Meet The Nominees: 2026 Board of Directors Elections

I first learned about COPA when I began my initial flight training. Even in those early days, it was clear to me why having a strong national voice for general aviation matters. I joined COPA immediately and have remained an active member ever since, participating in Annual General Meetings and conferences, local COPA Flight events, and many online seminars over the years. These experiences have reinforced how important COPA’s advocacy and community-building efforts are to Canadian pilots.

I hold a current Commercial Pilot Licence and have accumulated approximately 750 hours of flight time. Aircraft ownership has been a central part of my aviation journey for nearly two decades. My first aircraft was a Cherokee 140, purchased shortly after earning my PPL. Today, I own and fly (and help maintain) a vintage Mooney M20E, an aircraft that continues to bring me both challenge and enjoyment. Although my flight instructor rating is now expired, the experience of obtaining it shortly after completing my CPL shaped how I think about flying, learning, and mentorship. While I no longer instruct in the air, I remain involved by teaching ground school at the local flying club.

I am currently a member of the Victoria Flying Club and the BC General Aviation Association. In the past, I have also been part of the Alberta Aviation Council, the Edmonton Flying Club, and the Namao Flying Club. Each of these communities has contributed to my growth as a pilot and deepened my commitment to the general aviation community.

I live in Victoria with my spouse. I am employed in a leadership role at a local post-secondary education institution. I previously sat as a director on two strata boards, taking on the President role for over 6 years at one. Family and aviation have been foundational parts of my life, shaping my values and the way I approach service to the community.

My main reason for seeking a position on the COPA Board is to give back to the general aviation community I care so deeply about and to help ensure that the voices of BC and Yukon pilots are represented in national conversations. The single most important skill I bring to the Board is my ability to foster open, honest, and productive dialogue—creating space for differing viewpoints and helping people work together toward shared solutions. This collaborative approach reflects how I believe strong aviation communities are built.

1: Flying Experience and Currency
I have been flying since 2003 and currently have over 7,400 hours, including 875 hours on single-engine land airplanes and 225 hours tailwheel. My career spans a wide range of Canadian aviation operations. I am currently flying as a Boeing 737 MAX Captain. I also have 400 hours as a FTD instructor on the 737 Max. I previously spent seven years doing aerial wildfire suppression, including a full summer in based in Whitehorse. The last two years I were spent as a Captain on the Lockheed L-188 Electra—where I completed more than 580 retardant drops. I also have earlier experience in charters, medevacs, ice strip & Arctic operations in BC, AB, MB, YT & the NWT. I also have also completed photo survey flying in Ecuador. I have also served as a 737 fixed-training-device instructor. I remain highly current in both commercial and general aviation, flying regularly in the mountainous and backcountry environments of British Columbia.

2: Aircraft Ownership
I currently own and fly a 1966 Maule M-4T, based in British Columbia. I have recently become a volunteer for the Pilot Wings of Rescue. I also previously owned a vintage 1940 Luscombe, which I purchased in 2022, further deepening my experience with classic and light tailwheel aircraft. In 2025, I submitted a Pooley's Dawn to Dusk Challenge. It is a UK based aeronautical navigation contest. I circumnavigated Vancouver Island in my 1940 Luscombe. The aircraft cruises at 78 kias and has a 2.8 hour fuel range. I am a finalist and the awards ceremony will take place in February 2026.

3: COPA Flight or Flying Club Affiliations
I have been a COPA member since 2012 and am an active member of COPA Flight 209 – Squamish Flying Club and COPA Flight 194 – BC General Aviation Association, participating regularly in local GA activities and supporting community flying initiatives.

4: Main Reason for Wanting to Be a COPA Director
I am seeking a position on the COPA Board to help strengthen, protect, and advocate for general aviation in British Columbia and the Yukon. This region faces unique challenges—from mountain flying environments and airspace pressures to the preservation of local airports and backcountry access. I want to ensure that the needs and concerns of GA pilots are well-represented at the national level and that COPA continues to be a strong, effective voice for safety, access, and the long-term health of general aviation.

5: Most Important Skill I Bring to the Board
The most important skill I bring is sound, experience-based operational judgment—developed through airline command, complex special-operations flying, and years of aviation instruction. I have a demonstrated ability to assess issues clearly, communicate effectively, and make balanced, safety-centred decisions. These strengths, combined with deep engagement in the Western Canada GA community, position me to contribute meaningfully to COPA’s governance and strategic direction.  

COPA Members:

I have had the honour of being one of your two British Columbia & Yukon Directors for almost four years now and serving as the Western Vice-chair on the COPA Executive Committee. Additionally, the COPA Board has recently appointed me to the NAV CANADA Advisory Committee wherein I will be bringing the voice of General Aviation to this national organisation.

I am seeking the privilege to continue my service to COPA for another term. I do so in part to aid in protecting the corporate memory and continuity of a lot of great work done as well as that work that is still in progress. I will continue using my life’s aviation work, knowledge and experience to help COPA members, as well as GA at large, with a myriad of aviation efforts ever-emerging over the horizon as in flight itself.

Born in Langley, BC, semi-retired now in Qualicum Beach, BC. COPA member since 1999, and Qualicum Beach Flying Club member (COPA Flight 76) since 1993 having served as Director, Vice-president, Air Show Chairperson/Emcee, and flown numerous Air Cadets and Discover Aviation future aviators.

Alumnus of UBC: Bachelor of Physical Education and Bachelor of Education. As a secondary teacher, I served on numerous committees, made a plethora of presentations, helped develop and run scholastic programmes, ran clubs, coached teams, chaperoned, and have served the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation. This helped me become a highly-effective Flight Instructor.

Having two children crazy about aviation, I slid out of teaching into aviation. Air Cadets was always a big part of our lives, and I am now a recently retired Tow Pilot and Glider Instructor with the Air Cadet Programme also having served as Site Commander, and Flight Safety Officer with the RCAF’s Advanced Flight Safety and Crash Investigator credentials.

We bought a C-172N, C-FSBS, in 2006, and have flown it throughout Canada and the Pacific Northwest. We attend fly-ins, air shows and air races. I own a hangar @ CAT4 where C-FSBS awaits each next flight.

A highlight aviation job was training RCAF pilots for Kelowna Aerospace/ 3 Canadian Forces Flight Training School in Manitoba: Commended for “Exceptional Dedication”; and Canadian Wings Aviation Training Centre Flight Safety Award for Dedication.

I have flown for several regional airlines out of CYVR, been a Course Presenter for TC-approved Flight Instructor Refresher Courses, I continue to work as a Freelance Flight Instructor in retirement, and have been a CFI of flight training organisations.

I am a Volunteer Pilot with Hope Air, and BC’s late 2021 flood disaster had me flying as a volunteer evacuating people and pets, flying essential cargo, and was part of Operation Elf all with The West Coast Pilot Club which has formalised into BC AERO for which the Chief of Defence Staff awarded me the Chief of Defence Staff Commendation in 2023.

My aviation knowledge, skill-set and experience will continue to be happily put to work as your COPA Director for British Columbia and Yukon in semi-retirement should I be fortunate to be re-elected; furthermore, I have thoroughly enjoyed serving my aviation community with its many challenging demands of keeping pace with a myriad of never-ending changes.
 

I am a private pilot based in Southern Ontario, flying primarily out of the Toronto and Golden Horseshoe region. I fly regularly and remain current with both local and cross-country VFR flights. My flying experience includes navigating some of the busiest and most constrained airspace in the country, giving me a clear understanding of the pressures faced by general aviation pilots in densely populated areas. I own a Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, which gives me firsthand experience with aircraft maintenance, insurance, hangar access challenges, and long-distance GA travel within Canada and the USA.

I am currently affiliated with the broader Toronto-area GA community and maintain active relationships with multiple airports and flying groups throughout Southern Ontario. Although I am not currently part of a COPA Flight, I regularly engage with COPA events, communications, advocacy updates, and community discussions, and I understand both the strengths and the opportunities for growth within the organization.

My main reason for seeking a position on the COPA Board is simple: general aviation in Canada is facing rapid change, and COPA needs to adapt just as quickly. The loss of key airports, significant hangar shortages, restrictions in major control zones, and increasingly unpredictable weather due to climate change are all issues directly affecting everyday pilots. I want to help COPA take a more proactive, modern, and future-focused approach to advocacy—one that protects access, strengthens safety, and welcomes the next generation of Canadian pilots. I believe COPA must lead the effort to preserve and grow GA, not just respond to change after it happens.

The single most important skill I can bring to the Board is my ability to modernize systems, communication, and engagement through technology. My professional background is in the tech sector, where I build tools, platforms, and data-driven systems that simplify complex problems and make organizations more effective. I understand how to translate real-world pilot concerns into actionable, measurable advocacy priorities, and I know how to communicate those priorities in ways that resonate with younger pilots, new students, and long-time members alike.

COPA’s future depends on reaching new audiences, strengthening digital communication, and building momentum around the issues that matter most to pilots: airport preservation, fair airspace access, realistic weather and wildfire tools, and a welcoming environment for people entering aviation. I want to help COPA evolve with these challenges, amplify the voice of Canadian GA, and ensure that the freedom to fly remains strong for years to come.

I have been flying for six years and have logged nearly 500 hours in single-engine piston aircraft, primarily in my Beechcraft Sierra C24R, which I own and hangar at CYOO. My flying has taken me throughout Ontario and Quebec, across the eastern United States, and as far south as the Bahamas.

I hold an instrument rating—used occasionally but invaluable for navigating light weather when needed. In addition to my current involvement with COPA, I serve on the board of directors of the Beech Aero Club (the type club for Beechcraft Musketeers), and I have previously been a member of the EAA and the Buttonville Flying Club.

I am seeking a position on the COPA Board because I believe strongly in the value and future of General Aviation in Canada. GA plays a vital role in our aviation ecosystem, yet it faces declining public awareness, shrinking infrastructure and waning political support. I want to contribute to strengthening and growing the sector, ensuring it remains accessible, vibrant, and understood by both current pilots and the broader public.

Over the past 30 years, I have served on several boards—both corporate and not-for-profit—and have built extensive experience in governance, leadership, and organizational advisory work across companies of all sizes. Beyond my business and governance background, the single most important skill I bring to the Board is a grounded connection to newer Canadian pilots. Through my own journey, my flying network, and my communications work, I have a strong sense of what draws people to aviation and what helps them stay engaged. I hope to bring that perspective to COPA as it plans for the future of General Aviation in Canada.

1: Flying Experience and Currency
Current with night rating. Approx 300 hours. Private, working towards IFR

2: Aircraft Ownership
Partnership - 1/3rd in Piper PA 28-236 (Dakota)

3: COPA Flight or Flying Club Affiliations
Been a COPA member since 2011

4: Main Reason for Wanting to Be a COPA Director
My primary motivation for seeking a position as a COPA Director is to champion a thriving and sustainable future for general aviation in Southern Ontario. As a private pilot currently pursuing an IFR rating, I have firsthand knowledge of the obstacles related to training, costs, and airport access that many of us face. I am committed to leveraging this experience to positively shape the environment in which we all fly, ensuring it remains accessible and vibrant for the next generation of aviators. This role presents a vital opportunity to serve as a dedicated and visible advocate for the pilots of Southern Ontario. I intend to bridge the gap between our local flying community and the national organization by actively listening to your concerns, representing your interests, and ensuring that COPA’s priorities accurately reflect the realities on the ground at our local airports and flight schools. Aviation has profoundly shaped my life, and I am driven by a desire to give back in a structured and meaningful way. By serving on the Board, I aim to contribute my time, energy, and leadership to safeguard our airports, enhance our collective safety culture, and inspire more individuals to embark on and continue their journey in aviation. In essence, my goal is to actively defend and strengthen the cherished ‘freedom to fly’ in this region, ensuring it is never taken for granted.

5: Most Important Skill I Bring to the Board
The single most important skill I bring to the COPA Board is my ability to design and implement clear, practical communication that aligns diverse stakeholders around common goals. Throughout my career as a founder and CEO, I have consistently turned complex issues, competing priorities, and technical details into simple, understandable messages that different audiences can act on. On a board, good ideas only gain traction when people truly understand their relevance. I excel at listening carefully, extracting key concerns, and then framing them in language that resonates with pilots, regulators, airport managers, and fellow directors, ensuring that discussions lead to clarity rather than confusion. For COPA, this communication skill can directly help in several ways: making advocacy positions easier for members to understand and support; strengthening the connection between Southern Ontario pilots and the national office; and improving transparency around the Board’s work and its purpose. Internally, it is just as crucial for keeping conversations constructive and centered on COPA’s collective mission, rather than individual agendas. By improving how ideas are expressed, shared, and followed through, I can help the Board operate more efficiently, engage members more effectively, and ultimately increase COPA’s positive impact on the aviation community across the country.

I have about 500 hours of flying experience. Current PPL with Gyro permit for all single seat and Magni M24, owner several aircraft in past Piper Warrior, Piper 180D, Lazair ultralight, and most recent Magni Gyro M24. I have been a member of COPA for a million years, past member of the St Catharines Flying Club and the Kacabeca Falls Flying Club, current Flight 149 member since 2015? I believe I have expertise and subject matter in land use that would be an asset, I have had many years management experience (currently Manager, Land and Field Services, Eastern Canada).

Started off as a CAD application engineer with a dream to fly which morphed into a flight simulator designer. I've recently retired from a long career in the aviation sector which allowed me to experience a huge cross section of global aviation. Most recently I was the advisor to the CTO at CAE and Product Manager at Presagis-CAE charged with delivering advanced pilot training systems. While at Adacel, I was heavily involved in the design and implementation of a Simulated ATC Environment (SATCE) used in flight simulators which led me to co-authoring ARINC 439B and its implementation within ICAO Doc9625.

My aviation career started as one of the first graduates in Aviation Management at John Abbott College in 2000 while working full-time. I received ratings for commercial, multi-engine, IFR and IATRA. I'm also a hobbyist in remotely piloted vehicles and I have a huge interest in electrically powered aircraft.

Here are my stats:
(1) 359 hrs Fixed Wing Piston - Current VFR & Night + 1.1 hrs Helicopter Turbine
(2) Own a Van's RV-9A at CYRP (Former owner of a Piper Archer at CYHU)
(3) Affiliation with EAA Chapter 245 - Ottawa (Looking to add COPA Flight)
(4) My main reason for wanting to be a COPA Director is to add my voice towards helping maintain GA rights and proliferate Canadian aviation especially with younger aviators.
(5) My single most important skill is as a strategic thinker which enables me to see the big picture and align with the group's efforts and goals.

Glen Powell has been a pilot since 2001, training at CYOO for his VFR PPL. As with many pilots, life got in the way and Glen stepped back from flying for about a decade before the itch became too great and he decided to buy a broken-down old Cessna 172B with severe hangar rash. 9 months of intensive work completely gutted and rebuilt that 172B C-FMVU into a leading-edge glass panel aircraft for the 21st century.

In 2025 Glen logged 255 hours of flight time and earned an Instrument Rating so that he could take full advantage of the equipment in C-FMVU.

Glen's professional background is in film and advertising, having spent 30 years working on large professional films sets as a Producer / Head of Production and Director of Photography. In that time, he worked on the TV ad campaigns of some of the largest international brands and routinely oversaw film sets with 100+ technicians to bring projects in on time and budget.

As he winds down towards retirement YouTube is now the main focus, as he tries to show GA in a positive light to as many viewers as he can.

Mr. Wilcox has served on the COPA board since 2024 and brings with him significant aviation related board experience including serving as the Chair of the Airport Management Council of Ontario (AMCO) and, the Chair of the Nav Canada Advisory Committee (NCAC). Mr. Wilcox also recently completed a 4-year term on the Board of Directors of Airports Council International North America (ACI-NA) representing the Canadian Small Airport Caucus including serving a term on the ACI-NA governance review committee. Mr. Wilcox currently serves on COPA’s governance review committee, serves as Chair of the Technical Committee, and he also served on the hiring committee responsible for recruiting COPA’s new CEO/President Marcia Kim. Since Mr. Wilcox joined the board, the board has approved a new strategic plan, hired the new CEO, focussed the advocacy efforts with the development of the technical committee’s advocacy log and made improved communication a key pillar of the organization.

Mr. Wilcox’s aviation experience dates to 1979 when he founded Spectra Aviation Ltd and established one of the first fractional aircraft ownership programs in Canada operating aircraft from Toronto’s, Markham and the Island airports. In 1983, Spectra received an air charter license operating a variety of float and non-float equipped aircraft on charter operations primarily throughout Ontario. As a component of the operation, Spectra established a water aerodrome at Pencil Lake Ontario, which Mr. Wilcox continues to operate along with its sister water aerodrome, Greens Lake. The air-service division of Spectra was sold in 1991.

Following the sale of the air-service, Mr. Wilcox took on the role as Director of Marketing and Distribution for Canadian Aero Petroleum Products Ltd. His work with Canadian Aero involved extensive negotiations with the federal government on the use of auto fuel in light aircraft and his C-182 C-FKEM was one of the first aircraft in Canada to receive a mogas STC. In 1999, Mr. Wilcox purchased the Toronto Aviation & Aircraft Show and moved it to Oshawa in 2000 where it became the Canadian Aviation Expo. Mr. Wilcox led the organization as Show Manager to become the largest general aviation event in Canada. The Expo was moved to Hamilton in 2009 and then Waterloo where it continued until 2014.

Today, as President of Total Aviation & Airport Solutions (TAAS), Mr. Wilcox serves as the Airport Manager for the Oshawa Executive Airport tasked with operating and managing all aspects of the airports day-to-day operations including the maintenance and capital planning for the airport. In his role as the Airport Manager over the past 20 years, Mr. Wilcox was instrumental in the airport’s growth from a small community airport with 80 aircraft to a strong and vibrant GA airport with over 350 aircraft and 450,000 sq ft of GA and corporate aircraft hangar space. TAAS also manages the Wiarton Keppel International Airport where Mr. Wilcox serves as the Airport Manager.

Mr. Wilcox received his private pilot’s license in 1978 and is an accomplished instrument, float plane, IFR rated, commercial pilot with over 7000 flying hours. Mr. Wilcox currently owns an amateur built C-182 amphib, C-FKEM, and he regularly fly’s a Piper PA-46 Malibu.

“Rising costs, increased regulations and medical challenges are making GA increasingly less affordable. Focusing COPA's efforts on ADSB, airspace congestion, denial of service, federal supremacy and medical reform will ensure GA remains strong and vibrant in Canada. I have been a proud member of COPA for 50 years and I look forward to continuing to serve on the board in support of our freedom to fly! ”

I am a professional pilot holding a CPL license with multi-engine and IFR ratings, and I have accumulated over 500 flight hours. I am currently pursuing my helicopter rating to expand my skills and involvement in the aviation industry.

I am the founder and president of an aeroclub that currently operates a fleet of ten airplanes and one helicopter. Through this organization, I am actively working to make general aviation more accessible, organized, and safe. My role involves managing practical matters related to operations, maintenance, regulatory compliance, and the management of a growing organization.

I wish to join COPA’s Board of Directors to contribute directly to defending the interests of Canadian pilots and ensuring the sustainability of general aviation. My entrepreneurial background allows me to bring a strategic vision focused on growth, member engagement, and innovation.

I am confident that my dedication, hands-on experience, and leadership can be a real asset to COPA and the entire Canadian aviation community.

I am 39 years old and have held a recreational pilot permit for about seven years, which I use exclusively for recreational flying. I have accumulated nearly 300 flight hours, mainly during trips and local flights with my spouse, children, and friends.

I co-own 50% of an RV-7A built in 2005 by my father and am currently working on an amateur-built Cozy Mk IV project. I am not currently affiliated with any flying club.

I wish to join COPA’s Board of Directors to gain experience in a board setting in a field I am passionate about, while contributing my perspective and commitment to general aviation in Canada.

I have been an ultralight pilot since I was 15, primarily flying weight-shift ultralights and recently amphibious aircraft. I am the founder of the Centre Aéro-Récréatif ULM Québec and serve as an administrator of our aeroclub and local chamber of commerce.

COPA supported me during legal challenges related to establishing my aerodrome.I now wish to give back to the community by contributing my experience to the development of light and General Aviation.

I hold a PPL and CPL with more than 580 hours of flight time since earning my licence in 2023. I am currently pursuing my multi IFR and instructor ratings, and I work part time as a pilot for aerial forest fire detection in Nova Scotia. I also volunteer with the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, where I am working toward my CASARA pilot designation. As a member and renter with the Truro Flying Club, I stay actively involved in Nova Scotia’s general aviation community and regularly participate in aviation events across the maritimes, having flown to Liverpool, Charlottetown, Sydney, Miramichi, Halifax, Pt. Hawksbury and Greenwood. I plan to own a Cessna 172S in the future.

I hold a Bachelor of Science from Memorial University, a Baccalaureate in Management and an Executive MBA from Athabasca University, and I work full time as Regional Manager of Student Services at the NSCC Truro, Springhill, and Amherst campuses. My passion for aviation began in my childhood near runway 08 at CFB Goose Bay, where my grandmother and I spent countless hours watching aircraft from around the world conduct low level training. Growing up in an Indigenous community, the cost of flight training was out of reach, and I pursued university studies instead, as flight training was not eligible for student loans at the time. This experience fuels my commitment to volunteer with COPA. I believe many young Canadians—especially those from underrepresented or remote communities—have the desire to fly but lack access, resources, or encouragement. COPA’s work in this area inspires me, and I am eager to contribute.

As an Inuk pilot from the north and a proud new COPA member, I regularly take youth and community members flying and work to strengthen aviation outreach in the Maritimes. My community involvement, combined with my business education, professional leadership experience, and recent pilot training, positions me well to serve effectively on the COPA Board.