The spy school, known as Camp X, was set up by the British on a 260-acre site straddling what is now the border of Whitby and Oshawa, Ont. near the shores of Lake Ontario, east of Toronto.

The British Intelligence Service set up the camp there because they wanted a site far from their enemies but close to the U.S. and accessible by water so that Americans could be trained in espionage.

The camp was built in 1941 on the former property of a farmer named Sinclair. The camp, officially known as Special Training School 103, housed trainees from throughout the world, including, according to some sources, Ian Fleming who later gained fame as the author of the James Bond books. However, David Stafford in his book Camp X, says there are enough inconsistencies surrounding this claim about Fleming that it is likely a myth. He also says it's unlikely that Stephenson had been given the code name Intrepid. However, it is true that Igor Gouzenko, the famous Russian who defected to Canada in 1945, was held at Camp X.

As many as 500 people were trained at the camp between 1941 and 1944, and it was heavily armed to keep away any curious townsfolk. Although the training ended before WW II was over, Camp X continued as a functioning military installation until the 1960s.

The site was sold to the municipalities in the early 1970s and all but one building, which was moved to an animal shelter, was torn down. The cities wanted the land for industrial use.

There is very little evidence these days that the camp existed. However, Intrepid Park in Whitby is a 15.05 acre site on the waterfront that has a small monument identifying the site as Camp X. Other signs with information about Camp X and two photos are also at the site. A Liquor Control Board of Ontario warehouse occupies much of the area to the north of the park on what was Camp X grounds.