Airplanes and Ice Cream

VOL.VOL. 6, NONO.. 2 — WINTER 2009

VICTORIA AIRPORT AUTHORITY

ININ THISTHIS ISSUE:ISSUE: • Airplanes and Ice Cream • Distinguished Visitors • Reay Creek W i n t e r 2 0 0 9 ON APPROACH VICTORIA AIRPORT AUTHORITY Editor’s desk One thing about airports is that they are true 3 - Airport News gateways to the community. Those in larger Victoria Airport Authority supports the centres often have several terminals serving local community. commercial traffic. At YYJ, we have the one 4 - Airplanes and Ice Cream commercial terminal, plus two lesser known A tribute to retiring Manager of arrival and departure points. Visitors to the Corporate Services, Danita Ouellette. area, travelling on private aircraft, arrive at the Fixed Base Operation (YYJ/FBO) in the 6 - Airport Security East Camp. Visitors of distinction, such as A look at the Canadian Air Transport royalty and high government officials, arrive Security Authority. and depart from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron in the West Camp. These are highly 8 - Distinguished Visitors secure events, attended by dignitaries and The Emperor and Empress of Japan, members of the press. We’ve enjoyed three of First Stop of the Olympic Flame in these special events during 2009. Remember Canada, and Prince Charles and them with us in the article, Distinguished Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Visitors: Royalty and Fire. 14 - Reay Creek An environmental success story. Airport security can be aggravating and even intimidating, but it’s a well-established Contents fact-of-life in the 21st century. Manager of Screening Operations Malcolm Brailsford remarks that no one is exempt from regulations. “I’m the manager of security, and I’m subject to screening,” he says. To find out more about security requirements and meth- ods, see Airport Security: the Human Side.

How do you sum up a career? We tried to On Approach is a do just that in an interview with Danita publication of the Ouellette, one of the last employees from pre-computer, pre-airport authority days. It is Victoria Airport Authority. a bitter sweet look at a 30 year career that demanded the best she had to give. “That Phil Jensen, Editor airport is like my child,” she says. “Now it’s (250) 383-0667 time to let it go.” To find out more about [email protected] what motivated Danita over the years, be sure to read Airplanes and Ice Paul Connolly, Community Relations Coordinator Cream. (250) 953-7501 [email protected] Happy flying, Laura Lavin, Production [email protected] Phil Jensen, Victoria Airport Authority editor, On Approach 201-1640 Electra Blvd., Sidney, B.C. V8L 5V4 www.victoriaairport.com

2 VICTORIA AIRPORT AUTHORITY ON APPROACH W i n t e r 2 0 09 Airport News McTavish Interchange cial contribution and will con- Update tinue to support the many busi- nesses in our region through The Government of Canada effective transportation options ($10.5 million), the Province and key partnerships.” of British Columbia ($10.5 million) and the Victoria Airport First Nations and the Authority ($3 million) are all VAA funding partners for the $24 million Highway 17 / McTavish The Victoria Airport Authority Road Interchange to improve has donated $5,000 to the road safety and transporta- Tsawout First Nation to assist tion efficiency for local resi- in the rebuilding of their long- dents, visitors and motorists house, destroyed by fire July travelling along Highway 17. 17, 2009. Tsawout Chief Allan Claxton accepted the dona- Construction started November VAA CEO Richard Paquette presents Tsawout Chief 30, 2009 and is scheduled for tion in a meeting with VAA Allan Claxton with a donation to assist in rebuilding completion March 31, 2011. President and CEO, Richard the burned longhouse. Paquette. Victoria Airport Authority supports the Runway Extension community Project Update

VAA has given funding of The Victoria Airport Authority $5,000 to the Greater Victoria continues to discuss with Development Agency for the the Province and the Federal purpose of promoting Greater Government to be partners in Victoria as a place to invest and construction of the extension of do business. Victoria International Airport’s main runway. The extension Sasha Angus, Economic will permit non-stop flights to Development Officer with Europe, and will offer the com- VAA Chair Christine Stoneman addresses the commu- the GVDA said, “The Victoria munity significant economic stimulus in terms of tourism, nity at the new McTavish Interchange ground breaking Airport Authority is a tremen- ceremony November 27, 2009. dous partner in promoting jobs and tax revenue for govern- Greater Victoria. Their efforts ments. ... are helping to drive both New Flights tinations, with CanJet providing tourism and technology in the aircraft and crews. region. With their support, the GVDA will continue to ensure WestJet is now providing sched- that our region remains a uled direct flights to Honolulu. vibrant place to live, work and This is the first scheduled flight invest.” between Victoria and Honolulu since 2006. They are also “The GVDA makes a significant offering direct service to Puerto impact in our community by Vallarta and Cancun, Mexico. helping to attract investment WestJet continues to fly non- and positive economic activity,” stop from Victoria to Las Vegas. said Christine Stoneman, VAA Chair. “The Airport Authority Air Transat is offering charter was pleased to make this finan- flights to the same Mexico des-

3 W i n t e r 2 0 0 9 ON APPROACH VICTORIA AIRPORT AUTHORITY Airplanes and Ice Cream Danita Ouellette remembers life. At the very least, airports In November 1984, she took her childhood in Richmond as have always made her feel a temporary job at the Victoria a happy time. Danita’s siblings good. airport. In those days there were much older, so she grew was no Airport Authority, so up as an only child. “I was an This year Danita retired from her employer was Transport aunt by the time I was four her long term position as Canada. She remembers finding years old,” she remarks. One of Manager Corporate Services at the new situation intimidating. her favourite childhood memo- Victoria International Airport. But she was soon promoted to “If anybody asked me what I the position of Administration wanted to be when I grew up, Supervisor, so she must have that wasn’t it,” she says. “I made a good impression. Her wanted to be a flight attendant. job title would change many But I was too short. Most of the times over the years, but it time at the airport, I had my always reflected that she was head down at my desk. It was someone who could be depend- the non-romantic, non-sexy, ed on. most disinteresting part of the airport.” “I started the new job on Victoria Day in ‘85. The first Danita had intended to con- expansion was underway. We tinue in her job for another two changed from the 1964 version years. But when her husband, of the building to the 85/86 Paul, retired at the end of July, version of the building. Prior a new vision began to emerge. to that, you collected your bag- She’d been at YYJ for 25 years gage outside. People lined up and felt it was time to move in outside to check in for the 747 another direction. But there’s Wardair flights to Hawaii. The no denying that it’s a bitter terminal was chock-a-block sweet parting. “That airport is full. We had no computers. We like my child,” she says. “I’ve recorded everything on ledger watched it grow for so many sheets. Month end reports took years. Now it’s time to let it all night.” go.” The treadmill had gained Danita Ouellette with her husband Paul, and Gilligan. Actually, Danita’s airport career speed. From where Danita started before she came to stood, it was looking more like work in Victoria. It was 1978. a rat race. She lived in Ladner She was living in Sandspit in at one point in the ‘80s, and ries involves airplanes. Ice the Queen Charlottes, married commuted daily from Vancouver cream is part of it too. “We’d to a logger and raising a young to Victoria via Time Air. She go to the South Terminal at family. The clerk at the airport says, “If I missed the last the Vancouver Airport. It was became ill, and they hired her flight home to Vancouver, I just the main terminal there in the to fill in on a temporary basis. stayed and worked all night. ‘60s, and they sold the best The clerk passed away, and she There was always way more to soft ice cream in the world.” replaced him. Then the airport do than would fit in a normal That tradition of going to the manager became ill, and Danita workday.” airport for ice cream and air- started doing his job as well, plane watching created a men- jumping on a treadmill that In those days, Transport Canada tal association that may have wouldn’t stop for 30 years. frequently implemented staffing played a role in Danita’s adult TURN TO PAGE 5

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... changing from ledgers and ily, and they have been amaz- FROM PAGE 4 adding machines to computers ing people to work with. I will ... 25 years implementation truly miss them. I’ve worked at freezes. “People left, and you of technology. It’s been a little airports for 31 years. Once an couldn’t replace them. We’d be crazy.” airport bum, always an airport down to skeleton crews, and it bum. You can’t stay away from never slowed down. In 1997, Two major airport expansions it. It gets in your blood.” we started the change over have been completed since to an Airport Authority, and it got worse. I spent pretty much 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the airport. It had to be done. It was a grueling process, and it sure as hell didn’t come with a neat, easy-to-follow, set of directions. Thankfully, I was able to pass on what I learned to many of the airports who transferred after us. The process was humungous.”

After the transfer was completed, Richard Paquette arrived on the scene as President and CEO of the Victoria Airport Authority. He remarks on how very important Danita has been to the smooth running of the airport. “She’s had a wonderful Danita Ouellette at her desk at the Victoria airport. career here,” he says. “She’s been so important to the airport, and to its transfer from then, and the staff has stabi- Danita has always hit the the Federal Government to the lized. It’s the beginning of a ground running, dealing with Airport Authority. After the VAA new era now. Randy Bogle has whatever they threw at her. was established and I arrived now taken on the financial part Now she has time to reflect, here ... I relied on her in so of Danita’s job, and Debbie time to pick and choose. It’s many ways.” Hansen will take on the bal- a welcome cooling off period, ance of her Corporate Services after all the treadmill years. Danita recalls that things role. Danita can safely leave, “We have six weeks in the improved notably after Richard finally assured that it isn’t all Caribbean, starting in January arrived. She appreciated the going to fall apart. 2010, and a Mediterranean positive influence he brought to cruise in November 2010. Now the operation. But she was still For some people retirement can is the time to actually spend the one who knew the airport be a difficult time. For Danita, time with my hubby, our kids, inside out. “Imagine it over the it is more a time of ambiguity. our grandchildren and my dog, whole gamut. It’s everything. “I don’t identify myself with my Gilligan.” So the immediate You name it, I did it. I was job,” she says. “When I was future is mapped out. After that responsible for all the finance, working, I lost my identity. Now who knows? Maybe a nice drive, all the human resources, all that I’m retired, I’m getting it and an ice cream cone. the risk management. Unless back. That wasn’t me.” On the you’ve been there for 25 years, other hand: “When you put your you don’t get experience in all heart and soul into something those areas. From the time I for so many years ... My team first walked through the door has become a part of my fam-

5 W i n t e r 2 0 0 9 ON APPROACH VICTORIA AIRPORT AUTHORITY Airport Security: the Human Side Airline passengers have always International Airport, CATSA is been interested in flying safety. represented by Garda, a com- But as recently as the turn of pany with operations across the century, the concept of Canada and the USA, Latin airport security was a barely America, Europe, the Middle familiar concept to the general East, Africa, and Asia. public. Then came September 11, 2001 and everything Malcolm Brailsford, Garda changed. Here in Canada, the Manager of Screening CATSA uniform is now a famil- Operations, BC West is in iar presence at airports. But charge of screening at Victoria, CATSA’s mandate and how the Nanaimo, Comox, Campbell organization operates is less River and Sandspit. He came well known. to the job eight years ago with Malcolm Brailsford, Garda Manager admirable credentials: a 25 of Screening Operations. The Canadian Air Transport year career in the RAF, culmi- Security Authority operates nating with the rank of Warrant Malcolm came into the job under the authority of the Officer First Class. This was eight years ago with 24 staff Minister of Transport, and is followed by 11 years working members. Since then, Victoria responsible for security screen- in casino security. While in the Airport and the job have both ing at airports in Canada. Their RAF, he served in a string of grown. Today, he manages a general scope of responsibility diplomatic postings in London, total of 165 pre-board screen- encompasses four areas: Washington, DC, Singapore, ing staff: 95 in Victoria and 1. Pre-board Screening (PBS), Holland and Germany. “I call it 70 in the other four airports. the screening of passengers, luxury postings,” Malcolm says. “The standard we’ve got is to their carry-on baggage and their Call it what you will, the work keep all operations on a par,” personal belongings; prepared him to deal with a he says. “Things are dealt with 2. Hold Baggage Screening wide variety of people in stress- consistently at all of them.” (HBS), the screening of ful situations, an excellent checked baggage; background for what he does Eves Devries has worked pre- 3. Non-Passenger Screening today. board screening at Victoria (NPS), the screening of non- Airport, since July 1989. With passengers (e.g. airport employ- “The main challenge in this job 20 years on the job, she’s the ees, flight crews); and is customer service,” he says. longest serving employee in the 4. Restricted Area Identity “People are getting used to the operation. She’s worked for sev- Cards (RAIC), the administra- regulations. But some of them eral security contractors during tion of access control to airport are anxious, before they come those years. When a new con- restricted areas through biomet- through the door. We have to tractor comes on the scene, it’s ric identifiers. do our job. At the same time, to their benefit to keep as many we want to reduce their anxiety existing staff as possible. “It’s Private security companies bid level. That’s one of the out- because we’re certified,” Eves on contracts to carry out the standing qualities of the staff says, pointing out that they’re screening operations under we have. CATSA authority. At Victoria TURN TO PAGE 7

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FROM PAGE 6 may be purchased in the secure senior serving screener in BC. holding area and brought onto Why does she do it? “Working required to undergo CATSA the aircraft. It’s permissible with the public was part of my training and certification every to bring a travel mug or water growing up. Our family had a year. bottle through, if it’s empty. drug store in Vancouver, and I Liquids and jells, such as helped out as a girl. I worked There are four specific tasks in shampoo and hand lotion, must at the bookstore in Vancouver pre-board screening, and staff be in containers no larger than airport for a while too. And I’ve circulate through them every 100 mls, and they must all fit always liked the airplanes.” 20 minutes. This maintains into a one litre baggie. “It’s the an optimal level of alertness. same all across Canada,” Eves Eves feels They rotate from the greeting says. “We’re all on the same protective of position at the door, where they page. Some people are nervous; passengers check boarding passes and some find it scary. But we’re going through direct passengers to one of the told by passengers that this is security. “Some screening lines. The second the best airport, and the most are nervous, position is loading baggage friendly.” and some find on the belt. In the third posi- it scary. We’re tion, security staff monitor the Malcolm explains, “We don’t there to help screen itself, watching for any- make the regulations; we fol- them and keep thing unusual or suspicious in low the regulations. I’m the them safe.” the baggage. The final position Screening Operations Manager And flying is the wand, where they check and I’m still subject to screen- in Canada is for metallic objects on the per- ing. We look at what might be a safe. In her son of the passenger. threat to aviation. It’s not nec- two decades of essarily the individual item you working airport Eves has seen it all. “It can are carrying. It’s what it could security, Eves CATSA screener Eves Devries checks a be hard work, and it can be be, combined with what some- has encoun- boarding pass. weird at times. We see every- one else might be carrying. We tered nothing thing on the screen - from have a very serious job, and we more threatening than rep- intimate personal items to the do it with care and compassion. lica guns and forgotten knives. kitchen sink.” It’s not just a We are firm, fair and friendly.” Passengers carrying these items figure of speech. Someone are offered choices. They can brought an actual kitchen sink When Malcolm started his job return the item to their car, send through screening in his carry- at Victoria International Airport, it through as checked baggage, on baggage.”Sometimes the pre-board screening operated or they can abandon it. They people are hard to deal with,” out of an old interrogation room just can’t carry it on the aircraft. she says. “But the majority are outside the main terminal. “It “We’ve had miserable ones, but a pleasure to deal with.” was about eight by ten, and the majority of people are coop- there was no window,” he says. erative,” Eves says. If the person We’re nearly a decade into Eight years later, he’s still refuses to cooperate, a supervisor increased security regulations, enthusiastic. “Our relationship may step in. Sometimes a new and some people are confused with VAA is outstanding. We are face makes the difference. And about what they can actu- all one big team to make this there is always an RCMP officer ally carry onto a plane. It’s a happy and friendly operation. nearby. pretty clear that all weapons I’m happy to be a member of are barred. And that sharp this airport group.” Considering the times, it seems objects not intended as weap- that all is secure at Victoria ons, things like scissors and Staff numbers at Victoria have International Airport. But Eves pen knives are taboo. But almost quadrupled in eight does have her secrets to keep. what about coffee, soft drinks, years, and there are more than “I remember the cat lady,” she shampoo and hand lotion? You seven members with 16 plus says. “I remember Mr. Bow Tie. are not allowed to carry bever- years service. At 20 years and But I can’t tell you about them, ages through security, but they counting, Eves is the most because they might read this.”

7 Distinguished Visitors: Royalty and Fire W i n t e r 2 0 0 9 ON APPROACH VICTORIA AIRPORT AUTHORITY

Landon Underwood,10, and Jessica Underwood,7, 8 present the Japanese Royals with a bouquet of flowers. Distinguished Visitors: Royalty and Fire VICTORIA AIRPORT AUTHORITY ONON APPROACHAPPROACH W i n t e r 2 0 09 Emperor and Empress of Japan Emperor Akihito of Japan was still Crown Prince the first time he vis- ited Victoria. On that visit, he ate his first hot dog ever, and took his first airplane ride. So soon after the war, there were no Japanese- Canadians available to greet him, as the entire population of 270 people had been sent to intern- ment camps after the attack on Pearl Harbour. Things are different now. On his visit in July 2009, Emperor Akihito and his wife, the Empress Michiko, were greeted and admired by thousands of The Japanese royal enthusiastic Canadians, including couple descend from nearly 3000 people of Japanese the aircraft into a sunny ancestry. Victoria day.

The police motorcycle escort does a last minute check of their equipment.

Press members and attendants wait for the Emperor and Empress of Japan outside the entrance to 433 Maritime Helicopter Squadron hangar.

Empress Michiko shaking hands with Mayor Larry Cross of Sidney. Mayor Alice Finall of North Saanich stands to his right. Chief Bruce Underwood of Pauquachin First Nation and his wife Lila are on the left side of the photo. TURN TO PAGE 10

9 W i n t e r 2 0 0 9 ON APPROACH VICTORIA AIRPORT AUTHORITY Olympic Flame FROM PAGE 9

Moving ahead to the early morning of October 30, a crowd of dignitaries and press gathered at the 433 Maritime Helicopter Squadron hangar to meet the Olympic Flame. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson carried the flame from the aircraft in a wind- proof lantern. Torch attendants Aronhiaies Herne and Dina Oulette received it from Robertson, and carried it into the hangar, where it was greeted with enthusiasm by the crowd.

Torch attendants Aronhiaies Herne and Dina Oulette carry the flame into the hangar.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson with the Olympic Flame.

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FROM PAGE 11 Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrived a few days later on Friday, November 6. The Royal Couple arrived at 443 Squadron at Victoria International Airport, where they were greeted by dignitaries and members of the press, then whisked off to the leg- islature for an official welcome. They left our city on November 9 to continue their Canada tour. It was Camilla’s first official visit as the Duchess of Cornwall.

The aircraft arrives with Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

VAA CEO Richard Paquette greets Prince Charles.

Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point (left), Richard Paquette and Prince Charles.

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14 VICTORIA AIRPORT AUTHORITY ON APPROACH W i n t e r 2 0 09 Reay Creek Restoration

Since 1997, when the Victoria Airport Authority took over responsibility for the airport from Transport Canada, it has worked diligently to correct environmental damage from past poor industrial practices. In the middle years of the century, the 40s, 50s and 60s, safe environmental practices received little or no consider- ation. For example, airport hangar drains were connected to the storm sewer system. Toxic material, washed from the hangar floors, would flow down the drains, mix with storm water and find its way into Reay Creek, eventually turning it into a dead industrial sewer.

As society in general became more aware of responsible industrial practices, things The secret reaches of Reay Creek are now clean and capable of supporting spawning salmon. began to change. In 1991 and 1992, the airport disconnected airport hangar floor drains from District of North Saanich and says airport representative Terry the storm water system and the Town of Sidney. Stewart. “We’re proud of the connected them to the sanitary work we’ve done. The board sewage system. This mitigated After a series of studies and has been very supportive of all the problem, by diverting the evaluations to determine the environmental initiatives and toxic materials away from the extent of contamination, VAA restoration projects.” waterways. But nothing would began a three phase approach be done to correct the damage to clean up the creek. The work until after 1997, after the VAA began in 2006 and finished assumed control of the airport. last summer. Each year, they worked on one of the three VAA undertook the work of reaches, removing contami- cleaning up the creek, under nated sediments in the creek the authority of the Department bed and contaminated soils on of Fisheries. They hired a con- the banks. They replaced the sultant biologist to guide and contaminated banks with clean manage the restoration and soils and planted native flora: provide progress reports for the ferns, rose hips, dogwood and DFO and the Airport Authority grass. The contaminated sedi- Board. They consulted with and ments were replaced with gravel briefed environmental stake- to support spawning salmon. holders: Peninsula Streams, Sidney Anglers Society, the “We’ve done the right thing,”

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