Calgary: The Military Museums

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New museum in Calgary tells story of Canada’s Air Force

July 2, 2009

The front hall of the Air Force Museum of Alberta in Calgary. The story of Canada's Air Force is illustrated from the beginning to today. Credit: Aaron Payton.

By Violette Stepaniuk

Seven years in the making, the Air Force Museum of Alberta in Calgary hopes to attract visitors through its innovative way of telling the history of Canada's Air Force.

"It's a museum designed to tell the history of the Royal Canadian and Canadian Air Force," says Mr. Gerry Morrison, chairman of the Air Force Museum Society of Alberta.

"It's done with a lot of very exciting graphics and audio-visual techniques - a film here or a touch screen here. It's interactive; it's not just looking at mannequins and a piece of metal or a gun. We've done it to make it exciting for the young people especially, but to tell the story."

The Air Force Museum is part of the newly expanded and renovated Military Museums, a 9,940-square-metre complex that also includes the Army Museum of Alberta, the Naval Museum of Alberta, four regimental museums (The Calgary Highlanders, The King's Own Calgary, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)), W.A. Howard Library and J.A. Child Archives, the Discovery Centre (a computerized maze for students), and the Founders' Gallery.

The Air Force Museum has two theatres. The first one, housed in a model of a Second World War Nissen hut, shows a pre-mission bombing briefing. The other, the Hercules Theatre, is a to-scale model CC-130 Hercules interior that presents Canada's modern Air Force.

"Nowhere else in Alberta is the story of [Canada's] Air Force told chronologically, from the beginning up to today. And we felt that was important," said Mr. Morrison. "People should understand the contribution that the air force has made to Canada's and Alberta's history in the past 100 years. We start with the Silver Dart and the story of two airplanes going to Camp Borden, and we [go] right up to today."

The Air Force Museum had its own opening before the grand opening of The Military Museums complex.

"We opened on May 7 and that's when we honoured and thanked the donors," said Mr. Morrison, who added that more than $750,000 was raised for the project.

Her Royal Highness Sophie, Countess of Wessex, officially opened the expanded Military Museums and toured the new areas, including the Air Force gallery, on June 6.

"She was supposed to spend only nine minutes in the [Air Force] museum, but she spent 20," said Mr. Morrison. "She was interested in viewing the two feature videos we show in the Nissen Hut Theatre and the Hercules Theatre."

The Military Museums' $26.4 million expansion makes it one of the largest military museums in Canada.

For more information about the Air Force Museum and The Military Museums, visit www.themilitarymuseums.ca .

The Second World War graphic exhibits at the Air Force Museum of Alberta. Photo: Aaron Payton. The Hercules Theatre of the Air Force Museum of Alberta is a mock up of the interior of a C-130 Hercules aircraft. Credit: Aaron Payton.
The Nissen Hut Theatre of the Air Force Museum of Alberta. Credit: Aaron Payton.

BGen Michael Jorgensen, Commander of Land Force Western Area, escorts HRH Sophie, Countess of Wessex, during her visit to The Military Museums in Calgary, Alta., which she officially opened on June 6, 2009. Credit: Julie Vincent Photography.