The fonds consists of photographic material, correspondence, fact sheets, advertising material, reports, minutes, maps, architectural drawings, and film reels created and acquired by Okanagan Helicopters Ltd, its predecessor Okanagan Air Services Ltd., and its successor, Canadian Helicopters. The fonds consists of executive council records and material relating to the administration of the company, as well as records pertaining to both domestic and international operations. The records, which were created between 1945 and 1997, chart the company’s development and activities, including relationships with aircraft manufacturering companies, innovations in aerial fire-fighting equipment, and early involvement with the heli-skiing and heli-logging industries.
A portion of the records originated with other companies and were transferred to Okanagan Helicopters as a result of mergers and acquisitions. These companies include : Ambank Aircraft Limitée; Aerial Engineering Limited; Associated Helicopters Company Limited; Canadian Helicopters Limited; Creighton Helicopters Ltd.; Dominion Pegasus Helicopters Ltd.; Haida Helicopters Ltd. ; Heli-Aero Logging; Lac St Jean Aviation Limitée; Lecky Paper Ltd.; Sept-Iles Helicopter Services; and Smith, Davidson & Wright.
The fonds is arranged into 17 series created by the archivist : Accidents and crashes; associated companies’ records; awards and certificates; director and shareholder records; equipment; hangar and base records; leases and agreements; manuscripts and research material; news clippings and history files; newsletters; operation records – BC; operation records – extra-provincial; personnel records; proof sheets and photograph collections; promotional material; reports; and Sikorsky Aircraft records. The archivist has maintained the creator's file titles.
Of the films, those which did not directly relate to the operations and activities of Okanagan Helicopters Ltd have been removed from the fonds. A list of these items is available.
Okanagan Helicopters Ltd.