Humble Beginnings
The CAHS was founded in 1962 by Canadian Aviation enthusiasts from the Toronto area, receiving a Federal Charter in 1963. Now after 45 years with Chapters from Vancouver Island, BC to Halifax, NS the CAHS remains the primary source of information and research on Canada’s rich aviation history.
During the summer of 1962, George Morley and Jeff Burch met and discovered a mutual interest in Canadian aviation history. Both lived in Toronto and decided to seek out other local enthusiasts. Through letters, phone calls, and an ad in one of the city’s newspapers, they began accumulating members for what would be dubbed “The Early Bird Club of Canada.”
Many of these founding members went on to become influential in aviation circles and produce significant works of history. They include (among others):
During the summer of 1962, George Morley and Jeff Burch met and discovered a mutual interest in Canadian aviation history. Both lived in Toronto and decided to seek out other local enthusiasts. Through letters, phone calls, and an ad in one of the city’s newspapers, they began accumulating members for what would be dubbed “The Early Bird Club of Canada.”
Many of these founding members went on to become influential in aviation circles and produce significant works of history. They include (among others):
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John Beilby
Sheldon Benner Harry Creagen Charlie Catalano John Ellis George Fuller Bill Wheeler |
Larry Taylor
Boris Zissoff Terry Waddington Paddy Gardiner John Griffin Roger Juniper |
The first formal meeting of the group was held in Jeff Burch’s basement in February 1963. Soon they were holding sessions regularly and hosting speakers like Jock Forteith, helmsman on the R-34 airship, which made the first west-to-east crossing of the Atlantic in 1919, and F/O Hugh Halliday, RCAF, now a successful author and regular CAHS Journal contributor.
They realized, however, that their name was too similar to the “Early Birds” group of pre-First World War flyers, and so refashioned themselves the Canadian Aviation Historical Society. The nascent Early Bird Enthusiast journal was also renamed the CAHS Journal. Annual dues were set at $2.
By 1963 the first official CAHS convention took place in Ottawa, which by then also had a chapter.
To learn more about the history of our Society, please check out Bill Wheeler's "In the Beginning," or Gord McNulty's "CAHS at 50" articles, or the list of Past and Present Presidents, some of which feature links to their personal stories of aviation interest.
Each Chapter also has its own story to tell. Start here to learn more…
They realized, however, that their name was too similar to the “Early Birds” group of pre-First World War flyers, and so refashioned themselves the Canadian Aviation Historical Society. The nascent Early Bird Enthusiast journal was also renamed the CAHS Journal. Annual dues were set at $2.
By 1963 the first official CAHS convention took place in Ottawa, which by then also had a chapter.
To learn more about the history of our Society, please check out Bill Wheeler's "In the Beginning," or Gord McNulty's "CAHS at 50" articles, or the list of Past and Present Presidents, some of which feature links to their personal stories of aviation interest.
Each Chapter also has its own story to tell. Start here to learn more…