Air museum gifted $1.6M in will

A late Westman resident left $1.6 million in his will to Brandon’s Second World War air training museum.

John Balushak, who died in March 2024 in Treherne at the age of 89, donated the significant legacy gift to the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, the museum announced on Friday.

The donation comes after Balushak, a retired engineer with Manitoba Hydro, supported the museum with a lifetime membership and regular visits.

“It’s such an honour to receive a gift like this,” museum director Zoe McQuinn told the Sun on Friday.

The large sum will be a “significant step” toward funding a redevelopment project that the museum is planning, McQuinn said.

A host of upgrades are needed, including one to address warping in the hangar doors that could threaten the safety of the collection in the long term, she said.

“This is sort of the first step in a larger program to make sure that 50 years from now, we’re still telling the story of those who served during World War Two,” McQuinn said.

“This gift is quite a large donation, but it also is because we have a lot of large work ahead of us.”

Climate control is also part of plans for the future, as it is important to maintain temperatures in order to preserve artifacts and other items stored on the site, she said.

Balushak, a former Brandon resident, was living at Tiger Hills Manor in Treherne before his death. His obituary said he enjoyed travelling to different parts of the world and had a passion for flying full-size, remote-control, model airplanes on his property outside city limits.

“Throughout his life, he combined a love of engineering and aviation with a quiet commitment to preserving Canada’s Second World War history,” the museum said in a news release.

“Though he never sought attention for his generosity, his support of the museum was constant and heartfelt, his framed lifetime-membership certificate held a place of pride in his home, a quiet testament to how much the museum meant to him.”

Balushak visited the museum regularly, with a quiet and smiling presence, McQuinn said.

The decision he made to donate to the museum is a powerful statement that he entrusted the museum to continue to carry on its storytelling, she said.

“John Balushak exemplified the spirit of the community that built this museum,” McQuinn said in the release.

“He believed deeply in honouring the service and innovation of those who trained through the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, and his legacy gift will help us carry that story forward for future generations.”

The gift will also help expand education programs that connect new generations to the story of Canadian service, resilience and ingenuity, the museum said.

“Mr. Balushak’s legacy reminds us that even the quietest acts of generosity can leave a lasting mark. His passion for flight and history will continue to inspire everyone who walks through the museum’s doors. His gift ensures that his love of aviation and his belief in remembrance will continue to inspire for decades to come.”

» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com