Soaring Pride at 200 Wing

Great news here for the Wing! They are a great community organization and if you haven’t been to the Wing for the friendly atmosphere and great conversation, you should check it out. They are great ambassadors for Summerside. Congratulations to my pal Ron Hatton and all the members for a job well done.

Soaring pride at 200 Wing
Mike Carson/Journal Pioneer
Published on September 23rd, 2010
Mike Carson

SUMMERSIDE – For the second time the Air Force Association of Canada has named the 200 Summerside Wing as National Wing of the Year and one of its members as Member of the Year.
The first award came in 2005.
Barry Rowan, president of the Air Force Association of Canada 200 Summerside Wing said past president Ron Hatton has received the individual award for his tireless work in seeing through a massive renovation project at the local facility.
"There's an annual award called the Len Baldock Memorial Award," Rowan said. "That's put out by our national association in Ottawa and awarded to a member every year."
The wing purchased a new building on North Market Street in 2005, the former Kinsmen building, and undertook extensive renovations.
"Ron, has just about single-handily been responsible for getting our mortgage paid off and he's interfaced with all the contractors and just made sure that the whole program ran smoothly and came to a completion," Rowan said. "He's just been the go getter, right from day one."
Rowan said the award is in recognition of Hatton's service to the wing.
"We're very pleased with him," the president said.
The wing itself because of its involvement with the community has also been recognized for its efforts.
"With all the work the wing itself has done the wing has become the national wing of the year as well." Rowan said. "This includes all of the stuff we have done locally. This year we've put out four $1,000 scholarships. We made a rather large contribution to the Veteran's Convention Centre as well as having several of our members responsible for getting that up and running."
Rowan said the wing has made a large contribution to the Aircraft Heritage Society that is being put together at Slemon Park.
"A lot of our members are on that committee and got it going," he said. "We still contribute to the Prince County Hospital Foundation. We're a going concern."
Rowan said all the money contributed to the community endeavours is earned at the wing through the associate members dues, the bar sales and VLT's.
The wing has 163 regular members and approximately 260 associate members.
"The regular members are those that were ex-military," he said. "We also work closely with the legion. We join them for Colour Parties for general parades. We will be with them Saturday when we have the dedication for the veteran's Convention Centre."
Aims and objectives of the Air Force Association of Canada:
• Advocacy – to advocate for a proficient, well-equipped air force in Canada
• Traditions – to preserve and perpetuate the glorious traditions established in Canada’s air forces since its inception.
• Air Cadets- to support the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, and work closely with the Air Cadet League of Canada.
• Community – to participate in local civic and community programs identified by Wings and to undertake charitable and other projects of both a national and local character
• Civil/Military Air- to recognize achievements in civil and military aviation through the annual awards.