Marion Orr (1918-1995) Commemorative plaque, 2022.
File information | File dimensions | File size | Options |
Original JPG File | 8400 × 6515 pixels (54.73 MP) 71.1 cm × 55.2 cm @ 300 PPI |
8.6 MB | Restricted |
Low resolution print | 2000 × 1551 pixels (3.1 MP) 16.9 cm × 13.1 cm @ 300 PPI |
1.5 MB | Restricted |
Screen | 1032 × 800 pixels (0.83 MP) 8.7 cm × 6.8 cm @ 300 PPI |
231 KB | Restricted |
Resource ID
10099
Access
Open
Credit Line
Heritage Toronto
Date of Creation
2022
Historical Themes
Military History, Women's History
Program Category
Historical Plaques
Rights
Heritage Toronto
Time Period
1900-1953, 1954-1998
Caption
Marion Orr (1918-1995) Commemorative plaque, 2022.
Description
Marion Orr was a pilot who transported vital equipment for the Allies during the Second World War. She was the first Canadian woman to open an airport.
Orr began working at a young age to save money for flying lessons. She earned her private pilot’s licence in 1940 at Barker Field, which was located here.
In 1943, during the Second World War, Orr and fellow pilot Violet Milstead Warren were accepted into the British Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) to transport aircraft and equipment from factories to military bases.
Only a few Canadian women flew in the ATA. Orr flew dozens of aircraft types, in a range of sizes, often in challenging weather conditions with no radio contact. Her work was essential to keeping bases supplied with planes.
Around 1950, Orr bought Aero Activities Limited at Barker Field. She was the first woman licensed to operate an airport in Canada. In 1964, she bought land in Maple, where she opened her own airfield and flying school. She taught hundreds of pilots and was an instructor on many different types of aircraft.
In 1982, she was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame and, in 1993, invested as a Member of the Order of Canada.