CAHF Induction Dinner 2011
On May 26th one of the CAHS's founding members and long-time Journal editor, Bill Wheeler (centre), was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. For more photos and details from that night, please read on.
Text by John Chalmers, CAHF Historian, and photography by Rick Radell. Photos courtesy Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame.
Four individuals and one organization, a special purpose airline, were honoured by the CAHF at the 38th annual induction gala dinner and ceremonies held on May 26. The venue for the grand event attended by 380 people was the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. The museum's Lancaster provided a great backdrop for the podium and introduction of new Members to the Hall of Fame.
CBC broadcaster, Jacquie Perrin, a licensed pilot trained in aerobatics, served as M.C. for the evening.
Shown left to right with year of induction to the CAHF are:
Larry Milberry (2004), Fred Hotson (1998), Marji Johns representing Richard Ryan (2011), Wess McIntosh representing Hollinger Ungava Transport (Belt of Orion 2011), Bill Wheeler (2011), Don Hamilton (2011), Rosella Bjornson (1997), Byron Cavadias (1996), Barry Marsden (2009), Dick Richmond (1995)William (Bill) Carr (2001), Walter Chmela (2006), George Neal (1995). Missing is John Crichton, who had to catch a flight before the the photo was taken.
Marji Johns -- Marji Johns, left, of Brentwood Bay BC, accepted membership in the CAHF for her late grandfather, Richard Ryan. She is shown here with Bill Elliot, mayor of Wetaskiwin AB, receiving a commemorative plaque from the Alberta city. Mayor Elliot also presented Marji with a proclamation from city council declaring Richard Ryan to be an honourary citizen of Wetaskiwin, home of the Hall of Fame, located there in the Reynolds-Alberta Museum.
Don Hamilton of Edmonton AB, CEO of Air Spray (1967) Ltd. still flies his Cessna 340, and recently completed an IFR refresher course. In April 2011, he and his daughter Lynn president of the company, were in Panama, Honduras and Colombia to purchase additional Lockheed L-188 Electra aircraft for their aerial fire suppression fleet based at the Red Deer Regional Airport.
Bill Wheeler of Markham ON, centre, who served as editor of the CAHS Journal for 45 years, is shown giving his acceptance remarks upon being inducted as a Member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. Bill's work contributed to the CAHS being honoured by the Hall of Fame with a Belt of Orion Award for Excellence in 2001.
Ottawa native and resident John Crichton, president and CEO of NAV CANADA, is shown giving his acceptance remarks upon being inducted as a Member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame.
John Timmins of Toronto, ON, centre, was one of the first four pilots hired by Hollinger Ungava Transport, a special purpose airline that operated from 1948-54 to support construction of the Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railroad. He is shown receiving a Belt of Orion Award for Excellence from Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame from board chairman John Holding, left, and Gerald Haddon, right.
Wess McIntosh -- Wess McIntosh of Oakville, ON, now 97, served with the RCAF during the Second World War and was hired as chief pilot for Hollinger Ungava Transport. He was one of three former pilots present, who flew with the special purpose airline.
