'We'll always remember him': 15 Wing Moose Jaw pays tribute to veteran with funeral flyover
Royal Canadian Air Force base 15 Wing Moose Jaw paid tribute to WWII veteran Allen (Al) Cameron with a memorial flyover at his funeral Thursday.
Cameron was the last remaining WWII veteran in Moose Jaw when he passed away on Aug. 29 at the age of 98.
“He was a special guy,” said his son, Brett.
From singing ‘Oh Canada’ at Warriors’ games to being a staple at 15 Wing, Al has left a hole in the hearts of the community.
However, for Brett, it is the places they went together he will remember most.
“We were in Europe for three years as a result of him being in the forces,” he recalled. “We travelled the country from coast to coast.”
“It was an upbringing most kids don’t get,” Brett added.
Al spent 26 years in the RCAF as a mechanic, and spent time during WWII in Britain, Italy and other parts of Europe before returning to Moose Jaw and 15 Wing.
“He tried civilian life and didn’t like it,” Brett laughed. “He tried for about six months then had enough and went right back into the military.”
Playing in every band or singing in every choir, Al found his greatest joy through music.
He even founded a saxophone trio, called the ‘Bad Boys.’
“Music was very special to him,” Brett said.
Allen had a deep connection to the RCAF base, especially in his later years.
Although he lived so close, Marlene Shillingford, 2 Canadian Air Division Chief Warrant Officer said Allen had lost his connection to the air force, so the base reintegrated him into their operations.
“Last year, we invited him to pin wings on newly graduates,” said Shillingford. “He’s attended most of our graduations. He was present for the change of command.”
“We will always remember him,” she added.
At his funeral, 15 Wing paid tribute to Allen with a memorial flyover.
Brett said as the planes flew by, a tear came to his eye.
“It was exciting,” he added. “The base made his last years very special.”
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
U.S. assassination attempt charges 'confirm' Trudeau's claims about India had 'real substance,' former national security advisers say
The indictment of an Indian national for the attempted assassination of a Sikh separatist and dual U.S.-Canadian national 'validates' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations that the Indian government may have been involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen as having 'real substance,' according to two of Canada's former national security advisers.
'Big, dark canvas of despair': Rick Hansen speaks on how his mindset changed after being paralyzed
Rick Hansen's life changed the day he was told he'd never walk again, but instead of letting his disability stand in his way, he became an advocate for accessibility rights and a Paralympic Athlete. Here's how that happened.
Sandie Rinaldo: Rick Hansen marks the 50th anniversary of his life-changing accident by visiting the scene
Rick Hansen lost the use of his legs in a truck accident when he was just 15 years old, CTV National News anchor, Sandie Rinaldo interviewed him recently while visiting the place where his life changed irrevocably.
Search for runaway kangaroo in Ontario continues
The search continues for the kangaroo that is hopping around somewhere in Ontario after it escaped zoo handlers from a transport truck Thursday night.
7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes off the southern Philippines and a tsunami warning is issued
A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Saturday off the cost of the southern Philippines island of Mindanao and Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning.
'Every tool at our disposal': Lawyers submit amended application to challenge Sask. pronoun legislation
LGBTQ2S+ advocates are not backing down in their legal fight against the Sask. Party’s Parents’ Bill of Rights, submitting an amended application against the legislation on Friday evening.
Amid housing crisis, decrepit N.L. jail seen as preferable to living on the street
Michael Keough has to pause in the middle of his phone call from Newfoundland and Labrador's largest jail to cough and wipe his eyes -- there's black mould on the wall where the phones are, he explains, and it irritates him after a while.
Israeli offensive shifts to crowded southern Gaza, driving up death toll despite evacuation orders
Israel pounded targets in the crowded southern half of the Gaza Strip on Saturday and ordered more neighborhoods designated for attack to evacuate, driving up the death toll even as the United States and others urged it to do more to protect Gaza civilians a day after a truce collapsed.
Protester critically injured after setting self on fire outside Israeli consulate in Atlanta
A protester was in critical condition Friday after setting themself on fire outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta, authorities said. A security guard who tried to intervene was also injured.
Saskatoon
-
'Screaming for help': Saskatoon man injured saving family from dog attack
An evening stroll for a Saskatoon man and his three children quickly turned violent, when two Pit bull dogs aggressively approached and attacked them on Wednesday in the Holiday Park neighbourhood.
-
Saskatoon business says rise in 'incidents' in Pleasant Hill reason for planned closure
The CEO of a financial institution that’s closing its doors next year says a rise in frequency and severity of incidents in the Pleasant Hill community where the building is located is the main reason for the planned closure.
-
'Every tool at our disposal': Lawyers submit amended application to challenge Sask. pronoun legislation
LGBTQ2S+ advocates are not backing down in their legal fight against the Sask. Party’s Parents’ Bill of Rights, submitting an amended application against the legislation on Friday evening.
Winnipeg
-
Winnipeg casino workers vote in favour of strike
Members of Unifor Local 144 working at Winnipeg's three casinos have voted in favour of potential strike action if they can't sign a new contract by the end of this month.
-
Manitoba government expands planned gas-tax holiday after criticism
The Manitoba government is broadening its plan for a fuel tax holiday after receiving criticism from farm groups, snowmobilers and the Opposition Progressive Conservatives.
-
7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes off the southern Philippines and a tsunami warning is issued
A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Saturday off the cost of the southern Philippines island of Mindanao and Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning.
Calgary
-
Michigan regulators approve $500M pipeline tunnel project under channel linking 2 Great Lakes
Michigan officials approved a $500 million plan Friday to encase in a protective tunnel a portion of an aging oil pipeline that runs beneath a channel connecting two Great Lakes, leaving just one more regulatory hurdle for the contentious project.
-
Sold-out crowd donates close to 4K teddy bears, 1K toques as Hurricanes drop 3-1 decision to Blades in Lethbridge
The Lethbridge Hurricanes collected close to 4,000 teddy bears and almost 1,000 toques but not a victory Friday as they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Saskatoon Blades at Enmax Centre.
-
At COP28 meeting, oil companies pledge to combat methane. Environmentalists call it a 'smokescreen'
Fifty oil companies representing nearly half of global production have pledged to reach near-zero methane emissions and end routine flaring in their operations by 2030, the president of this year's United Nations climate talks said Saturday, a move that environmental groups called a 'smokescreen.'
Edmonton
-
1 person in serious condition after being struck by semi at Gasoline Alley
One person is in serious condition after being struck by a semi-truck on the QE II Highway at Gasoline Alley Friday, just south of Red Deer.
-
Devon, Alta., town council will seek to disqualify Anita Fisher following jail sentence
An elected official for the Town of Devon should be kicked out of her council seat, the town's mayor said Friday, the day after she was sentenced to 120 days in jail.
-
At COP28 meeting, oil companies pledge to combat methane. Environmentalists call it a 'smokescreen'
Fifty oil companies representing nearly half of global production have pledged to reach near-zero methane emissions and end routine flaring in their operations by 2030, the president of this year's United Nations climate talks said Saturday, a move that environmental groups called a 'smokescreen.'
Toronto
-
Search for runaway kangaroo in Ontario continues
The search continues for the kangaroo that is hopping around somewhere in Ontario after it escaped zoo handlers from a transport truck Thursday night.
-
WATCH LIVE
WATCH LIVE Who are the Ontario Liberal leadership candidates and what did they promise?
Here's what the Ontario Liberal Party leadership candidates promised over the last 8 months.
-
One dead, one in hospital after vehicle crashes into Lake Ontario
A man is dead and another is in hospital after a vehicle crashed into Lake Ontario early on Saturday morning.
Ottawa
-
Man rescued from Rideau Canal in critical condition
Ottawa Fire Services says a man was rescued from the Rideau Canal Saturday morning.
-
A snowy weekend in Ottawa with a storm on the way
It's a snowy start to the weekend in Ottawa with a few centimetres in the forecast for Saturday and more coming at the start of the work week.
-
First-degree murder charge laid in connection with missing person case in Sharbot Lake, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police have announced a murder charge in connection with a missing person case in Sharbot Lake.
Vancouver
-
Sole survivor of Sea to Sky Highway crash on how faith, community are helping her unimaginable grief
Iris Paguia-Portillo was in the front passenger seat, and her brother James and two-year-old daughter Natalia in the back seat on their late night drive home from a church gathering on Nov. 26. Just 20 minutes from their Whistler home, she heard her husband Josefat Portillo scream as their car hit black ice and struck a tree.
-
City of Coquitlam requiring developer to hire 3rd-party engineer after shoring wall collapse
The City of Coquitlam has ordered the developer behind a construction project on Foster Avenue that suffered a catastrophic, caught-on-camera collapse Wednesday to hire a third-party geotechnical engineer as it works to remediate the site.
-
Highway 1 widening project to take years longer, cost $140M more than expected
Frustration is growing over a major traffic bottleneck on Highway 1 through Langley.
Montreal
-
Ile-aux-Tourtes bridge to be reduced to one lane each way for weeks: MTQ
Traffic on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge will be reduced to one lane in each direction "for several weeks" as of Friday night, Quebec's transport ministry has confirmed. The eastbound portion of the bridge will be completely closed for about an hour starting at 11 p.m. Friday to redirect the lanes.
-
Que. teachers' union to make counter-offer, indefinite strike continues
FAE's indefinite strike will continue. Union heads say they've submitted a counter-offer to Quebec as the widespread education walkout stretched into its seventh day.
-
Non-binary Quebecer ends hunger strike to put 'X' marker on health cards
After 12 days on hunger strike, Alexe Frédéric Migneault feels they have won a round in their battle against Quebec's health insurance board and is ending their fast.
Vancouver Island
-
B.C. police watchdog gets $2M funding boost to hire staff, cut investigation times
The province gave the IIO a $2 million budget lift for this fiscal year to fund 13 new positions, including seven in investigations.
-
Senior makes hundreds of wooden toys for children's charities despite debilitating condition
To appreciate why Lynndon Franz wears a Santa hat in his workshop, we need to go back to that day he got a nail stuck in his eye.
-
Special weather statement warns of high tides on B.C.'s South Coast
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a special weather statement warning of extremely high tides on British Columbia's South Coast this weekend.
Atlantic
-
The 60th Annual Christmas Daddies Telethon
Hosted and produced by CTV on-air and off-air staff, the Christmas Daddies Telethon, with broadcast time donated by CTV, helps provide a better holiday season for some Maritime children.
-
Police investigating report of gunshots in Dartmouth
Halifax Regional Police say they responded to a report of possible gun shots in Dartmouth, Friday night.
-
3 youths arrested after irritant sprayed inside Halifax-area school
Three youths were arrested after an irritant was sprayed Friday morning at a school in the Halifax area.
Northern Ontario
-
How to watch the 2023 CTV Lions Children's Christmas Telethon
Once again, the annual Sudbury tradition of the CTV Lions Children's Christmas Telethon returns Saturday, Dec. 2 and is marking a major milestone with its 75th anniversary this year.
-
One dead, one in hospital after vehicle crashes into Lake Ontario
A man is dead and another is in hospital after a vehicle crashed into Lake Ontario early on Saturday morning.
-
Sudbury Wacky Wings owner ‘heartbroken’ restaurant being expropriated, vows to reopen
While he’s a big supporter of what the city has planned for downtown, the owner of Wacky Wings on Shaughnessy Street says he and his staff are “heartbroken” they are being forced out of their location.
Kitchener
-
Alleged victims speak out after a Waterloo, Ont. man posed as a CSIS agent and scammed women out of millions
Several women have come forward claiming they were victims of a romance scam by a Waterloo, Ont. man. Police believe he allegedly defrauded dozens of women out of more than $2 million over 15 years.
-
Waterloo man considered 'armed and dangerous' arrested after police chase
A man from Waterloo, who was wanted for an armed home invasion, has been arrested following a police chase in Kitchener.
-
Falcon box comes down as CTV tower removed
The transmission tower beside CTV Kitchener’s old station has been fully dismantled.
