Loch Sloy Business Park renamed Base31

The former Camp Picton/Loch Sloy property is to be known as Base31

Base31 is the new name for the site formerly known as Loch Sloy Business Park and Airport.

PEC Community Partners Inc, announced Friday that inspiration for the new name came from the nearly 700-acre site’s former function as the Royal Airforce’s No.31 Bombing and Gunnery School.

Plans to collaborate with 31 organizations, businesses and individuals are under way as the vision for Base31 unfolds to create a place for arts and culture while it honours existing leases with tenants and works to preserve as many buildings as possible, including installing metal roofs on many of the 50-plus structures.

Among the first capital projects undertaken are three event venues: The Drill Hall, The Sergeants Mess Hall and The Lecture Hall that are to host concerts, festivals and events beginning in July 2022.

“We are thrilled to introduce our new name to the community and celebrate the partnerships and collaborations we have formed since acquiring the site,” said Tim Jones, Base31 CEO. “We have spent the last five months connecting with local artists, makers, tenants, heritage enthusiasts, naturalists, community leaders and storytellers, to engage them in co-creating the future of Base31 with us.”

Among the collaborators are the Municipality of Prince Edward County, All Welcome Here, PEC Arts Council, History Lives Here, Deptment of Illumination, The County Foundation, Chamber of Commerce, Festival Players, Driftwood Theatre, PEC Library, Jacqui Burley and more.

Along with these collaborations, the team has been busy renovating buildings, transforming the landscape, commissioning public art and lining up summer programming – to include a PEC Community Craft Beer Festival, We’re Funny That Way Queer Comedy Festival and musical performances by The Walkmen, The Mercenaries and Sarah Harmer. To kick off the season Base31 will host a benefit concert for Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na language school in Tyendinaga on July 2.

Base31 opens to the public July 1, 2022.

The PEC Community Partners Inc. is a group of community builders including Tercot Communities, DECO Communities, PEC Placemaking, and Rockport Group.

The site was decommissioned as a military base in 1969 and sold to former Mayor of Picton, H. J. McFarland. He renamed it Loch-Sloy Business Park in honour of his Scottish heritage.

The site transferred ownership again in 1999 but the name was adapted to Loch-Sloy Business Park and Airport. Loch Sloy Holdings Inc. under the management of Jacqui Burley is credited with preserving many of the site’s heritage buildings and adapting them for flexible industrial and commercial spaces. She remains at Base31, offering tours.

Today the site is home to 75 tenants and is used for a wide range of business activities including commercial and industrial operations as well as a functioning space for makers, artists and galleries.

PEC Community Partners Inc. finalized the purchase of the property on Dec. 16, 2021.