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Caronport
 Number 33 Royal
Air Force Elementary Flying Training School, Caron, Sask., was
constructed in the late months of 1941 at a cost of $1,169,319.70. Its
role was to train student pilots in the primary skills of flying in
preparation for advanced flying school courses. Characteristically an
R.A.F. unit throughout its complete history, it officially opened under
the command of Wing Commander A.N. Worger-Slade on Dec. 17th, 1941,with
335 personnel of all trades. Flying training began on Jan. Ilth, 1942.
The inventory consisted then of 56 DeHavilland Tiger Moth biplane
training aircraft.
Flying advanced, despite winter hardships and the haste in which they had to establish themselves in a facility that was neither complete or ready, at an average of 90 hours flown per day. By the end of April 1942, 275 hours per day flying training was realized. Personnel then numbered near 700 of all ranks, including pupils. On May 25th, 1942, Number 33 E.F.T.S. became the first jointly operated R.A.F. Civilian School in Canada when the Boundary Bay Flying Training School was established at Caron. Mr. Leslie J. Martin was Managing Director while Squadron Leader Haward, R.A.F., replaced Wing Commander Worger-Slade as Officer Commanding air force personnel. The only significant change was the release of R.A.F. tradesmen for duty in England and the presence of civilian men and women working and living on the air station. R.A.F. personnel continued in the flying training category trades.  [The original air base buildings that still remain at Caronport] Number 33 E.F.T.S. finally closed on Jan. 14th, 1944, although the air station continued in use as a Relief Field for Number 32 Service Flying Training School, Moose Jaw, until that unit was disbanded on Oct. 17th, 1944. The equipment was dismantled and moved away. A few buildings were torn down and some were moved to locations in towns or villages nearby. Such is the Royal Canadian Legion Hall in Caron, which was the original Guard House. The Briercrest Bible College took over the site and buildings in 1946. Ten airmen lost their lives in training accidents and are buried in the Caron Cemetery. In all 1,837 pilots were trained at Caron.   During the 1930s Sinclair and
Isabel Whittaker along with their friends from the village of
Briercrest conceived the idea of starting a Bible school in one of the
town's vacant buildings. In May 1, 1935, Mr. Whittaker met with the
young pastor and evangelist Henry Hildebrand and invited him to become
the pastor of the newly formed Briercrest Gospel Assembly. Henry shared
the Whittaker's love for Bilble teaching but he was hesitant as to
whether he was the man to further their dream of starting their own
Bible school. However, the Briercrest believers work and persistence
paid off and 11 local students enrolled in classes on October Ilth,
1935, in the small village of Briercrest.
By 1938 enrollment had grown to 69 students. Mr. Whittaker arranged to have the store he owned in Rouleau torn down, and to then have the lumber hauled to Briercrest in order to build a new town hall. In exchange for this new town hall the village gave the vacant Yale Hotel to the growing school.  With the end of the war there was an influx of
students. With no water
supply and few vacant buildings the question was could the village of
Briercrest contain them and the answer was NO! Mr. Whittaker had always
dreamed of using one of the post-war empty air bases for the Bible
School Campus. He used his talents as a former MLA and his own personal
funds to secure Caron Air Base for his beloved Bible School. In 1946,
the young school moved to the base (later to be named Caronport) where
Mr. Whittaker continued to devote his energy and resources until he
died in 1974 following a stroke. Isabel Whittaker taught English and
Speech in the school and sacrificed many of life's material pleasures
in order to see the growth of Briercrest Bible Institute.
 Amost 60 years has passed and a great
campus has been built on that wind swept prairie airbase. An unlikely
location, you might feel, for the largest Bible College in Canada. In
addition to the Bible College, Caronport High School, a Christian day/
residential school, and Briercrest Biblical Seminary are also located
at Caronport. These last 60 years have seen thousands and thousands of
Briercrest graduates leave their "home-away-from-home" on the prairies
to serve in communities all over the world.
What happened to the young Henry
Hildebrand who wasn't sure whether he was the man to start this great
undertaking? The Whittakers' faith in him was fulfilled - he served as
President and then Chancelor of Briercrest Schools for almost 60 years.
In1979 he became the recipient of the Order of Canada for his
outstanding service to his country, its' citizens and humanity at
large. In 1992, on the occassion of the 125th Anniversary of the
Confederation of Canada, he was cited as "Man of the Year, 1991, by
Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn.
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