About AFAC - Our History

The Royal Canadian Air Force Association was formed in 1948 as a national advocacy group to support the Royal Canadian Air Force, and to unite Air Force veterans of the Second World War.

Former Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal L.S. Breadner accepted the task of organizing the new association. He successfully enlisted the participation of various community groups and clubs of former airmen and airwomen, and also invited unaffiliated air veterans to join as members-at-large.

An Order-in-Council legitimized the new association. With Treasury Board funding and headquarters accommodation provided by the Department of National Defence, the RCAF Association held its first annual meeting in Ottawa, 16 September, 1948 at which ACM Breadner was named the first Dominion President. Much organizational and administrative work followed, and the first membership cards were issued in February, 1949.

Constitution and Bylaws were framed so that the Association could be incorporated under the Companies Act. A Charter under the Act was granted by the Secretary of State of Canada, on 14 May, 1951. Over the years the Association grew and prospered, closely linked with the Royal Canadian Air Force. However, in 1968, the RCAF ceased to exist with the unification and integration of Canada's three armed services. This event resulted in a gradual disconnect between the RCAF Association and Canada's air element, redressed to some degree with the formation of Air Command in 1975. Air Command then became the focal point for all regular and reserve Air Force activity. In 1992 it challenged the RCAF Association to re- position itself as both an advocacy group and a focal point for Air Force veteran activity.

Following nearly 30 years after the demise of the RCAF, a name change for the Association was proposed by Air Command to reflect that reality. A change of name was an emotional issue, and the proposal was exhaustively debated within the Association for more than a year before it came to a vote at the annual convention in Winnipeg in October, 1993. The vote was overwhelming, with 82.6% of delegates in attendance voting in favour of a name change.

On 1 July, 1994 the Air Force Association of Canada became the new official title of our Association. Over the following two years, the membership of the Association has grown by 30%, to nearly 16,000 regular wing members and members-at-large, and an estimated 5,000 associate members. There are 74 Wings or chapters across Canada and in the western United states (California and Colorado). Wings actively sponsor and support air cadets and other community activities.

Nationally, the Association is a strong advocate of a professional and well-equipped Air Force for Canada, and is an active advocacy of veterans rights through membership in the National Council of Veteran Associations.