Board of Directors

PHILIPPE DESSUREAULT

Zone A - Alberta / Northwest Territories / Nunavut

AIRDRIE, AB

Name is Philippe Dessureault, or Phil.
I was born in a small town in the northwest part of Quebec in the early 70’s.
According to my mum and dad, the first word that came out of my mouth was “plane!” … so, I guess I got the bug at very young age! All I could think about was aviation, reading and learning about all aspect.
I was 14 when I got my first RC plane, it was a Futaba Professor that lasted about 2 minutes…
So, I saved the guts of the Professor, ordered a balsa assortment box from Tower Hobbies and designed my own model, that flew amazingly well! I was hooked, building and designing was so much fun, and so satisfying to see your work take flight for the first time.
I learned to fly full size at the same time with a friend that owned a Aeronca Champ, I was flying RC along side on his private field.
I became a MAAC members many years later, being the only one flying rc in a small town, I had no idea about the organization until I went to College and join the local RC Club.
I went on to become an AME, on the helicopter side. Which brought me to Alberta in 2005. I did all the position, AME in the field, Quality Manager for many years, Quality Control (tech record), Director of Maintenance and currently Production Manager in Red Deer, Alberta. Lots of interaction with Transport Canada in all those years.
Many years later, a wonderful wife, 2 kids (twins) and I’m still very passionate about aviation.
Very happy to be part of this organization.

CARL LAYDEN

Zone B - Atlantic

PARADISE, NL

MARK BETUZZI

Zone C - British Columbia Interior / Yukon

KAMLOOPS, BC

Radio Spectrum Committee Mission Statement:

"The Radio Spectrum Committee of M.A.A.C. is here to assist all members with the proper and safe use of their radio equipment."

RANDY HEPNER

Zone D - Manitoba / Northwestern Ontario

STONEWALL, MB

I first joined MAAC in 1984 as a teen obsessed with anything aviation. Back then I was mostly a prolific Guillows free flight builder, saving my paper route money bit by bit to afford an actual RC airplane. I recall vividly the monthly bus trip to the Hobby Store to stare at the boxes of airplane kits and pick up the latest edition of RC Modeler. Then life happened - jobs, careers, marriage family and so on. In 2004 when my kids started to leave the nest, I decided to resume modelling, and especially RC airplanes. Fast forward to today and I have a nice assortment of pretty much anything that can fly.

Being in Clubs led to leading Clubs and then being asked to step up as Assistant and then Deputy Zone director. I have also been donating my professional training, skills and time to MAAC on the Safety Advisory Group since 2012 and the Transport Canada Advisory Group since 2017. I was one of the people who helped MAAC obtain the Exemption in 2019 - which was quite the achievement.

As I renew my membership for 2023 MAAC faces some substantial challenges. My passion for this hobby, and the people who enjoy it remains as strong as it was in 1984 and is demonstrated by my unselfish actions and deeds for MAAC. MAAC members need to be far more discerning in who they allow to lead - at every level - there are serious consequences to individual acts of selfish behavior for all of us.

W. CRAIG KNIGHT

Zone F - Northern Ontario

SAULT STE MARIE, ON

Hello,
I was born in Windsor Ontario in 1952, so I guess I'm of the Boomer generation. Was hired by Burroughs Business Machines out of High School, moved to Sudbury with that company - a long story - then North Bay.
Began my modelling interests in North Bay, looking for a diversion. I developed an interest in model airplanes after seeing a demonstration at the Comber Fair maybe 1970. Bought my first radio control from Bob's hobbies on Lakeshore - a Kraft 5 channel. I paid 500 1975 dollars. Met my darling wife in North Bay, (another long story) and was member of both the North Bay model airplane club and the Nippissing Miniature Airplane Club - now known as NIPMAC. Same company then moved me and me to Sault Ste. Marie. I quit them and was hired at the Steel Plant where I put in 35 years retiring from Environmental Control. I have held many positions in my local club, was a zone director decades ago for one term and have been deputy zone director for Northern Ontario for a decade anyway. I currently fly scale aerobatics not too well, flippy models a little better, indoor foamies and anything else.

JEFFREY NIDD

Zone G - Ottawa Valley

NEPEAN, ON

JOHN DEADMAN

Zone H - Southwest British Columbia

DELTA, BC

GRANT ROBINSON

Zone K - Saskatchewan

CHURCHBRIDGE, SK

LESLIE FARKAS

Zone L - Southeastern Ontario

RICHMOND HILL, ON

PETER DOUPNIK

Zone M - Southwestern Ontario

LASALLE, ON

My passion is meeting great people and flying RC Jets. I have enjoyed model airplanes for the past 55 years.

ALAIN CARPENTIER

Zone N - Quebec

SAINT-JEAN-BAPTISTE, QC