A British Army Challenger tank training at CFB Suffield. (CHAT News file photo)

By Alex McCuaig

Holding pattern

British Army suspending training at CFB Suffield for 2021

Nov 13, 2020 | 4:18 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The suspension of British Army training at CFB Suffield will last another year, according to the base commander.

Preparations for this year’s training in the spring were halted early in the year as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe and restricting travel.

The spread of the virus is still an issue with Lt.-Col. Troy Leifso telling those at the Medicine Hat and District Leadership Luncheon on Thursday that next year’s training schedule has been cancelled.

“Because of the unknowns of COVID-19, moving forward, they have declared they will not be training at CFB Suffield next year in the summer of 2021,” said Leifso of the British Army’s decision. “They are going to be conducting their training in the UK simply because they can not afford to lose another training year.”

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The British Army battle groups which rotate thousands of soldiers into the city over the summer months have long been a boost to the local economy.

But there is some good news coming out of Suffield, specifically concerning the Defence Research and Development Canada facility located on the base, Leifso told the luncheon.

“The research centre has been doing tremendous work strategically on behalf of all of Canada. They’ve been asked by Health Canada to confirm a number of tests that other companies say are supposed to work such as testing on the wearing of masks,” said Leifso.

Leifso added that the elk reduction program which allows hunters access to the base is going ahead with the first five-week session starting on Monday.