SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The city's answer to Charles Lindberg and Howard Hughes, Wardair founder Max Ward, met with the daughter of his former bookkeeper and secretary at the Wardair dock while he was visiting the city last Wednesday. Ruth McKeown was overjoyed to meet the man - now 93 years old - of whom her mother spoke so highly.

Max Ward, 93, left, the founder of Wardair - once the country's largest air charter carrier - met with Ruth McKeown while the famous aviator was visiting Yellowknife last week. McKeown's mother used to work for Ward as an office manager during the airline's earlier years. - photo courtesy of Ruth McKeown

"That was so exciting for me," she said. "I was totally thrilled, and actually a bit choked up. I asked if he remembered my mom, and he did, which is quite remarkable because he'll be 94 on Nov. 22."

McKeown was born after her parents left Yellowknife. She said they raised her as they travelled from town to town in Ontario, helping to build resource towns in the North. Three years ago she settled in Old Town, returning to the city where her parents met - back when Wardair was on its way to becoming a household name. McKeown said her mother has passed away but recalled how she remembered her former employer.

"She said he was a very nice man to work for," said McKeown. "My mom looked after the office for him, and all the bookings."

Ward was born in 1922 in Edmonton and after joining the Royal Canadian Airforce in 1940 he served in training command during the Second World War. He made his way to Yellowknife in 1946 and began brainstorming a plan to form an airline. After at least one failed attempt, he formed Wardair in 1952 and began operations in June, 1953, using one de Havilland Twin Otter. They expanded and began serving the trans-Atlantic charter market in 1962 and started flying jets in 1966. By the mid-1970s, the airline had grown to be Canada's largest international air charter carrier.

Rapid expansion and other problems plagued the airline after it changed from charter to scheduled service in 1986. The company was sold to Canadian Airlines in 1989.

McKeown said she didn't get too much time to talk with Ward since he was on his way to an appointment that afternoon. The famous aviator was only in town briefly before returning to his camp - Red Rock - located about 400 kilometres north of the city. But, she said, when she mentioned her mother's name he spun around and pointed at the old office at the Wardair dock.

"He turned around and pointed and said, 'Yup, that's where she worked in the office, and she looked after things,'" she said. "So that was very exciting for me."

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