It’s symbolic, but prestigious.
Under bright blue skies Sunday, the mayor of Quinte West Jim Harrison presented the Key to the City to 8 Wing Trenton and the Royal Canadian Air Force.
“Members of council, including myself, as we go about our daily duties we recognize we are a military city. We are a proud council, a proud city of having a military base within our boundaries.”
The ceremony marked the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Mayor of Quinte West Jim Harrison (left) and CAO David Clazie. (Photo: Quinte News)
With members of council to his left and military members to his right Mayor Jim Harrison officially presents the Key to the City. (Photo: Quinte News)
Minister of Energy and Bay of Quinte riding MPP Todd Smith said past and present members of the RCAF and 8 Wing have not served only the country, but our community.
“They’ve also taken the time to contribute to our community, volunteer activities, social functions, and participate in our local economy.”
Receiving the Key to the City was the Commanding Officer of 8 Operations Support Squadron Lieutenant-Colonel Whitney Camm.
Camm says every single day, the personnel at 8 Wing Trenton are busy supporting about a dozen missions on almost every continent in the world and they need the wider community’s support.
“And your support to our team makes accomplishing our mission possible. 8 Wing / CFB Trenton strives to be good neighbours and be active in the communities that surround us. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Quinte West community for this honour and your continued steadfast support and trust in us.”
Mayor Harrison (left) gets set to raise the RCAF flag at City Hall. MPP Todd Smith is in the front row (third from right). (Photo: Quinte News)
While the RCAF came into being in 1924, CFB Trenton, Canada’s largest air force base, was established on 100 acres of donated farmland in 1931.
As part of the Key to the City ceremony RCAF members along with Air Force, Navy, and Army cadets marched from Centennial Park to Quinte West.
RCAF flag (right) flaps in the breeze at Quinte West City Hall. (Photo: Quinte News)
Photo of the F-86 Sabre fighter jet which flew in the RCAF’s aerobatic flying team, The Golden Hawks, starting in 1959. The jet is now on display in front of the Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens in Centennial Park. (Photo: Quinte News)
