Here, during the Second World War, more than 500 Canadian and American civilians were trained as intelligence specialists by the British Special Operations Executive. Serving on dangerous missions abroad, these secret agents were not legally protected if caught nor were they openly recognized for their courage and sacrifice. The first school of its kind in North America, Camp X was also an advanced top-secret communications relay station until it closed in 1969. The camp's activities helped build intelligence ties between Canada, Great Britain, and the United States, and have inspired spy-fiction writers.