The airport is named in memory of Jack Garland, a longtime Member of Parliament for North Bay's Nipissing electoral district.

Until 2004 it hosted an annual air show during North Bay's Heritage Festival, with a large military component.

[6] The first terminal was constructed in 1938 to house a small waiting area on the ground floor and control tower on the second.

The current terminal was built in 2001 and has been renovated (completed 2010)[8] to accommodate additional airline offices, a larger post screening waiting area with washrooms.

Besides travel by car, the airport is serviced by local taxis and North Bay Transit.