New Terminal - Collingwood Regional Airport - photo by Paul Richards

The Collingwood Regional Airport continues to spread its wings. Many factors including recent runway upgrades, new hangars and the announcement that Toronto's Buttonville Airport will close are all contributing to what should be another good year of growth at the local facility.

In the Collingwood Regional Airport Manager's Monthly Report for September, 2009, Pierre Lajoie stated that the announced closing of Toronto's Buttonville Airport was already showing signs that the Collingwood Airport will grow as a result. He stated that the airport will be very active in hangar building in the next few years. At the Airport Services Board meeting held on November 18, 2009, Board member Charlie Tathem provided some background regarding requests for commercial hangar space. Mr Tathem said that with the impending closure of Buttonville Airport, the Board believes that sufficient space needs sto be set aside to be ready to allow proponents to begin construction. The airport has also experienced continued growth in fuel sales.

The report also pointed to the recently completed runway reconstruction project as another positive contributor to ongoing growth at the airport. The reconstruction of the runway, apron and taxiways began on September 8th and was completed by September 28th. In February 2009, the Federal and Provincial governments each committed $441,000 of infrastructure funding for the Collingwood Regional Airport Runway Project.

Concern Raised Over Plans For Wind Farm

The November meeting saw concern raised by Airport Manager Pierre Lajoie regarding a plan by wpd Canada Corp, a global developer and financier of wind farms, to install a wind farm between Clearview and Duntroon.

From the munutes: "Pierre Lajoie further explained that Peter Dunbar requested that Pierre Lajoie provides Transport Canada's parameters noting his concerns and suggesting how it would affect the Airport. The Collingwood Regional Airport is within the minimum perimeter limits to have wind turbines raised near Duntroon. Pierre Lajoie noted that Transport Canada does not regulate beyond the fact that the minimum radius must be within 5 miles from the centre of the runway. Peter Dunbar recommended that Pierre Lajoie demonstates on a map the zones where the future wind farms would be detrimental to the Airport's operations. The Chair reminded the Board that the Green Energy Act takes precedent."

The Airport Board reviewed the Monthly financial reports and made note that the airport fared well despite the economic downturn experienced last year and the fact that the airport had to virtually close during the repavement project.

"The Collingwood Regional Airport has long been recognized as a significant economic asset to Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Clearview Township and the Town of Blue Mountains. This investment in our local economies by our Federal and Provincial governments is most appreciated and will go a long way in keeping the Collingwood Regional Airport serving all the needs of the many and varied user groups" said Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier.