How a COPA Hat Helped Reunite a Pilot with His Lost Camera

 

^{Written by: Hanna Abdo, Manager, Communications, COPA}

Who knew that a simple COPA hat could help reunite a pilot with a camera full of travel memories — nearly two months after he lost it in Belgium!

In early December, long-time COPA member, Bob Gillis, past captain of COPA Flight 39 in Miramichi, New Brunswick, and last year’s recipient of the COPA Chair Volunteer Award embarked on a trip to France and Belgium with his family. The Gillis’ had set out to visit key Canadian war memorials in Europe, including the Canadian National Vimy Memorial near Arras, France, the beaches of Normandy, and Essex Farm Cemetery in Ypres, Belgium.

One chilly December morning, Bob and his family set out to visit the Vimy Memorial, taking in the solemn beauty of the site. Later, the family drove to Belgium to visit the Essex Farm Cemetery near West-Vlaanderen in Belgium where Canadian service members from the First World War were laid to rest. On the way back to Arras, Bob realized something was missing — his camera.

At first, he assumed it had been left in his hotel room, but when he returned, it was nowhere to be found. With his flight back to Toronto the very next day, Bob accepted the fact that his $900 camera was gone for good.

Fast forward to late January. The COPA office received a surprising message on social media: a Belgian tour guide, Kim W., had found a camera and was trying to identify its owner. After reviewing the footage and a bit of online detective work, she noticed a clue: the man in the pictures was wearing a COPA cap. With a little help from a Viking Cruises Facebook group, she was able to identify the logo and reached out to COPA for assistance.

COPA staff eagerly joined in on the detective work, sharing the images with its members’ online community on Facebook, and within hours, members identified the mystery pilot. It turns out Bob was a bit of a local celebrity in New Brunswick! “I got a call from a friend telling me to check the COPA Facebook page, and I couldn’t believe my eyes!” Bob recalled.

Kim, who works a lot with international tourists and knows the value of the memories captured on the camera, was thrilled to know the mystery was quickly solved. “I know how much cameras can mean to people, and this one looked like it had been bought especially for the trip,” she said.

Bob is grateful for the unexpected reunion — and the role his COPA cap played. “I always make sure to pack a COPA hat or t-shirt on my trips. Now you can see why!”

Lesson learned? Wear your COPA merch with pride, and pack your COPA cap or shirt on your next adventure. You never know when it might come in handy! 

Visit the COPA store to get your own.