Types of Engineering involved: Aerospace, Aeronautical, Engineering Management

Air Creebec has come a long way since its beginnings 20 years ago. It is a $27 million-a-year business that flies 60,000 people annually. Its fleet of 10 planes fly air cargo and passengers to urban centers and numerous northern Native communities in Quebec and Ontario. As well, they provide charter flights throughout Canada.

The Crees seriously considered developing an air transport business as far back as the signing of the James Bay Agreement in 1976. In 1979, they entered into a joint venture with Austin Airways, a company already servicing the North. Albert Diamond, Air Creebec's President explains, "In their wisdom, the chiefs (the Council of the Cree Regional Authority) said, 'We have never run an airline perhaps, the best thing is to set up a joint venture for a number of years to learn about the aviation business.'" It was a wise decision which paid off quickly; three years later, in 1982, the Cree owned 51% of the shares in the joint company, and, in 1988, they became whole owners by buying out their partner.

With headquarters in Val D'Or and a maintenance crew in Timmins, Ontario, AirCreebec employs 180 personnel: 131 full-time and 49 part-time. It also continues to expand. The company is now negotiating an agreement with Air Alliance (an Air Canada affiliate) in a deal, which Mr. Diamond says will "pretty well establish the life of Air Creebec all over Quebec. It would probably ensure the Crees of Quebec stay in the aviation business for a long time to come."

The information for this article was obtained from "The Winds of Change" magazine, Fall 1998 issue and www.aircreebec.ca.