Page 4 - Reaching-New-Heights-magazine-2019

The History of Southport’s Gate Guard

Southport revealed its gate guardian on, April 29, 2017 The aircraft is painted gold, red, and blue, paying tribute
to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Southport Aerospace to the Royal Canadian Air Force aerobatic flying team,
Centre Inc. and the 50th anniversary of the Golden the Golden Centennaires. The Golden Centennaire
Centennaire. flying group was a flight team assembled for Canada’s
Centennial Celebrations in 1967. The Centennaires
As noted in Wikipedia, “a gate guardian or gate guard is a
called Southport home from September 1, 1966 until
withdrawn piece of equipment, often an aircraft, armoured
their disbandment on January 12, 1968. During that time
vehicle, artillery piece or locomotive, mounted on a
they performed 103 shows in Canada, including the
plinth and used as a static display near to and forming
opening and closing ceremonies of Expo 67 in Montreal,
a symbolic display of ‘guarding’ the main entrance to a
seven shows in the United States and two shows in the
site, especially a military base. Commonly gate guardians
Bahamas.
outside airbases are decommissioned examples of aircraft
that were once based there, or still are.” And now you know... The CT-114 Tutor, located directly
behind the digital ‘Welcome to Southport’ sign, guards
Appropriately, the gate guardian chosen for Southport
the community and proudly greets visitors 24/7/365!
was the CT-114 Tutor aircraft. This impressive airplane
was used to train pilots at CFB Portage la Prairie (now
Southport). The gate guardian represents a legacy of
more than 75 years of military flight training at Southport.

4 | Southport: Reaching New Heights