Provincial Institute of Technology and Art - Record Yearbook (Calgary, Alberta Canada)

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EDITORIAL THE D-P CLASSES INETEEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY-NINE saw some re¬ markable achievements in the technical field. In May the Trans-Canada Airlines was inaugurated, culminating years of organizing and engineering effort. In other countries there has been equally amazing work done in aviation. Two Canadian engineering students built an ultra-microscope, using atomic bombardment to photograph extremely small objects and magnify their images to a visible size. In chemistry, wonderful results have been obtained through patient and careful research. Only one of the thousands of dis¬ coveries was “sulfanilamide,” the dye that halts the scourge of strepticoccic infections. Another branch of chemistry has developed thousands of plastics, which will be important in all future industry. Then into the midst of all this technical progress stalked the grim god of War. Overnight the whole scientific picture darkened, and men now divert all their energies to devising better means of destroying each other. It is not for us to present a treatise on the evils of war. The problem in hand is the successful completion of a task begun ,and the removal of a rapacious, cowardly menace from society. This Year Book is dedicated to all Canadians who have offered their services to aid our country in her part in this war. It is particularly dedicated to the “D.P.’s,” those students among us who are registered under the Dominion-Provincial Government Youth Training Scheme, and are preparing themselves for places in the Royal Canadian Air Force. The tremendous response to the call for volunteers for this work showed the willingness of young Can¬ adians to help in the national emergency, and we are impressed with the fine spirit of‘ the boys as they go about learing their trades. Looking at the work they turn out, one realizes that in spite of their light-hearted appearance, and frequent outbursts of just plain noise, the D.P.’s are striving seriously and carefully. Naturally there are others besides these who are working to ' help our country in her war effort. All of us have a part to play as skilled technicians in supplying our share of needed materials. But primarily our dedication is to the Dominion Provincial Govern¬ ment Youth Trainees. So, “Salute, to the D.P.’s.” J. D. FROM OUR OWN DICTIONARY CHIVALRY — The high resolve of every man to protect every woman against every other man. BIGAMY — A form of insanity which causes a man to pay three board bills instead of two. SCIENTIST — A long bearded old chap who tries to discover life on the planets, but who doesn’t go in for much of it here HUG — A roundabout way of displaying affection. Page twelve HE special courses of training for the Royal Canadian Air Force, under the Dominion-Provincial Youth Training Plan, commonly referred to as the “D.-P. Classes” are a new de¬ parture in the activities of the Institute. They were organized under the auspices of the Aero. Department as the result of con¬ ferences between representatives of the Dominion and Provincial civil authorities and the R.C.A.F., and are jointly financed by the Dominion and Provincial Governments. Although courses of training for the R.C.A.F. under this plan are now in operation in most of the Provinces, the Institute, and the Province of Alberta, has the honour of being the first off the mark. The first class was organized on June 0, 1939. This was limited to students who had already completed satisfactorily the regular two-year course in Aeronautics. There were forty-one en¬ rolled students, of whom three were medically rejected and dropped out, of the balance thirteen joined the R.C.A.F. and twenty-five secured employment in Canadian and British aircraft factories, several of them in the drafting rooms. The next course was organized on July 24, and included classes for Engine Fitters, Riggers, Electricians and Wireless Operator- Mechanics. Well over one hundred students reported for these classes, but thirty-two were medically rejected and four others failed to complete the distance. Of the balance sixty-five have now joined the Service as aircraftsmen. A third course went into session on November 6, ninety-four students reporting for classes for Engine Fitters, Riggers and Wire¬ less Operator-Mechanics. Of these, fourteen were medically re¬ jected, six have dropped out, ten have already joined the R.C.A.F. and sixty-four are still in training. Up to the present two hundred and forty students have re¬ ported for these classes, of whom one hundred and fourteen have completed the training. The R.C.A.F. have accepted eighty-six of these, and twenty-seven have secured employment in aircraft factories. The work in all classes has been characterized by exceptional keenness and enthusiasm. Remarkable progress has been made, and the R.C.A.F. authorities have been most favourably impressed with the quality of the men and the standard of their workman¬ ship. In this respect we do not think the achievement of the “D.-P. Classes” organized at this Institute need take second place to that of any of the other Provinces. The key to this success undoubtedly lies in the excellence of the instructional staff, and the way in which they have worked to keep things moving. Every member of this staff may congratulate him¬ self for having done a very thorough job of work for the “D.-P.” trainees, for the reputation of the Institute and for the Empire’s war effort; and it is a sure thing that every member of the classes they have so ably lead will carry away withhim into the future grateful memories of those who launched him upon the road to technical skill.

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