Unexploded WWII Bombs in Ottawa Bog
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(Ottawa Citizen) Newly declassified documents reveal that unexploded bombs from World War II remain buried in Mer Bleue bog, a former Royal Canadian Air Force bombing range. These bombs, ranging from 500 to 1,000 pounds, pose a low risk to the public as long as they remain undisturbed, according to military experts. Despite some attempts to clear the bombs in the past, the bog’s difficult terrain made cleanup impractical.
The Mer Bleue conservation area, now managed by the National Capital Commission (NCC), remains a popular destination with interpretive boardwalks and trails. The NCC has periodically assessed the risk posed by the unexploded ordnance (UXOs), concluding that the areas used by the public are safe, though future work near the bombs will require caution. The rapid urban expansion near the site has raised concerns, but no accidents or deaths have been reported at Mer Bleue due to the bombs.
