opas anniversary Archives | Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre

OPAS Reunion & Celebration

Connect with friends, learn about the contributions of the Ontario Provincial Air Service to bush flying, forest fire management, ecology and more, and participate in a once-in-a-century celebration. Select specific OPAS 100^th Anniversary Reunion & Conference events or attend them all for one package price.

Subject to change: Check back for final times & details.

Welcome Reception
Sept 18th – 6pm-8pm

Guests will have the opportunity to get registered and pick up their welcome package. They will enjoy relaxed gathering to connect with old friends. There will be a light selection of refreshments and a cash bar.

OPAS Discovery Day
Sept 19th – 10am-2pm

An interactive and informative day of programming and tours to remember and reconnect. Schedule as follows:

10:30am, 11:30am and 1:30pm – Live hangar tour

10a-12p – Test Cell meet and greet with Mike Stadnyk

11am – Fireside chat, facilitated by Mary, with Jamie Sargent, George Willoughby, Mary Ellen Pauli, Gene McCauley, and Wally Warner

11am -1pm – H-boat meet and greet.

12pm-13:30-ish – Lunch and sharing of memorable stories, facilitated by Tim Murphy

12:30p-2p – OBS, oldest flyable beaver, meet and greet with Andy Turcotte (mechanic who fixed it up).

Kids of the OPAS – share stories and memories with other “kids” of OPAS air base parents.

Archive Tours

Booth to log people with stories into our database for further follow-up to record oral histories

Light refreshments throughout the day. Pizza and salad lunch served at noon, sponsored by Grand Gardens.

An Evening with Roy Maxwell – Dine & Discover
Sept 19th – 5:30pm-10:30pm

Speakers: Dr. Robert Galway and Tim Murphy

5:30pm – cocktails

6:30pm – dinner

7:30pm – Dr. Galway

8:15pm – Tim Murphy performing as Roy Maxwell

8:45-10:30 – live band and dance

This 1920s-themed evening invites one to dress the part as you discover the charismatic character of the OPAS’s original director, Roy Maxwell through theatre, display and a live presentation by historian Dr. Robert Galway.

Enjoy live period music throughout the evening and a delicious buffet meal.

V.I.P. Meet & Greet
Sept 20th

Details Coming Soon!

Bushplane Days

Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22

Immerse yourself in the fun of Bushplane Days at the Bushplane Museum! Witness OBS take to the water alongside captivating demonstrations by modellers. Don’t miss a special appearance by some very special surprise guests! Plus, enjoy all the other activities and experiences that make Bushplane Days unforgettable.