Page 10 - Southport - Reaching New Heights - Summer 2017

SOUTHPORT

a 25 year retrospective How Southport was Created
After increased efforts and media
coverage, the Federal Government
announced the formation of Southport
In 1940, No. 14 Elementary Flying Training School was located where Southport is
Aerospace Centre Inc. (Southport) in
today as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. After World War II, the
1990 to take over the assets of the
base became temporarily inactive.
former CFB Portage la Prairie and
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) expanded to the site in 1952, and opened continue flight training after privatization.
RCAF Station Portage la Prairie. It housed No. 2 Advanced Flying School which Southport was established as a not-for-
trained RCAF and NATO pilots. The station was renamed Canadian Forces Base profit, non-share Capital Corporation
Portage la Prairie in 1966 and employed between 800-900 military and civilian with an initial Board of Directors selected
personnel during this time. by the Federal Government from all
In 1988, the Federal Government announced the closure of CFB Portage la Prairie walks of life. Southport also created
due to budget cuts in the Department of National Defense. The closure relocated a General Membership of about sixty-
500 military personnel and removed 200 jobs for civilians. Citizens of Portage la five members who have no equity in
Prairie rallied together to form the “Save the Base Committee,” to ensure flight the corporation. They hold the Board
training remained in Portage la Prairie. They worked to advocate and lobby to raise accountable to the public to protect
awareness of the importance of the economic impact of flight training to the local sound governance, and to ensure long
community. term viability of the property.

1992-2005 flight training program. With the anchor Some of the upgrades done during
tenant in place, Southport focused on this time included: the construction of
In 1992, the Board of Directors assumed
ownership of over 607 hectares including upgrading out of date facilities and Alan McLeod Building in 1999, which
the airport, residential properties, converting the property from a military has accommodations for up to 96 flight
recreation infrastructure and all other base to commercial style facility. Due training students and the expansion
assets associated with the former to Southport’s status as a not-for-profit, of the Southport pool to include a
Canadian Forces Base. At this time, non-share Capital Corporation, all excess waterslide, kids area and hot tub.
Bombardier was contracted by the revenue can be invested back into the Improvements also included changes
Canadian Forces for a multi-year military site without any dividends or corporate to site infrastructure, upgrades to the
taxes being deducted. airport and airfield as well as demolishing
10 | Southport: Reaching New Heights