Historic site and person crucial to the Second World War Effort and national development
Thunder Bay, Ontario, June 28, 2012 -- On behalf of the Honourable Peter Kent, Canada's Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Ms. Eve Adams, Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Brampton South, today unveiled two Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaques commemorating Elsie MacGill as a person of national historic significance and the Canadian Car &s; Foundry as a National Historic Site of Canada.
"Canadian Car &s; Foundry employed thousands of men and women in the production of close to 2300 fighter planes for Allied efforts during the Second World War. Elsie MacGill oversaw the design of the famous Hawker Hurricane. This 'Queen of the Hurricanes,' paved the way for women's acceptance into professional engineering ranks and contributed immeasurably to aircraft design and international air-worthiness regulations," said Ms. Adams.
The ceremony was held today at the Bombardier facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the site of the former "Can Car" plant, where Elsie MacGill worked as a senior engineer during the Second World War. Can Car represents a watershed period in Canadian history, in which thousands of women gained new skills and confidence that would carry them into a changing post-war workplace and society.
"Our Government is committed to celebrating places and people in Canadian history that are of profound importance to our national character and unique identity, like the iconic Canadian Car &s; Foundry in Thunder Bay, Ontario and its wartime aeronautical engineer, Dr. Elsie MacGill," said Minister Kent. "They made significant contributions to national security, innovative new technologies, and the development of our great country."
Created in 1919 and supported by Parks Canada, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Government of Canada, through the Minister of the Environment, regarding the national historic significance of places, people and events that have marked Canada's history. Parks Canada manages a nation-wide network of national historic sites that make up the rich tapestry of Canada's cultural heritage and which offers visitors the opportunity for real and inspiring discoveries.
For additional information, please see the accompanying backgrounder at www.parkscanada.gc.ca under Media Room.
