CFB Winnipeg – flying high in St. James

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/07/2021 (1711 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg residents will all be familiar with the majestic C-130 Hercules transports that frequent the skies over St. James, but few have witnessed them being tethered to a rope and muscled across the tarmac by straining teams of 20 people… all within sight of several functioning tractors.

Why? Budget cuts? No, nothing of the sort.

The ‘Herc Pull’ is just one of a number of fundraising events CFB Winnipeg hosts in support of the United Way, and one of the many ways CFB Winnipeg supports our community.

Last month, I presented a brief history of the base and its current roles in support of the Royal Canadian Air Force. This time out, I’d like to illustrate how they contribute to our neighbourhood and introduce you to the RCAF’s greatest asset: their people.

Today the base employs over 3,000 military and civilian personnel. Together, they and their families inject over $245 million into the local economy, while the base itself spends $17 million through local vendors and contractors.

In addition, they are actively involved in several charities. 17 Wing is a participant in the Government of Canada Charitable Workplace campaign, in conjunction with the United Way. On average, over $80,000 is raised annually through events such as the Herc Pull mentioned above.

Over a decade, the RCAF Run, in which I have participated, has raised close to $250,000 in support of ‘Soldier On’ and the ‘Military Families Fund’. The run is held the last Sunday in May, and has attracted both civilian and military runners.

Other charities include the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund; Red Cross blood drives; the Military Police Fund for Blind Children; the base firefighters ‘Boot Drive’ in support of Muscular Dystrophy Canada; and a Koats for Kids drive that 435 Squadron holds every fall to provide children with warm winter clothing.

Collectively, 17 Wing and its lodger units also stand ready to answer the government’s call for aid in disaster relief, anything from filling sandbags in flooded areas to providing overflights of disaster zones.

More recently they have provided transport as part of the national vaccine distribution plan and have ferried teams to northern areas to set up accommodations to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Although the units themselves do not deploy entirely, they provide many individuals to operations in Canada and around the world. Some of these missions have been ongoing for many years.

In addition, wing personnel are currently deployed in Iraq and Kuwait, Qatar, and South Sudan, either aiding in United Nations humanitarian relief or supporting the war on terrorism.

So the next time you see someone in uniform, be sure to thank them for their service, both at home and abroad.

If you have questions or comments feel free to contact me at scottgillingham@winnipeg.caor call 204-986-5848.

Please visit my website at scottgillingham.ca to sign up for my e-newsletter.