Township Councillor Steve Ferguson said it was apropos that an access road at Langley Regional Airport was named "John Beales Way" last Thursday, Sept. 13.

Ferguson said Beales, the former Township Mayor who passed away in 2003, "always wanted to get his way."

Beales loved flying and was involved with improving Langley Regional Airport, and ran Double J. Aviation at the airport for many years.

"John Beales Way" is named in his honour, to recognize his commitment to Langley's aviation industry and his dedication to the community.

Speakers at the ceremony included Township Councillors Ferguson and Grant Ward, and Bruce Beales, son of John Beales.

There was also a fly past to mark the occasion.

Beales came to Langley from Winnipeg as a child and graduated from Langley High School in 1942 before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. At the end of the war he returned home and married his childhood sweetheart, Margery Graham and the couple had eight children.

An active member of the community, Beales served as a Langley School Board trustee for many years.

He started and ran a successful manufacturing business, J.H. Beales Steel Fabricators, from 1956 to 1978.

Following his retirement from business, he served as an alderman (councillor) on Langley Township council in 1984 and 85. He was elected mayor in 1987 and served for two terms, until 1993.