Garrison St. John's is on the north shore of Quidi Vidi Lake on part of the former site of Pepperrell Air Force Base, as well as a small adjunct area on St. John's Harbour.

The garrison supports all military activities in Newfoundland as well as local reserve units; CFS St. John's has 15 lodger units and supports 450 full-time military and civilian personnel.

In its primary role, Garrison St. John's supports naval vessels of Maritime Forces Atlantic which patrol waters off Newfoundland and Labrador.

It also provided direct support to HMCS Avalon, a sea cadet facility, as well as the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, 37 Combat Engineer Regiment, 37 Service Battalion, Air Reserve Flight Torbay and the Naval Reserve Division HMCS Cabot.

[1] The building is named for William Anthony Paddon, a former lieutenant governor of Newfoundland.