Edgar Baird
Encyclopedia
Edgar Albert Baird, ONL
(May 28, 1911 – May 1, 2005) was a businessman born in Campbellton Newfoundland
, Canada
. Baird was the founder of the Newfoundland chapter of the Junior Forest Rangers
, and worked in the forestry and aviation industry where he was Chief Woods Ranger for Newfoundland, responsible for forest fire protection initiatives for Newfoundland and Labrador
.
As superintendent of the Newfoundland Forestry Unit, Baird led a battalion of 960 foresters to Scotland in 1940, the largest single battalion ever to leave the province. In 1941 he signed up with the Royal Air Force and rose to the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
Following the war, Baird led a group of local residents who were lobbying to form a new town site in what would become Gander
. He was later appointed the first chairman of the Gander Local Improvement District and built the first private dwelling in Gander in 1951. Both a Gander street and local trail are named in his honour.
In 1961, Baird volunteered as fire boss during the great forest fire that devastated Bonavista North.
He was invested as a member of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
in 2004.
Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Order of Newfoundland and Labrador is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Instituted in 2001, when Lieutenant Governor Arthur Maxwell House granted Royal Assent to the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador Act, the order is administered by the...
(May 28, 1911 – May 1, 2005) was a businessman born in Campbellton Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Baird was the founder of the Newfoundland chapter of the Junior Forest Rangers
Junior Forest Rangers
The Junior Forest Rangers is a program of the USDA Forest Service that allows children to, after completing a booklet of activities related to outdoor skills, conservation, and forest fire prevention, receive a Junior Forest Rangers badge and identification card.The Junior Forest Rangers program...
, and worked in the forestry and aviation industry where he was Chief Woods Ranger for Newfoundland, responsible for forest fire protection initiatives for Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
.
As superintendent of the Newfoundland Forestry Unit, Baird led a battalion of 960 foresters to Scotland in 1940, the largest single battalion ever to leave the province. In 1941 he signed up with the Royal Air Force and rose to the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
Following the war, Baird led a group of local residents who were lobbying to form a new town site in what would become Gander
Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
Gander is a Canadian town located in the northeastern part of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, approximately south of Gander Bay, south of Twillingate and east of Grand Falls-Windsor...
. He was later appointed the first chairman of the Gander Local Improvement District and built the first private dwelling in Gander in 1951. Both a Gander street and local trail are named in his honour.
In 1961, Baird volunteered as fire boss during the great forest fire that devastated Bonavista North.
He was invested as a member of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Order of Newfoundland and Labrador is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Instituted in 2001, when Lieutenant Governor Arthur Maxwell House granted Royal Assent to the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador Act, the order is administered by the...
in 2004.