Grad Launches Aerospace Defence Museum

Thanks to a Nipissing University history graduate, North Bay’s Canadian Forces Museum of Aerospace Defence has relaunched. The retooled museum opened its doors on July 8, and Curatorial Assistant Bethany Aitchison (BA History 10’) helped get the facility off the ground.Aitchison used the knowledge and skills she acquired at Nipissing to ensure that each artifact and display captured the correct moment in time. “ The small class sizes and the great opportunity of working as a research assistant with Dr. Derek Neal gave me the confidence and skills to complete the task set out for me,” said Aitchison. “I’m very grateful to still have great working relationships with my professors, who I have frequently contacted for historical opinions and advice.”
As you first walk into the museum the displays depict the First World War and the development of flight for military objectives. This is followed by exhibits concentrating on the Second World War and the introduction of radar. Finally, the Cold War is greatly exhibited by artifacts and displays. “North Bay has been the centre of Canadian air defence for 60 years and has a great attachment to this history, so there is a lot of local history here as well,” said Aitchison.
During the grand reopening several of Aitchison’s past professors attended after receiving a personal invitation from her. “Beth is a great role model for all students going through education. She was a wonderful student and is the kind of person that the community should be proud of,” said Kelly Morris, one of Aitchison’s professors.
The chair of the history department, Robin Gendron said that it was “very gratifying to see one of our former students involved in preserving and disseminating Canada's, and North Bay's history, using the skills that she had learned at Nipissing University.”
Although the museum is up and running, Aitchison’s workload will not subside. There are several artifacts that will be added to the museum and she plans to expand the exhibits and make them bilingual. “Things are going to be constantly evolving for the next while. It just means visitors need to keep coming back to check it out!”
If you would like to take a tour of the Museum you can find all of the information online at:http://www.aerospacedefence.ca