that will serve as the main operating base for the exercise.

o Remediate the Siege Corridor and build a bridge over Freshwater Brook at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site in collaboration with Parks Canada.

o Construct a snowmobile trail in Wreck Cove.

o Repair and restore the St. Alphonse Church in Victoria Mines.

o Build a bridge on the Warren Lake Trail in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park in collaboration with Parks Canada.

o 4 Engineer Support Regiment’s combat dive team will conduct joint training with the Royal Canadian Navy’s Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) at the Canadian Coast Guard College in Westmount.

o Counter improvised explosive device and expedited route opening capability training in the Blue Mountain area near Marion Bridge.