Vanastra, Ontario
| Village of Vanastra | ||
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Modern Day Vanastra
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 Village of Vanastra
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| Coordinates: 43°34′53.44″N 81°31′14.22″W / 43.5815111°N 81.5206167°WCoordinates: 43°34′53.44″N 81°31′14.22″W / 43.5815111°N 81.5206167°W | ||
| Country |
 Canada
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| Province |
 Ontario
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| County | Huron | |
| Base Established | 1941 | |
| Village Created | 2013 | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Bernie MacLellan | |
| • Federal riding | Huron—Bruce | |
| • Prov. riding | Huron—Bruce | |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | |
| Postal Code | N0M | |
| Area code(s) | 519 and 226 | |
| Website | www.huroneast.com | |
Vanastra, Ontario, Canada, is located in the municipality of Huron East in Huron County, three kilometres south of the community of Clinton. It is located on the former property of a top secret Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) station used to train and supply over 7,000 radar technicians and support staff for American, British and Canadian forces during World War II.
The base was renamed Canadian Forces Base Clinton in 1966 and experienced remarkable growth and development as a peacetime training facility for wireless telegraphy. Expansion of the base included recreational facilities, clubs and local sports teams. Following the closure of the base in 1971 the 250 acre property valued at 40 million dollars, was purchased by a developer for $468,000. It was sold piece by piece to private home owners and businesses over the next several years. The recreation centre, parkland and the curling club were deeded to the Township of Central Huron.
As a result of amalgamation in 2001, Vanastra became one of many communities to make up the Municipality of Huron East. In 2013 the municipality and the residents launched the Vanastra Revival Plan to honour the historical international contribution made by CFB Clinton in the past, and includes plans to renew this once vibrant community for the future.
The name is derived from a combination of the name of local real estate developer John Van Gastel and of the RCAF motto, Per Ardua Ad Astra ("through adversity to the stars"). Van Gastel had purchased four decommissioned Canadian Forces bases, including CFB Clinton, CFS Armstrong, CFS Foymount and CFS Ramore. He held a contest to rename the CFB Clinton and find a new name for the town. Mrs. Margaret Rudd, a resident of Clinton, submitted the winning name Vanastra and received a free home.
The initial air base was established by the Royal Air Force (RAF) with the purchase of Norman Tyndall’s 100- acre farm located at Lot 46 Concession 1 in Tuckersmith Township, in the spring of 1941 under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
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Wikipedia