Message from the Chair of the Board of Directors

I am pleased to share the results of 2018, which was another impressive year for the Ottawa International Airport.

I was delighted to learn that YOW had retained its 1st place title in Airports Council International’s Airport Service Quality (ASQ) customer service benchmarking program for airports that serve between 2 and 5 million passengers. It is a testament to the hard work of not only the Authority team but also the many companies across the airport campus that interact with our passengers and have the opportunity to delight them every day. I extend our thanks to all. This award means the world to our airport community because it comes directly from our clients. As such, I would also like to express our collective appreciation to every passenger who participated in the survey while waiting for a departing flight.

Since joining the Board of the Ottawa International Airport Authority in 2010, I have marveled at the accomplishments of a relatively small but dedicated team. When we worked with the CEO, Mark Laroche, and his team to develop the Strategic Plan and companion Action Plan, there was no doubt that the list of projects and priorities was extensive; the team has not only checked many completed projects off the list, it has also added many new and exciting projects over the years.

I have watched complex runway reconstruction projects successfully completed with minimal impact on the community. There have been notable development deals struck, resulting in new hotels and other facilities on airport property. Moreover, the planning, design, and engineering for the projects associated with the YOW+ terminal enhancement program that you will read more about in the Year in Review, has been impressive. The Authority team may be modest, but it is capable, tenacious and committed to excellence in every aspect of airport operations – I applaud them.

I would also like to commend the CEO for his leadership and passion for innovation and growth for the airport. He and his team have blazed a path forward on many fronts, including safety and security, and advocacy and I do not doubt that their tradition of excellence will continue well into the future.

There is one area in particular where I would like to highlight Mark’s leadership – cybersecurity. He is forging the path forward to ensure that fulsome and regular conversation is taking place among airports in Canada to both raise the profile of the ever-evolving cyber threat issue, and to mitigate possible impacts to the aviation ecosystem. His efforts were recognized in the Fall of 2018 when he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Aviation Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (A-ISAC) to widen the scope of the organization’s reach into the Canadian aviation sector. Mark will play an essential role in strengthening the security of the industry and act as a conduit to airports and other aviation partners in Canada. Bravo!

I want to thank my colleagues on the Board for contributing to what has been a rewarding and enriching experience. Your desire to dive into the issues, to ensure that every option is explored and that the chosen path is what is best for the airport and the community was appreciated, and I encourage you to keep up the good work and never lose your devotion to the airport’s success.

As my term ends, and I leave the Board in the capable hands of Code Cubitt, I will take away many fond memories of the accomplishments and awards that the Authority achieved over the past nine years. More importantly, I will leave with a tremendous sense of pride knowing that Canada’s Capital Region is served by an airport that is focused on the well-being of the community while always pushing itself to provide the best service and the highest level of safety and security possible.

My final word of thanks goes to the community for the opportunity to serve as one of their representatives on the Board of Directors.

I wish my fellow Directors from a most talented Board, Mark, and his team continued success and will be cheering them on from the sidelines as they bring YOW+ and many other exciting projects to fruition.

Chris Carruthers
Chair of the Board of Directors