Keeping it Fresh

A well-stocked pantry is essential in any survival situation – but keeping an underground shelter continuously stocked with enough food to sustain 500 people is no simple task. “I don’t know how many tons of food we have had to throw out over the years.”

Bruce told the National Post in one interview. In the three decades the shelter had been on standby, even food items with long shelf lives, like canned beans and other preserved ingredients, would have had to be replaced several times over.

Special Features

Planning a shelter in which 500 people are meant to be able to take refuge for a prolonged period of time means more than just being able to feed them and provide them with a safe place to sleep. Half a thousand people with no place to go are bound to come with a wide array of needs that will have to be answered.

In addition to living quarters, Bruce has also built classrooms, a radio communications center, a library, day rooms, an infirmary – and even a mortuary and a dentist’s office! It seems Bruce has taken everything into account—and that the people seeking refuge in Ark Two will be more than comfortable in his facility. Still, Ark Two isn’t exactly a five-star hotel, as you’ll soon see.

Breaking Up Families

Ark Two was designed and built as a shelter meant to allow people to survive the harshest catastrophes imaginable. That means that space inside the shelter is at a premium, and things like keeping families together take second priority to comfortably housing as many people as possible.

For this reason, sleeping quarters at the shelter will be split into Men’s and Women’s—which means that families won’t be able to share a living space. But the way Bruce explains it, it’s for a good cause.

Thinking of the Children

Bruce’s unwavering dedication to the well-being of the children in this underground haven is truly remarkable. Recognizing the challenges they might face, he has meticulously designed a safe and nurturing environment. In addition to separate quarters for parents, there are classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art educational resources and a nursery to cater to the diverse needs of children of all ages.

In line with his vision of holistic development, the chamber is well-stocked with multiple chess sets, which Bruce views as important tools for cultivating strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, a richly appointed library awaits, offering a wide range of age-appropriate books and educational materials to stimulate the young minds.

Staying in Touch

While Bruce has built the shelter with a long period of isolation in mind, he also hasn’t neglected the ability to contact other survivors after disaster strikes. Ark Two is equipped with an advanced radio broadcast system, which can send and receive messages on both AM and FM frequencies.

The robust communication rig at Ark Two serves as a lifeline, bridging the survivors with both Canada and the United States. In this isolated sanctuary, it stands as their primary conduit to the outside world, vital for information and connection.

Preppers—an Introduction

So what are “Preppers?” Preppers believe that some sort of catastrophic incident in the future is not only likely but imminent—and who’ve decided to take action to ensure they will be able to survive it without needing to rely on outside sources.

They spend much of their time and money on preparation, training, and equipment for whatever event may occur, and try to be as ready as they can at all times. But while Bruce may seem like the very definition of a Prepper—and was even featured on an episode of National Geographic’s documentary series, Doomsday Preppers, he isn’t comfortable with being categorized as a member of that community…