e-2999 (Transportation)

Petition to the Minister of Transport

• Many Canadian airports are named after politicians. In Edmonton, however, an opportunity exists to rename the international airport in recognition of a Canadian aviation pioneer;
• Maxwell William Ward began his aviation career in the RCAF, training pilots during World War II;
• After the war, he went on to fly bush planes in Canada's far north, demonstrating his lifelong love of flying, adventure, enterprise, and the Arctic, and contributed to mapping the Canadian north;
• In 1953, he established Wardair and grew the company into one of Canada's largest scheduled carriers with a route network that provided his airline’s signature “Wardair Class” service to leisure and business travellers alike;
• Max Ward was recognized with the Order of Canada, the Alberta Order of Excellence, the Order of Polaris and the Order of Icarus, and seven honorary degrees from Canadian Universities;
• He was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame and was one of the original inductees into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame;
• Max’s persistence, mechanical mind, affability, respect for others, and his dedication to service, defined his business and personal interests;
• Most importantly, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and a revered leader to his legion of loyal employees; and
• Sadly, Max passed away on November 2, 2020 in Edmonton. He was 98.