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Visitors Get Behind the Scenes at Billy Bishop Airport

27/05/2017

On May 27, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport welcomed more than 6,500 visitors through its doors to tour the airport as part of Doors Open Toronto, presented by Great Gulf. This marks the second year that Billy Bishop Airport participated in the city-wide event showcasing Toronto’s buildings, heritage, culture and architecture.

This year’s Doors Open Toronto theme “Fifteen Decades of Canadian Architecture” is part of the larger citywide “TO Canada with Love” celebration, which is being held in honour of Canada’s 150th birthday. As part of this celebration, Billy Bishop Airport showcased more than 75 years of providing aviation services to the city of Toronto, including serving as a training base for both the Royal Canadian and Royal Norwegian air forces during WWII. Visitors can explored and enjoyed:

  • Billy Bishop Airport’s award-winning, underwater pedestrian tunnel as well as the mainland pavilion and island atrium;
  • the airport’s fire hall and maintenance facility, which included the opportunity for kids of all ages to explore the airport’s state-of-the-art safety vehicles;
  • Ornge aircraft and their facilities that provide Medevac emergency services;
  • a historical photography exhibit depicting images of the airport;
  • a visit from Juliet and Sam — a falcon and a hawk who play a role in the airport’s wildlife management program. 

Since it opened in 1939, Billy Bishop Airport has served as an important commercial aviation centre, a training ground for both the Royal Canadian and Royal Norwegian Air Forces during World War I, a hub for General Aviation and Medevac services, and as a key driver of Toronto’s economy. The airport is now the ninth-busiest airport in Canada serving 2.5 million passengers each year travelling to and from more than 20 destinations in Canada and the United States.

Learn more about the event here.