Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame turns 50, inducts 5 new members in northeast Calgary
Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame is celebrating its 50th anniversary and inducting five new members this week.
The Hall of Fame is located on the mezzanine of the Hangar Flight Museum in northeast Calgary, and as well has displays sprinkled throughout the museum on the floor level as well.
Names like Max Ward- the bush pilot who founded what became Wardair, at the time Canada’s largest charter airline grace the walls
Other exhibits celebrate those behind the scenes in Canada’s aviation history, like Elsie MacGill. MacGill was the lead engineer in designing and building the Hawker Hurricane aircraft.
MacGill was recently honoured by the Canadian Mint, and her image now graces the Canada’s one-dollar coin.
Elsie MacGill is one of five Canadians being inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame Thursday night.
Hall of Fame historian Jonathan Scotland said aviation likely did more to open up Canada for development than even the railroad.
"It is the story of in many ways, the development of modern Canada. So if you're interested in in Canada and Canadian history, you cannot separate aviation from that. And it's a way of sort of viewing that history through a different lens," said Scotland.
"The Wright Brothers flew before Alberta, (and) Saskatchewan were provinces," he added, "So, really the development of sort of modern Canada in many, aligns exactly with the development of aviation."
The five new inductees include:
Harvey Friesen, who was instrumental in opening up northern Ontario to aircraft, building gravel airstrips in small communities and operating his company Bearskin Lake Air Service throughout the area, servicing remote indigenous communities
Ken Lett, an RCAF fighter pilot during the Second World War. . On D-Day Lett flew top cover for the allied troops at Normandy. In 1976 he became Chief of Staff at NORAD Headquarters in Colorado.
Ken Lett, a veteran of the Second World War, has donated $2.4M to Mount Royal University's aviation program. (supplied)
Dr. Gary Gray, a leading expert in aviation and aerospace medicine. Gray was asked to direct and lead the medical screen of Canada’s astronauts. Gray also taught all Canadian Forces flight surgeons for over 4 decades.
Keith Hopkinson is considered the ‘father’ of homebuilt aircraft in Canada. Known in aviation circles as ‘Hoppy’ he fought successfully to have Canada’s Department of Transport recognize and allow homebuilt aircraft. He went on to hold permit number 001 for a homebuilt aircraft in Canada.
No. 1 Air Division was instrumental in maintaining Canada’s commitment to NATO in Europe from 1953 until 1993 by flying missions ranging from interceptions to nuclear interdiction.
John McKenna, director of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame says while they are not well known, he’d like to see them become household names
"These are not people that are known internationally, but domestically, locally, they're heroes,"said McKenna."When I read the resumes of these people I say, ‘My god! You know, I've been wasting my life."
The five new inductees who will be awarded the ‘Belt of Orion’ and have their names added to the list of over 240 other Canadian aviation pioneers, at a Thursday night gala headlined by 2005 Hall of Fame inductee, astronaut Chris Hadfield.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Court eases internet restrictions for Sask. man who had sex with a 15-year-old girl he met on Tinder
A Saskatchewan man who had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl he met on Tinder successfully appealed to shorten release conditions barring him from online dating.
Stittsville residents seeking answers as bylaw cracks down on street basketball nets
Stittsville residents on Kearnsley Way are seeking answers after an unusual bylaw crackdown on Friday. Every home with a basketball net received a ticket instructing homeowners to remove their nets from the road.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi still missing after helicopter accident in mountains
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday, sparking a massive rescue operation in a fog-shrouded forest as the public was urged to pray.
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
Ex-partner charged with first-degree murder after 55-year-old woman killed in Montreal
Less than 24 hours after Montreal's 12th homicide investigation began, Montreal police confirmed that a 55-year-old woman's death in St. Michel is the island's 13th homicide. The woman's ex-spouse has been charged with first-degree murder.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
Toxic drugs circulating in northeastern Ont., police say
Canada’s largest First Nations police service, the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service issued a community safety alert as extremely toxic drugs are likely circulating in many of the communities it serves.