The Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt (CFB Esquimalt) Canada’s Pacific Coast naval base and home port to Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters. It employs over 6000 military and civilian personnel; approximately 10% of its military population is Francophone. It is valued as a place of employment for many Francophones.
Inside the base stands Building 20. Now the CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum, this building was once home to l’école Victor-Brodeur, which was established in 1973 as a Francophone school for children of military families. The school’s name honours Admiral Victor-Gabriel Brodeur, who was the first French-speaking admiral of the Canadian Navy.
On 29th June 2006, a plaque was dedicated in the Museum Square at CFB Esquimalt to recognize the significance of four naval station sites as an historic district of national significance, including the naval Dockyard, the Naval & Military Museum, The Veterans Cemetery known as God’s Acre and former munitions depot Cole Island.