This photo is from the Gravenhurst Archives.
From Discover Muskoka:
Little Norway, located in Gravenhurst, was a Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNAF) training center during World War II, where over 3,000 Norwegians trained to liberate their occupied homeland.
Little Norway officially opened by Crown Prince Olav in May 1942, served as a crucial training hub between 1940 and 1945. It provided training and support to Norwegian airmen, sailors, soldiers, as well as up to 3,000 merchant seamen and civilians who prepared in Canada to reclaim their occupied homeland. The establishment of Little Norway in Muskoka represents the enduring bond between Canada and Norway and their shared dedication to the fight for freedom during wartime.
The black bear cub in the photo was something of a mascot at Little Norway. Members of the RNAF would apparently take the bear to local bars, wrestle with him and even take him up in the Fairchild training aircraft.
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John Whitty says
District councillors voted to close and destroy the historic Norwegian runway at the airport.
For no reason at all.
“The sheer stupidity of the District’s decision to permanently close runway 09/27 despite consistent, overwhelming opposition from many qualified and credible sources is shocking.”
Search “Muskoka Airport decision mind-boggling, says reader”
Is the District also closing and destroying the historic Norwegian Museum at the airport as well?
It is documented that Transport Canada, the Transportation Safety Board, Environment Canada, Cessna (aircraft manufacturer), airline and local pilots have all thoroughly debunked the misinformation presented to council by the airport CEO and chair.
A previous council, a previous consultant and the current consultant all agreed the historic runway is a valuable asset for Muskoka now and in the future and should be maintained.
Simply build beside the runway instead of on top of it.
That was the conclusion of a report from the latest consultant that District council asked for and then ignored.
Proper layouts for expansion beside the runway were shown to councillors by the latest consultant.
As you can see in the video link below Council was prepared to reopen the grass runway when they were told the alternate new runway 12-30 was not viable.
It never was.
Councillors were finally aware they have been misled all along and were not happy their time was wasted by airport staff for 2 years.
“Flippant” is at 15:00 here
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/784981370/3e538e4e18
12/30 never was viable because the neighbours won’t allow their trees to be cut down.
Nothing to do with cost as the airport claimed.
All councillors had to do was pick up where they left off at that meeting.
Once 12/30 was not an option the far superior historic runway should have been restored as they discussed.
Now the District plans to waste $343K of your tax dollars on those who have demonstrated dangerous incompetence.
While Muskoka needs affordable housing and food banks need funding.https://southmuskoka.doppleronline.ca/airport-changes-to-cost-an-extra-343200/
https://southmuskoka.doppleronline.ca/speak-up-south-muskoka/
Not all councillors are gullible. Just the majority.
All of the above is documented at the following link:
https://johnwhitty3.wordpress.com/2023/07/11/snake-oil-salesmen-selling-to-the-gullible/
John Whitty says
“Sheer stupidity” is an understatement.
How gullible do you have to be to think giving the dangerously incompetent more autonomy will save millions of dollars?
Magic beans.
Snake Oil.
How much would it cost to reopen the historic Norwegian runway?
ZERO dollars.
As councillors were told by a very experienced and competent pilot and owner of many runways in the following video.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15o9XRaCx1AbkTkQsMzAkd2incMTl3h_M/view
There have already been accidents due to airport “gross mismanagement.”
Details of the accidents from the pilots involved were given to all councillors.