A message from the 17 Wing Commander
Colonel Jody Hanson, OMM, CD
Dear 17 Wing and CFB Winnipeg Teammates,
I’d like to welcome all new members of the Defence Team at 17 Wing and Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg! Whether you’re newly posted or returning from summer leave, I encourage you to explore Winnipeg and Manitoba—be a tourist in your own town and discover the vibrant community we’re proud to be part of.
This past summer was a busy one, with our teams supporting Operation LENTUS and continuing vital Force Generation activities, and the Fall period is ramping up like usual. I hope you found time to rest and recharge with family and friends. Your wellbeing is essential to our mission success, and I thank you for your dedication.
I want to extend my sincere appreciation to our five Defence Advisory Groups: Defence Advisory Group for Persons with Disabilities, Defence Racialized Persons Advisory Group, Defence Team Pride Advisory Group, Defence Women’s Advisory Organization, and the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group. Your leadership and commitment have positioned 17 Wing/CFB Winnipeg as a trailblazer in fostering inclusion across the CAF. I encourage all members—regardless of identity—to engage with DAGs and attend their events. These efforts build the trust and respect that make our workplace safe, inclusive, and mission-ready.
Looking ahead, we face a future filled with opportunity and transformation. With increased national attention and investment in the CAF, we must embrace change and challenge old ways of thinking. I ask each of you to consider: how can we enhance readiness? How can we innovate, reduce barriers to agility, and make decisions that are threat-informed and mission-focused?
Change can bring uncertainty, but it also brings growth. I encourage you to talk about it with your teams. Share ideas. Support one another. Together, we will turn the stress of uncertainty and change into purpose and momentum. I have full confidence in our ability to adapt and lead.
Thank you for all that you do. Let’s move forward—ready, resilient, and united!
Voxair has been the official Winnipeg military community news source since 1952. The name derives from the Latin word "vox" meaning voice and "air" from the Royal Canadian Air Force, combining to establish the Voice of the Air Force.
Managed by the Corporate Services team, Voxair represents CFB Winnipeg/ 17 Wing and is the central source of local information for the CAF community.
Currently, Voxair operates on Facebook and Instagram under the channel name @Voxair.
17 Wing is situated at Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg and operates under the command of 2 Canadian Air Division. It plays a vital role in generating, delivering, and sustaining air missions to support the mandate of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and offers assistance to Lodger Units and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The wing is responsible for providing fundamental aircrew training, specialized education, and environmental skills training for aircrew members.
Functioning as a support base, 17 Wing offers administrative, operational, and logistical support to over 113 units situated across 35 locations and 10 armouries spanning a wide geographic area. Additionally, 17 Wing serves as a Deployed Operations Base for NORAD fighter operations, including the CF-18 Hornets, as needed. The wing takes pride in supporting both 1 and 2 Canadian Air Divisions as lodger units.
