History

Museum dedicated to the history of canadian military aviation in quebec and the only francophone military aviation museum in eastern north america

The Air Defence Museum is also the only military museum in North America that opens its base to the general public for guided tours of CFB Bagotville’s facilities during operating hours.

Since 1997, the Air Defence Museum has presented a number of large-scale exhibitions, including the permanent exhibit From Airmen to Fighter Pilots: the History of Canada’s Air Defence. Temporary exhibits are introduced annually to complement the museum experience. Some of them include:

• Medals and Ranks in the Canadian Armed Forces (1997 – 1999);
• 3 Wing in Kosovo (2000);
• Helicopter Operations in Bagotville (2007);
• The Canadian Centennial of Flight (2009);
• The Battle of Britain (2010);
• Magicians of the Skies (2011);
• At Dawn, an Alouette (2012-2013);
• Scourge of War (2014);
• The Last Chapter (2015);
• The Dark Side of the Medal (2016);
• In Defence of the North (2017);
• Military Art: from the Great War to Today (2018);
• Face to face (2019-2020);
• Adventurer of the Skies (2021);
• The conquest of a dream (2022-2023).

Awards and distinctions

Today the museum is acknowledged among its peers for its high-quality product and enjoys a reputation that extends beyond the borders of Quebec. The museum stands as a witness to future generations, enhancing understanding of the issues facing our country and its achievements in the global peace process.

• Special mention, Quebec Tourism Industry Awards, for excellence in presentation, 2000;
• Jury’s choice, Quebec Tourism Industry Awards, Tourism Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, 2014.