Volunteering at aviation museum ‘such a joy’

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After a professional career spent with his eyes on the ground, Jan Pedersen is looking to the sky.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/07/2023 (835 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After a professional career spent with his eyes on the ground, Jan Pedersen is looking to the sky.

Formerly the co-owner of Shelmerdine Garden Centre and a regional sales representative for Bylands Nursery, Pedersen is a volunteer at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada.

The 65-year-old St. James resident gets to indulge his lifelong fascination with flight at the museum, which is located on the grounds of Winnipeg Richardson International Airport.

MIKE THIESSEN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
                                Jan Pedersen, who has been volunteering at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada since its grand reopening in May 2022, with the Canadian Vickers Vedette Mark V, the museum’s oldest (and Pedersen’s favourite) aircraft.

MIKE THIESSEN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Jan Pedersen, who has been volunteering at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada since its grand reopening in May 2022, with the Canadian Vickers Vedette Mark V, the museum’s oldest (and Pedersen’s favourite) aircraft.

“It makes me feel young to be there, which is such a joy,” Pedersen says. “I’m very happy.”

The son of Danish immigrants, Pedersen took to the skies regularly as a child when his family traveled to Denmark to visit relatives.

As he grew older, Pedersen researched the planes he and his family flew on during their trips.

It was a time when aircraft security was relaxed and children were welcomed into the cockpit. Having friendly flight crews share their experience with Pedersen helped nurture his interest.

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Are you looking to apply and further develop your skills, fill a gap on your resume and make an impact? The Manitoba Band Association is looking for a Communications Assistant to help manage their social media accounts, e-newsletter and provide updates to their website. If you can dedicate your skills and time for approximately 2 hours a week in this flexible and remote role, they’d love to hear from you! For more information or to apply, please contact Kasia James at executivedirector@mbband.org. Deadline extended! July 31, 2023.

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“I’m glad I lived through a time when that happened,” he says.

Pedersen’s family lived in Charleswood under a main flight path to the airport. He and his friends taught each other about different aircraft and could identify planes by the sounds they made as they flew overhead.

Pedersen visited the aviation museum regularly until fall 2018, when the museum’s collection was moved into storage until a new home could be built.

He was visiting the museum’s website prior to its reopening last year and noticed a call for volunteers. He decided to sign up.

“Aviation was always something I read about… but never an expert at,” he says. “I’m glad the call for volunteers said ‘no experience required,’ because otherwise I wouldn’t have been brave enough to apply.”

After two months of training, Pedersen started volunteering at the museum following its grand reopening in May 2022.

He tried every volunteer position available at the museum before settling into his current roles as a gallery interpreter and tour guide. He typically volunteers two or three times a week.

Between the training provided by museum staff, the reading he’s done on his own and the things he’s picked up from fellow volunteers—some of whom are pilots—Pedersen possesses vast knowledge and is comfortable talking with visitors of all ages about the museum’s artifacts.

On more than one occasion, visitors have asked Pedersen what kind of plane he flies.

“They’re always surprised to learn I wouldn’t know how to start an engine on a plane,” he says. “I probably will start flying at some point, if it’s still allowed at my advanced age.”

Until then, Pedersen is happy to share his passion for flight—and how the artifacts in the museum reflect Canada’s history throughout the decades—with visitors.

Volunteering became a priority in his life about 25 years ago.

He’s volunteered with the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade, the Nostalgia Broadcasting Cooperative (CJNU 93.7 FM) and he’s canvassed his neighbourhood for a variety of charitable causes.

“I’m sure there are tens of thousands of people who contribute what they can in time and resources,” he says. “It would be a sadder city if volunteerism wasn’t as part of people’s lives as it is.”

“I think it’s important if people do have the time to spend it with others,” he adds. “There’s a feel-good payback.”

The aviation museum is looking for more volunteers.

Anyone interested can contact Leslie Stewart by phone at 204-786-0404, by email at hr@royalaviationmuseum.com, or by registering at royalaviationmuseum.com/volunteer.

If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com.

Aaron Epp

Aaron Epp
Reporter

Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. He was previously the associate editor at Canadian Mennonite. Read more about Aaron.

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