Do you remember the chilling days when air-raid sirens were tested regularly and we were constantly reminded what to do in case the USSR launched an atomic attack? When ICBMs sat ready for a counter-attack, governments built underground complexes for officials, the rest of us were encouraged to build back yard fallout shelters, and paranoia reigned supreme? Did you know that one of the largest official shelters ever built still exists, and that you can visit it? I'm referring to the "Diefenbunker", reportedly the
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Prime Minister Diefenbaker John Diefenbaker was Prime Minister when the Bunker was built, thus...
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under construction The Bunker contains many photos of the site under construction.
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2 1/4 inch steel reinforcing bars This photo shows the thickness of the 5,000 tons ofsteel bars used to...
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a Cold War siren This is one of the many Cold War era artifacts displayed at the...
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'radiation sniffer' This was one of the 'sniffers' deployed outside the Bunker to detect...
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entering the blast tunnel This long steel tunnel, heavily sheathed in reinforced concrete, would...
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a typical hallway Hallways and supporting pillars were painted in pastels and lively colours to...
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Prime Minister's office This tiny room, in total about twice the size of the area shown in the photo,...
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the PM's bed and bath This spartan bedroom and its adjoining bath were for the Prime...
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Cabinet Ministers' offices Each of these tiny offices would be for a Cabinet Minister.
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staff room This tiny cubbbyhole would have had to suffice for a Cabinet Minister's...
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War Cabinet room This is where the Prime Minister would have met with his War Cabinet....
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communications equipment 1 This equipment was typical of the early Cold War era.
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communications equipment 2 Here is more communications equipment as used during the early years...
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the repair shop This is where communications equipment would be repaired and...
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computer bank Back in the days of vacuum tubes, before transistors and...
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MP cots These were emergency cots for military police use.
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the O.R. Refurnishing of the Operating Room is far from complete. The original one was...
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recovery room The recovery room, with a typical Army Nurse's uniform.
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CBC emergency studio. This is where the CBC would have broadcast the news of atomic attack...
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Say 'aaaaah' the dentist's office.
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escape hatch door This was one of four entrances to escape chutes to be used by the helicopter...
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corner of the cafeteria The cafeteria was a warm and cozy place.
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Bank of Canada vault Behind this ten-ton steel door with an airlock was the Bank of Canada vault,...
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vault door This is a side view of the steel door and airlock.
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