From the beginning, air flight in Canada presented dizzying possibilities. But there were formidable hurdles to overcome. Canadian pilots and their flying machines would have to adapt to a landscape that looked untamable. But with a little ingenuity and a lot of courage they learned to fly in ice and snow, land in darkness on the frozen tundra, put out forest fires, and map the backcountry from the air. Opening up air travel linked citizens from the four corners of the country, and made possible the exploitation of Canada’s immense natural resources. There is the story of the Beaver, Canada’s solution to flying backcountry; of native communities taking command of their destiny through the ownership of their own airline; of putting out forest fires the Canadian way with CL-415s and of the ‘Aurora Patrol’ that helps maintain territorial sovereignty. Conquering Geography was directed by Jo-Ann Demers and produced by Achille Michaud. It will air on Oct. 15th @ 8pm on CBC.