Artillery shell that forced CBC Toronto HQ evacuation was inert round

Work resumed late Friday afternoon inside the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto after the building was evacuated following the discovery of an artillery shell that turned out to be a non-explosive prop.

Emergency officials at the scene told CBC News that the artifact was found in the shipping and receiving department located in the basement.

"We responded here for the report of what looked like a piece of ammunition that was uncovered in the archive building of CBC," said Toronto fire platoon chief Trevor Trotter.

After a full inspection, officials determined the object found was "a prop," Trotter said.

TV, Radio stay on air

"Basically [it] was nothing, but we took every protocol and precautions just to make the building safe," he said.

The CBC building was evacuated for just over an hour. CBC News Network and CBC-TV continued to broadcast during the evacuation. CBC Radio experienced a brief interruption before resuming service.

The shell, described as "an inert military round" had been in the building for "at least a month."

It was part of a military archive collection that came to CBC and was found in a box of goods donated to CBC Archives by a former employee.

"It appeared to be a munitions type case with rubber inside of it — certainly not dangerous," said Toronto police Sgt. Bradley Donais.

"Our experienced bomb technicians approached it, examined it and determined it was safe."

During the evacuation, police closed John Street between Wellington and Front streets. Part of Front Street West was also closed.