Pre-Conference Outing: Day 0

Sips & Suds Tasting Tour

Those who arrived early for the conference had the opportunity to visit a local cidery and a couple of breweries, and several signed on. First stop was the Woodward & Co. cidery, where three Woodward brothers banded together to create Kamloops' first craft cidery. Several unique ciders were available for sipping while enjoying local musicians.

The "suds" part of the tour included stops at Bright Eye Brewing and The Noble Pig, both among Kamloops' finest craft breweries.

(Source: Steve Drinkwater, Canadian Aviator, Author. Photo: upper, Woodward Cider Co; lower, Tracy Brown)

Monday: Opening Reception

Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir Welcomes Delegates

BC Aviation Council Chair Cathy Press introduced local Indigenous leader Kúkpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir of the Kamloops Indian Band, who gave a warm and enthusiastic welcome to all attendees at this year's conference. She was also presented a plaque in recognition of the $1,750 minimum annual scholarship that was created jointly by the BCAC and YKA Kamloops Airport for Indigenous students who are pursuing a career in aviation and aerospace.

While this is a non-traditional thank you gift for a welcoming, it is yet another step forward in BCAC's commitment to reconciliation and greater inclusion of Indigenous Youth in aviation and aerospace - a significant part of the solution to our increasing skilled labour crisis.

(Source: Steve Drinkwater, Canadian Aviator, Author. Photo: Steve Drinkwater)

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