De Havilland Canada officially broke ground on its new aircraft manufacturing facility on Friday afternoon, marking a significant milestone for the rapidly growing aviation sector in the Calgary region. The ceremony took place at De Havilland Field, located 11 kilometres west of Strathmore in Wheatland County, a sprawling 1,500-acre site that will eventually house an aerodrome and facilities for manufacturing, assembly, research and development, education, and distribution.
A New Chapter for De Havilland
Sherry Brydson, owner of De Havilland, addressed the crowd of employees gathered for the groundbreaking, emphasizing the historic nature of the occasion. “We’re beginning maybe two years early, because we don’t turn 100 until 2028, but we’re beginning a new chapter — the next 100 years in De Havilland history,” she said. Brydson highlighted that the first structures to be built on the site will be the parts manufacturing facility and the warehouse and distribution centre.
Rebuilding Canada’s Aviation Industry
Brydson framed the project as part of a broader effort to revitalize Canada’s aviation industry, aligning with the prime minister’s call to enhance domestic manufacturing. “You’re part of rebuilding Canada’s aviation industry, and in doing so we’re answering our prime minister’s call to build Canada better,” she stated. “This isn’t a political message, it just so happens that we agree with our prime minister that we need more manufacturing, and we need it now. We’re bringing literally billions of dollars into the Canadian economy and spreading it around, and you are an important part of rebuilding the Canadian economy.”
Job Creation and Economic Impact
First announced in 2022, the project is expected to generate substantial employment opportunities. Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Minister Joseph Schow noted that the facility could support up to 3,000 jobs. “For a long time, Alberta has been known as an oil and gas province,” Schow said. “That’s not going to change, but there’s so much more that we have to offer in sectors like aviation, aerospace and advanced manufacturing.” He described De Havilland Field as one of the largest aviation investments Canada has ever seen, citing recent announcements from companies like Lufthansa Technik and CAE as evidence that Alberta is an excellent place to invest. “But it was the leadership and the vision from De Havilland that blazed a trail in Alberta … putting us on the map and making us a true hub for aerospace and aviation, and that is something to be proud of,” he added.
Local Growth and Opportunities
Wheatland County Reeve Scott Klassen expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating that De Havilland’s decision to build in the region represents a vision for growth and opportunity. “De Havilland’s decision to locate here in Wheatland County is significant. It strengthens our role in Canada’s aviation and manufacturing sector, and reinforces that Wheatland County is well positioned for opportunities like this,” Klassen said. He outlined the dual benefits of the investment: in the short term, it will generate jobs through construction activity, and in the long term, it is expected to support a substantial number of permanent skilled positions, creating opportunities for people to build careers closer to home.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by De Havilland employees and officials, marking the beginning of a project that promises to have a lasting impact on the region’s economy and the Canadian aviation industry as a whole.
