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HAY RIVER
For a man who didn't like to receive hefty amount of attention, the renaming ceremony for what was formerly the Hay River Airport would have seemed somewhat gratuitous.

But for those in attendance, they wouldn't have had it any other way. The Hay River Airport was recently renamed after Merlyn Carter, a pioneer Northern aviator, bush pilot and respected community member. Carter died tragically when he was killed by a black bear in 2005.

On Feb. 17, Carter's immediate family, along with the large extended Carter clan, close friends of the family, mayor and councillors milled about the airport waiting for the arrival of

Transportation Minister David Ramsay.

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting commemorating the airport's new name at the airport lobby was followed by the presentation of a commemorative plaque at the Hay River Legion, where an audience of more than 150 people from Hay River and communities around the NWT attended.

"Thinking of my dad he would have thought this all to be completely unnecessary, but it's okay if we disagree with him," said son Dean Carter. "Dad just figured he was a regular pilot. There was no tiered system."

Mayor Kelly Schofield expressed his pride that the airport was being named after a Northern aviator, but one who so positively affected the community and those he worked with.

"His tragic death will not be how he is remembered," said Schofield. "I feel proud to rename the airport after a bush pilot not only for the contributions he's made, but the lives he's touched."

Joe McBryan, owner of Buffalo Airways, said he met Merlyn 50 years ago. Carter took McBryan under his wing.

"It's been 50 years since I started flying out of this airport," said McBryan. "I started with him. I was just a ninth grader with no lunch money, and he took me on and I flew with him. That was 50 years ago, but it may as well have been five months ago.

"One thing he taught me that I learned different in life was that everyone is equal," said McBryan. "That was a constant. Then you get out into the business world and realize there's a hierarchy. But that stuck with me."

George Marlowe, a 73-year-old from Lutsel K'e, braved speaking English, which he said isn't his first language, in order to share his fond memories of Merlyn Carter.

Wife Jean Carter teared up as she spoke of her late husband, relaying that Merlyn's legacy will live on through his family members. Merlyn's father, all of his children and even a few of his grandchildren have sought careers in aviation.

"Flying is a family affair in the North," said Jean.

After speeches were given, photos snapped and the plaque presented to the immediate family, Merlyn's daughter, Kandee Froese, expressed her gratitude toward the honouring of her father. She also told a story that made the event that much more surreal. Froese remembers taking a walk with her grandmother down the road from her home in West Channel, and pointing to an area across the River that in years to come, her grandmother said would become a large airport.

"I would never have thought the airport would be named after my dad one day," said Froese.

Merlyn and his wife were recognized as honorary lifetime members of the Northern Air Transportation Society in April 2005.

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