This post was submitted by Rory M., one of our summer students, who continues his association with the museum even as he is back attending classes at Brandon University. In the museum workshop, beneath the original WWII era chalkboard artifact created by Greenway school in Winnipeg, lies the in progress fuselage of an aircraft known as the Fairey Battle – carefully assembled by thousands of hours of work by dedicated volunteers at the CATPM. While for many, the Battle is not an aircraft associated with WWII such as the sleek Spitfire, reliable Tiger Moth, or imposing Lancaster; the aircraft has an interesting history, and today it is one example of living history at the CATPM.

A late Westman resident left $1.6 million in his will to Brandon’s Second World War air training museum. John Balushak, who died in March 2024 in Treherne at the age of 89, donated the significant…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECommonwealth Air Training Plan Museum Announces Transformative Legacy Gift from the Late John Balushak Brandon, MB — January 9, 2026The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (CATPM) is honoured to announce a remarkable legacy gift of $1.6 million from the late John Balushak, a long-time supporter, life member, and friend of the museum. A retired engineer with Manitoba Hydro, Mr. Balushak passed away on March 22, 2024, at the age of 89. Throughout his life, he combined a love of engineering and aviation with a quiet commitment to preserving Canada’s Second World War history.

Archives volunteer, Lisa, came across a recipe for "war cake", so she made one for us to try at the volunteer lunch this month. To recreate an authentic feel, the story and recipe were written out - by hand! The cake was enjoyed by volunteers. If you try it yourself, please let us know how it went in the comments! At left is a photo of the cake made by Lisa following the war time recipe. Below you can read the story behind the cake and the recipe.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Join Us for Remembrance Day at the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum Brandon, MB — Following morning Remembrance Day ceremonies across the community, the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (CATPM) and RCAF WWII Memorial invite the public to a free Open House on Tuesday, November 11, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. This annual event offers a meaningful way to continue the day’s reflection in a place that honours those who served and trained through the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Visitors are welcome to explore the museum’s exhibits, view historic aircraft, and spend a quiet moment at the RCAF WWII Memorial.

Jeff Bell is responsible for flying eight wartime aircraft in Brandon. The chief pilot at the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Bell leads a team of volunteer pilots who take oldies like the…

Press Release: Brandon, MB – October 2, 2025  The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (CATPM) is excited to announce the acquisition of a Boeing Stearman Kaydet, a legendary training aircra…

Press Release: Brandon, MB - October 2, 2025  The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (CATPM) is excited to announce the acquisition of a Boeing Stearman Kaydet, a legendary training aircraft that played a key role in preparing Allied pilots during the Second World War. This classic biplane adds a new dimension to the Museum’s collection and helps bring to life the stories of courage, innovation, and service that shaped the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). First flown in Wichita, Kansas in 1934, the Stearman quickly became one of the most important training aircraft of the war.

A Brandon University student has uncovered so many unseen photos and untold stories about women who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War that an exhibit is being…

The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (CATPM) and Brandon University’s Public History Program are proud to announce a new collaboration that will shine a spotlight on the overlooked contributions ...

This post was written by Rory M., one of our summer students before he left to return to BU. Rory is a Music major at Brandon University. While they didn’t fly, have capes, gadgets, or coloured ink, for Canadian kids of the 1940s, Canadian-made superheroes lived even larger than the Avengers. Drawn by Canadian artists, printed in Canada, and patriotically fighting battles for Canada against wartime enemies, the “Golden Age of Canadian Comics” was a brief but extraordinary period where Canadian comics filled the newsstands for Canadian children from coast to coast.

Climb aboard four vintage aircraft used to train air and ground crews during WWII under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan

This post was written by Rory M., one of our summer students. Rory is a Music major at Brandon University. Upon the declaration of war by the British and subsequently, Canada, the beginning of the Second World War saw one of the most magnificent construction projects in Canadian history, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). An ambitious and timely project, it included four commonwealth countries (Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand). More than 130,000 aircrew were trained from across the world. Implementing the plan required the rapid construction of airfields, hangars, and living facilities in almost every Canadian province (note: Newfoundland was not yet a part of Canada).

This post was written by Rory M., one of our summer students. Rory is a Music major at Brandon University. While WWII changed the experiences of Canadian life in almost all ways, in Canada and other Allied nations sports remained as an escape from the tragedy of war and became an important morale booster. During this period many athletes enlisted in the war effort, professional leagues adapted to the changing times, and Armed Forces organized sports became an important part of everyday life away from the war, and for increased physical fitness and morale alike.

This post was written by Rory M., one of our summer students. Rory is a Music major at Brandon University. When we consider what life was like in the Second World War, we often imagine the battles, uniforms, and equipment. However, behind every mission, training, and day overseas was something very important: a meal. As Napoleon said, “An army marches on their stomach.” Whether feeding airmen at home, civilian families, or armed forces overseas, food was fuel, and feeding many thousands with limited materials was no small task. A task, accomplished by a lot of potatoes and perseverance.

By CATPM archivist, Judith G. What was once called ‘porridge’ is now called ‘hot cereal’. Developed in 1929 in Alberta, Sunny Boy cereal was a combination of wheat, rye and flax. There is also a suggestion that it was developed in Winnipeg by the Red River Cereal company in 1924 and yet another website suggests Calgary 1943 (though that location and year may have to do with the promotion of the game) Radio was becoming very popular entertainment and advertisers recognizing its potential started promoting their products. It was not unusual for promotional items to be included in the product packaging.

Editor's Note: This is a special guest post by Don Stanton. Don is a retired U.S. Navy pilot who flew long-range P-3C (Aurora) patrol planes and serves on the Maryland Aviation Commission. He published Looking Back at the Cold War; 30 Veterans and a Patrol Plane Commander Remember. In this piece, Don writes about a young American who joined the RCAF and did his training in Virden and in Brandon to earn his wings. We have a small section in the museum dedicated to those US citizens who came to Canada to join and fight in the RCAF.

This is the second post written by one of our summer student workers, Seraphina G., Seraphina is a music student at Brandon University. “We were asked if we carried weapons. I said that I had my clarinet. But you can’t kill a guy with a clarinet.” — Pat Riccio When thinking about the 1940s, the first thing that may come to your mind would be the Second World War, but unbeknownst to many, this era had a rich music history with much emphasis placed on the jazz genre. The events of WWII overlapped with the height of the swing era, the period of jazz that highlighted big bands and upbeat, swung rhythms.

Brandon, MB — The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (CATPM), Canada’s only museum solely dedicated to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and a designated National Historic Site, is proud to announce the appointment of Zoe McQuinn as its new Director General. Zoe brings over two decades of experience in museum leadership, education, and international cultural work. Most recently the Director of Development at the Manitoba Museum, she led major accessibility initiatives, secured funding for transformative capital projects, and championed community-rooted storytelling. She now takes the helm at CATPM to guide the museum through an ambitious, multi-phase redevelopment that includes structural restoration, exhibit renewal, and national partnership-building.