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Canada's Pioneer Airlines

In February 1926, J.V. Elliot and Harold Farrington, each flying a Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny", made the first in a series of passenger flights from here to the isolated Red Lake mining district. The following month, a Curtiss "Lark" flown by H.A. ("Doc") Oaks inaugurated a regular service from Sioux Lookout to Red Lake. That December, Oaks organized Western Canada Airways, whose aircraft were based at Hudson. One of the earliest airlines in Canada, it was the first to maintain year-round operations. With its predecessors and with Starratt Airways, organized here in 1932 by R.W. Starratt, it laid the groundwork for commercial aviation in Canada and greatly stimulated northern development.

Location

Near the Hudson Community Centre, Main Steet, Hudson - west of Sioux Lookout on Highway 664

Region: Northern Ontario

County/District: District of Kenora

Municipality: Municipality of Sioux Lookout

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