Donna R MacFarlane - Vancouver Island |
 Donna was born in Minto, New Brunswick.
Moved to Sept-Iles Quebec as a child and from there spent a year in Montreal prior to moving to Vancouver BC where her career with the airlines began Oct 7, 1971.
She started in Sales Analysis Department with CP Air before moving to Reservations Department where she worked as a Res Agent; Group Agent and a Pre-Paid Ticket Agent. Donna did a stint at YVRAP (Vancouver Airport) before taking a position as Training and Operational Supervisor in YXY (Whitehorse, Yukon)- 1st woman supervisor in the north- from 1981-86.
In 1986 she accepted a position in YEG (Edmonton, Alta) as a Sales Rep before obtaining the same position in YYJ (Victoria BC) a year later with Canadian Airlines. In 1998 in she commuted to YVR a couple a times a week as a Corporate Sales Rep for Canadian and Air Canada.
Donna retired in 2000 in Victoria, where she resides with her partner Bob Petersen.
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 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, Ken assumed the position of District Director in YVR.
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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 
Elizabeth Alvares was born, raised and educated in Edmonton but also lived 13 years in Toronto and in Vancouver for ten. Her husband John, was employed by Air Canada and when their sons were younger, she was a Cub and Scout leader. Enjoying travel, she and John usually try to get away for a short period in the winter. Elizabeth also enjoys sewing, gardening, and camping. She was approached by the membership of Air Canada Pionairs to become the District Director for Edmonton and has not regretted it at all.
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Wendy Kraft - Calgary (YYC) |
 Wendy’s career with Air Canada began in 1974 as a Passenger Agent at the ‘old’ Calgary airport which colleagues will remember as a leaky, and frequently shaky prefab ‘character’ building. “We all helped each other out whether digging each other’s vehicles out of snow drifts, or protecting passengers during delays and cancellations. We put our customers first, rolled the aircraft out on time and developed a sense of family that still exists for many of us long after we leave or retire.”
Leaving Supervisory Management at the airport in the early eighties, Wendy continued to Calgary District Sales as an Area Sales Manager, managing Agency and Corporate accounts toward increased growth and market share through AC privatization and Open Skies. During this time, she completed a Management Certificate degree through the University of Calgary.
Transferring to Winnipeg in 1991 Wendy continued Sales management work for eight years, working with clients as far North as Thompson and as far West as Swift Current. A Westerner through and through, she transferred back to Calgary District Sales in 1999 and retired into Real Estate in Calgary in 2005. That word ‘retirement’ still leaves me scratching my head, she says.
Her outside interests are varied including writing, photography, cruising and golfing.
“AC retirees and phase-in retirees represent a wide age range. With the support of a solid local Executive Board, I encourage interactive ideas and participation to promote relevance at our Pionair meetings. We intend to grow our Calgary Pionair numbers, always with a view to presenting a strong front to Air Canada, and, in concert with other Canadian companies, to drive legislative changes at the Federal level in the protection of our pension plans.”
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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. |
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. |
Jacques Levesque - Ottawa |
 Jacques Levesque was born in Kamloops BC into a Military family that was transferred to Ottawa shortly after his birth.
Jacques joined Trans Canada Airlines in 1964 and worked in Passenger Sales as a Reservation agent, transferred to the Airport in 1968 as an agent Supervisor, then moved to SOC as a Duty Manager. In 1983 he moved on to become Area Sales Manager in the Ottawa region. In June of 1993, he accepted an early retirement package and left the Airline.
Jacques had a parallel career with the Naval Reserve and made an immediate transition to the Canadian Navy serving with them for 7 years on a fulltime callout. He commanded two units - one in Ottawa and one in Sept Iles QC. The last five years of his second career was as Chief of Staff at the headquarters in Quebec City. He retired a second time in 1999 having achieved the rank of Commander.
He has served on the Board of the Juno Beach Centre (The only Canadian Museum in Normandy France) from 2000 to 2004 and had a key role in the opening of this Centre in 2003. Jacques is also a serving member on the Board of the Hall of Valour Museum in Carleton Place ON acting as First Vice President since 2005.
He and his wife Dorothy, also an Air Canada retiree, live in Ottawa within close proximity to their 3 children and four grandchildren.
Golf, Florida Winter sabbaticals and curling are on the agenda when time permits. Jacques and Dorothy have been members of the Pionairs since retirement. Jacques has been on the Ottawa committee since 2006 and became District Director for the Ottawa, Eastern Ontario Region in 2008.
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 Bienvenue au Québec!
Val Jurkovic est né en Autriche et est arrive à Montréal à l’âge de deux ans et demi. Il a fait ses études élémentaire et secondaire en français à Montréal, puis a poursuivi ses études à l’ Institut Aérotechnique du Québec d’où il obtint son diplôme en Juin 1965 après complété trois ans d’études technique en aéronautique.
En Juillet 1965 il fut engagé par Air Canada comme mécanicien dans le Centre d’Entretien Moteur. Il fut promu cadre en 1975 et a occupé divers postes, de Contremaître, à Gérant de Production, de la Planification Stratégique, et Amélioration des Procédés. Après une carrière de 35 ans et 9 mois à Air Canada, il prit sa retraite en Avril 2001. Par la suite, il a travaillé quelques années comme consultant en gestion pour les petites et moyennes entreprises au Québec.
Il s’est joint au Conseil Exécutif des Pionairs du District de Québec en 2007 et après avoir occupé le poste de trésorier pendant 3 ans, il devint Directeur du District en Janvier 2011.
Welcome to Québec!
Val Jurkovic - Québec
Val Jurkovic was born in Austria, and arrived in Montreal when he was two and a half years old. He attended French elementary and High School in Montréal, and then went to the “Institut Aérotechnique du Québec” where he graduated in June 1965 after completing a 3 year technical course in Aéronautics.
In July 1965, he was hired by Air Canada as a mechanic in the Engine Maintenance Center. He was promoted to management in 1975 and occupied various positions, from Foreman, to Manager of Engine Maintenance, Strategic Planning, and Process Improvements. After a career of 35 years and 9 months he retired from Air Canada in April 2001. He then worked for a few years as a management consultant for small and medium businesses in Québec.
He joined the Pionairs Québec District Executive Committee in 2007 and after holding the position of treasurer for 3 years, he became Director of the District in January 2011.
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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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Linda Tanner - Nova Scotia - P.E.I. |
 Linda Tanner
Linda was born in New Glasgow and raised in Trenton Nova Scotia. After her first year at StFX (St. Francis Xavier University) in Antigonish, she left for Vancouver for a summer. Two years later, she had her first interview with Air Canada in Vancouver. Linda joined Air Canada as a Flight Attendant in April 1971. She was based in Toronto until 1976 but when a crew base opened in Halifax, she transferred there to be near her family.
She became active in many aspects of the base. Linda was on the uniform committee, blocking committee, and worked on special assignments as a supervisor and a crew scheduler. Becoming the CUPE local base president in 1986 and later the Air Canada CUPE Component Vice President, enabled her to participate in seven sets of contract negotiations.
Prior to transferring back to Toronto for the last three years of her career, she was the co-chair of the Halifax Health & Safety committee. Linda retired on June 1 2009 and is enjoying every minute of her retirement. Summers are spent at her cottage on the Northumberland Strait and winters can take her anywhere there is no snow! Her daughter, Meagan lives in the Caribbean so she gets to combine holidays with their visits.
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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. |
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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