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Harold Thomas - Vancouver Island |
 Born and raised in Vancouver, Harold graduated from Lord Byng and King Edward High Schools. He joined Canadian Pacific Air Lines in 1951 in the Accounting Department. Working through many clerical positions and eventually into management, he retired as Manager, Budgets and Manpower Planning in the Finance Division.
After retirement, Harold and his wife Elisabeth owned a clothing store in the Kitsilano district of Vancouver for six years. They moved to Victoria in 1991 and opened a successful B&B which they operated for eight years. During this time Harold became a charter member of Chapter #2 of CAIRE (Canadian Airlines International Retired Employees), becoming its President in 1994. Served as Chairman of the Central Board (National President) for two years.
He decided to take an active part in 2004 with the Pionairs, becoming the District Director, serving in that capacity for four years. In 2009, he returned as District Director. Presently, his main concern is finding a new District Director with lots of new ideas.
Harold’s hopes are that this organization can play its role in preserving our airline heritage and can continual to play an important part in protecting the pensions of not only AC retirees but all Canadian retirees. |
 Born and raised in the Vancouver area, Ken Anderson graduated from SFU with a BA in Economics in 1971, and joined Air Canada, working in the Personnel department. He and his wife then moved to Toronto at the end of 1973 for 2 ½ years, working first in the Employment office and then as an Economic Analyst in Maintenance Finance. Moving on to Montreal, Ken worked in finance before returning to Vancouver in 1980 to work in Customer Sales and Service, and to further his education in personnel administration at BCIT.
Ken retired from Air Canada in January, 2002 as a Lead in Terminal Control. He then worked for a few years as a Human Resources Officer with the federal government’s Department of Public Safety, retiring from that position in the summer of 2007.
Ken has been a Pionair member since his retirement from AC, and became the Treasurer for the YVR District Pionairs in February of 2008. In the Fall of 2009, when a new YVR Pionairs District Director resigned for personal reasons, Ken assumed the position of District Director in YVR while continuing with the treasurer’s position until a replacement can be found.
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Kathryn McLaughlin - Okanagan |
 Kathryn McLaughlin’s early roots were on the Prairies, growing up on a farm near the small town of Plumas, Manitoba.
In 1974, she joined Air Canada in Winnipeg as a Computer Programmer, and spent the early years in Computer & Systems Services, (later known as Information Technology) in various positions including Programmer/Analyst, Analyst/Designer, System Leader, Training Specialist, Business Analyst, and Organization and Business Process Redesign. In 1998 she joined the Finance branch as Financial Development & Training Manager, and completed her career at AC as Manager, Credit & Collections. Kathryn retired in 2004 from Winnipeg Finance after 30 years service.
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Elizabeth Alvares - Edmonton |
Elizabeth Alvares -  Awaiting Bio |
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Randy Godber- Calgary (YYC) |
 RANDY GODBER
I lived in Vancouver then moved to Montreal (Dad was TCA) Dad was then transferred to Jamaica in the mid 60s then back to Montreal early 70s. I moved to Calgary in 1978 as an Air Canada Flight Attendant along with my brother Richard. My educational background is business admin with a lot of science thrown in.
I was hired in 1977 as a temp on the ramp in Montreal and then as a temp Flight Attendant in 1978 which became permanent in Dec 1978 at the newly opened Calgary Base. I became an In-charge Flight Attendant in 1981. From 1984 to 1997 I flew little as I worked full time for our Union ( CALFAA then Airline Division of CUPE).
I held the positions of local Calgary VP, Local Contract Chairperson, Local President, National VP, Central Site Rep in Montreal, National Treasurer. Some of these offices overlapped as I held 2 positions at a time. I have extensive working knowledge of how to prepare and present grievances and arbitrations at the local, national levels and as well as in front of arbitrators and government officials.
I participated in many contract negotiations on behalf of the Union with Air Canada. I went back to flying in 1997 as an In-Charge in Calgary and retired in June 2009 after many, many fun years of flying. I made a large number of friends in the airline as well as all over the world. My last 5 to 10 years were spent
flying to London and Frankfurt.
Currently I run 2 businesses, a construction/reno company and a fly fishing guide service. I am also interested in photography, hiking, and cooking. |
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Marjorie Homenick - Manitoba & Saskatchewan |
 Marjorie Homenick was born in Douglas, on the Isle of Man, Uk, and came to Canada in 1957. She was hired by Air Canada in 1979, worked in C&SS and then Winnipeg Maintenance.
Marjorie became very involved with the Winnipeg Interline Club - going through the different offices. She was elected to the World Airlines Clubs Association in Israel and became the only women President of WACA for two terms. To date she is also the only woman Commodore of the Royal Manitoba Yacht Club. She also holds membership in The Order of Eastern Star and the Rebekahs.
Marjorie has been married to Al for 50 years (she married at 14!!!!) They have three children, Pam in Winnipeg, Gayle in Calgary, Scott in Vancouver and their rescue
dog Buster - who rules the roost.
She enjoys boating so Summers are spent on their boat at Winnipeg Beach. Marjorie also enjoys painting, watching Coronation Street, reading, baking and of course traveling.
Marjorie joined the Pionairs in 2005 and upon being elected District Director in 2009, looked forward to a productive term with her very able committee.
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Mary Ofrenchuk - S.W. Ontario |
 Mary Ofrenchuk, was born and raised in Winnipeg Manitoba, attended St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Boniface, and completed her schooling at Glenlawn Collegiate in St. Vital. In 1956, she began her career with Air Canada as a Secretary to the Ground Equipment Superintendant. From there, Mary transferred in 1958 to In-Flight , taking her retirement on April 30 1998 as an In-Charge Flight Attendant. Having completed a course, she received a Private Investigator’s License. Also, Mary attended an intense Forged Document Course in Frankfurt, Germany receiving an Airline Security Inspector License. She is continuing this work on a part time basis, dealing mainly with forged documents. |
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David McNeilly- Central Ontario |
 David McNeilly was born in Nanticoke, Ontario and resides with Lynn, in St. Catharines, Ontario. David began working on the Ramp with TCA in Toronto Oct 1964 and then moved to Flight Operations Crew Scheduling 1968. The next 19 years were spent in crew scheduling in Toronto, Halifax and Winnipeg . In July 1987 David moved to Montreal as System Flight Crew Scheduling Duty Manager, then moved back to Toronto in 1991 as System Flight Crew Scheduling Analyst and retired in 2001. He spent numerous years involved in Curling with Air Canada at the base level in Toronto, Halifax, Winnipeg and Montreal. In 1980 he became President of Air Canada System Curling. David moved to St.Catharines in 2003 and began as Chairman of Niagara Pionairs coffee group in 2005, a position he still holds. David’s interests include boating, fishing, carpentry, mechanics, stained glass, wine making and lots of cruising. |
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Jacques Levesque - Ottawa |
 Awaiting Bios |
 Bienvenue au Québec!
Le temps file- déjà 3 ans que j’ai le privilège d’être le Directeur du District de Québec, 7 ans depuis mon départ d’Air Canada. Elevé à North Bay, ON, je me suis enrolé dans L’Aviation Royale Canadienne en 1960, et jai obtenu mon degré d’Ingénieur Electrique en mai, 1965. J’ai ensuite été Officier de Télécommunications dans les Forces jusqu'à la fin de 1969, alors que j’ai rejoint Air Canada comme Ingénieur en avionique. Après des séjours dans les départements d’Ingénierie, Achats et Fourniture, ensuite Programmes Avions, je suis retourné aux Achats ou j’ai terminé ma carrière en 2003 comme Directeur, Maintenance des composantes.
Welcome to Québec!
Time sure flies by- it’s already 3 years that I have had the privilege of being the Quebec District Director, and 7 years since leaving Air Canada. I hail from North Bay, ON; I joined the RCAF in 1960, went to school and graduated in 1965 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. I then served as a Telecommunications Officer till the end of ’69, when I joined Air Canada as an Avionics Engineer. After stops in Engineering, P&S, Aircraft Programs, I returned to P&S and ended my career as Director, Component Maintenance in 2003.
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Robert Taylor - New Brunswick |
 Robert(Bob) was born in Saint John NB, and spent most of his life there. In October 1961, he joined Trans Canada Airlines in Halifax as a Station Attendant, and later, in 1964, he went to Toronto as a Cargo Agent. Returning to Saint John in 1967 as a Station Attendant, he was later promoted to Load Agent, retiring in 1998.
In 1983, Bob became interested in local politics and served on the then Gondola Point Council for 15 years.
He enjoyed boating on the great Saint John and Kennebecasis Rivers. Now, during the Summer months, Bob enjoys his time spent at the cottage in Point du Chene with family and friends.
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Garland Snelgrove - Nova Scotia - P.E.I. |
 Garland Snelgrove was born and raised in a small village in Conception Bay, Newfoundland. He left home in 1958 at the age of 16 to work in an upholstery shop in Montreal West for approximately three years.
Garland joined Trans Canada Airlines in Dorval in May 1961 and worked on the ramp as a Station Attendant, Lead, acting Supervisor then moved into a permanent position in management. After a number of years at Dorval, Garland joined a project team at Mirabel where he worked for approximately three years; transferred to Halifax 1977 as Duty Manager, then to Aircraft Services Manager, Aircraft Services & Commissary Manager, and later, to Airport Services Manager.
Due to management reduction, he ended his career an Airport Customer Services Manager, Atlantic Canada, reporting to the General Manager, Atlantic Canada.
Garland retired in 1993 and then worked a short term assignment as a consultant with Air Atlantic. He then joined Hudson General for about 8 years as General Manager.
After his second retirement, Garland started a small business – ‘lawn manicuring & snow removal’. Since retirement from AC he has been a Pionair and, on April 4, 2005 he became the District Director for Nova Scotia & P.E.I. |
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Pat Lannon - Newfoundland |
 Pat (Deedee) Lannon was born and raised in Gander, Nl. She attended the College of Trades and Technology in Gander and St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
She joined Air Canada in June, 1969, as secretary in the Station Manager’s office. In 1970 she moved to St. John’s and worked in the Cargo Office for a year and then was secretary to the Airport Customer Service Manager. In 1973, she moved back to Gander and became an agent. Deedee moved back to St. John’s in 1980, then on to Toronto in 1982, and out to Edmonton in 1987. In 1996, she transferred to Charlottetown, PEI., moved back to Newfoundland in 2000 and retired in 2001.
Deedee joined the Pionairs upon retiring and became a member of the executive in 2005 and the District Director NL in 2008. |
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Mike Judkins - United Kingdom - E.C. |
 Mike Judkins – UK/EC
Mike was born in the United Kingdom in a county called Cheshire, August 1943 in the town of Crewe.
Being the third company he worked for, he joined Air Canada in 1964 and spent the next 34 years with AC.
He began his career with Air Canada at Heathrow Airport as a “Cargo Biller”, becoming a Cargo Agent in 1969. Mike, after a few years, became a Caro Training Supervisor for the European Region. He then spent several years as Cargo Duty Manager before moving into Cargo Sales as Sales Rep. and subsequently, became a Sales Manager.
Taking an early retirement in April 1968, Mike then became employed by the Air Canada General Sales Agent for Ireland to set up an office at Heathrow. After 6 years, he started his own company in the Air Freight business, is still involved with it but in a diminished capacity - as Mike says, “almost fully retired”.
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Kevin Carey - USA - Caribbean |
 Kevin Carey was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and, after serving in the Air Force, he received his B. A. in Marketing from Pace University, NY. He currently lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with his wife, Diana, who was born and raised in Iowa. They have three daughters and four grandchildren. Kevin started his career with Air Canada in New York in September, 1965. He held many various positions ranging from reservations, records, rdc, city ticket office, airport agent, training instructor and budget analyst. In1972, he transferred to Cleveland as Personnel Supervisor and became a sales representative in 1974. Transferring to Houston in 1975, he helped to open the new station as the Airport Supervisor and the Sales Representative for Southern Texas.
In 1978, Kevin transferred to Miami as Sales Manager, Florida, then became the Sales Manager for the Southeast USA in 1982. He then, in 1985, added Latin America and South America to his sales responsibilities
After the Continental Airlines bankruptcy, their Sales Team, in 1988, were trained by Kevin in the Air Canada culture.
In 1990 he became the Director of Leisure Sales for the United States and Caribbean and held that position until his retirement from Air Canada in 2004.
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