The Trans-Canada Trophy, also known as the McKee Trophy, is awarded by the

Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute is a nonprofit organization for Canadians that are interested in the fields of space, aeronautics, and remote sensing. It seeks to further the cause of science and engineering among the population, and provi ...

to a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

citizen who has made an outstanding, contemporary achievement in aerospace operations, whether a single act within the year prior to the award or a sustained level of performance over a period of several years. The award was founded in 1927 by

James Dalzell McKee James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguati ...

(1893–1927) and is the oldest aviation award in Canada.Sutherland, 1978. p. 7. Aircraft-0050

History

In 1926,

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...

(RCAF) Squadron Leader

Albert Earl Godfrey Air Vice-Marshal Albert Earl "Steve" Godfrey MC (27 July 1890 – 1 January 1982) was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 14 victories while flying for the Royal Flying Corps. He spent the remainder of his ...

and McKee flew together in a

Douglas O-2 The Douglas O-2 was a 1920s American observation aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Development The important family of Douglas observation aircraft sprang from two XO-2 prototypes, the first of which was powered by the 420 hp ...

BS seaplane from

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Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

. During the course of the flight it was decided a "Trans-Canada Trophy" would be created to commemorate the flight. In appreciation of the RCAF and the Ontario Provincial Air Services, McKee presented the trophy, requesting it be awarded each year to the person who best advanced aviation in Canada. McKee also provided an endowment for a replica to be given to each winner. The trophy was deeded to the Crown in the person of the Department of National Defence, which controlled all aspects of aviation at the time, both military and civil.Sutherland, 1978. p. 8. In 1971, the administration of the McKee trophy was transferred to the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute.

Winners

* 1927 Harold Anthony Oaks *, Western Canada Airways * 1928 C.H. Dickins *, Western Canada Airways * 1929 Wilfrid R. "Wop" May *, Commercial Airways * 1930 Squadron Leader

John Henry Tudhope John Henry Tudhope & bar (17 April 1891 - 12 October 1956) was a South African flying ace credited with 10 victories in World War I. After the war, he emigrated to Canada and joined the RCAF. Tudhope surveyed routes for the Trans-Canada Air Line ...

*, Royal Canadian Air Force * 1931

George H Phillips George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presiden ...

*, Ontario Department of Lands and Forests * 1932 Maurice Burbidge *, Edmonton and Norther Alberta Flying Club * 1933 Walter E Gilbert *, Western Canada Airways * 1934 Flight Lieutenant Elmer G Fullerton *, Royal Canadian Air Force * 1935 William M Archibald *, Cominco Flying Service * 1936

Arthur Massey Berry Arthur Massey "Matt" Berry (June 19, 1888 – May 12, 1970) was a pioneering Canadian bush pilot. Early years Born on a farm in March, Ontario, near Ottawa, on June 19, 1888, Arthur Massey (Matt) Berry entered the First World War as a Capt ...

*, Canadian Airways Ltd. * 1937 J.P. Romeo Vachon *, Quebec Air Ltd. * 1938

Philip G. Johnson Philip Gustav Johnson (November 5, 1894 – September 14, 1944) was a pioneer in the manufacturing of airplanes and in the creation and operation of commercial airlines in the United States and Canada. With backgrounds as an engineer and businessma ...

, (Pilots and Engineers, Trans Canada Air Lines) * 1939

Murton A Seymour Murton could refer to: Places *Murton, Cumbria, England * Murton, County Durham, England * Murton, Northumberland, England *Murton, North Yorkshire, England *Murton, Tyne and Wear Murton is a small village situated in Tyne and Wear in the North ...

*, Canadian Flying Clubs Association * 1940

Thomas W Siers Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the Ap ...

*, Canadian Airways Ltd. * 1941 A. Daniel McLean *, Department of Transport * 1942

Thomas Mayne Reid Thomas Mayne Reid (4 April 1818 – 22 October 1883) was an Irish-American novelist, who fought in the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). His many works on American life describe colonial policy in the American colonies, the horrors of slave ...

*, Imperial Oil Ltd. * 1943 Thomas Mayne Reid *, Imperial Oil Ltd. * 1944

John Armistead Wilson John Armistead Wilson CBE (November 2, 1879 – October 10, 1954) was a Scottish-born Canadian engineer and aviation pioneer. Along with Major Clare C. MacLaurin, he was responsible for the formulation of Canada's aviation policy following the First ...

*, Department of Transport * 1945 Grant W.G. McConachie*, Canadian Pacific Airlines * 1946 Group Captain

Zebulon Lewis Leigh Zebulon Lewis "Lewie" Leigh, (19 June 1906 – 22 December 1996) was a Canadian aviator. He never used his first name and was always addressed as "Lewie". Aviation career Leigh was the first pilot to work for Trans Canada Airlines in 1937. ...

*, Royal Canadian Air FOrce * 1947

Bernard A Rawson Bernard (''Bernhard'') is a French and West Germanic masculine given name. It is also a surname. The name is attested from at least the 9th century. West Germanic ''Bernhard'' is composed from the two elements ''bern'' "bear" and ''hard'' "brave ...

*, Trans Canada Air Lines * 1948 Flying Officer Roland Burgess West *, Royal Canadian Air Force * 1949 Dennis K Yorath *, Royal Canadian Flying Clubs Association * 1950 Carl C Agar *, Okanagan Helicopters Ltd. * 1951 Philip C Garratt *, de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. * 1952 Squadron Leader Keith R Greenaway *, Royal Canadian Air Force * 1953 Franklin I. Young *, Trans Canada Air Lines * 1954 Wing Commander Jerauld G Wright *, Royal Canadian Air Force * 1955 Gerald L MacInnis *, Maritime Central Airways * 1956 Wing Commander Robert T Heaslip *, Royal Canadian Air Force * 1957 Wing Commander John G Showler *, Royal Canadian Air Force * 1958

Janusz Żurakowski Janusz Żurakowski (12 September 1914 – 9 February 2004) was a Polish fighter and test pilot. At various times in his life he lived and worked in Poland, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Early life Żurakowski was born in 1914 to Polish paren ...

*, Avro Aircraft Ltd. * 1959 Air Commodore

John Alexander Douglas McCurdy John Alexander Douglas McCurdy (2 August 1886 – 25 June 1961) was a Canadian aviation pioneer and the 20th Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia from 1947 to 1952. Early years Son of inventor Arthur Williams McCurdy and born in Baddeck, Nov ...

*, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia * 1960 Wing Commander Wilson George Leach *, Royal Canadian Air Force * 1961 Welland W Phipps *, Bradley Air Services * 1962 Not Awarded * 1963 Frank MacDougall, Ontario Department of Lands and Forests * 1964-65 Not Awarded * 1966 Philip C Garratt *, de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. * 1967 Lieutenant-Colonel Robert A White *, Canadian Armed Forces * 1968-1972 Not Awarded * 1973 Max W Ward *, Wardair Canada Ltd. * 1974 R.H. Fowler *, de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. * 1975 John A.M. Austin *, Austin Airways * 1976 David C Fairbanks (posthumously), de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. * 1977 Air Vice Marshall (retired)

*, Royal Canadian Air Force * 1978 Colonel R.D. Schultz *, Canadian Armed Forces * 1979-80 Not Awarded * 1981 F.D. Adkins, Canadair Ltd. * 1982 E.N. Ronaasen (posthumously), Canadair Ltd. * 1983 D.H. Rogers *, de Havilland Aircraft Canada Ltd. * 1984 Colonel G.N. Henderson (posthumously), Canadian Armed Forces * 1985 P.Y. Davoud *, Government of Ontario * 1986 T.M. Watt, Alberta Transportation * 1987 S.W. Grossmith *, Transport Canada * 1988 Not Awarded * 1989 G.A. Neal *, de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. * 1990 B. Granley, Echo Bay Mines Ltd. * 1991 S. Graham * (posthumously) * 1992 L. Kerr*, Conair Aviation Ltd. * 1993 Lorna deBlicquy * * 1994 B.J. Wormworth, Transport Canada * 1995 The Hon. Justice Virgil Moshansky, The Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta * 1996 Allan R. Baker, Baker Aviation Services * 1997 Not Awarded * 1998 André O. Dumas, Transport Canada * 1999 John B. Croll, National Research Council of Canada * 2000 Jospeh Fernand "Frank" Henley * * 2001 Mr. Wallace K Warner * 2002 South Pole Rescue Team, Kenn Borek Air Ltd. * 2003 Captain Robert Piché, Air Transat * 2004 William Peppler * 2005 John Maris * 2006 John Aitken, NRC Institute for Aerospace Research * 2007 Captain Gordon Lemon, Canadian Armed Forces * 2008 CF Cormorant, 19 Wing, 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron, Captain Sean Morris, Captain Rob Mulholland, Flight Engineer Cpl Derek Agnew, SAR Tech MCpl Kent Gulliford, and SAR Tech Sgt Yves St. Denis, Canadian Armed Forces * 2009 Mr. Larry Dufraimont, Bombardier Aerospace * 2010 Captain S.C. Mullins, Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre(O) * 2011 Mr. Cameron Robertson and Dr. Todd Reichert, U of T Human-Powered Ornithopter Project * 2012 Mr. David Kroetsch and Dr. Michael Peasgood,

Aeryon Labs Aeryon Labs is a Canadian developer and manufacturer of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Founded in 2007, it is headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario. Aeryon Defense is a wholly owned subsidiary, based in Denver, Colorado, focused on sales and support fo ...

, Inc., The Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute. * 2013 Not awarded * 2014/15 Colonel

Chris Hadfield Chris Austin Hadfield (born August 29, 1959) is a Canadian retired astronaut, engineer, fighter pilot, and musician. The first Canadian to perform extravehicular activity in outer space, he has flown two Space Shuttle missions and also serv ...

*, Canadian Space Agency * 2016/17 Charles Ellis and Andris Litavniks, Bombardier Aerospace * 2018 Kevin W Horton, Contract Test Pilot * 2019 Colonel(retired) Don Matthews * 2020 415 Long Range Patrol Force Development Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force Note: "*" denotes Members of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame

References

Bibliography

* {{cite book , last= Sutherland , first=Alice Gibson , title= Canada's Aviation Pioneers: 50 Years of McKee Trophy Winners , year= 1978 , url=https://archive.org/details/canadasaviationp0000suth, url-access= registration , publisher= McGraw-Hill Ryerson , isbn=0-07-082704-4 Aviation history of Canada Aviation in Canada Canadian awards