Event Details
The Legacy of Wilfrid “Wop” May – John Rowand Night
The April 26 meeting of the Edmonton and District Historical Society is our John Rowand Night. A Buffet Dinner at the U of A Faculty Club that will mark our first in-person event in two years!
The topic for the speakers this evening will be about famed First World War Pilot and later bush pilot, Wop May. During the Second World War, Wop May served as manager of No. 2 Air Observer School of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in the hangar that is now home to the Alberta Aviation Museum.
First speaker of the evening will be John Chalmers, with a presentation about how Wop’s son, Denny May, has recorded the history of his legendary father and preserved his legacy. John is a long-time member of the EDHS and a regular contributor to the newsletters of the EDHS and the Historical Society of Alberta. For ten years, John served as Historian for Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame, of which Wop May was an original inductee.
The feature presentation of the evening will be a showing of the 22-minute film, Blind Ambition: The Wop May Story, which made its debut at the 2021 Edmonton International Film Festival, where it was the recipient of the jury award for best documentary short film. Speakers will be the co-directors of the film, Tom Robinson and Frederick Kroetch. They will describe production of the film, produced entirely in Alberta. Using dramatizations, vintage film, animation and original music, the film highlights many of the famous exploits of one of Canada’s best-known aviators.
The Annual General Meeting will follow.
Tickets will be required!
Please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/300294538047 to save your seat!
