The once top-secret Royal Canadian Air Force radar technician training facility for Canada’s Second World War allies has opened its doors to showcase the area’s history.

Following the completion of a 50-year contract binding the signees to secrecy, the history of the army base at Vanastra opened to the public for the 2019 Jane’s Walk.

The history of the former base has been incorporated into a heritage trail.

“The Municipality of Huron East, especially the residents of Vanastra, were very willing to incorporate this heritage trail into their community,” said Jan Hawley, the economic development officer for Huron East. “This was their chance to finally tell the story of the area’s intriguing, and very secret military history from the ground up.”

Around the world, Jane’s Walks took place on May 4 to honour the late Jane Jacobs, a celebrated author, journalist, urban planner and community leader.

Jane’s Walk in Vanastra saw over 150 people attended the ribbon cutting ceremony, walk the two-kilometre route, and learn about the former RCAF base’s war-time secrets.

Mayor Bernie MacLellan said he was pleased with the turnout.

Before the heritage trail came to fruition, funding had to be secured, which included the building of 10 plaques which now dot locations along the trail.

Hawley said the County of Huron & Community Futures Huron introduced a program known as SLED (Supporting Local Economic Development) early last year, and in January she received confirmation Huron East would be receiving $10,000 for the project.

Of the money issued to the municipality, roughly $8,000 was needed for the creation and installation of the plaques.

Each plaque marks a historic location along the trail and provides a brief history of what occurred on the site during the time it was used as a secret base.

One of the plaques provides information about the Radome, when it was built and its purpose.

The remaining use of the allocated budget is expected to be used to develop a tourism and event website portal that will host a digital format of the trail.

Hawley said there are plans to plant a small garden at the base of the large sign and to install a series of black and white images from the RCAF Base on the reverse side.

The large sign erected in front of the Vanastra Recreation Centre will be the focus of the Heritage Walking Trail, as it marks the beginning of the history that can be found along the walking trail.

“Initially, I was looking to have the walking trail in place for the Ontario Heritage Conference being held in Huron County later this month when Vanastra will play host to a group of Heritage Planners visiting from communities from across the province,” said Hawley.

“Furthermore, I’m hoping to conduct a series of walks to introduce students from different schools in the area to the history of the base and the importance it played during the Second World War and the Cold War.”