During WWII, around mid-1944, the Cold Weather Engine Testing Station (CWES) received a Whittle W.1 to begin turbine tests.

At the end of the war, it also received captured German engines to continue its work (Junkers 109-004B-1, etc.).

At the same time, the Canadian government had also begun turbine work in 1944, under a state-owned company called Turbo Research Ltd.

This company produced the TR-1, TR-2, and TR-3 centrifugal compressor jet engines. The TR-4 was already an axial compressor engine and was the basis for the Avro Chinook. In 1946, Turbo Research was absorbed by Avro, moving from Ontario to Toronto. See Avro Canada.