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The Montreal area has played an important role in aviation since the early days of manned flight. Pointe-Claire has made its fair share of contributions, being home over the years to thousands of people who have worked in the industry. Many aviation and aerospace companies have been based here, especially given Pointe-Claire’s proximity to Pierre Elliott Trudeau (Dorval) International Airport.

It is thus appropriate that the Montreal Chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) holds its monthly meetings in Pointe-Claire. They take place in the Pointe-Claire Legion building at Parc Arthur Seguin, which is the site of what is arguably Pointe-Claire’s most famous contribution to aviation history, the “Air Meet” of 1910.

The CAHS was founded in 1962 in Toronto, with chapters across Canada. The Montreal Chapter was created soon after. Pointe-Claire resident Ross Richardson and like-minded people working at Canadair in Ville Saint-Laurent gathered to share their mutual interest in aviation history. Based on Ross’s personal friendships with the founders of CAHS, developed during his days working on the Avro Arrow, they formed the Montreal Chapter of CAHS.

The 1910 Montreal Air Meet, also known as the “Montreal Lakeside Aviation Meet,” was an epic event and the first of its kind in Canada. A renowned local historian named George Fuller has investigated it thoroughly, and this summary is based on his findings.

The Automobile and Aero Club of Canada organized the event. Lakeside, now part of the City of Pointe-Claire, was chosen because of its accessibility from the City of Montreal. The Lakeside (now Pointe-Claire) train station was just a 20-minute ride from the Canadian Pacific Windsor Station and the Canadian National Bonaventure Station. The meet received substantial financial support from prominent Montrealers.

Land was leased from local farmers to provide a reasonably flat, semi-cleared area of 4,800 x 1,200 feet in what is now Lakeside Heights. It was north of today's Saint-Louis Ave. between Maywood Ave. (then St. John’s Road) and Delmar Ave. It included a large temporary grandstand. Amusement activities and food stands were on site.

The meet ran from June 25th to July 5th, attracting about 40,000 paying spectators. Revenues were $50,000 (or just over $1,750,000 today), and the total expenses were $74,000. The loss was covered by some of its wealthy backers.

Several professional aviators were present at the event, including France’s Count Jacques de Lesseps, who “stole the show” by flying to and from Montreal non-stop in a Blériot XI aircraft. Other participants included five aviators from the Wright Company (founded by Orville and Wilbur Wright), parachutists making jumps from hot air balloons, and small airships.

In 1967, the Pointe-Claire Chamber of Commerce inaugurated a monument commemorating the event, which is located on Douglas-Shand Ave. It has since been replaced by a plaque at the entrance to the Aquatic Centre. The original sculpture is now at the Montreal Aviation Museum in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, as part of a major display about the event, including a replica of the Blériot XI aircraft.

The Montreal Branch of the CAHS meets monthly eight times per year, with each meeting featuring a guest speaker. It is open to members and guests. For more information, please visit www.cahs.com/cahs-montreal-chapter.html