Media Advisory: Toronto Port Authority and Canadian War Museum to display historic military artefacts at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

Toronto – The Toronto Port Authority, in co-operation with the Canadian War Museum, will be displaying historic military items from the First and Second World War at the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport beginning Monday, February 22.

The exhibit will be part of a ceremony to open the preview phase of the airport’s new $50-million, 150,000-square-foot passenger terminal:

10:30 a.m.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Toronto Island

The historic artefacts include the full medal collection of Air Marshal William Avery “Billy” Bishop, the First World War fighter pilot who became the top “ace” in the British Empire. Among his numerous honours is the Victoria Cross, the highest military award in the British Commonwealth, which will be on display.

Upon returning from the war, Mr. Bishop, along with fellow air ace and Victoria Cross recipient Billy Barker, helped establish the Port George VI Airport, Toronto’s first airport, in 1939.

Other exhibit items include Canadian tunics and uniforms from various military eras.

Canadian War Museum Director Mark O`Neill will also attend, along with staff members Eric Fernberg and Jason Ginn, to answer any questions related to the military items.

Mr. Bishop’s son, Royal Canadian Air Force Flight Lt. Arthur Bishop (Ret.), will be addressing the ceremony. He was also a fighter pilot in France during the Second World War. He will joined by his daughter Diana Bishop, and his nephew Alex MacKay.

A DVD containing Arthur Bishop’s recent interview regarding his father as a person and his impact on Canada will be made available to the media. The video was produced by Media Monkey Productions Inc. on behalf of the Toronto Port Authority and contains historical footage from Billy Bishop’s life in the military and as a businessman in Toronto. The video will also be available for viewing by the public at www.torontoport.com on Monday, February, 22, 2010.

Also attending the event will be Mary Smith and Mindy Gill, manager and curator respectively, of the Billy Bishop Home and Museum in Owen Sound, Ont.

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For more information contact

Janet MacDonald

(416) 863-2003