HOW I GOT INT0 CIA FILES

Suffield Base, 1971. Inspired by Ian Tyson's TV ads against British tank training here, I had agreed to represent the NDP at a protest rally. I took a bus from Calgary and hitched a ride from the highway to the base with a CFCN news crew. Bruce, the reporter, offered me a ride back to Calgary after the rally. We drove past a security fence with a row of armed soldiers standing inside. There were half as many protestors at the gate where a smiling officer waved us to a separate area and invited us for tea with the base commanding officer after the "ruffians" left. Bruce told him that he was invited to go with the military to Cyprus in the fall. The officer quickly rescinded my invite upon learning I was representing not the media but the NDP and had me escorted back to the protestor area. I found myself in a strange mix of protestors from burly IRA men shouting "F the British" to Anti Vietnam Coalition members wearing gas masks to a silent group of ranchers, upset about tanks starting grass fires. Having been raised on a farm and I identified with the ranchers. Smilie said only one spokesperson per group would be allowed to enter the base to address the CO. I became spokesperson for the ranchers as well as the NDP and was marched through the gate along with 4 other protestors. The armed soldiers on top of each building reminded me of Kent State but, I told myself, this was Canada. The CO sat at a table as we took turns petitioning him. We were constantly interrupted by 2 guys in white coveralls filming us and asking who we were representing. As the IRA guy ranted about British tanks and the Anti Vietnam coalition woman claimed nerve gas was made here, I thought I recognized one of the film crew. When it was over we were marched out past a tea trolley loaded with sandwiches for the media. Outside the base my fellow protestors disbursed while I waited for my ride back to Calgary. I began jotting notes about my experience as 3 bus loads of Mounties emerged through the gate and drove off towards the highway. Suddenly the gate house corporal came out accusing me of writing down licence numbers and he grabbed my notebook. On the way to Calgary I related all this to Bruce, who was stunned how it contrasted to what the CO had told the media. He stopped at a pay phone to call a new story to CFCN and the Calgary Herald. That evening both carried a story of massive enforcement for a small protest at Suffield. A week later Bruce called to say his invite to Cyprus had been recinded. Since then there have been break-ins at the office of the MP for Suffield suggesting there probably was nerve gas production. The Brits, including Prince Harry, are now training for a new war and the CIA admit they spied on left wingers in Canada. I found out the cameraman I recognized was one of my High River schoolmates. If I am in the CIA files, I hope Ian Tyson is there with me.