A replica of the Avro Arrow now stands in Malton's Paul Coffey Park, steps from the Avro Canada facilities where the original aircraft was designed and built nearly 69 years ago.
A permanent home in the community that built it
The aircraft is the centrepiece of the new Flight Garden, which was officially unveiled recently, according to a City of Mississauga news release. The unveiling marks the culmination of years of effort by Mayor Carolyn Parrish, Ward 5 Councillor Natalie Hart, the City, the Malton Business Improvement Area and donors who wanted a permanent home for a key piece of Canadian aviation history.
The first CF-105 Avro Arrow rolled out of Avro Canada's facilities in 1957, an event the City describes as an important moment in Canada's aviation history. Designed and built in Canada, the aircraft remains one of the country's most recognized aerospace achievements.
The connection to Mississauga runs deep. The Arrow was built a short distance from where the replica now stands, and the program helped establish Malton as a centre for aerospace manufacturing and innovation. Alongside the Arrow replica, the Flight Garden also recognizes the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck and the people whose work built the community's aerospace identity.
"The Avro Arrow is one of Canada's most significant achievements in aerospace engineering, and its story is deeply connected to the history of our city. By creating a permanent home for the Arrow at the Flight Garden, we are preserving an important part of our heritage while recognizing the people, ideas and determination that helped shape Mississauga into the economic centre it is today. Thank you to the Malton BIA, our generous donors and City staff who worked together to make this vision a reality." – Mayor Carolyn Parrish, in the City of Mississauga news release
"Bringing the Avro Arrow to Malton has been a long-standing goal for many people in our community. This project honours the workers, engineers and families who were part of that history while creating a new space for residents and visitors to learn about the role this area played in shaping Canada's aviation industry. It's something our community can be proud of for years to come." – Ward 5 Councillor Natalie Hart, in the City of Mississauga news release
An industry still flying high
The legacy of the Arrow era lives on in Mississauga's economy. The city is now home to Canada's largest aerospace and aviation cluster, with more than 330 companies employing over 32,000 people, the City said. Over the past decade, the sector has grown by nearly 50 per cent, reinforcing Mississauga's position in advanced manufacturing and aerospace development.
"For everyone who lives and works in Malton, bringing the Avro Arrow home restores a deep sense of identity and pride by honouring the minds and hands that built Canada's aviation legacy right here in our neighbourhood. Placing this landmark at Paul Coffey Park's flight garden gives our history a tangible presence that will inspire generations of future innovators." – Sam Kohli, Malton BIA Chair, in the City of Mississauga news release
The replica itself was created by Stainless Outfitters, a Canadian business that contributed its craftsmanship to the project.
"As a small Canadian business, we're proud to have contributed our skills and craftsmanship to bringing a piece of Canada's aviation history back to life. The Avro Arrow represents Canadian innovation, ambition, and ingenuity, and it means a great deal to us to play even a small part in preserving that legacy for future generations." – Andrew O'Conor-Fenton of Stainless Outfitters, in the City of Mississauga news release
The Flight Garden is now open for residents and visitors to explore an important chapter in Canada's aviation story — and, nearly seven decades on, the Arrow once again has a place to call home.
