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About Us

Highlights of our program and college include:
  • Active Advisory Board which include members from Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Air Canada Pilots Association, Air Georgian, Lake Simcoe Regional Airport, the Canadian Armed Forces, NACORD Insurance, Transport Canada, and the Community Airports Group Co-operative.
  • Qualified faculty with a variety of experience in the business of aviation and education.
Our Faculty

Ted Syme

Ted was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. He then moved to southern California for junior high school. Upon his return to the Etobicoke area he received a B.A.Sc. in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Toronto in 1974 and received his professional engineering accreditation (Province of Ontario) in 1976. He has held positions in engineering, sales and marketing before joining Georgian College in 1985.

Ted obtained his Canadian Pilot licence in 1980 and his U.S. pilot licence in 1991. He has flown in eastern Canada and the United States. He owned and enjoyed his Piper Arrow II. Ted was the first full time faculty to join the Aviation program in 1986 and served the department as co-ordinator from 1992 to 1994. He completed his graduate studies and received his M.Sc. in Airport Planning and Management at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom in 1995.

He also has an established Aviation Education Consulting business in airport operations. His hobbies include flying, military aviation history (Canadians in WWII and Vietnam), cross-country skiing, and travel. He currently resides near Barrie with his wife and daughter.

Wade Hoople

Wade is originally from Edmonton, Alberta and has attended the following post-secondary institutions:

  • The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology - Diploma in Administrative Management
  • University of Alberta – Bachelor of Arts i(Economics), Bachelor of Education (Industrial and Technical)
  • Completed 25 Master's level courses in the Masters of Education and the MBA programs

Wade worked at a variety of positions with Northwest Airlines over a period of 18 years, in Edmonton, Saskatoon, Vancouver and most recently as the Administrative Manager, Ramp Operations for Northwest Airlines in Los Angeles at the LAX airport.

Wade’s research interests are: current aviation trends, (particularly airlines), as well as improved methods for management and training . Wade has been associated with the Canadian Aviation Institute as a Professor in the Aviation Management Program since April 1998 and was the Coordinator of the Aviation Management Program from 2000 – 2003.

Wade is working with the International Centre to provide Aviation Management training in Ahmedabad India and at the Airport Authority of Trinidad and Tobago. Wade is also working with the part-time studies department in order to provide Aviation Management Certificate Programs to the aviation community.

Dave Duncan

Dave joined the Aviation Management staff in September of 1994. Since then he has taught Sociology, Psychology, Marketing, Career & Lifestyle Management, Organizational Behaviour, and has served as Flightlab coordinator. Dave also worked as a teacher of life skills and as a counselor in the Futures program and for various Adult Education Programs.

Prior to joining Georgian College, he was a community Social Worker for 15 years, taught at a private school for 3 years and owned and operated his own business for 3 years.

Dave is presently the co-ordinator of the Aviation Management Program, he is active on many college committees as well as being the co-chair of the Simcoe County Training Board and a Director of the Barrie & District Labour Counsel. Dave has a B. A. in Social Psychology with Post Graduate courses in Business, Marketing & Criminology.

Derrick Todd

Derrick was born and raised in Toronto. He has a diploma in Avionics Maintenance from Centennial College, a diploma in Electronics Engineering from Sheridan College, a diploma in Adult Education from St. Francis Xavier University and is currently completing his degree in Technology Management from British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Derrick is a commercial pilot and has his Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s license. He has worked for Canadian Airlines and Air Canada for over 20 years and has been an aircraft instructor for 16 years. He holds licenses and has taught classroom and simulator sessions on the B737, B767, B747, B777, Airbus A310, A320, A330, A340 and the CRJ regional jet.

Combining his entrepreneurial and instructional skills, Derrick successfully launched a Transport Canada approved training organization; providing training on transport category commercial aircraft. He has also worked part-time at Georgian in the Aviation Management Program. He currently resides in Caledon East with his wife and 3 daughters.