WINNIPEG, Thursday, September 21, 2017 – The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada and the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, one of the three museums under Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, are launching a new mobile app today to celebrate the innovative history of Canadian aerospace. The event also marks the official unveiling of a new James A. Richardson exhibition.
The app, Air and Space: Canadian Innovations, brings to life many of the most innovative aircraft from the Royal Aviation Museum and the Canada Aviation and Space Museum with stories, videos, photographs, and fun facts. From the Avro Arrow to the Bombardier Challenger to the Canadarm and beyond, these famous aircraft tell the story of aviation and space in Canada. The app is now available for download from the App Store and Google Play.
The Royal Aviation Museum’s exhibit, “James A. Richardson – The Father of Commercial Aviation in Canada,” details how his astuteness, integrity, and energy laid the foundation for Canada’s modern air industry. His airline – Canadian Airways Limited – would become the basis for Canadian Pacific Air Lines, which in time and after many mergers would become Air Canada.
Quotes
“The introduction of this multi-media app allows our visitors to experience their own self-guided tour any time they visit the museum, expanding their museum experience. Additionally, we are proud to present our new exhibit celebrating the leadership and innovative spirit of James A. Richardson. This exhibit showcases his connection of Canada by air, laying the foundation for our country’s commercial aviation industry. To share this story with our visitors and students is a true celebration of our nation’s rich aviation history.”
— Helen Halliday, President and CEO, Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
“Air and Space: Canadian Innovations gives visitors a new way to access fascinating and complex stories in the history of the aerospace industry in Canada. These stories are about visionary leadership, ingenuity, and commitment, as well as determination and perseverance in overcoming challenges. We are delighted that the Richardson and Kenneth M. Molson Foundations made this collaboration possible.”
— Christopher Kitzan, Director General of the Canada Aviation and Space Museum
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Media Contacts
Helen Halliday
President and CEO
Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
204-786-0732
Helen.Halliday@RoyalAviationMuseum.com
Melissa Gruber
Communications and Marketing Officer
Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation
613-991-9219
mgruber@ingeniumcanada.org
About the Royal Aviation Museum
The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is one of Canada’s largest aviation heritage facilities and is dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and display of Canada’s unique aviation history. Located in an authentic 1937 hangar, originally Trans-Canada Air Lines (now Air Canada) passenger terminal, the museum is situated next to the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport. Our extensive collection reflects the history of aviation development in Canada and abroad and includes aircraft, artifacts, and exhibits from pioneering bush planes to supersonic jets. We tell the story of adventure and innovation that was born in the bush, in Canada’s north, and centred around Winnipeg.
About the Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Located on a former military air base just 5 kilometres from the Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, the Museum focuses on aviation in Canada within an international context, from its beginnings in 1909 to the present day. As Canada’s contribution to aviation expanded to include aerospace technology, the Museum’s collection and mandate grew to include space flight. The Collection itself consists of more than 130 aircraft and artifacts (propellers, engines) from both civil and military service. It gives particular, but not exclusive, reference to Canadian achievements. The most extensive aviation collection in Canada, it is also considered one of the finest aviation museums in the world.
About Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation
Launched in June 2017, Ingenium is a new national brand established to preserve and share Canada’s story of scientific and technological heritage. This corporate brand, which celebrates ingenuity, encompasses three national institutions—the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum. Under the Ingenium brand, these three museums are places where the past meets the future, with spaces where visitors can learn and explore, play and discover. Ingenium also has an eye to the future with a state-of-the-art Collections Conservation Centre under construction, digital and social media platforms, and travelling national and international exhibitions to educate, entertain and engage audiences across Canada and around the world. For more, visit us: IngeniumCanada.org.