New Wing Headquarters Officially Opens Doors

By Angela Johnston

CWO Parent gives the command to the three members of the flag party to raise the flags for the grand opening of the New Head Quarters Building # 137 , 17 Wing Winnipeg. Photo by Cpl Bern LeBlanc

17 WING WINNIPEG--After years of planning and an at times uncertain future, 17 Wing Winnipeg opened its new Wing headquarters with much fanfare. The new $7.5 million building, dedicated to Group Captain Basil Deacon Hobbs, opened both on time and on budget.

Winnipeg South Centre Liberal MP Anita Neville, representing the Government of Canada, noted that the new Wing Headquarters and office facility would allow for the consolidation of the critically overcrowded Wing and 1 Canadian Air Division headquarters.

17 Wing Commander Col Steff Kummel said that there was an outstanding need for the new facility on base. “We now have a headquarters from which we can focus our energies,” said Col Kummel. He said that the improved functionality of the building, with improved ergonomics and new conference rooms, would improve productivity and morale on base.

The new building houses all elements of the Wing Headquarters, Wing Comptroller, Director Civilian Human Resource Service Centre (Prairies) and the Regional Cadet Support Unit (Prairie) Headquarters.”
The headquarters is dedicated to the second most highly decorated pilot in Canada, Group Captain Basil Deacon Hobbs. He was the first commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force in Winnipeg, and the only pilot of the first long-range air survey in Canada over northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

G/C Hobbs’ grandson—also named Basil—was on hand at the opening ceremonies. Of his grandfather, he said, “I think he would have been proud and very appreciative of the men and women who service, and have served, this country.”

Hobbs is now penning a book on his grandfather’s life and history. During the opening ceremonies, the Hobbs family presented the Wing Commander with a glossy black and white photo of G/C Hobbs with King George, signed by the King. It is very rare for royalty to sign photographs.

After speeches by dignitaries, there was a ribbon cutting and official flag raising at the headquarters. VIPs received a tour of the facilities. The new headquarters was designed with an executive purpose in mind—there are sleek metallic lines and glass. With an Air Force use in mind, there is, of course, lots of sky blue paint.

The total consolidation project at 17 Wing Winnipeg has totaled over $47 million. It aimed to create a smaller footprint for the Wing in the city. While there once were two sites, there is now one. This is the third building constructed in the past two years—the other two included the recent construction of a new Logistics complex, which opened in May.

Headquarters for army reservist 38 Canadian Brigade Group will now occupy Bldg 86— the old Wing headquarters building—following a minor renovation.