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Join us on Thursday, September 15, 2022 for the ICD Okanagan’s second Annual Appreciation and Networking event, to be held at the newly opened KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence.  

Beginning at 4 p.m., you will be invited to immerse yourself in the many exhibits of the museum located on the first floor of the Centre. This backdrop will provide you with an understanding of aviation history in the Okanagan Valley. Then, amidst the airplanes domiciled in the Centre’s hangars, we will hear KF Aerospace Founder and Chairman Barry Lapointe explain why the Centre for Excellence was built as a legacy to the importance of aerospace in Canada: “a place where our community can rub shoulders, where kids get to see old airplanes up close and where we can get people excited about the history and the future of aviation,”.  

KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence Executive Director Paula Quinn will then speak to the construction of this multi-million-dollar facility, where it will go from here, and how you can be part of it. 

An opportunity to connect with your director community will follow in the large conference area on the second floor. 

Registration:      4:00 p.m. PT                                                                                
Session Start:     4:30 p.m. PT                                              

Networking reception to follow                                           
For more information, contact bcinfo@icd.ca

Panellists

Barry Lapointe Headshot

Barry Lapointe

O.B.C., Hon. DTech

Founder & Chairman, KF Aerospace
President & Director, KF Centre for Excellence
 

Barry Lapointe

O.B.C., Hon. DTech

Founder & Chairman, KF Aerospace
President & Director, KF Centre for Excellence
 
Barry loves aviation! He started flying at the age of 16 and has since logged over 18,000 flying hours (fixed and rotary wing). He is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer by trade, and the Founder & CEO of a leading Canadian aerospace company. Barry Lapointe’s passion for flight has resulted in a lifetime of dedication to the aerospace industry in Canada.

After starting a small aircraft repair business servicing the BC Interior from a panel van, Barry has spent the last five decades building up KF Aerospace (founded as Kelowna Flightcraft) into a leading air cargo operator; an engineering (DAO), maintenance and modification provider; a pilot training organization for the Royal Canadian Air Force; and an aircraft leasing company.

Over those 50 years, he’s led and shaped this truly Canadian success story. KF is a multifaceted and highly integrated aviation company – and Canada’s largest commercial Aircraft Maintenance Organization. Employing nearly 1,100 dedicated staff across the country, Barry delivers exceptional quality, reliability and on-time delivery. KF is respected by airline brands and cargo operators worldwide, competing with industry giants while maintaining its Canadian roots.

Barry has served on dozens of public and private boards over the years, including Purolator Courier of which he is minority owner. His passion for aviation continues unabated, and is embodied in the creation of the Centre for Excellence to be built in Kelowna as a legacy to the importance of aerospace in Canada. 
Lapointe is an honorary lifetime member of ATAC and the AME associations, and has been recognized by AIAC, AIABC, BCIT, Rotary, and many other organizations for his contributions and accomplishments in aerospace and local communities. He has supported AME Community Colleges across Canada including Okanagan College and Mohawk College, and supported the University of British Columbia – Okanagan. Through the KF Charitable Foundation, he actively supports causes across Canada including the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Kids’ Cancer Care Foundation at KGH, and Girls Fly Too.

Barry was appointed to the Order of British Columbia in 2015 and inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 2019. 
Barry Lapointe Headshot
Paula Quinn Headshot

Paula Quinn

Executive Director
KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence
 

Paula Quinn

Executive Director
KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence
 
As an Officer of the KF Centre for Excellence, Paula is responsible for the successful management of day-to-day operations and administration according to the strategic direction set by the Board of Directors and the President. She also serves on the Board of Directors, and participates in developing a vision and strategic plan to guide the Society to achieve its purpose. Paula’s mandate includes developing the Society with best practices for leadership, self-education, operational planning and management, corporate duties, HR, financial planning and risk management.
Paula Quinn Headshot
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