'It keeps his memory': Film honouring legendary local pilot Wop May released
A film premiering at the Edmonton International Film Festival has taken on a new meaning after one of its key contributors suddenly passed away.
Denny May, son of the famous Edmonton pilot Wilfrid Wop May, passed away Saturday evening – less than 24 hours before the film he pushed to have created was to premiere.
Wop has a distinguished list of historic flights.
He flew medicine to northern Canadian communities and the first airmail to the Arctic. He survived a dogfight with The Red Baron in World War I. He was part of the first police manhunt by air and helped the RCMP track the infamous Mad Trapper.
Wop also formed the first Canadian flying club and the Royal Canadian Air Force's para-rescue group.
It was those accomplishments that Denny wanted to be preserved.
“We’ve got to remember our heroes,” Denny told CTV News in an interview in September last year. “We’ve got to remember our heritage.
“I always regret not having asked him about some of those stories,” he added. “I had to learn about my dad from other people.”
Denny May giving an interview about his dad for the film Blind Ambition (Source: Fred Baron Productions)
Denny spent most of his adult life visiting schools and museums sharing stories about his father. He completed 166 speaking events and spoke to an estimated 12,000 people.
The documentary, Blind Ambition: The Story of Wop May was shot in the Edmonton area and aimed to honour Wop.
A photo showing production of one of the re-enactment scenes in Blind Ambition
“When I heard these stories, it made me feel the way I did when I first watched Indiana Jones when I was a kid,” said Frederick Kroetsch, co-director of the film.
Kroetsch described him as one of Edmonton’s greatest heroes who deserves his own blockbuster Hollywood film.
“His history is all around us,” he said. “The neighbourhood of Mayfield was named after him.”
The co-director says the project would be nothing without Denny’s help.
Denny May, right, and his wife, Margaret May, watch production of the Blind Ambition.
“(Denny) is huge,” Kroetsch said. “He’s the heart and soul of this documentary.
“He’s just a great natural storyteller, so you’ll actually see his face and hear him talking about the early days of his dad and his dad’s death and legacy.
“My biggest wish was for Denny to see this film on the big screen,” Kroetsch added.
“The film is now, it’s dedicated to Denny,” he said. “It keeps his memory and the memory of his father alive.”
When asked what Denny would have thought about the film’s premiere, Margaret May, his widow, said he would be proud.
“I think he would be very proud that the legacy continues,” Margaret said. “We need to keep history alive.”
The documentary will be available to stream on the Edmonton International Film Festival website beginning Monday until the end of the month.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Doctors combine a pig kidney transplant and a heart device in a bid to extend woman's life
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.