Climb Aboard Capital Campaign

We are on the journey to transformation,
and we need your help to continue our mission.

JOIN US FOR OUR
FINAL APPROACH!

The runway is in sight, thanks to a
new $750,000 matching gift from
the Richardson Foundation.

Help us reach our final goal of the Climb Aboard
Capital Campaign and fuel the museum’s vision with
a donation today.

All gifts, large or small, will be matched to a
maximum of $750,000.

spend bob's money challenge

To support the final push to our $46 Million goal, Bob Williams issued two $300,000 matching gift challenges to the community at large.

We’re thrilled to announce that thanks to the support of more than 400 individuals, we’ve reached our goal! This means a total of $1.2 M has been raised through Bob’s match.

THANK YOU!

We’re so close to our goal!

Stay tuned for another matching opportunity, coming soon!

Click to Watch Video

Click to Watch Video

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AN AVIATION ADVENTURE

The new Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada will not be the same museum that we closed in October 2018. 

Our mission is to preserve and promote stories of aviation in western and northern Canada while inspiring, educating, and entertaining. 

Our bold vision began to become a reality when the shovels broke ground on May 1, 2020.

In our new 86,000 square foot majestic home, the Royal Aviation Museum showcases the past, present, and future of Canadian bush flying, aviation, and aerospace in distinct thematic spaces. 

The main exhibit floor features the “Richardson Gallery of Flight,” within which are exciting exhibits that follow our collection through history. 

The second floor has an interactive science of flight exhibit, a unique airport observation area to watch planes taking off and landing, plus two classrooms and a banquet room.

The design and innovations planned for the new, world-class Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada will ensure that visitors will leave inspired, educated, and entertained with the rich history of Canadian aviation.

A wide range of powerful sponsorship opportunities is still available for many of our exhibits and artefacts.

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WHAT WE STAND FOR

EXCELLENCE: 
We will safely and ethically achieve the highest standards in museum operations and visitor experience

INCLUSIVITY: 
We will reflect the diversity of our community in the stories we tell, the experience we offer, and the leadership of this great museum

ACCOUNTABILITY: 
We will be responsible to our customers, members, founders, donors, funders, partners, employees, and volunteers in all decisions and actions

AUTHENTICITY: 
We strive to ensure we are accurate, transparent, and complete in the collections and stories and how we reflect them

SUSTAINABILITY: 
We will protect our future through stewardship of our public trust, financial strength, and environmental responsibility 

TREATY STATEMENT

The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada seeks to honour and commemorate the history of Indigenous Peoples and aviation in Western Canada while engaging with the complex history of travel, trade, and relationships in this place. We are committed to the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and to facilitating a safe space for reconciliation to occur.

The new home of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is located on Treaty 1 territory, the traditional territory of Anishnaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Lakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of the Métis Nation. 

We respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.

CAMPAIGN DONORS

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Government of Canada
Government of Manitoba
City of Winnipeg

PRIVATE DONORS

CORNERSTONE DONOR ($5,000,000+)
$1 MILLION+
$500,000–$999,999
$250,000–$499,999
$100,000–$249,999
$50,000–$99,999
$25,000–$49,999
$10,000–$24,999
$5,000–$9,999
$1,000–$4,999

CAMPAIGN CABINET

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ROYAL PATRON
His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, KG GCVO ADC(P)

HONORARY CO-CHAIRS
Hartley T. Richardson, L.V.O., 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., Brian and Ruth Hastings, Duncan M. Jessiman, Edward Kennedy, Hubert T. Kleysen, Fred Mannix, O.C., Peter Mansbridge, O.C., Greg McDougall, Ramond McFeetors, Andrew Paterson, Dr. Donald S. Reimer, Calin Rovinescu, Bill Wehrle (posthumous), Maxwell W. Ward, O.C., A.O.E. (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

EXECUTIVE
Ron Jonkman | Chair
Bruce Emberley | Past Chair
Rennie Zegalski | First Vice-Chair
Barry Bembridge | Second Vice-Chair
John Davidson | Third Vice-Chair
Kacie Olbrecht | Treasurer
Andrew Stewart | Secretary

DIRECTORS
Gary Bell
Martha Ford
Major Geneviève Dussault
Patti Gair
Peggy May
Douglas McLennan
Bill Medd
James Neirinck

OUR DONOR STORIES

Frank Hill McManes

Jim McManes in Honour of His Father, Frank McManes

Jim McManes sponsored the museum’s iconic Canadair CF-104 Starfighter military aircraft to honor his late father, Frank McManes’s legacy – a decorated Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) World War II pilot. Frank McManes began life as a farm kid in …

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Norrthern Lights Petroleum

Northern Lights Petroleum

Northern Lights Petroleum is an Indigenous-owned and operated fuel distribution and logistics company based in Manitoba that serves Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities across Canada. Indigenous communities helped pilots navigate and build relationships throughout the North and provided leadership and significant …

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VISION BECOMING A REALITY

Construction is now complete.

This will be one of the most outstanding facilities in the city, with a prime location at the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport.
Ross Robinson
Co-Chair, Climb Aboard! Capital Campaign

YOUR SUPPORT
FUELS OUR FUTURE

Generous donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and all levels of
Government have fuelled our museum’s spectacular transformation.

The fuel tank has almost reached its goal of $46 Million. Can you help us top it up?
Click the “Donate Today” button to find out how! 

Fundraising Fuel Gauge animation

You will be transferred to the museum’s secure donation page, hosted by Canada Helps