CFB Toronto - Avenue Road Detachment: A History

Post Supplied by: Bill Bishop
The following was written by Bruce Forsyth and is used, with his permission, from his web site: Canadian Military History.  With thanks Bruce

Canadian Forces Base Toronto - Avenue Road Detachment:

Originally opened in 1939 as the RCAF Institute of Aviation Medicine, a military laboratory, on the grounds of the Eglington Hunt Club. The Institute's purpose was to conduct secret research on the psychological effects of combat flying. It was here that Dr. Wilbur Franks, under the direction of Sir Frederick Banting, developed the first anti-gravity flying suit and the first human centrifuge for the allied armies. The facility also doubled as the home of No. 1 Initial Training School, who moved here shortly afterwards to train recruits for the war. Administrative offices and barracks were constructed to house the school.

After WWII, the Institute became a Detachment of the newly established RCAF Station Toronto (Downsview).

LAC GARRY W. ALEXANDER (The Prof)

Post Supplied by:  Garry (The Prof) Alexander

THEN & NOW

THEN ....

DOB: 23rd February 1940

Dates of service: 400 Squadron Aero Engine Tech
17th April 1953 TO 20th February 1963
14th November 1963 TO 28th February 1965





....AND NOW
Married 11th November 1966
Wife: Susan (Sue) nee Paterson

Two Daughters

Tara Magnuson (Steve) (Dublin, CA,USA)
Granddaughter: Isabel, Grandson: Alexander

Amanda Mclean (Troy) (Pitt Meadows,BC)
Granddaughters: Makena & Kali

WHAT HAPPENED TWEEN THEN AND NOWI was transferred out west to Edmonton, Albert 7th February 1966, by Weil-McLain a boiler manufacturer and worked as an area manager for them until 1978.
I joined an agency selling heating equipment for a short while, but left them to be heating manager for Crane Supply, a plumbing and heating wholesaler in Edmonton.
After 13 years I worked for another agency for a couple of years and eventually left them to start my own agency which I ran for 4 years.
I then joined Western Supplies, a wholesaler in Edmonton after they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.
After 3 years (to the day) I was re-engineered and decided to retire.
Presently I work part time for Weathermakers Ltd., a local HVAC contractor selling system corrections and upgrades to existing hydronic (hot water) heating systems.
I’m a past president of the Northern Albert chapter of the American Society of heating, refrigeration and air-conditioning engineers (1990-91).
I’m a life member of the Alberta Hydronics Advisory Council, an organization that was started to address the problems in installations of hydronic heating systems, and am a full member of the Kingsway Legion here in Edmonton.
My present job allows me to visit my grandkids at a moment’s notice, which my wife and I do often. It’s nice to go to Dublin, just outside of San Francisco, California and Pitt Meadows, British Columbia where the kids are living. We also visit our families in Ontario once a year.

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