‘The Max Ward Story’ by Max Ward. This book focuses on the progression of Wardair, a very famous Canadian airline that was bought out and integrated into Air Canada in the late 80s. The book talks about Max Ward’s life, his challenges and successes in aviation, and entertaining life stories. He sadly passed away in 2020, and will be known as an influential figure who shaped Canadian aviation.
“So that was it; after all the years of struggle and uncertainty, and hanging on when there was nothing to hang on to, and building a company, and knowing moments of sheer wonder and sheer terror, Wardair was gone in a few minutes” (pg. 8)
This quotation outlines the moment Max Ward sold Wardair after many negotiations and challenges. The price it sold for was $250 Million. I found this quote significant because of how much it impacted Canadian aviation as we know it today. Wardair started as a small charter company out of Yellowknife for miners, and it eventually evolved into the third largest Canadian airline in its prime. Once Wardair was integrated into Air Canada, it changed the Aviation world in Canada, forever. Wardair was known for being reliable, affordable, and safe. Max faced many challenges, especially with Transport Canada, where they tried to put him out of business because they didn’t want any competitors for Air Canada.