Dennis K. Yorath
{{Short description|Canadian aviator (1905–1981)}}
Dennis Kestell Yorath, MBE (April 30, 1905 – May 8, 1981) was an aviator and business executive who was a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to Canadian aviation and in particular the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during World War II.{{cite web|title=Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame|url=http://www.cahf.ca/members/Y_members.php|publisher=Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame|accessdate=29 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428055158/http://www.cahf.ca/members/Y_members.php|archive-date=28 April 2014|url-status=dead}}
Education
Born in London, Ontario, Canada, Denis received education in Victoria, British Columbia, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and his home town of London, Ontario.
Career in business
Denis worked for the Imperial Bank of Canada at Edmonton, Alberta, for two years.
He then became an employee of Northwestern Utilities Limited in 1924, and in 1925 Canadian Western Natural Gas Company at Calgary, Alberta. In 1952 he became President and in 1962 was named Chairman.[https://archive.today/20140323183654/http://www.calgarymemories.com/index.php?view=article&catid=5:clancys&id=42:the-polo-grounds&option=com_content&Itemid=10 The Polo Grounds] By 1969 Denis had become Vice-President and Director of the International Utilities Corporation, of which the previous companies were former subsidiaries.
Aviation
Denis became a charter member of the Calgary flying club in 1928. He obtained a private pilot's licence and eventually went on to become a director and finally president of the club.[https://newspaperarchive.com/lethbridge-herald/1949-01-20/page-14 Lethbridge Herald, Thursday, January 20, 1949, Page 14]
During World War II Britain established the Commonwealth Air Training Plan to provide pilots for the war effort. It was for this work that he was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire. Denis was named the managing director of No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School at Lethbridge, Alberta. He remained in command of the school through its move to High River, Alberta until its closure in 1945.[http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/bcatplethbridge.html BCATP Station Lethbridge][http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/eppp-archive/100/200/301/ic/can_digital_collections/aviation/m077.htm Denis Kestell Yorath]
Denis was elected Alberta Zone Director in 1944 followed by an appointment to President in 1949 of The Royal Canadian Flying Clubs Association (RCFCA){{Cite web |url=http://www.cahf.ca/members/Y_members.php |title=Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame - Wetaskiwin, Alberta - CAHF |access-date=2012-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428055158/http://www.cahf.ca/members/Y_members.php |archive-date=2014-04-28 |url-status=dead }}[https://books.google.com/books?id=BRMnAAAAMAAJ&q=denis++yorath+aviation American Aviation – Google Books] In 1949 he was awarded the Trans Canada (McKee) Aviation trophy.
Honours and recognition
- Yukon Territory Order of Polaris{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}
- Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame
- The 1949 McKee Trophy[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19500515&id=rC8rAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZZkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5575,1993299 "Edmonton Flyer wins McKee Prize"]. Montreal Gazette, 15 May 1950.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19500515&id=rC8rAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZZkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5575,1993299 "Canadian Honour"]. Flight, 8 June 1950.
- Member of the Order of the British Empire.[https://newspaperarchive.com/lethbridge-herald/1946-07-02/page-11 "Well known citizens in Honours List".] Calgary Herald, 2 July 1946
- Honorary Degree from the University of Alberta[https://www.registrar.ualberta.ca/calendar/University-Staff/Honorary-Degree-Recipients/253.html Section 253 – University Staff – University of Alberta][http://www.acr-alberta.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=E6oUbL5ZNRM%3D&tabid=205 "Presidents of the Alberta Chamber of Resources and its Ancestor Organizations"][http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/documents/PDF/120427_BLVP_Yorath_JS.pdf "Yorath House Information Brief"][https://archive.today/20140323183731/http://www.calgarymemories.com/index.php?view=article&catid=5:clancys&id=51:the-tales-of-a-herald-carrier-part-3&option=com_content&Itemid=10 TALES OF A HERALD CARRIER – PART 3][https://newspaperarchive.com/lethbridge-herald/1955-06-07/page-18 Lethbridge Herald, Tuesday, June 07, 1955, Page 18]