MOOSE JAW — A pilot’s breathing mask, a woman’s uniform, buttons and badges, and artwork and photographs are just some artifacts now on display to celebrate the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) 100th anniversary.
“Skyward Bound: A Journey Through RCAF History from WWII to Today” is the newest exhibit at the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery (MJMAG), which explores the air force’s history from the 1940s to 1980s with items that offer a unique perspective on Canada’s socio-cultural evolution during the Second World War, the post-war era, the modern era and the present.
About 20 people gathered at the MJMAG on Sept. 14 to help launch the exhibit — it will remain until Aug. 31, 2025 — while they toured the displays afterward.
The MJMAG worked with the Moose Jaw Public Library’s archives and 15 Wing Air Base to create the centennial anniversary display.
Violet Tang, the art gallery’s operations manager, and Jennifer Doede, the library’s community outreach librarian, co-curated the exhibition and expressed appreciation for the “incredible opportunity” to work on a meaningful project and for the help they received from the three organizations.
Both women singled out 15 Wing’s support in opening its archives so they could acquire valuable historical context for “so many interesting” artifacts and photographs. They also noted that they could have spent days in the archives because of how much material was available.
“The opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary … has been an honour,” Doede said.
Capt. Jean Doyon, 15 Wing’s public affairs officer, said the exhibit was “remarkable” and showed just how important the military is to Moose Jaw.
“Since the beginning of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the RCAF, I could feel the support and vibe for the military community here in Moose Jaw,” he said, noting that since arriving in 2022, he has noticed how friendly residents are and the passion they have for the military.
Doyon thought that everyone should be grateful for what the RCAF has done during the last 100 years in securing peace, freedom and democracy. He encouraged residents to visit the exhibition to learn more about the organization’s history.
Tang told MooseJawToday.com after the event that she graduated from university in 2022 with an art history degree, so she is passionate about researching and digging into archival files. She thought conducting research into this project was fun, while she also appreciated how community-focused the exhibition is.
“And this is also the first exhibition that I curated or co-curated since I (came) to this job — and I’m only three months into the job,” she said. “So this is (also) the biggest … exhibition I (have) curated … .”
One interesting artifact Tang encountered was a Second World War-era breathing mask that pilots used at high altitudes, which she discovered in 15 Wing’s vault. She thought the item was fascinating to touch since it helped her connect with how pilots train today.
A second great experience she had was finding items — like paintings — in the MJMAG’s vault, which brought to life the exhibition.
Being given a major exhibition to co-curate was a fun experience for Tang, who likes working in the arts and culture industry and is always up for new challenges — as evidenced by her moving from Toronto to a new cultural landscape.
“I like how vibrant it is here with the arts scene. I like how friendly and connected (and supportive) the community is and … everyone seems to be really devoted to the arts,” she said. “So I really like it here. I like the fast pace.”
Tang hopes to curate more community-oriented exhibitions in the future and — through vivid storytelling — connect them to historical events or moments. Since she is Chinese, she wants to revamp the MJMAG’s Chinese collection — a project that will happen over the fall and winter.
