The Stop of Interest sign next to Lansdowne Middle School
A Stop of Interest sign was unveiled Wednesday at Lansdowne Middle School to commemorate the first flight of the first all-Canadian built aircraft.
The flight took place on Sept. 8, 1910. The aircraft, a Gibson Twin plane, was flown by Victoria’s own William Gibson.
Lansdowne field, where the middle school now sits, served as Victoria’s first airport from 1928 to 1931.
B.C. Education Minister Rob Fleming unveiled the sign along with a student from the school in the ceremony.
British Columbians were asked to submit ideas for a new Stop of Interest sign from last September to January.The province received more than 500 submissions.
“It was started in 1958 on the provinces 100th birthday, and the program continues today to note significant sites across B.C.’s highways and in our communities,” said Fleming. “[The flight is a] major milestone in the aviation history of the country and also a site of technological innovation, and serious bragging rights for Victoria.”
The remainder of the new signs will be announced over the coming months as they are installed.
The provincial map of Stop of Interest sign locations can be found at www.gov.bc.ca/stopsofinterest
Julian Kolsut
