The Ottawa International Airport Authority

(Original writing)

Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for taking the time to join us today.

Over the next few minutes, I will be speaking to you about our past year, about our new building, about the current expansion going on outside in our parking structure and about the recent announcement of the next phase of construction here at the airport. As you would expect, I will also talk about our performance in 2004 and a few new initiatives we have undertaken on the past 12 months.

However, before I get to all that, I want to talk about something that is far more important; an aspect of our business we don’t talk about enough. It’s a part of our business that is critical to our success — so critical, in fact, that if it wasn’t operating properly, we would be unable to function.

I’m talking, of course, about our people, the women and men who keep this place running smoothly through construction, bad weather, emergencies, power failures and just about anything else we can throw at them.

Who are these people who have allowed us, year after year, to build on our successes?

Our employees.

As much as I’d like to march them all out here and introduce you to each and every one of them, that is a bit impractical. However, there is a way for you to meet some of them. I invite you to take a look at our annual report when you get a minute. Sprinkled throughout the document are the faces of the people who really are this airport.

On page 7, a picture of Jackie Pelley, a firefighter here at the airport. Take a close look at the smile on her face. Tell me she isn’t proud to be part of our team.

Take a look at page 11 where you’ll see Mark Patry, a plumber and union president whose commitment to his work here is equaled only by the size the wrench he is carrying.

The smile of the day award must go to John Machado, an accounts coordinator — you can find him on page 20.

You can see pride in the faces of every one of those people. They are the ones who are responsible for our success. Yes, we have a $310 million dollar passenger terminal building and new parking facilities. And we have new multi-million dollar environmentally friendly de-icing facilities and a wonderful Rideau Canal theme that runs through the terminal.

It is the people who each spend eight hours (or more) a day on the job who make this place what it is: a welcoming gateway to one of the most beautiful regions in the world.

(SNIP)