Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

 

Issue dated December 1997

 

 

Excerpt from Max Ward charted his own course by Andrew Geider - company archives

 

Max Ward was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on November 22, 1921. Like many other young men in 1940, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force hoping to fly Spitfires in the Battle of Britain. But it was not to be.

 

In recognition of his skill as a pilot, he was chosen to be a flight instructor in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, and he served at a number of stations during the course of the war.

In 1945, he began flying commercially for Northern Lights Limited, from Peace River, Alberta, to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. It was not long before he struck out on his own. Using his total war gratuity, in 1946, he bought a DH Fox Moth for $10,500 and began flying prospectors and their supplies to the mining camps around Yellowknife.

As his Polaris Charter Company of Yellowknife did not have an Air Transport Board Charter licence. Ward was forced into partnership with another pilot who possessed one. But there was a falling out and the business venture was liquidated, forcing Ward to sell his Moth to pay off the debts. He learned from this and resolved that in the future he would be completely self-reliant.

 

In 1952, he received a charter licence from the Air Transport Board to fly out of Yellowknife. Wardair began operations with a DH Otter. Its $96,000 price tag was financed entirely by its pilot, mechanic, and owner, Max Ward.

Within the next few years, Wardair prospered. It flew mining equipment, drill crews, prospectors, and geological teams. Ward changed the company name from Wardair of Yellowknife to Wardair Canada, and he moved its headquarters to Edmonton. In 1967, the company went public and also acquired the International Non-Scheduled Charter licence.

In 1971, he was presented with the Billy Mitchell Award by the North American Aviation Council for his contributions to air transportation. He had a replica of his original DH Fox Moth built in 1976, it was rebuilt for display purposes and donated to the National Aviation Museum.

 

In 1985, Wardair received its first scheduled route. Four years later Canadian Airlines acquired Wardair.

 

Max Ward was made a member of the Order of Icarus, the Aviation Hall of Fame and, in June 1975, an Officer of the Order of Canada. 

 

Editors' Note: Max Ward died in Edmonton on November 2, 2020, three weeks short of his 99th birthday.

 

 

Issue dated May 1985

 

 

In introducing Pacific Western’s new morning service from Inuvik and Yellowknife to Edmonton, our passengers were offered a 'Northern Eye Opener' bonus.

 

Among other prizes and gifts awarded to passengers on board were a Budget Rent-A-Car with unlimited kilometers for just $1.00 on a first day rental and a chance to win a return ticket from Inuvik or Yellowknife to Edmonton on Pacific Western or a return ticket from Edmonton to any Canadian destination served by Air Canada.

 

 

Issue dated February 1986

 

In Vancouver, the Reservations Office is manned by management staff.

 

From left: Ken Jamison, Bill Harcott, Walter Brown, Ann Bowyer, Ken Meville, Gary Handel, Pamela Saville, Ron Warin, Isabel Lamb, Suzanne Coombs, Bob Sharman and Brian Johnson.

 

Missing from the photo but busy taking phone calls on opening day were Joan Pavelich, Linda Davis, Cam Routledge, John Harrowar, Ray Gaule and Danny Strilchuk.

 

Vancouver Reservations had over 1,000 calls on the first day.