On a very cold and blustery Tuesday, 5 December 1995, the personnel of 1 Air Movements Sqn, along with a number of invited guests, assembled in 19 Hangar for the official dedication of the CWO William Ledingham Clark Passenger Terminal. The brief ceremony, held in the arrivals area of the terminal, was the culmination of nearly eighteen months of work for both Sqn staff, as well as CWO Clark’s family.

Although construction of the terminal began in the late summer of 1994, and the building opened for use in October of that same year, the actual dedication did not occur until this past month. The apparent delay in dedicating this building was a result of numerous factors, most importantly the amount of time required to choose a suitable name for the terminal.

The Sqn, with the generous assistance of the AIRCOM RCAF Heritage Fund, sponsored a CF-wide naming contest early in 1995, in order to find a person deserving of such recognition. A total of 16 submissions from throughout the CF were received in the months following. Many of these were quite appropriate to a passenger terminal, thereby making the selection process quite difficult. Through careful deliberation, however, the selection committee, with representation from the Sqn’s officers, Sr NCMs,

Jr NCMs and civilian personnel, as well as a representative from the RCAF Heritage Fund, selected CWO William Ledingham Clark as the worthy recipient of this honour.

CWO Clark initially joined the RCAF as a Supply Technician and he later remustered to the Traffic Technician trade in 1961.

During his impressive 37 year career, he was employed in a variety of demanding positions. Some of his appointments included Unit Warrant Officer of both 1 Air Movements Unit in Edmonton and 2 Air Movements Unit in Trenton, Warrant Officer at 3 Air Movements Unit in Ottawa, Loadmaster Leader of 435, 436 and 437 Sqns, as well as School Warrant Officer of the Canadian Forces School of Traffic and Movements. He served his country with great pride and distinction for over 37 years, retiring in 1983. CWO Clark passed away after a short battle with cancer in 1985.

Planning for the dedication ceremony began immediately after CWO Clark’s name had been prominently affixed to the front of the passenger terminal, and the dedication plaques had been installed inside the terminal. Sqn personnel contacted CWO Clark’s family, in the hopes that they would be there for the dedication. Mrs Lillian Clark, CWO Clark’s widow, enthusiastically agreed to attend the ceremony, where she would be asked to personally participate in the event. She was joined for this occasion by her daughter, son-in-law and sister. Also in attendance at the ceremony were representatives from COS Pers & Trg, AIRCOM SSOTN section, NDHO DTM, WCOMD, WCWO, HCol van Ruiten, as well as numerous others. At the ceremony, a visibly emotional Mrs Clark unveiled the first dedication plaque, with the help of HCol van Ruiten, while the second plaque was unveiled by Maj Jean Mallais, CO 1 Air Mov Sqn, and WO Joe Myers from CFSAL Borden, the winner of the naming contest.

The final step in the dedication of this building will occur when CWO Clark’s photo, medals and decorations, graciously provided by Mrs Clark, will be displayed in a prominent location, thereby giving all who travel through the 1 Air Movements Sqn Passenger Terminal the opportunity to learn about this most remarkable and dedicated serviceman.

“PER LENTITIAM ROBUR”