22 Wing North Bay
22 Wing is located at Canadian Forces Base North Bay. 22 Wing North Bay, also known as the Canadian Air Defence Sector (CADS), is responsible for providing surveillance, identification, control and warning for the aerospace defence of Canada and North America at the Sector Air Operations Centre.
This surveillance and identification of all air traffic approaching North America (200,000 flights per year) is accomplished using radar information received via satellite from the North Warning System across the Canadian Arctic, coastal radars on the east and west coasts of Canada, and Airborne Warning and Control System Aircraft.
All aircraft penetrating this radar coverage are detected and identified by the personnel of 21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron (AC&W Sqn), who are always on guard 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Unidentified aircraft, aircraft in distress, or aircraft suspected of conducting illegal activities may be intercepted by CF-18 fighters.
Critical information on air sovereignty events is forwarded to the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) in Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, where it is in turn passed on to the command authorities, the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Canada, to decide on the appropriate responses.
Due to this binational nature of the NORAD agreement, 33 American personnel belonging to the USAF's 1 Air Force Detachment 2 operate at the Canadian Sector Air Operations Centre (SAOC). Training of the personnel who perform the air sovereignty mission is done by 51 AC&W (Operational Training) Squadron, an integral unit of 22 Wing.
History
22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base (CFB) North Bay is the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)’s central wing for guarding North American air sovereignty. RCAF Station North Bay opened on September 1, 1951, part of Canada’s new national air defence network, built in response to the Cold War threat from the Soviet Union.
In 1963, after four years construction, Canada’s North American Air Defence Command (NORAD) Underground Complex (UGC) opened in North Bay. The UGC was specially engineered to withstand a 4-megaton nuclear explosion and keep operating. That would be 267 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. In the UGC, Canadian and American NORAD personnel guarded North America’s Cold War frontline.
The station was renamed CFB North Bay in 1963 and was previously a home to aircraft – including No. 3 All-Weather (Fighter) Operational Training Unit. It was the world’s most advanced air defence flying training school. Over the years the base was home to 430 Day (Fighter) Squadron, 445, 419, 433 and 414 All-Weather (Fighter) Squadrons. In 1992, 414 Squadron left the base, airfield structures were sold or demolished and CFB North Bay became the only air base with no aircraft or airfield.
In 1993, the installation was renamed 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base North Bay, commonly referred to as 22 Wing. In 2006, the new Sgt David L. Pitcher Building replaced the Underground Complex. It had state-of-the-art, 21st Century air defence computers and electronics.
In 2014, 22 Wing began space surveillance, connecting to Sapphire, Canada’s first military satellite. Sapphire is a contributing sensor to the United States Space Surveillance Network. Sapphire looks for “Resident Space Objects” orbiting between 6,000 and 40,000 kilometres altitude. In its first year of operation, 22 Wing saw 1.2 million space objects.
Read more about the history of 22 Wing North Bay.
Squadrons
- 21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron
- 51 Aerospace Control and Warning Operational Training Squadron
- Detachment 2, First Air Force (United States Air Force)
- 22 Wing Air Reserve Flight
Equipment
- No aircraft

“Guardians of peace”
Significance: Authorized in 1995, the central theme is identical to, and honours the original RCAF Air Defence Command badge. Adopted since 22 Wing responsible for air defence of Canada. The number 22 honours 22nd NORAD Region, air defence centre North Bay 1969 to 1983. Motto reflects 22 Wing mission.
Command team

Colonel Mark Lachapelle, CD

Chief Warrant Officer Debbie Martens, CD
Wing news

National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces – COVID-19
The latest information and resources for military and civilian members of the Defence Team related to the rapidly evolving 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the steps being taken to minimize the risk to our military and civilian members.
March 19, 2020

Join the RCAF - Dare to be extraordinary
Join the RCAF - Dare to be extraordinary
February 1, 2020

Captain Paige Campbell, RCAF Female Athlete of the Year, goes far taking part in CAF sports
Captain Paige Campbell, an Air Combat Systems Officer with 442 Squadron, at 19 Wing Comox, was nominated RCAF Female Athlete of the Year.
January 15, 2021

Master Corporal Gabriel Auclair, RCAF Male Athlete of the Year, shows that there is more to weightlifting than physical strength
Master Corporal Gabriel Auclair, a 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron Aviation Technician based at 12 Wing Shearwater, Nova Scotia, was nominated RCAF Male Athlete of the Year.
January 13, 2021

Master Warrant Officer Edward Hebb appointed as member of the Order of Military Merit
Governor General Julie Payette recently appointed Master Warrant Officer Edward Hebb as member of the Order of Military Merit for his dedicated service since his enrollment in 1998.
January 11, 2021
Contact information
22 Wing North Bay
General Delivery
Hornell Heights ON POH 1PO
Main Switchboard: 705-494-2011
Public Affairs Officer
Phone: 705-494-2011 extension 2822
Fax: 705-494-6261
Email: 22WgPublicAffairsOff@forces.gc.ca