The Moose Jaw Municipal Airport Authority (MJMAA) held an event on June 24 to celebrate the completion of the project to extend the airport’s runway to 4000 feet and upgrade the apron, taxiways, and safety lighting.
The celebration was attended by a number of dignitaries, including Lyle Stewart, the MLA for Lumsden-Morse and Provincial Secretary to the Premier; Greg Lawrence and Tim McLeod, Moose Jaw’s MLAs; Moose Jaw Mayor Clive Tolley along with city councillors Crystal Froese and Doug Blanc; representatives from 15 Wing including LCol Denis Bandet, current commanding officer of 431 Air Demonstration Squadron; and the full board of the MJMAA.
Craig Hemingway, communications manager for the City of Moose Jaw, was the master of ceremonies.
Hemingway read a statement provided by Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure, and Communities.
“Regional airports connect residents, create economic opportunities, and are a critical piece of our supply chain,” LeBlanc said. “The completion of this runway extension project is great news for the residents of Moose Jaw – and our government is proud to have contributed to it.”
The federal government contributed $1.2 million to the project, while the Province of Saskatchewan put up just under $1 million. The City of Moose Jaw contributed up to $500,100 and is responsible for any additional project costs.
Private investors with business interests at the airport were also a major source of funds.
Greg Lawrence represented Premier Scott Moe, the Government of Saskatchewan, and provincial cabinet member Don McMorris for the occasion, and introduced Lyle Stewart, who also extended greetings on behalf of the provincial government.
“It’s great to be here. This is overdue,” Stewart said. “We gather to celebrate today’s success, the completion of an important infrastructure project here at the Moose Jaw Municipal Airport, one that saw the rehab and expansion of the existing runway and taxiway, the resurfacing of the apron space, the construction of a new hangar access, and the installation of additional approach lights.
It's a project our provincial government was proud to support, and we did that by investing nearly a million dollars … under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.”
The completed work, Stewart said, allows the airport to handle larger planes including business class, turboprops, and light jets. In addition, the Moose Jaw Municipal Airport (MJMA) is now able to better accommodate Saskatchewan Air Ambulance flights and interact with military aircraft from the base.
Tolley expressed his enthusiasm for the continued development of the MJMA, stating that before he became mayor he had not realized the impact of the airport.
“There’s pilot training, there’s skydiving, there’s new construction of hangars, new planes are being purchased,” he said. “This is a real shot in the arm for our economy and our community.”
Greg Simpson, chair of the MJMAA board, was the final speaker. He thanked a number of individuals from the community for their contributions to the airport and gave an overview of the improvements that took place alongside the runway expansion. Those improvements include, among others, better maintenance of the runway, the renovation of the pilot’s lounge, a new air application business, and a pilot school that has graduated more than 80 pilots to date.
“Seven years ago, it was seemingly impossible that we would actually see something like this happen,” Simpson said. “The investment in the airport has already resulted in many tangible benefits. … I just wanted to say to say that this is a new beginning with new opportunities and new possibilities. And this is just one phase, another phase is about to come.”
MJMA Flying Club fly-in
On Saturday, June 25, the Moose Jaw Flying Club (MJFC) hosted their third fly-in of the year – with the usual pancake breakfast to match – to give local aviation enthusiasts their opportunity to celebrate the runway.
Although Roger Blager, MJFC president, noted wryly that once again the weather was terrible, the attendance for the fly-in was still impressive.
“Even on a day where there’s no airplanes that can fly because of low ceilings and high winds, you still get this enthusiasm and this turnout,” Blager said.
Col. Jonathan Bouchard was at the fly-in to show his support and socialize with the community, along with several other officers from the base. The Skydive South Sask group also came to the pancake breakfast, although the weather prevented them from jumping.
Blager said the unity from everyone involved at the airport was amazing, and reiterated his invitation to local residents to come and join in.
“I think we’ve very much, together with the airport authority, done our job in letting people know that we’re here, we’re open. That’s the biggest message, I think, in all of this, is that we are open for business and that people are welcome."
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