The heavily fortified Bank of Canada Vault was constructed separately from the rest of the Bunker. As you walk along the corridor, you are leaving the main Bunker building, though you are still 23 meters, or 75 feet underground. Because of its cooler temperature, Bunker personnel once used this corridor as an exercise area.

During a nuclear war, the Bank of Canada Vault would have safeguarded the federal gold reserve. Until relatively recently, Canada, like most countries around the world, backed up its paper currency with reserves of real gold. The Vault was designed to hold about 72 tonnes of the precious metal.

Before entering the Vault, have a close look at the doors, but please do not touch them, as your hands might damage the protective grease coating. The smaller door had to be opened first in order to equalize the pressure inside. If the small door wasn’t opened first, the pressure would have kept the large door completely sealed, even if unlocked.

The larger door weighs anywhere from 10-30 tonnes. Opening the massive locking system required four people, each with a unique combination known only to them.

A narrow space forms a square around the outside of the central vault. This was an extra security measure. At each corner is a mirror, which allowed a sentry to see completely around the central structure from one spot.

Although Canada’s gold was never kept here, preparations for its arrival were triggered by the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.