War was raging in Europe and young men from around the world were coming to Canada to complete their air training under the British Commonwealth Air Training Program.

Among them was Norman McKeeman, who along with his fellow Australian airmen was posted to Yorkton, and in the following years became an integral part of the Yorkton community.

Norman was born in Cairns, North Queensland, Australia, son of William and Alice McKeeman. Completing high school in Cairns, he attended Thornburgh College in Charters Towers, North Queensland.

In May of 1938 he was appointed to the Queensland Department of Forestry, serving in the head office in Brisbane and other forest districts in the state.

When war arrived, he enlisted in the Australian air force, and was called up for flight training in April of 1942. He was posted to Yorkton under the British Commonwealth Air Training Program where he obtained his pilots wings on April 1, 1943.

He took further training as a flying instructor and served as an instructor in various Service Flying Schools in western Canada. In 1945 he returned to Australia, resuming his flying duties until the end of the war in 1945 when he was discharged from the service.

While stationed in Yorkton he married Pearl Ward, twin daughter of Charlie and Winnie Ward. After Norm's discharge from the Air Force, Pearl and their baby daughter Merle joined him in Brisbane, where Norm had returned to his job with the Forestry Department.

In 1948 the McKeemans returned to Yorkton, where Norm joined his father-in-law Charlie Ward in operating Yorkton Nurseries.

It was decided to open a retail flower shop in downtown Yorkton so Norm, after an apprentice period in the greenhouse, took a course in floraculture by correspondence from the University of Guelph. In 1949 they established the flower shop on First Avenue. with Norm taking over the management of the business.

Norman soon became part of the community, involving himself in the affairs of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, the Masonic Lodge and the Shrine.

With a young family, he became involved in the city's education system. He served on the Collegiate board from1965 to 1978 and was chairman in 1969 and 1970.

He was deeply involved in the negotiations between the Collegiate Board and the Yorkton rural school board which led to the joint establishment and operation of the Regional High School . He served on the Regional High School board from 1966 to1978, holding the position as chairman from 1971 to 1978.

He was a member of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce, and its president in 1964. It was during his term of office that the name was changed from Yorkton and District Chamber of Commerce to the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce.

His business Yorkton Florists is a member of the Florists Telegraph Delivery Association, and Norm served as district representative with that trade association.

His interest in flying did not cease after his discharge from the Australian Air Force. When he returned to Yorkton he maintained his flying license until heart surgery in 1997 required him to give it up.

I remember one magical flight one beautiful October evening, when Norm piloted a small four passenger plane carrying the media to a flying club reception in Dauphin. It was my first flight in a small plane and I will never forget that lovely October evening flight, with the moon glinting on the small lakes and the lights of combines darting like fire flies.

Norm served as president of 603 Wing of the RCAF Association and the Royal Canadian Legion, serving as president in 1981 and 1982, and later as Zone Commander. He was also a committee member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, serving as committee chairman from 1963 to 1969, and also as its area director.

Norm was a member of various committees working to bring commercial air service to Yorkton.

He was a member of the committee that planned and hosted the 50th anniversary of the closing of the British Commonwealth Air Training Program at Yorkton. This successful and emotional event brought former personnel from all over the United States and Canada as well as from Australia and England.

In 1967, on the retirement of Mr. Ward, Norm took over as sole owner of Yorkton Florists and in 1997, after 50 years in the business, he turned over the management of the business to his son Norman Charles.

In 1958, Norm's parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Norman McKeeman, emigrated to Canada to be with their son Norm and his growing family. Mr. McKeeman was employed as an accountant with Northern Motors until his retirement.

Norm and Pearl have retired to their home on Tupper Avenue. As he says, they are blessed with five children and 15 grandchildren. He continues to enjoy curling and golf, and you can often find the McKeemans at Manos in the afternoons visiting with old friends.