Time to celebrate and educate By Kevin Psutka There is a new logo on the front page of the newspaper and on our website. Next year marks the 100th Anniversary of the first powered, heavier-than-air flight in Canada and it is time to start planning for this historic event. We all have a role to play in celebrating as well as educating Canadians about the role aviation played and continues to play in building Canada. No other nation in the world owes more to flight than Canada. A team has been assembled, based in Ottawa, whose role is to act as a clearing house for all activities and events that will take place throughout 2009, and to assist with their coordination, planning, promotion and staging.

I am proud to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Centennial of Flight Project, along with other key players in the aviation industry, associations and organizations that share an appreciation for aerospace, are active in preserving its heritage and look towards improving its future.

While the first flight took place on that cold February 23rd in 1909 in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, the Centennial of Flight Project will be coordinating a year-long commemoration with many exciting and educational activities planned from coast to coast to coast.

As the project unfolds, there will be a central website where a calendar of celebration events and other information will be maintained. COPA will periodically report on developments and lead members to sources of information.

In addition, we will include events in our On the Horizon calendar, complete with a miniature Centennial of Flight logo to make them stand out. COPA’s 2009 convention, being held in Calgary from 17-19 July, will also mark the occasion and I anticipate that there will be much more to announce as 2009 approaches.

Stay tuned to the newspaper and our website for ways that you can help celebrate and educate, not only for the sake of our past, but to help build our future.

"Backgrounder from the Centennial of Flight Project Board of Directors"