The Niagara District Airport has been part of Niagara’s skies since 1929, witnessing aviation’s evolution from risky early flights to today’s modern operations.
Now marking its 96th anniversary, it has grown from its beginnings on the edge of St. Catharines into the certified general aviation hub it is today at 468 Niagara Stone Rd. in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
“This is really about recognizing how long we’ve been a member of the community and how that’s changed over the course of 96 years,” said the airport’s chief executive officer, Dan Pilon.
Pilon said the airport’s significance has shifted over time, from its role during the Second World War to driving Niagara’s economic growth.
“We’ve been here for a lot of really significant moments in the history of this community and we want to be here for more,” he said.
The airport’s history includes both achievements and losses.
Just days after it opened, six people were killed in a crash, a tragedy that underscored the dangers of flying at the time.
But safety has advanced dramatically since then, Pilon said.
“Massive leaps,” he said, “when we talk about 96 years ago and the challenges that were there.”
Over the years, Pilon said, millions of dollars in investments from “different levels of the communities that support us,” have helped the airport become certified.
“That’s nothing minor,” he said, adding it means higher safety standards and the ability to handle larger aircraft.
For communications manager Megan McRae, joining the team meant discovering a history she hadn’t known: “I wasn’t aware of how long the airport has been around.”
Her research uncovered details of a past that included an airport inn, complete with a restaurant, dancing and bus service to Buffalo and Toronto.
“I believe it was at the old location,” she said, adding the airport was originally located within St. Catharines before moving to its current site in NOTL to make way for the QEW extension.
With roots in both communities, Pilon said the airport has “kind of got this joint history.”
As it approaches its 100th anniversary, McRae said, “It is a pleasure to be able to be part of the team and carrying the business forward.”
Looking ahead, Pilon said the focus is “transformational growth” — a theme repeated during public consultations over the past year and detailed in the airport’s master plan, which is expected to be completed this year.
He said the link airports create between communities “is massive to be able to grow” and that connection is especially important “when we talk about a community that’s grounded in tourism.”
Few airports can trace their roots as far back as 1929, Pilon added, and that longevity reflects the depth of history in the region, which “Niagara-on-the-Lake is so drenched in.”
