Ken Leishman, originally from Holland Manitoba, moved to Red Lake in 1975. Nicknamed the ‘Flying Bandit’, Leishman was considered one of the most beloved Canadian criminals. He was responsible for a number of crimes from the late 50’s to the 70’s including bank robberies, stealing planes, escaping custody, and the largest gold theft in Canadian history.
The event occurred on March 1 1966 and involved $400,000 worth of gold from the Winnipeg International Airport. From his experience as a pilot he knew that regular flights of gold were made from Red Lake to Winnipeg. From there it was transferred to an Air Canada flight and sent to the Mint which was located in Ottawa. Working with 4 accomplices in Red Lake and Winnipeg, Leishman's plan involved intercepting the gold on the tarmac. However, the plan was interrupted by the Great Blizzard which hit Winnipeg. The RCMP became suspicious of Leishman and he was eventually caught and sent to Headingly Prison.
Upon his release he moved to Red Lake and opened a tourist shop. He was a local celebrity and was elected as president of the Chamber of Commerce.
In December 1979 while in flight, Leishman's plane crashed and his body was found some time after the incident.
