FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West
Retired Ormstown farmer and Macdonald College graduate Peter Finlayson says it is his wish that a $1-million donation he and his wife have made to the Montreal Aviation Museum in Ste. Anne de Bellevue inspires the public to be more interested in the museum and aviation.
“The most rewarding part (about the donation) is that it stimulates other donors and interest in the museum,” Finlayson, 82, said in an interview. “We are so lucky to have that museum on the Macdonald campus.”
Opened in 1998 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Canada’s and Quebec’s aeronautical heritage, it is the only museum of its kind in the province that preserves the civil and military aviation heritage of Quebec and the rest of Canada. It also honours men and women who, through their aircraft and events, positioned aviation as a key contributor to our socioeconomic development.
The museum, meanwhile, marked a milestone last Wednesday when Finlayson and his wife, Eleanor, attended a special ceremony where the Peter and Eleanor Finlayson Education and Conference Centre was officially opened by museum president Chandra Madramootoo.
Madramootoo praised the Finlaysons for their $1-million gift, saying it allowed for the renovated wing of the museum to launch its Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) aviation and space education program.
Madramootoo also announced plans for the expansion of the museum with a $2.1-million donation from businessman and philanthropist Lorne Trottier.
“The old stone barn found new life as an aviation museum in 1999,” Madramootoo said. “Within its expanse, we can inform and educate the public through displays and workshops about important milestones of Canadian aerospace history. We appreciate the support from McGill University and, of course, our donors, benefactors, volunteers and visitors to make this place a Montreal aviation enthusiasts’ reality.”
Finlayson, who graduated from the Macdonald College’s agricultural program in 1963, told The 1510 West that while the museum has unfortunately had a low profile for too long, he said it’s time more people outside the Macdonald campus got to know about it.
“A museum should not only be a place to help us remember the days of old. It should also invite next generations to learn from the past and explore future possibilities. My wife and I are delighted with the museum initiative to bring an active STEAM program into the new center,” he said.
Finlayson said the idea to make a donation came to him after an impromptu visit in 2022 of the museum with his wife and granddaughter, who just graduated from John Abbott College. While he was very familiar with the barns and the campus, Finlayson said he was very curious to see what the museum was all about and requested a tour.
“I had a tour one time and was very impressed with what I had seen, so I went back a few more times,” he said. “I am not an aviation buff by any means, but the old building attracted me and my wife. So I said: ‘Let’s help them out.’”
“So I reached out to the folks at the museum, and I mentioned that number, $1 million, and I said: ‘Hey, I’d like to make a donation.’”
Lac-Saint-Louis MP Francis Scarpaleggia said he was impressed with the expansion activities taking place at the museum, adding that a lot of the credit must go to the teams of volunteers who upkeep the exhibits. He added that the Finlaysons’ gift is a huge boost for the future of the museum.
“Congratulations to all the museum volunteers and to executive director Jim Killin for whom the museum’s continuous evolution is a true labour of love,” Scarpaleggia said.
Finlayson agreed, saying the tireless work of volunteers has been the key to the museum’s success and excellent reputation.
“Their vision is fantastic, they keep acquiring these relics of planes from assorted places and yet the volunteers have the expertise to repair and turn those planes into new planes,” he said. “We don’t want to lose them. We are so lucky to have them.”