On Saturday, April 26, 2025, the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association hosted its annual Fundraising Banquet and Auction at the Tillsonburg Legion. More than 100 guests enjoyed a wonderful evening of celebration being the Association’s 40th anniversary this year. Tillsonburg Mayor Deb Gilvesy once again attended, giving a wonderful speech in support of CHAA. We thank her for being a champion of our mission.
Good evening everyone,
Congratulations on your 40th Anniversary Celebration.
It is an honour to be here on behalf of Town Council, especially as we gather to recognize something, truly special – not just for aviation enthusiasts, but for our entire town.
As many of you know, the roar of a Harvard engine is more than just a sound – it’s a reminder of courage, innovation, and history. The Harvard trained generations of pilots during World War II under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. These aircraft weren’t just machines – they were part of the backbone of Canada’s contribution to the war effort.
But while the Harvard’s story started on training fields and airbases across the world, it didn’t end there. Today, decades later, these aircraft have found new life and new purpose in communities like ours.
Our small town airport has the honor of being home to a few of these magnificent machines. They’re not just relics from the past – they’re living, breathing symbols of heritage and history. When you hear the roar of their engines overhead, you’re hearing the echoes of a time when aviation changed the course of history.
Having the Harvards as an anchor to our small-town airport isn’t just about honoring that history. It’s about using that powerful legacy to ignite life and interest into the Tillsonburg Regional Airport. These iconic yellow planes capture attention wherever they fly. They draw in aviation enthusiasts, veterans, families, students, and tourists alike. And with that interest comes opportunity.
The Harvards make our little local airport a destination – a place where people come not just to fly in or out, but to connect with history. A place where schoolchildren come, where fly-ins bring pilots and visitors from around the province. That kind of foot traffic fuels local business. It creates jobs. It puts our town on the map.
The Harvards give us a foundation around which to build community events, heritage tourism, educational programming, and aviation culture. And when we support the airport, we’re not just supporting planes – we’re supporting mechanics, instructors, volunteers, and the businesses that benefit from increased traffic.
A thriving airport supports a thriving Town.
The Harvards are both a tribute to our past and an investment in our future. And let’s work together to ensure our airport isn’t just surviving – but soaring.
Again happy 40th and here is to 400 more…
Thank you.
Speech courtesy of The Honourable Deb Gilvesy, Mayor of the Town of Tillsonburg.