On Friday September 17, Lieutenant-General André Deschamps, Chief of the Air Staff, dedicated the new Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre (CFAWC) building in honour of Air Marshall Clare L. Annis, O.B.E., CD. Members of the Annis family as well as military and civilian personnel witnessed the dedication.
Before the unveiling of the commemorative plaque, Doug Annis, eldest son of Air Marshal Annis, spoke candidly, honestly and with obvious love and respect about the man being honoured.
Mr. Annis, a retired Canadian Forces officer, spoke on behalf of his two brothers and entire extended family. He shared tales of multiple moves, heated debates, and of great respect for a man who he says truly portrayed the characteristics of a real leader both on and off duty. A bright, dedicated man, Air Marshall Annis used his vast experiences, whether from Second World War operations or his many command positions, as the foundation of his recommendations to ensure the continuous development of the Air Force.
“Thank you for dedicating this great building in honour of my father's love of the Air Force," said Mr. Annis.
As CFAWC is the centre of excellence for developing and housing Air Force doctrine as it relates to present and future aerospace power, choosing a man such as Air Marshall Annis seemed only logical. His passion for advocating doctrine was one of his many defining characteristics as a military leader.
This portrayal of Air Marshall Annis had been previously remarked upon by LGen Deschamps, who said that although Air Marshall Annis may not have been well-known to Canadians, he is truly a legend in Air Force circles. “Air Marshal Annis was a Canadian hero,” LGen Deschamps said, “a visionary and thinker who came by his passion for Air Force doctrine honestly.”
During the ceremony, LGen Deschamps thanked CFAWC Honorary Colonel, HCol Christopher Terry, for inviting several former Commanders of Air Command – including General Paul Manson, Lieutenant-General Bill Carr and Lieutenant-General Larry Ashley – to get together informally and identify Air Marshall Annis as the perfect fit to be associated with this unit through this building dedication.
“At a time in our society where everything seems focused on the here and now, and corporate memory is sometimes short, I am heartened to see that in the Air Force we still have people who know enough, remember enough and care enough, to honour those who came before us in perpetuity,” he said as everyone in attendance nodded in agreement.
Colonel Derek Joyce, commanding officer CFAWC echoed LGen Deschamps’ view of Air Marshal Annis as a true visionary. He mentioned how Air Marshal Annis’ way of thinking was still relevant today and is completely in line with the CFAWC’s mission of ensuring the evolution of Canadian aerospace power.
This is actually why, Col Joyce said, that he truly believes that his unit could not have hoped to find a better person to dedicate its new building to.
“Air Marshall Annis was selected not only in recognition of his exemplary career achievement as an RCAF officer,” he said, “but mainly in light of his strong beliefs in the need for the Air Force to prepare for the future”.
Col Joyce added that Air Marshall Annis’ understanding decades ago of the importance to focus not only on Air Force-specific requirements, but also on the need to operate in a joint environment were completely aligned with what CFAWC strives to achieve today: a strong, innovative Air Force within a joint CF environment.
About CFAWC
The Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre was established in October 2005 to become the engine of change for Air Force transformation.
Ultimately CFAWC aims to be the Canadian centre of excellence for aerospace power and act as a catalyst and steward for aerospace power and knowledge.
CFAWC provides the Air Force with the knowledge to acquire the right capabilities and develop appropriate doctrine to successfully conduct aerospace operations for the future.
Air Force environmental strategy at work
New Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre building goes green
As part of its strategy to manage Air Force operations in as sustainable and environmentally-friendly way as possible, a new state-of-the-art building is now open at 8 Wing Trenton, Ont. that showcases that commitment.
The new Air Marshal Clare L. Annis building, dedicated in September, was designed and constructed to support the specific needs of the Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre (CFAWC) at 8 Wing Trenton, Ont.
By incorporating green features into the design in five key areas – sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, material selection and indoor environmental quality – the building was constructed using as green an approach as possible.
The building was built to a LEED (Leadership in Engineering and Environmental Design) gold standard by the Canadian Green Building Council, although the process of achieving the official “gold stamp” is still underway. LEED is an internationally recognized, points-based system where a score is earned through design concepts, construction implementation and ongoing operational commitments. The LEED rating system is divided into five levels: registered, bronze, silver, gold and platinum.
Air Marshal Clare L. Annis Building highlights:
- Energy – To achieve a 40 per cent reduction over the standard, the building was constructed using several layers of insulation, high efficiency windows and a heating and cooling system supplemented by 10 geothermal walls;
- Water – Water-efficient fixtures and toilets will reduce water use by 30 per cent;
- Materials and Resources – A construction waste management plan diverted 75 per cent of waste from landfills and building materials were made of at least 15 per cent recycled material;
- Indoor environmental quality – Ninety per cent of spaces have access to daylight through special window openings; individual heating, ventilating and air condition controls allow for personal control and comfort; and building materials contain low levels of volatile organic compounds;
- The site itself – A special paving system was installed in the parking lot to allow water to slowly permeate into the ground; a white membrane roof was installed to reduce heat reflection; special parking areas were allotted for car poolers; and bicycle lock-ups were installed.
The building also features a two-storey glazed atrium, barrier-free access, ergonomic work stations, continuous air exchange and windows surrounding the perimeter.
About Air Marshal Clare L. Annis
The Air Marshal Clare L. Annis building is named after Air Marshall Clare L. Annis, O.B.E., CD who was a passionate advocate for creating air force doctrine. He served with 3 Bomber Reconnaissance (BR) Squadron at the outbreak of the Second World War and shortly afterward became an armament officer at RCAF Station Dartmouth.
After several other appointments following the war, Air Marshal Annis was appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff on Sept. 11, 1962. He was promoted to Air Marshal and appointed to the position of Chief of Technical Services, Canadian Forces Headquarters in 1964. He retired from the RCAF in 1966 after a long and distinguished career.
Air Marshal Annis was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and also Mentioned in Dispatches for his service during the Second World War.
