Erected by the Lac du Bonnet Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee in 2012, this plaque in Lac du Bonnet tells the story of the early aviation days when “flying boats” and seaplanes were used by the Royal Canadian Air Force to conduct regional aerial surveys. Western Canada Airways established a base of operations here in 1926, followed by a permanent RCAF base the following year. Up to the 1950s, various private airline companies provided service to remote and northern regions of Canada. The Manitoba Government Air Service continues to use this seaplane base for its summer operations.
The Silver Meridian sculpture nearby, designed by local artist Gordon Reeve, is a steel replica of the Vickers Vedette airplane that operated here in the early 20th century. The plane was basically a flying canoe and was the first airplane to be entirely designed and built in Canada. The model will include a water pump that will emit jets of water out the side of the plane, which will rotate in response to wind movement.
Early aviation plaque (August 2019)
Source: Rose Kuzina
Early aviation plaque (October 2024)
Source: Glen Toews
Model of the Vickers Vedette Flying Boat (August 2019)
Source: Rose Kuzina
Model of the Vickers Vedette Flying Boat (October 2024)
Source: Glen ToewsSite Coordinates (lat/long): N50.25611, W96.05778
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Lac du Bonnet Airport Monument (Lac du Bonnet)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Victoria Beach Air Base / Victoria Beach Yacht Club (RM of Victoria Beach)
“Lac du Bonnet monument pays homage to Canadian pilots,” Discover Lac du Bonnet, 13 April 2015.
We thank Glen Toews for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Rose Kuzina.
Page revised: 14 October 2024
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