GREENSTONE— Greenstone's town council has decided to name the Geraldton District Airport after recently departed mayor Renald Beaulieu, who chose not to seek re-election, and served Greenstone for many years.
Beaulieu served three terms as mayor, after previously holding the title in Longlac for many years prior to amalgamation.
Newly elected Mayor Jamie McPherson said council proposed to rename the Geraldton airport after Beaulieu in recognition for years of work that helped make Greenstone what it is today.
“At our council meeting we proposed that in recognition of Mayor Beaulieu’s many years of supporting Greenstone and making Greenstone what it is going to be," he said.
McPherson sees the airport, along with Nakina airport, as crucial assets for the municipality, in particular the MNR Fire Base.
“With the Geraldton airport we have the fire base, the attack base of the MNR, and the flights out of the Geraldton District Hospital,” stated McPherson.
He spoke, too, about the importance of the flights now available to Thunder Bay and Toronto for Greenstone residents and region.
“With the Geraldton District Airport we now have the air service to Thunder Bay that can connect you to Toronto in four hours on that one day. It’s a beautiful connection going down,” McPherson said. “And up in Nakina we have access to the First Nation communities and the prospective Ring of Fire activities.”
No specific date for the name change for the Geraldton District Airport has been decided. However, McPherson has indicated it will become official in the near future.
— SNNewswatch, with files from Al Cresswell, CFNO
