Weyburn Airport celebrates new gate

The Weyburn Airport has a brand new electronic gate. It was unveiled at an event this morning.

The bright yellow gate guards the entrance to the airport and operates electronically to be raised and lowered. Chair of the Airport Board, Dick Michel, said the installation of the gate was made possible years sooner than it would have been others through donations from the families of Tom Kerr and George Steer in memory of the two men. Together, the two families donated $25,000.

"The Airport Board thanks these people so much for their generosity and passion they have shown with their gesture of goodwill they have shown to the City of Weyburn. This means so much to us," said Michel. He also thanked Christine Paul for all her labours organizing the project.

Tom Kerr was on the Airport Board for about 20 years and managed the airport for a time as well. Steer was on the board for four years but had a hanger and spent time at the airport for nearly 30 years.

"He was quite involved," said Michel of Steer. "And the story goes he and Tom were very close friends and if you can see the insignia on the gate when you come in it speaks for itself."

Steer's daughter, Shari Adams, said the family chose to make the donation to honour their father because he loved the airport.

"George would be very pleased," said Adams of the new gate. "I know he had talked about it years ago when he was still alive. (...) We just wanted to make sure that his memory was still alive and he spent a great deal of time here and he loved the Weyburn Airport. This was one of his favourite places in the world."

Adams remembers spending time at the airport and flying with her father as a child but said it was also his personal hobby.

"When he disappeared, we knew where he went. He came here to the Weyburn Airport and putz around. Even if he wasn't flying he was shining his plane," she said.