 A. V. Roe Canada Limited had been set up as a subsidiary of the Hawker Siddeley Group in 1945 , initially handling repair and maintenance work for aircraft at Malton , Ontario Airport , today known as Toronto Pearson International Airport . The next year the company began the design of Canada 's first jet fighter for the Royal Canadian Air Force ( RCAF ) , the Avro CF @-@ 100 Canuck all @-@ weather interceptor . The Canuck underwent a lengthy and troubled prototype stage before entering service seven years later in 1953 . Nevertheless , it went on to become one of the most enduring aircraft of its class , serving in a variety of roles until 1981 . 
