Heal's Rifle Range
Heal's Rifle Range
Heal’s Rifle Range was once a seasonal lake and marsh. Local First Nations knew this beautiful valley as a good place to find tule reeds for woven mats and capes.
In 1860 Fred and Charlie Heal, sons of John Heal, bought portions of this valley, later known as Sections 126, 82 and 83, from the Hudson’s Bay Company. They both farmed and leased the land. The Sisters of St. Ann later bought some of the Heal property and grew vegetables there for St. Joseph’s Hospital.
In 1915 a proposal suggested that the land be developed as a military range for the army, partly as a solution to serious unemployment in the region. The region’s mayors and reeves wrote to their Member of Parliament with urgent requests to create jobs for locals. The range began operation in 1916.
The reality of war was always present at Heal’s: many soldiers trained in weaponry there, and far too many did not return. On Sept 10, 1915, the Daily Colonist noted that “Mr. Samuel Cameron, foreman of Heal’s Range, has received a “Missing in Action” report for his son Kenneth, member of 50th Gordon Highlanders, 16th Division, 1st Contingent”.
Heal’s Range has remained an active military range throughout the years:
- Militia and cadets used it after the war
- Soldiers used it for grenade training in WWII.
- In the 1960’s, local gun clubs used the range for weekend events and tournaments.
- The Commonwealth Games held events there in 1994.
- The Department of National Defence now owns the range and often uses it today.
Sources:
Saanich Archives files:
- Heal’s Rifle Range
- Heal, John