Page 62 - Demo

Trans-Canada Air Pageant, South Bend (one of four U.S. stopovers), July 6, 1931.Backstamp, Rochelle Park, New Jersey, July 7, 1931The first Trans-Canada Air Pageant began on July 1, 1931, and ended on September 12. Under the leadership of T.M. %u201cPat%u201d Reid, the planes followed the circuit of the previous 1930 Ford Reliability Tour. Twenty-nine Canadian cities, along with four in the U.S., were on the schedule, although the itinerary was modified as the tour progressed. In just over two-and-a-half months, the Pageant staged 26 air shows for about a half-million spectators. Beginning in Hamilton, Ontario, the air show%u2019s pilots went on to Windsor. From there they made stopovers in the American cities of South Bend, IN, Madison, WI, and Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. Next, they headed west, stopping at eight Canadian cities including Winnipeg, Manitoba; Regina and Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, as well as Calgary, Alberta. On July 22, the planes reached the Pacific coast, arriving in Vancouver, British Columbia for the local airport%u2019s dedication. Three days later, the pilots reversed course and flew back east, visiting four more Canadian cities including Edmonton, Alberta and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Their next destination was Montreal, Quebec, where they set down on August 14. After leaving on the 16th, the air fleet had an overnight stop in Quebec City, then they flew toward the Atlantic Ocean, where the planes landed at five cities in the Maritime Provinces, the last of which was Halifax, Nova Scotia. Returning once again to Ontario, additional stops were made in Kingston, Kitchener, and St. Catherines. Even though another U.S. city had not been scheduled, the planes then headed south once more and took part in the Cleveland Air Races on September 4. Flying back to Ontario, this time to Toronto, the Pageant%u2019s participants were warmly welcomed on September 6-8. Finally, their last stop was at the airport where it had all begun%u2014Hamilton, Ontario%u2014on September 12. Because of Pageant%u2019s great success, three additional pageants took place over the next three years.