Battle of Britain Special Celebrations

Story and photos by John Chalmers
November 2025
Among the special events held around Canada this year to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain was a unique dinner and theatrical presentation staged by 700 (City of Edmonton) Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Association. It was held at the Event Hall of the Alberta Aviation Museum in Edmonton, housed in the last double-wide double-long hangar of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan that is still in use.
For the September 13 event, the space was transformed into a large dinner hall with a performance stage, overhead theatre lighting and three powerful projectors illuminating three giant screens with changing wartime images and credits to sponsors who helped to make the experience possible. How appropriate it was that a surviving wartime hangar was the venue for celebrating the Battle of Britain!
Professional actors Zachary Parsons-Lozinski, left, and Brennan Campbell were cast as wartime pilot trainees in the play created for the September dinner/theatre presentation.
Between courses of a fine catered dinner, two actors on stage played the role of fighter pilots trained for combat. The play was created by award-winning playwright and director, Kenneth Brown, who drew upon his experience in writing plays about the war to offer appropriate entertainment for the evening. A technical crew of four people flawlessly operated the complex lighting, projection systems video and audio in a dramatic event attended by over 120 guests.
Contributing to the ambiance of the event, the 5/8 scale Hurricane of the museum’s aircraft collection was moved to the event hall and put on display.
More than just a fine catered dinner and a play, the evening was also a fundraiser for 700 Wing’s support of the Kipnes Centre for Veterans in Edmonton, an extended care facility with 120 beds that provides a home for men and women who have served in uniform. LCol (Ret.) Tom Sand, chair of 700 Wing, summed up the event by saying, “Good friends, good food, good entertainment, good cause! It was a unique and poignant way to mark the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, to honour veterans, and to link it to the Battle’s relevance today.”

The event, originally conceived in 2019 to be held in a year or two, was shelved due to the COVID pandemic, then revisited in 2023. “At that time we reconsidered staging the project to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain,” says Capt (Ret.) Erwin Loewen, a key organizer for the project. “We were successful in obtaining sponsorships, and when Kenneth Brown was approached with the idea to create a play for us, he was hooked immediately!”
Playwright Kenneth Brown, left, and 700 Wing stalwart Erwin Loewen appeared for an interview on Edmonton’s Global TV morning news as part of the publicity for the event. © Global TV
With funds raised through casino grants and other sources, 700 Wing also provides financial support for Air Cadets; the Veterans Food Bank; Homes for Heroes; restoration of a Halifax bomber at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada at Nanton AB; and for Valour Place in Edmonton, which is a support home for military families.

On September 21, 700 Wing held its annual Battle of Britain parade at the aviation memorial area at the front of the aviation museum, concluding the Wing’s tribute to the Battle. In 2024, the Wing was recipient of the Wing of the Year Award from the RCAF Association, the third consecutive year in which 700 Wing has been so honoured. On a perfect autumn day, the event was held at the parking lot of the Alberta Aviation Museum, which became a parade square for the ceremonies.
From Edmonton and area, 250 Air Cadets from nine squadrons and a flight of regular force RCAF personnel from 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron based in Edmonton participated in the parade. A flypast of two CH-146 Griffon helicopters was featured in the ceremonies. Seen at far left are two of the aircraft on outdoor display at the museum, a Noorduyn Norseman and a Bomarc missile.
The talents of the air cadets were obvious both in formation marching and in the music the young musicians provided.
Formed up on the parade square, the cadet colour party added to the day’s pomp and circumstance.
Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, served as the Reviewing Officer of the parade. Beside her is Captain Bentley Barr, Commanding Officer of Air Cadet 533 Squadron, serving as Parade Wing Commander.
Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani on the reviewing stand was saluted by all personnel in the parade, led by Parade Wing Commander, Capt Bentley Barr and regular force members of 408 Squadron.
A large and appreciative crowd was present for the annual Battle of Britain parade, presented by 700 (City of Edmonton) Wing of the RCAF Association. Excellent support by air cadet squadrons highlighted the event and their participation speaks highly of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.
Following the conclusion of the Battle of Britain parade, members of each air cadet squadron had a group photo taken with their officers and the Lieutenant Governor at the aviation memorial in front of the Alberta Aviation Museum. Left to right in the front row are Alberta MLA Nicole Goehring, a member of the Edmonton Salutes Committee; Her Honour Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhni; Maj Kelly Catton, acting Commanding Officer of 408 Squadron while CO LCol Taylor Hall is in Latvia commanding the squadron there; and 408 Squadron CWO Dan Marlow.

Sic Itur Ad Astra.