The Westerner for December 13, 2010

Posted by David J. Turner 
 

Meeting:   Chair, Mike Ryan; Music, Jerome Martin; Grace, Ben Doz

Attendance/Guests:   36 including Al Budlong, Rotary Club of St. Albert, Julie Self, Shayne LaFond, and John Chalmers

Announcements:

  • Julie Self was introduced as our candidate for the GSE Team which will go to Australia.
  • A thank-you letter was received from the Prince Rupert Community League for our funding assistance for the hockey rink goals.
  • Krista Gleglof sent thanks for our Grandview Christmas Party - see separate article.
  • Ben Doz thanked those who came out to help with the Salvation Army kettle at Capilano Mall last Saturday.
  • Jerome reported that now that Grandview has a new piano, we will be able to put together a concert series that could include the likes of Senator Tommy Banks.
  • 50/50 Draw - Al Budlong & Rudy Mangold did not match cards
  • Finemaster - Sherry collected from the tables by means of green cards which represented Christmas songs.

PROGRAM - A CENTURY OF FLIGHT IN EDMONTON

Past President Bill Buckham introduced guest speaker John Chalmers.  John has published 3 books and has extensive military experience.

John talked about the following topics:

  • The Alberta Aviation Museum which is located in the hangar on Kingsway.  This hangar was built in the 1940's and is the last double-wide, double-long hangar in Canada.  A century of aviation history is on display at this museum, including over 40 aircraft representing Western Canada's military, commercial and northern bush flying legacy.  John talked about particular aircraft (Buffalo, Tiger Moth), and famous aviators (Katherine Stinson, Wop May, Punch Dickens)
  • What we now know as City Centre Airport used to be Blatchford Field.  In 1940, Blatchford Field was the busiest airport in the world with over 800 daily movements.  Pilots and Navigators were trained at this airport and many women worked at the airport building or servicing aircraft.
  • Our own Don Hamilton will be inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 2011.  The Aviation Hall of Fame used to be located in Edmonton, but in 1992 it moved to it's present location in Wetaskiwin - The Aviation Hangar at Reynolds-Alberta Museum.

John was thanked for his presentation by Past President Don Hamilton