Bradford West-Gwillimbury kicks off busy week marking RCAF centenary with flag raising ceremony

The city of Bradford West-Gwillimbury kicked off a week full of festivities in honor of a major milestone for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

On Monday, local veterans, along with representatives from CF Borden, the birthplace of the RCAF, gathered for a special flag raising in honor of 100 years of the RCAF. The division was launched in April 1924.

Monday’s flag-raising ceremony was just the start of a week full of various activities, all designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the RCAF.

“It means so much because members of the Royal Air Force have dedicated their lives to making Canada safe and free,” said Lt. Col. Ferguson Mobbs. “For a hundred years, they’ve been doing this. So we want to showcase these men and the RCAF for what they have done for Canada.”

The flag raising was attended by many members of Bradford City Council and Deputy Mayor Raj Sandhu, who stood in for the Mayor who had a last minute scheduling conflict.

“It is so important to all of us, all Canadians and residents of Bradford, that we recognize and thank our Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Air Force for what they have done,” Sandhu said. “They played a big, huge role in our freedom and how peaceful we stayed and lived in this country.”

The week of events is organized with the help of Bradford Public Library. On Wednesday, the library will host a special film screening focusing on the Air Cadets, followed by a discussion on the RCAF on Thursday.

Commemorative events conclude Friday with a parade at 10:30 a.m., followed by a special performance by the SkyHawks at 1 p.m.

“These events really encapsulate the dedication, the honor of so many people to Canada and we need to express that to our young people so that what happened in the past is never forgotten and yet we instill in them the values ​​and virtues that we as Canadians we value them.” said Lt. Col. Mobbs.

During the week, the library will also have a flight simulator for the public to use, allowing them to get the feeling of being behind the controls of an RCAF aircraft.