BASTON, JONES HONOURED WITH NORWAY FELLOWSHIPS FOR EXILE AIR
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
GRAVENHURST — In a global fight against the pandemic, it’s gladdening to see cooperation among countries in a too often insular world being recognized.
Andrea Baston and Candis Jones have been awarded 2020 Distinguished Fellowships from the Norway Canada Institute of Huntington University, Sudbury.
The awards are in recognition of “Distinguished Contributions to Norwegian-Canadian Military History,” through their book Exile Air: World War II’s ‘Little Norway’ in Toronto and Muskoka, says their commendation.
Huntington University is one of four equal and independent partners in the Laurentian Federation (of which Laurentian University, University of Sudbury and Thorneloe are also partners).
Huntington’s president and vice chancellor Dr. Kevin McCormick established the Norway Canada Institute, a centres of excellence and expertise at Huntington.
It’s an awards program that celebrates and publicly recognizes individuals, organizations, and community-based initiatives. Fellows are leaders in their communities and/or countries, who are making their mark in Norway and/or Canada through professional endeavours, volunteer efforts, personal accomplishments or studies.
It celebrates and raises awareness of Norwegian culture in Canada and Canadian culture in Norway.
In addition, the Norway Canada Institute endeavours to honour and celebrate the shared military history of Norway and Canada. The history of Little Norway, the Norwegian air force camp based in Canada, is a testament to the allied history of Canada and Norway during the Second World War.
Jones and Baston were in good company with the virtual awards mailed to them in August, as the former Norwegian Ambassador to Canada, Anne Kari Ovind, also received a Distinguished Fellowship.
Their fellowship honour reads in part: “Your book represents and honours both nations, while raising awareness in Canada about the Norwegian air force camp. As such, the Norway Canada Institute and Dr. McCormick would be honoured if you would each accept a Distinguished Fellowship award,” reads the recognition.
In thanking the university, Baston said: “Candis Jones and I are deeply honoured to receive Distinguished Fellowships from the Norway Canada Institute of Huntington University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
“As the author of Exile Air, I am fully aware of the historic and allied relationship between Canada and Norway. I am deeply honoured that my writings about Little Norway, the Royal Norwegian Air Force training base, which was established during WWII in Toronto and Muskoka, have been recognized by the Norway Canada Institute.
“I commend Dr. Kevin McCormick and Huntington University for their roles in launching the Norway Canada Institute as a means to promote and celebrate our two nations, our shared military history, and the countless contributions made by Canadians and Norwegians across the globe.”
Adds Jones, the photographer and photographic-editor for Exile Air: “The story of Little Norway and the young servicemen and women of the Royal Norwegian Air Force who trained in Canada during WWII is remarkable.
“It is especially important to my family as my father-in-law, Lieutenant Harald Olafson, was a flight instructor at Little Norway.
“I’d like to thank the Norway Canada Institute for focusing on important stories, such as this one, which bring into focus the ties that bind both nations together.
“Canada and Norway have a long history of cooperation, and it’s inspiring to see positive stories from both countries, along with the outstanding contributions of individuals and groups, being promoted at an international level.”
See more about Exile Air and Baston and Jones’ other book on the Muskoka Sanatorium — Curing Tuberculosis in Muskoka — at Old Stone Books’ website (https://oldstonebooks.com/blog/
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