CHRISTMAS PARTY
Tuesday, December 6, 2005



Despite snow, snow, and more snow, approximately 33 members arrived at the Bayview Cookhouse - as usual for our COPA dinner there was a snowstorm beginning to stir!! (in total we got about 12 inches of snow that eve!!)
Airport Manager Doug Sykes and his wife Marion presented each and every person in attendance a high intensity key chain light in appreciation for the volunteer efforts of our Flight over the past year. Much appreciated, thank you Doug and Marion!

It was my honor, on behalf of Captain Hank, who had to turn around and head home due to severe road/weather condtions, to present Ken Scott with an honorary lifetime membership to our group in recognition of his 10 years of loyal and dedicated volunteer service to our airport. Congratulations, and Thank You Ken.

CHRISTMAS PARADE
Saturday, December 3, 2005

Saturday evening 7 of our members met at the Airport and escorted our mascot Wiarton Willie, riding proudly in his aircraft on top of his brand new carriage, completely built by COPA Flight #68 members, to the Wiarton Annual Santa Claus parade. Willie had already participated in the Owen Sound Santa Claus Parade on November 19, and was well received by the audience. Monty Bennett, Wes Beacock, Glenn Goodyear, Joan Bulmer, Lorne Schroeder, Bob White and myself participated in the Wiarton parade, which had good attendance from the very young to the very young at heart, all in good spirits! Willie arrived safely back at the Airport, and eagerly awaits his next outing.

HANGAR CONSTRUCTION
November 2005



On November 4 I flew into Wiarton (CYVV) from Collingwood (NY3) around 1430 hrs with about a 25 knot headwind blowing right down runway 23, and noticed that the construction crew were lifting trusses into place on Oscar Burnside's new hangar. As this is happenings at our airport, I wanted to get some pictures of the action for our November newsletter. By the time I got my plane put away and went over to the new hangar site, the crew had stopped lifting the trusses because of the high winds, but planned on finishing the job early Saturday morning. I returned in the morning and snapped the photos.



Sunday morning I composed my piece with glowing remarks about the new hangar construction, sent it off to Jenn, then received a call from a/p manager Doug Sykes yelling hold the presses! There is only one hangar standing - Sunday winds clocked in excess of 50 knots blew one down. I called Jenn, told her to pull the article, and went to the airport the next day to see the damages.







Some material was saved, and we understand construction will begin again next spring.

The second hangar, belonging to Oscar's brother George Burnside, survived the big blow with some help from the airport tractor and a cable attached to the west side of the building.

PAUL MARTIN LANDS AT CYVV
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
by Paul Kastner

Though Prime Minister Paul Martin’s flying overnight visit was to Owen Sound, his aviation crew made Wiarton-Keppel District Airport the arrival and departure point for the official Challenger carrying the PM and a small entourage.
The regional-sized airport is equipped with pilot-activated night runway lighting, and it was a dark October 11 night about 10 p.m. when the Challenger landed. The prime minister and party were whisked off in a motorcade of five security limousines for a stay that night in Owen Sound.
Before returning to Wiarton the early afternoon next day, the prime minister among other scheduled events attended a breakfast meeting held by Verona Jackson, Liberal Party election candidate for the riding of Owen Sound-Grey-Bruce. The present incumbent is Conservative MP Larry Miller, a former chair of the then airport commission.
At the airport tarmac upon the motorcade return, on hand to welcome and signal their appreciation of the PM’s use of their municipal airport was a small delegation from the Town of South Bruce Peninsula, which included Mayor Carl Noble, Councilor Yvonne Harron, Donna Elliott, town economic development officer, Doug Sykes, airport manager, Paul Kastner, member, COPA Flight #68, and mascot Wiarton Willie, the famed groundhog spring weather forecaster weather. Gifts were presented of town logo-ed coffee cups and pins which a smiling prime minister accepted, shaking hands, mingling and chatting briefly with the delegation members.



Also making use of our airport was a RCMP Pilatus turboprop aircraft carrying security duty staff.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED
October 8, 2005



Nathan lives just outside of Wiarton, and just graduated from Wiarton High School earlier this year. He was a member of the Air Cadet Squadron in Owen Sound where he rose to the rank of Warrant Officer (WO1), while working part-time in Wiarton at Solways IGA. Two years ago Nathan did a co-op placement at the airport, which is where he learned of the scholarship. Currently Nathan is attending Candore College in North Bay, on a two year course working towards his A.M.E. certificate (First semester grades were 97% - well done Nathan!). Upon graduation he will work for two years as an apprentice, then plans on getting his pilots license in Alberta. Nathan's ultimate goal is to become a pilot and go to Africa working with the Mission Aviation Fellowship.

FLY-IN
Saturday, July 9, 2005

This Saturday was Wiarton's Annual Fly-In, along with the official unveiling of our model of the proposed airpark. We were very fortunate that John Drake, owner of the beautiful 5000sq.ft. hangar at CYVV once again made it available for our festivities, and the Blue Crew's Dave Little, Sue Yost, Jim Coverly and Jim Minmagh were on had to direct traffic.



Paul Kastner, our Economic and Development Officer was the MC for the morning, and at 1100hrs sharp the presentation began. We were very please to see the turnout of local politicians and other invited guests ... both area mayors (South Bruce Peninsula & Georgian Bluffs), MP Larry Miller, local developer and Gerogian Bluffs Councilor Dwight Burley, Don Marsden (builder of the model), and area business owners, just to name a few.



Grey/Bruce MP Larry Miller, as well as Mayors Carl Noble and Carl Spencer, had kind and thoughtful words of appreciation and encouragement for our airport, its future development and the hard work that our volunteers do.



Larry Miller, with whom I have had occasion to work on Aviation matters with since that stormy day in 1996 when the decision to make CYVV a privately run airport was made, surprised me with a Certificate of Appreciation for my years of contributions to the Wiarton Airport. Thank you Larry, much appreciated! As Kevin Psutka, CEO of COPA, was unable to attend our festivities on Saturday, our Captain Hank Nuis was called upon to present me with an Appreciation Award from COPA. I was informed that I would be the recipient of this award earlier this year, to be presented at the Annual COPA Convention in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. Unfortunately, the dates for this event coinsided with the Canadian Aviation Expo, and I was unable to attend both. Kevin, words fail me in order to express my gratitude for this honor that was bestowed upon me. Thank You.



Paul Kastner then again took over centre stage to announce the official unveiling of the Airpark Model.



Questions were answered and many visitors flocked to the front to take a look and pick up information. By this time, Brian Reis had a delicious chicken or fish meal ready, and entertainer Dave Nixon had taken over the stage and sang for everyone.

YOUNG EAGLES
Saturday, June 11, 2005

Although Saturday was not ideal weather-wise, with a 2200 foot ceiling, 4-5 miles visibility, and hot, humid and hazy, 49 participants had a great flight over Wiarton, Oliphant, Sauble Beach and Hepworth before returning to CYVV for a free lunch (provided by our sponsor IGA), light balsa wood model airplane and other goodies.