Nanaimo Airport Commission: neighbours representing our community

8 May 2015

Local people making important decisions locally.

That’s the Nanaimo Airport Commission, in a nutshell. Its nine-member Board of Directors is comprised of your neighbours and friends, all representing the valued communities we serve.

“The Board and staff have worked tirelessly to ensure a memorable experience for the hundreds of thousands of people who place their travel plans in our hands,” says Board Chair John Craig, who was re-elected to the position at the commission’s Annual General Meeting last month.

“We spend each day earning their trust, enhancing our services to ensure reliability, comfort, convenience and safety.”

It’s important work, and requires not just broad experience but also a commitment to central Vancouver Island. That’s why all the members of the airport commission — just like the people we serve — live and work here. Their superb corporate stewardship includes careful financial management, environmental and safety leadership, and vision for the future.

Who are these dedicated people representing your interests?

Well, John Craig (appointed by the Cowichan Valley Regional District) again heads the board, and is joined by Al Tully (Regional District of Nanaimo), Mike Kandert (City of Nanaimo), and community directors-at-large Lucie Gosselin, Dixon Kennedy, Wendy Clifford and Ray Gauthier.

Two new faces have joined the board. Town of Ladysmith appointee Alex Stuart brings a wealth of talents, including a background in technology, environmental management and local government. And new Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce appointee David Witty, a vice-president at Vancouver Island University, has a strong background in urban planning. He’s been part of design work for four B.C. airports, including Vancouver’s.

They succeed the retiring Russ Burke and Joe Burnett, who made invaluable contributions to the board over the last several years.

Together the commission members carry out the mandate of making the central Island a better place for future generations. Their decisions — made locally — are a big reason Nanaimo Airport is your airport of choice.