The Brandon Air Museum — formally the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum — is moving ahead with a major redesign of its historic Second World War hangar, selecting a company to lead the project’s design‑build phase. The redevelopment, expected to cost about $15 million, aims to stabilize the aging structure and could include construction of a new half‑hangar dedicated to aircraft restoration.
The museum shared details of the evaluation process and outlined next steps during a special members’ meeting on August 19, where attendees were invited to offer input on future space needs, preservation priorities and long‑term planning. The chosen proponent will now begin work on addressing the hangar’s significant structural issues — including a cracking, heaving concrete floor and damaged wooden roof trusses. Temporary support beams installed in 2023 have limited aircraft movement inside the building, underscoring the urgency of the overhaul.
The hangar, built in 1940–41, has faced mounting challenges in recent years. The museum was forced to close for eight months in 2022 due to roof problems, reopening in June 2023 after emergency repairs. A $1.6‑million gift from the late John Balushak, a retired engineer and longtime museum member, helped launch the redevelopment effort. Leadership capacity also grew with the hiring of Zoe McQuinn as the museum’s first director general in July 2025.
A National Historic Site, the Brandon Air Museum houses Canada’s largest collection of flying Second World War trainer aircraft. Community feedback gathered at the August 19 meeting will help shape the next phase of the redevelopment as the museum works to preserve its heritage while modernizing its facilities.
