EDMONTON- Dozens of people came together Saturday evening, to say goodbye to a piece of Edmonton’s history.
The Aviation Edmonton Association hosted a farewell gala for the City Centre Airport, paying tribute to the people and businesses who have supported the airport over the years.
“The volunteers that helped with the petition drive, people that have had businesses here over the years, and just a lot of people that have showed a great deal of interest in it,” explained Mary Anne Stanway, with Aviation Edmonton.
Stanway says the organization wanted to hold an event at the airport while it was still in business.
“It’s the heart and soul of the city, essentially. It was such an economic driver, and during the 50s it was the second busiest airport in Canada. Even in the 80s it was the fourth busiest airport in Canada. It has been just fantastic,” Stanway expressed. “It put Edmonton on the map, it made Edmonton a great city and so it’s really sad to see an icon like this be closed in such a depressing fashion.”
One of the runways at City Centre closed in 2010. Over the years people have rallied to keep the airport open, but in September, City Council approved a closure date of November 30. Many of the airport’s tenants have found other facilities, however, Stanway says there are some who don’t have anywhere to go and will be forced to go out of business.
“They’re doing the best they can and they’re being a good, strong aviation community and definitely going forward and trying to make the best of a terrible situation, but it has been very, very difficult on the aviation community.”
On December 1, 2013 the Edmonton Regional Airports Authority will place barricades on the remaining runway to prevent access to it, and signal to pilots that it is closed.