Mr. George Maurice Evans, C.D. (April 16, 1927 - December 13, 2020)

"Presented to George Evans in recognition of 58 years of participation and contribution to the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. George was chosen for his very first flying scholarship in 1946. He served as a glider pilot on the first familiarization program in Penhold in 1969 and as an instructor on the first glider pilot scholarship in 1967. George is truly one of the builders of the Air Cadet Flying Program in Manitoba and the Prairie Region and continues to contriblute today. Thanks for putting the "air" in Air Cadets!"

George Evans began his career in the cadet organization with the Army Cadet Corps at Brandon Junior High in 1939. He attended an Army Cadet camp at Sandy Hook Manitoba. He joined the #82 Brandon Collegiate Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in 1942.

George attended summer camps at #12 SFTS at Brandon in 1943 and Souris SFTS in 1944. He was chosen to participate in the first Glider Scholarship program, on the single seat SGS 1-119 glider at Chater Manitoba in 1945 and in 1946 was chosen for the first Flying Scholarship on the Tiger Moth aircraft at the Brandon Flying Club.

After graduating as a WO1 in 1946 George continued to serve as an instructor with #82 Squadron and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in 1953.

George left Brandon in 1956 to pursue a career in Air Traffic Control. His first posting as an Air Traffic Controller was in Fort William where he worked as an instructor with #66 Fort William Squadron. When he transferred to Winnipeg in 1957 he joined #573 Legion 141 Squadron. In 1958 the Air Cadet League asked George participate in the reactivation of the Gordon Bell School Squadron as #191 West Winnipeg Rotary Squadron. George served as Administration Officer and served as Commanding Officer from 1980 to 1986, during which the Squadron received the award as the Most Improved Squadron in Manitoba.

George was promoted to Major in 1985 and has received the CD and Bar. He retired from #191 Squadron in 1986 and joined the Manitoba Provincial Committee of the Air Cadet League.

George has a long history of contribution to the Air Cadet Gliding Program. He served as a glider pilot for the first familiarization program in Penhold in 1965. He was chosen as an instructor for the first Glider Pilot Instructor Course, also in Penhold, in 1967 and 1968. He received a letter of Commendation for his skill and assistance in developing the course.

George served as the first Operations Officer and Chief Instructor for the Manitoba Gliding Program, which operated at CFB Portage, as well as airports closer to squadrons such as Brandon, Dauphin, Rivers, Neepawa and Manitou. While George was in charge of operations Manitoba achieved a perfect flying record. As long as his health allowed he continued to serve as Manitoba Air Cadets as Chairman of the Air Operations Committee and active member of the Air Cadet League of Canada (Manitoba)

George was awarded the Air Cadet League of Canada (Manitoba) Distinguished Service Award in 2009 and an Air Cadet League of Canada Presidential Citation in 2010 for his lifetime of service to air cadets.

George was also active in the Shrine, the Western Canada Aviation Museum and served President of the Manitoba Soaring Council.

George Evans passed away December 13, 2020.