CFB Suffield Geography

The terrain is short grass prairie, consisting mainly of rolling, almost treeless grasslands, occasionally cut by the rugged coulees and steep cliffs of prairie waterways. Stagnant sloughs and shallow lakes are scattered throughout the area.

Seemingly empty at first glance, the short grass prairie abounds with wildlife. The CFB Suffield range contains large numbers of pronghorn “antelope”, deer, coyotes, foxes and many smaller mammals. It is home for the prairie rattlesnake and other unusual reptiles, and for more than 105 varieties of bird life. The Flora of the range is equally varied and includes the sagebrush and cactus traditionally associated with any “proper” western landscape.

For a proper appreciation of the history and ecology of CFB Suffield, it is recommended that the CFB Suffield free publication “Kangaroo Rats and Rattlesnakes” be read.

The area is “cattle country” with large ranches, some dry land farming, and extensive oil and gas field activity.

 

The population may be described as semi-rural in that much of the area's business is tied to “the land”, and population centres are widely scattered and relatively small.

The major local centre is Medicine Hat, a market and light industrial city with a population of approximately 42,929. Other local centres such as Brooks, Redcliff and Bow Island have populations of less than 10,000.

The local people, in general, retain many of the characteristics of their pioneer forefathers such as a casual friendly manner, coupled with a respect for “the land, and for individual independence, honesty and industry. They have been superb neighbours of the military for more than 40 years.