Climb Aboard!
Climb Aboard! Capital & Endowment Campaign
The new Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada’s vision has taken shape to inspire generations to learn more about our important aviation history — including one of the best bush plane collections in the world — and also catch a glimpse into our aerospace future.
We aim to be the premier storyteller of Canada’s aerospace heritage; we are casting a bold vision for the future and building a highly participatory family experience in our new space.
Campaign Cabinet
Royal Patron
His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, KG GCVO ADC(P)
Honorary Co-Chairs
Hartley T. Richardson, O.C., O.M. | Dr. Arthur V. Mauro, O.C., O.M., Q.C.
Co-Chairs
Ross Robinson | Blain King
Honorary Cabinet
David T. Barnard | James W. Burns, O.C., O.M. (posthumous) | Charles S. Coffey, O.C.
Hon. Gary Filmon, P.C., O.C., O.M. | Ruth and Brian Hastings | Duncan M. Jessiman
Edward Kennedy | Hubert T. Kleysen | Fred Mannix, O.C. | Peter Mansbridge, O.C.
Greg McDougall | Raymond McFeetors | Andrew Paterson | Dr. Donald S. Reimer
Calin Rovinescu | Maxwell W. Ward, O.C., A.O.E. | Bill Wehrle (posthumous)
Campaign Cabinet
Dean Alfonso | Gary Bell | Barry Bembridge | Lynn Bishop | Don Boitson
Bruce Emberley | David Filmon | Helen Halliday | Andrew Hopkinson
David Johnston | Ron Jonkman | Kristin Long | James D. MacDonald
Barry Rempel | Terry Slobodian | Gary Timlick | Rennie Zegalski
Message from the President & CEO, Terry Slobodian
Community donors, and support through volunteerism, are the lifeblood of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, and will be the catalyst for our bright future.
We are grateful for the over 600 donations received to date for the new Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada; allowing us to raise approximately $15M from the community-at-large. With this support, we have been able to demonstrate to government funders the breadth and depth of the support for this project and promote our vision to inspire generations.
The focus of our efforts over the next 18 months will be to raise the final $10M from the community. A fully-funded project will ensure the museum operates in a sustainable fashion and provides innovative and creative programs that celebrate, educate and elevate our proud aviation history.
Please learn more about our future and the impact of the new Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada in the preview teasers below.
If you are interested in learning more about the capital campaign, we would love to talk. For further information, please contract Brenda Hudson by telephone at 204.786.5503 or by e-mail at Brenda.Hudson@RoyalAviationMuseum.com.
Climb Aboard!
The new museum will be located on land owned by the Winnipeg Airports Authority adjacent to Wellington Avenue south and within minutes of the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, and will be a premier architectural attraction as visitors enter the city.
When the new Royal Aviation Museum opens in 2020, it will be:
- A signature facility celebrating the 'Legends of Canadian Aviation' - a remarkable story of adventure and innovation, and an important ingredient in Canada’s culture and heritage
- One of only six “Royal” museums in Canada, having received the designation from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2014 in recognition of our unique contribution to the exploration and opening up of northern Canada, our collection of rare and one-of-a-kind bush aircraft, and our large and exceptionally dedicated team of volunteers
- The only major Canadian aviation museum situated with direct access to an international airport’s runways; facilitating access to visiting aircraft from as close as our own airport and from around the world
- A world-class facility to explore innovation and adventure, while sparking youth interest in aerospace careers
- A community-wide destination for education, entertainment, tourism, and business boosting Winnipeg’s economic, social and educational environment
Architectural renderings for the new Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada will be unveiled in Fall 2018.
An Investment Today Builds Memories Tomorrow
For the Reich + Petch Architects and Architecture 49, the design goal for the new Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is to blend the requirements of a building that is both a museum and a hangar, and reveal, in its architecture, the excitement of flight.
The new museum will have a total area of 86,000 square feet of which 64,000 square feet is on the ground floor and 22,000 square feet on the second floor, much of which overlooks the main aircraft space.
The aircraft space will be the heart of the building. In addition to the main display gallery, the museum will contain dedicated specialist galleries for the science of flight, flight simulators and a temporary gallery for visiting exhibitions. Two classrooms will accommodate visiting school groups. Space for collection storage and archives is included and will be accessible for visitors on request.
The new Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada will contain both a foundation of history and a new mix of engaging and educational spaces that interpret the future of aviation.
The past and the and future will come together on main exhibit floor which will have nine traditional galleries that include aircraft from the collection -- and will also be home to four non-traditional museum spaces including spaces that will appeal for future generations of aviators.
For example, the maker space will allow for hands-on investigation of aeronautics. The space will provide an opportunity for kids of all ages to build things using microprocessors, 3D printers, electronic and mechanical kits and airplane models. It is anticipated that there would be a program within the maker space – from weather stations, to rocket building, to learning the mathematics of flights.
Our aviation history will be preserved and celebrated with new interpretive centres and displays of our current aircraft. Renderings for the new Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada will be unveiled Fall 2018.
Awesome place for Adults and kids
"Great place for the family! They have an upstairs play area that is fun for both kids and adults! Very pleasant informative staff as well."
