Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On December 15, 2011, the Hay River Airport was renamed in recognition of Hay River pioneer, long-time Hay River resident Merlyn Carter.
After acquiring his pilot’s licence at 17, Merlyn moved from Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, to the West Channel in Hay River to assist his parents with their commercial fishery. He later started Carter Air Services Limited, which he operated for 40 years. Merlyn was instrumental in assisting dozens of young men to start as pilots, including Joe McBryan, Perry Linton, Darcy Fleming and others who had successful lifetime aviation careers.
For decades, Carter’s floats- and skis-equipped aircraft provided vital air services to communities around the Great Slave Lake and as far north as the Arctic Ocean when many of the settlements had no airports. Merlyn’s fondness for the Aboriginal people in the NWT grew, as his many associations with them over the years grew as well.
On April 4, 2005, Merlyn and his wife Jean were recognized as honourary lifetime members of Northern Air Transportation Association for their contribution to aviation in the Canadian North. Sadly, on June 15, 2005, Merlyn was killed by a black bear at Nonacho Lake while preparing his tourism fishing camp for the summer season.
On June 3, 2008, Merlyn and Jean were inducted into the Canadian Tourism Hall of Fame, at a ceremony in Ottawa, for their contribution in the pioneering tourism in Canada’s North. His lifelong contribution to aviation and tourism in the Northwest Territories helped to open Canada’s North so that others could enjoy its beauty.
He was among the best-natured people we knew. Merlyn is affectionately remembered by all who had the pleasure to know him. On Friday my colleague Mrs. Groenewegen and myself will join the Minister of Transportation in an official ceremony with the Carter family in Hay River.
Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
