[8] The name is derived from a combination of the name of local real estate developer John Van Gastel and of the RCAF motto, Latin: Per Ardua Ad Astra, lit.

[10] The high bluffs overlooking Lake Huron, ten miles away, was thought to be the perfect place to simulate the coastal conditions in Britain.

The school was ready so quickly that the first group of RCAF trainees had not yet completed their University of Toronto course, and so the first students were American Forces personnel.

There were 217 housing units, a fire station, a school, a hospital, a theatre, two churches, and facilities for ice skating, curling, swimming and bowling.

When it first opened, the base was known as Royal Air Force (RAF #31 Clinton) Range and Direction Finding (RDF was the British cover name for radar).

In June 1944 the BCATP began to scale back and No 5 Radio School was transferred to the RCAF's Home War Operations Training command.

With military forces’ integration in 1966, the base experienced remarkable growth and development over the next 24 years including married quarters and barracks supporting recreational facilities, clubs and sports teams.

Following the closure of the base, the buildings were sold to real estate developer John Van Gastel and now make up the small village.

[13] In 1959 a local resident, Steven Truscott (aged 14 years at the time) was falsely convicted for the murder of Lynne Harper and sentenced to be executed.