A Waltz for new wings
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A Waltz for New Wings is an homage to expansive possibilities and the beauty of uncharted territory, both in personal and professional life. Inspired by Margaret’s steadfast focus to service and her desire to seek out new experiences, Maya’s work is filled with strength, determination and a sense of awe that brings to mind the boundless beauty and depth found in parts of the Pacific Northwest.
Leading Aircraftwoman Margaret Mann
Not long before her 27th birthday, Margaret Mann enlisted in the Women’s Division of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Before enlisting, Margaret had worked as a hospital kitchen assistant and private household cook. She also held St. John Ambulance certificates in First Aid and Home Nursing, and had spent seven months with the Canadian Women’s Training Corps in her hometown of North Vancouver. Due to her experience, she was recommended for duty as either a hospital assistant or cook and was recognized as a capable & reliable individual. In January 1942, she attended the RCAF School of Cookery in Guelph, Ontario, before serving as a cook at Claresholm, Alberta, and later at Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
On 30 October 1944, Margaret was posted to No. 6 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Comox, British Columbia. After departing from Tofino for Patricia Bay on July 13, 1945, the Consolidated Liberator 11121 struck the side of a mountain near Bamfield, killing all fourteen people on board. Mann was buried alongside service women Pamela Bennett and Nora Johnson in a common grave near the crash site. In 1983, personnel from Canadian Forces Base Comox erected a commemorative cairn at the site which included a bronze plaque provided by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Sources: BC Aviation Museum & Veterans Affairs Canada
Sea Holly has been selected to honour
Leading Aircraftwoman Margaret Mann
Maya
Maya is in Grade 11 and has studied piano for 5 years with her teacher Emily Armour. Her introduction to Music for Veterans Project and composition began during the program’s first year with a work called Poppy Circle composed to celebrate PO1 (Ret’d) Elizabeth Lindsay of Ontario. In 2022, Maya’s composition Lofty Waters was mailed to Sgt (Ret’d) Issa Paré and celebrated Issa’s powerful connection to the water during her military career. Maya has since participated in the public event Honouring Commonwealth Aircrew where her composition Wings Over Royal Oak premiered at Royal Oak Burial Park in 2023 to honour the service of Pilot Officer Lynn Pearson Fraser who tragically lost his life in a training exercise during the Second World War. In November 2023, Maya traveled to Ottawa to perform at a special event on Parliament Hill honouring Indigenous veterans. Her commemorative composition Prelude for a Soldier was composed in honour of veteran James McMullin and following the performance a copy of the music was presented to James’ mother Sgt (Ret’d) Wendy Jocko. Maya has performed her compositions at annual piano recitals as well as at veteran retirement residences during Remembrance week. In her final year of high school, Maya plans to focus on contributing more compositions to the Music for Veterans Project, with a special piece to honour Vimy Ridge Victoria Cross recipient Pte Milne of the 16th Battalion. She also plans to compose additional works to celebrate modern-day veterans in her community. (June 2026)
