Mortar Found in Park Detonated

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Pete McIntyre June 05, 2018 05:00 pm

Pictured: File photo of mortar
found near Predator Ridge
several years ago

A recent discovery in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park is another reminder of one of the former uses of the popular recreation area. A mortar was discovered in an unspecified part of the park last month. Lieutenant Mike St-Pierre, an explosive ordnance explosives technician from the Department of National Defence, says the site was used for military training during the second world war. “Even to this day, we are facing the legacy of that era, and on occasion, these things will come up in various places in Canada, and in the local community here,” St-Pierre tells Beach Radio News. St-Pierre says the mortar was collected from the park by a specialized technician, taken to a safe disposal area, and detonated. “So all of the explosive hazard is gone, and the situation has been returned to normal.” St-Pierre has this advice should you see something unusual in the park, or another area. “If you do suspect it’s an ordnance, don’t touch it, don’t engage with it, and notify local authorities who will provide a better assessment of the situation,” says St-Pierre.