Discussions

 
In the Letter to the Editor in the B.S. today, Mr. Chris Wright, writes that he thinks that the Federal Government’s matching funds of $125,000 to the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum should be given to the BU-YMCA fitness facility, because the vast majority of people will ignore the Museum. I think it is a great idea to build a new facility for the advancement of fitness. I also think that the money given to that facility by the Federal Government is also matched funds to public donations, the same as the funds given to the Museum. It would appear to me that Mr. Wright has not visited the Museum or if he has, did not like what he saw while he was there.  
 
The CATP Museum is a non-profit, charitable organization founded and operated by many volunteers. The Museum is dedicated to the preservation of the history of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and serves as a unique memorial to those 131,000 airmen who trained, and served, including the 18,039 RCAF air crew members who died, while serving their country in the air war of 1939-1945. This is the only Museum in the world dedicated solely to this memory, and it is fitting that it is located in Manitoba where much of the training was carried out. When the Plan was signed in December 1939, only 4,000 people were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, but this was increased to 250,000 by the end of 1943. Canada manufactured 12,000 aircraft during this time as part of the Plan.  
The aircrew personnel were enlisted from Australia, New Zealand, England and Canada: they were all trained under the Plan. Canada was the chosen training country because of its preferable climate and the fact it was distanced far from the dangers of enemy activity.  
 
The museum opened to the public on July 3rd 1982 with a generic approach to the exhibition of artifacts with hope that the Museum will give the feel of any of the 120 BCATP stations operating during WW II. The organizers are currently in the midst of Phase 1 of their $3,099,639 Redevelopment Plan. Since the start of the Museum Capital Campaign thousands of volunteer hours have been spent rebuilding this historic site.  
 
So far $1,679,718 of the proposed Phase 1 budget has been received as cash donations, gifts-in-kind and volunteer labour. It is heartening that only half way into the 10-year development plan: the Museum has received actual contributions and commitments for over half of the proposed costs.  
There is a remaining $1,420,921 yet to be raised, the Museum friends are obligated to complete their plans, and are not willing to forget the contributions of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan to the world today. I think it is disrespectful for Mr. Wright to slam a monument to this devastating era of history and to all the men and women who gave up their lives or were changed forever after that experience.