Chronicle story re-posted

Vi Warren's story was related in The Colborne Chrinicle in 2004 by Bob Owen and Manddy Martin when Vi was awarded the Order of Canada. Excerpts from that story have been posted below:

Canada's highest honour for lifetime achievement has been awarded to Vi Milstead Warren, 85, of Cramahe Township.

"How about that," Vi Warren said from her Strawberry Lane home on the Lake Ontario waterfront east of Colborne Friday morning.

Her phone rang non-stop from the early hours of Friday morning, well-wishers calling from across Canada to congratulate her on the honour. The public announcement was late Thursday.

Mrs. Warren was aware she had been proposed for the Order of Canada honour. Her name was put forward by Marilyn Dixon, also Vi's biographer. Ms. Dixon is member of the 99s - the Southern Ontario branch of Amelia Earhart group - the 99s.

Vi received a letter from Governor General's office asking if she would accept the honour if offered. Vi said she would.

The Advisory Council for the Order of Canada then proceeded to verify the information submitted in the award application. Author and activist - and air pilot - June Callwood was contacted. Vi was Ms. Callwood's flight instructor in 1946.

Farley Mowat, a close family friend of Vi and her late husband Arnold Warren, was contacted. So, too, was Bill Wheeler, editor of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society.

Those hurdles cleared, Ms. Dixon was then asked to submit an additional 10 names to ensure the Governor-General's office research covered all facets of Vi's life before the final decision to grant the honour was made.

The Governor General invites the new members to Rideau Hall to be honoured for their achievements in a formal ceremony, which is broadcast nationally. The new members receive the snowflake badge which they can wear and they can use the letters O.C., C.M. or C.C. after their name.

Vi's not sure when the award will be formally presented, but she has her druthers. She's particularly excited by the prospect of having the badge of honour presented by incumbent Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.

The Order of Canada is Canada's highest honour for lifetime achievement recognizing people who have made a difference to life in Canada. There are three categories: Companion (highest), Officer and Member. Since 1967, more than 4,000 people have received the Order of Canada. The complete list includes all persons appointed to the Order since 1967.


While the badges remain the property of the Order, members can pass them down in their wills as a family heirloom. Badges can also be given to a reputable museum or returned to the Chancellery.


Born in 1919, Vi learned to fly at Barker Field in Toronto. She passed her private pilot's flight test in 1939, her commercial pilot's licence in 1940 and achieved her Instructor's rating in July 1941. She was 22 years old.

By 1942, the Allied war effort well underway, gasoline rationing was a way of life - opportunities for recreational, private or commercial flying disappeared.

Vi heard of the Air Transport Auxiliary. Vi went to the Montreal BOAC office to learn more. She contacted her friend and fellow aviatrix, the late Marion Orr who had been working as an air traffic controller at a Goderich flying school. She, too, was keen to fly. The young women were accepted for duty.

As "unofficial" wartime personnel, the ATA pilots were not privy to military manoeuvres and briefings. In fact, it was nothing for Vi - all 115 pounds of her - to climb into a bare-bones aircraft and head out alone to deliver it half-way across the country. Often, she flew with no radio contact, relying on map reading and sight of the ground.

By 1945, "it was quite obvious", the Allied War effort was doing well - and building to a climax. And in the months following D-Day June 6, 1944, there was still lots of ATA action, closing pools, consolidating others. The small Cosford pool where Vi was stationed closed. She was reassigned to headquarters at White Waltham,closer to London.

Several months after D-Day June 6, 1944, Vi made her decision. "I felt I would resign and go home."

She cleared Canadian Immigration in Halifax in August 26, 1945.

She had flown 47 different types of airplanes - including one of only 40 Welkins - and she was 26 years old.

The next spring, she was back at Barker Field, teaching flying.

Vi met Arnold Warren at Leavens Brothers Air Services, Barker Fields. Arnold had been discharged from the Canadian Air Force after five years' service the spring before Vi. He, too, was an ardent pilot and accomplished trainer and instructor. They married in 1947 and moved north to Sudbury to fly for Nickel Belt Airways.

Vi was the first woman to fly Fairchild Huskies on charter from Lake Ramsey throughout the area.

In 1950, Vi and Arnold moved to Windsor where they re-established the Windsor Flying Club (1950-52).

In 1952, Arnold was recruited by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to be the Chief Flight Instructor at the Indonesian Aviation Academy in Djakarta, Java.

In 1954, they returned to Canada, employed in the aviation industry. They continued to fly for recreation, owning a PA-12, then a Mooney to commute to their Magdallen Islands home in Quebec. Both retired in 1973.