About the Project

The Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum has developed A Fading Signal to preserve and present the history of North America’s Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line radar system in the Arctic. Our incentive? Time is not on our side. All along Canada’s Arctic coastline, the largely abandoned historic stations continue to deteriorate. The radomes and towers, the airstrips and building trains are all disappearing.

Living memories of the DEW Line are also fading. We acknowledge and honour the first-hand experiences of former DEW Line workers, Indigenous individuals and communities, and current North Warning System personnel. With their assistance, this site has become an inspiring testament to a nearly forgotten history.

Our site is designed to present an immersive and engaging experience for youth, both those in the Arctic and their counterparts in the south. Their insights and comments throughout the site’s development were invaluable.

During the Cold War, and corresponding to the era of the DEW Line, government interest and activity in the North altered every aspect of Inuit traditional life. Rarely was any consideration given to the long-term consequences. Now, more than ever, the world needs to learn from the North, from the DEW Line.

About the Diefenbunker

The Diefenbunker is Canada’s most significant surviving Cold War artifact — it is an impressive four-storey underground facility that operated as the country’s central communications headquarters during the Cold War, ready at any moment in case of a nuclear attack. Today, it is a one-of-a-kind museum and national historic site.

As Canada’s Cold War Museum, the Diefenbunker is preserving important Canadian Cold War stories and artifacts. As an independent charitable organization, we promote the importance of understanding our past, for present and future generations to strive to build a more peaceful future.

The Diefenbunker and its stories are increasingly relevant in today’s global climate. We offer an important platform to spark meaningful conversations, collaborations, and connections in response to our changing world.

The Diefenbunker is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.