Page 16 - Reaching-New-Heights-magazine-2019

Southport Aerospace Centre Inc. has taken the
former Canadian Forces Base (CFB) in Portage
la Prairie to new heights, and the future looks
bright.
Southport Aerospace Centre Inc. (Southport) be-
gan as a Canadian Forces Base that was poised
for shutdown in the late 1980s. When the sur-
rounding community discovered the news of the
impending shutdown, they rallied as a committee
to “Save the Base.” They successfully lobbied the
government, spurring the creation of Southport to
keep military flight training in the area.

“Since 1992, Southport has operated as a not-
for-profit corporation and as such, Southport
reinvests all of its profits back into our airport
and site allowing us to continually modernize and
upgrade” said CEO, Peggy May.

Training for Royal Canadian Air Force pilots con-
tinues to be conducted on site, ensuring the
rich military history of Southport will remain
prevalent into the future.

Each morning, over 600 people arrive
on site, ready to start their day at one of
the dozen businesses located in South-
port which include health administration,
education and training, manufacturing,
addictions counselling, and childcare and
support services for the military flight training
contract.

16 | Southport: Reaching New Heights