Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum boosts Brandon tourism
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2014 “Heritage does not draw visitors to Brandon” to quote one mayoral candidate.

Excuse me sir, but you are absolutely wrong. I would invite you and anyone else to visit the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum and inspect our guest book. Our museum attracted 11,662 visitors last year from coast to coast in Canada, but also from the U.S. and worldwide. Many visit our site and then find hotel accommodations in Brandon and return the next day.

Now that the Brandon Municipal Airport has secured WestJet and terminal improvements, the addition of our one-of-a-kind memorial, not only for Canada but the world, Brandon has even more reasons for heritage tourism. Those flying on WestJet are greeted to our community with 300 feet of black granite etched with 19,256 names, an eight-foot bronze airman, 12,000 square feet of paving stone, including a 60-foot RCAF wing in full colour, all highly visible from the air as WestJet approaches Brandon. Keep in mind, if it was not for the names on the memorial wall and others like those, there would be no mayoral race but a German dictatorship.

We appreciate what the City of Brandon has done for our museum over the years. We certainly understand that due to the recent flooding, the city has not had the funds available for items like paving. I imagine that the mayor and council were no more proud than I was to have an estimated 2,000 guests driving over a poor gravel road to attend the unveiling of our RCAF Second World War Memorial.

However, with the possibilities of specific heritage funding, such as the hotel tax and perhaps a heritage reserve in the future — both would be most desirable additions to limited heritage funding — the air museum will continue to attract visitors from around the world for years to come.

ARCHIE LONDRY
Memorial chair and CATPM director

Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition September 17, 2014

 

Larry Maguire Announces Federal Funding for
the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum ~ August 28, 2014

Brandon, MB – Larry Maguire, Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris announced on behalf of the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage that the Government of Canada will provide $111,994 in funding to the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum. Funding is provided through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

The funding will be used for the Museum’s restoration project that includes the renovation of an original British Commonwealth Air Training Plan hangar constructed in 1940 and the Motor Transport Building. The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum is Canada’s only air museum solely dedicated to the preservation of those who trained and fought for the British Commonwealth during the Second World War.

Larry Maguire said, “The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum provides visitors with an opportunity to honour Canada’s airmen and airwomen who died in training and operations during the Second World War. Today’s investment will allow them to continue to tell this important story.”

Restorations to the CATPM’s Main Hangar Building will include:

    Excavating and replacing east and west foundations including floors;
    Repairing or replacing the windows, roof and shingles; and,
    Finishing of woodwork and interior and exterior painting.

Additionally, renovations will be made to the Motor Transport Building that will include the installation of a metal roof.

“On behalf of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum I would like to thank Larry Maguire and the Government of Canada for their support in helping us preserve an important piece of Canadian history. It allows us to tell the story of why the war was fought, how it was won and at what cost so that the next generation can appreciate the meaning of freedom,” said Stephen Hayter, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum.

The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage said, “The First and Second World Wars were defining moments in Canada’s history, and we must remember those who sacrificed their lives for our country. Our Government is proud to support the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum’s restoration project, which will improve its facilities and allow them to better preserve and exhibit its valuable Second World War artifacts.”