Harvey Friesen, former CEO of Bearskin Airlines, passed away in 2014. (Photo: Wings, ATAC)

Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame announced the nomination of four individuals and an operational command of the Royal Canadian Air Force for its 2023 induction class.

The 2023 induction will include Harvey Friesen, former owner of Bearskin Airlines; Dr. Gary Gray, who had been involved with the medical progress of the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadian Space Agency for more than 50 years; Keith Hopkinson of Hopkinson Aircraft Sales; and Second World War pilot Ken Lett.

The 1 Canadian Air Division of the Royal Canadian Air Force has been named as the 2023 recipient of The Belt of Orion Award for Excellence.

The induction ceremony, which will mark Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame’s (CAHF) 50th anniversary, will be held on September 14, 2023, at Sunwest Aviation in Calgary. Over its five decades of operation, CAHF has honoured the accomplishments of 248 individuals and 26 organizations representing the best of Canadian aviation and aerospace.

CAHF also announced Colonel Chris Hadfield as its keynote speaker for the 50th anniversary event. Hadfield, a highly decorated astronaut, engineer, fighter pilot, musician, and author, was inducted as a Member into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 2005.