Shearwater

Shearwater

• Population: 5,102 (2021) Statistics Canada

Shearwater is a suburban community in the Halifax Regional Municipality located between Woodside and Eastern Passage. Shearwater is divided into two sections by Main Road, referred to locally as the Upper and Lower Base but part of the same complex. The Upper Base, on the east side of Main Road, houses the airfield and administrative buildings of 12 Wing Shearwater as well as a skate park, pool, gym, and youth centre. The Lower Base, a thin strip between Main Road and Eastern Passage, holds some maintenance buildings, the Atlantic Fleet Diving Unit, training facilities, and a yacht club. Both Bases contain PMQ military housing.

The Shearwater Flyer Trail also begins here. It is a section of the Trans Canada Trail. It is maintained by Cole Harbour Parks & Trails. It was an abandoned rail-bed, but once it was decommissioned, it was transformed into a recreational trail. You can access it from Corsair Drive, Hines Road, Caldwell Road, and Bissett Road.

The Shearwater Airforce base is home to the 12 Wing of the Royal Canadian Airforce. It has a history of supporting naval operations due to its proximity to Halifax Harbour. The base currently operates combat ready CH-148 Cyclones in conjunction with the Royal Canadian Navy. In the Second World War, it served as a home to flying boats which conducted marine operations. 

Canadian Forces Base Shearwater, commonly referred to as CFB Shearwater is the second-oldest military air base in Canada.