On April 25, 2019, guests gathered at 65 Carl Hall Road in North York, Toronto. Government officials from three levels—federal, provincial, and municipal—along with executives from Bombardier, attended the grand opening of the Centennial College Bombardier Centre for Aerospace and Aviation.
It is hard to imagine that this modern college campus, filled with real aircraft, sits on a historic site with nearly 100 years of aircraft manufacturing history. Transforming from a vital World War II military hub into a top Canadian college training facility, this land tells a story that spans nearly a century.
The history of this site started in 1929. A British plane maker named de Havilland built a small factory there. At first, it used only four acres of land. In just a few years, it became one of Canada’s top plane bases in the 1930s. It made planes for both everyday use and the military.
When World War II started, the Canadian government took over the factory. They put it under the control of RCAF Station Downsview. This was a military base for the Royal Canadian Air Force. The site became a training camp for British Commonwealth pilots before they went to war. The factory also mass-produced the famous “Mosquito Bomber.” This plane was made entirely of wood. Because it was so light, it was one of the fastest military planes in the world at that time.
After the war, de Havilland made new planes named Beaver and Otter. They designed these planes to fly well in Canada’s freezing weather. In 1975, they made a famous new plane called the DASH 7. It could take off and land on very short runways. People all over the world loved it for short regional flights.
In 1992, the Canadian plane company Bombardier bought de Havilland. In 1996, the old Downsview factory closed after running for nearly 70 years. The big buildings sat empty for almost 20 years. The whole site covers 500 acres. The Canadian government protected the land, even though houses grew all around it. Because the government protected it, the original factory buildings and metal hangers stayed safe. Today, it is a rare and special piece of aviation history right inside the city of Toronto.
Centennial College is an institution officially certified by Transport Canada to offer aviation-related programs, and this Downsview Campus serves as the core home for the college’s flagship aviation majors. At the same time, the campus is the central hub for the Downsview Aerospace Innovation and Research (DAIR) industry cluster. By linking Centennial College, the University of Toronto, and Bombardier to co-build a platform for industry, academia, and research, it bridges the entire pipeline from aerospace design and R&D to classroom teaching, hands-on aircraft training, and corporate employment. This has created a comprehensive aviation hub that seamlessly integrates research, education, production, and training.
Centennial College’s Downsview Campus opens the following programs to international students, all of which are eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering Technology
Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering Technology (Optional Co-op)
Aviation Technician – Avionics Maintenance
Aviation Technician – Aircraft Maintenance
Canadian Integrated Airline Transport Pilot Licence
