Max Ward (bush pilot)
| Max Ward | |
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Max Ward (1989)
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| Born |
Maxwell William Ward 22 November 1921 Edmonton, Alberta |
| Occupation | Aviator, Entrepreneur |
| Spouse(s) | Marjorie Doretha Skelton |
| Children | 4 |
Maxwell "Max" William Ward, OC AOE (born 22 November 1921) is a pioneering Canadian aviator and founder of Wardair airlines, at one time, the third-largest air carrier in Canada.
Max Ward was born 22 November 1921 in Edmonton, Alberta. After completing Grade 11 at Victoria High School in Edmonton, and working at the Canadian National Railways, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1940.
During the Second World War, Ward received his wings on 2 November 1941 and was assigned to training command as an instructor as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. He was stationed at various training bases for the duration of the war. While in Regina, Ward married Marjorie Doretha Skelton in 1944.
In 1946, after leaving the air force, Ward worked at a few other jobs before joining with Jack Moar, who was flying out of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Wishing to start a flying service to the north, Ward purchased a small de Havilland Fox Moth biplane to carry both passengers and freight and started his first company, Polaris Charter Company. When he was unable to obtain a commercial flying licence on his own, he found a partner and established Yellowknife Airways Limited. The skirmish with bureaucracy was the first of many that punctuated Ward's aviation career. This was a short-lived operation that was dissolved in 1949.
After two years in Alberta, including flying for Associated Airways, Ward worked in construction before returning in 1951 to Yellowknife to work for Associated Airways, but he lost his job the next year.
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