A local man was recently awarded the prestigious Lieutenant Governor's Heritage Award to recognize the restoration of a historic building, which took more than two decades to transform.
Hildor Braun, owner of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, Hangar #3, located at the Swift Current Airport, was presented the award last Wednesday in Regina.
The resident of Swift Current shared that he and his family have owned the wartime hangar since 2001, which is now used regularly by local pilots.
"I started by doing all the windows, which took several years and then repairing some of the structural parts of the interior," said Braun. "During that time, people from the Swift Current Museum put in an application to designate it as a heritage site."
Additionally, the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation matched grant funds to help with much-needed roof repairs.
"It's very, very special to have other people recognize the importance of the building and our history," he said. "For people to remember what it represents and appreciate it is special to me."
According to the City of Swift Current, development for the Swift Current Airport began in 1937 to be used as a stop for Trans Canada Airlines.
As World War Two continued to break out, the Swift Current base was used for training British Commonwealth pilots in the Royal Air Force from 1940 to 1944. The first Trans-Canada Airlines flight from Swift Current was in 1947, while a private airline used the space during the 1950s.
The City of Swift Current's Public Works Department took over operations of the airport from Transport Canada in 1996, and today it is managed by the City's Infrastructure and Operations Department.
"During the war, it was like a small town at the airport, there were seven big buildings like mine there," he added. "This is the only one that's still standing, many of the smaller ones were moved to other locations."
A view of the Swift Current Airport. (Photo courtesy of Neil Braun)
Several of the airbase buildings were repurposed in the community, including the West Wing Gallery and the Lions' Hall.
For more information about the 2025 Lieutenant Governor's Heritage Award, head to www.heritagesask.ca.
