Charlottetown airport renamed in honour of P.E.I.’s longest-serving premier

Prince Edward Island’s only commercial airport will now bear the name of the province’s longest-serving premier, becoming the Charlottetown Alexander B. Campbell Airport.

Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced the change Monday (May 11) at the airport.

“Alexander B. Campbell was a great statesman whose vision, dedication, and sense of duty profoundly shaped modern Prince Edward Island. Renaming the Charlottetown Airport in his honour recognizes a leader who worked tirelessly to strengthen Prince Edward Island’s economy and modernize its infrastructure,” Minister MacKinnon said in a statement.

“This airport continues to connect Islanders to the rest of Canada and the world, supporting tourism, trade, and good jobs for the region, while helping to build Canada strong.”

Campbell, who was premier from 1966 to 1978, said he was deeply touched by the honour, as reported by CBC News.

Before entering provincial politics, he worked at the airport as a traffic agent in the 1950s, and said returning for the announcement brought back many memories.

"The folks that I worked with then — how would they believe that one day the airport where we were working would carry my name?" he said, as quoted by CBC.  "It's quite an honour."

In a statement Doug Newson, CEO of the Charlottetown Airport Authority Inc., said “we fully support” the decision to rename the airport. 

“Premier Campbell’s leadership played a defining role in shaping modern Prince Edward Island, and it is fitting that one of the province’s principal gateways will bear his name,” said Newson.

“As a vital community asset and a key connector for Islanders, visitors, and businesses alike, the airport reflects the pride and respect felt across Prince Edward Island for Premier Campbell’s enduring legacy and his contributions to public service.”

Mr. Campbell and his wife of 65 years, Marilyn Gilmour, reside in Stanley Bridge, Prince Edward Island. On May 2, 2013, he became an Officer of the Order of Canada.

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