Mohawk students adopt WW II clubhouse as a year-end service learning project
HAMILTON -- A team of 20-something Mohawk College students is helping Second World War veterans save their historic clubhouse in Mount Hope.
Students in Mohawk's Communications Media program are helping to organize, promote and run a March 28 fundraising dance at the clubhouse on behalf of the 447 Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association. The association owes $40,000 in provincial sales tax debt and faces a possible eviction from their historic clubhouse when their lease with the City of Hamilton expires at the end of March.
The clubhouse, located in front of the Hamilton International Airport and across from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, was part of Hamilton's British Commonwealth Air Training Plan facility during the Second World War. The facility was one of 94 air navigation schools across Canada that trained more than 130,000 Commonwealth pilots, navigators, bomb aimers, wireless operators, air gunners and flight engineers. The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan remains the single largest aviation training program in history and the clubhouse is one of the few remaining Plan buildings left standing anywhere in Canada.
The team of Mohawk students is being led by professor Nancy Kovacs, whose mother danced at the clubhouse during WW II. Last year, Nancy got a team of students from her public relations course involved at the Robert Land Community Centre in North Hamilton where they organized a free Santa's Workshop and March Break Camp activities for children and youth.
"Taking the classroom out into the community gives students an unbeatable combination of learning, leadership and citizenship opportunities," says Nancy. "At the same time, students get to put their skills and enthusiasm to work in making a real difference in our community. Our service learning project with the 447 Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association gives Mohawk students a way to thank and honour the bravery and sacrifices made by World War Two veterans."
Tickets for the March 28 1940s-themed dance, silent auction and light buffet dinner at the 447 Wing Clubhouse (9300 Airport Road) will be available at the door for $15.