Canadian North names Kuujjuaq’s Shelly De Caria CEO, president
First Inuk to lead airline briefly served role on interim basis
Shelly De Caria is the new CEO and president of Canadian North after nearly two months in the role on an interim basis. (Photo courtesy of Canadian North)
Kuujjuaq’s Shelly De Caria has been named CEO and president of Canadian North after briefly leading the airline on an interim basis.
The announcement came in a news release from the airline late Friday afternoon.
De Caria was not available for an interview, a spokesperson said.
“I am deeply humbled and honoured to lead Canadian North at this critical time,” De Caria said in the news release.
“With the dedicated efforts of our exceptional team, I am confident in our ability to enhance our operational focus, ensuring reliable and efficient passenger and cargo services.”
De Caria’s experience in the airline business goes back a decade.
Previously, she worked at First Air before its merger with Canadian North. In September, De Caria was named Canadian North’s vice-president of sales, marketing and distribution.
In October, the airline announced what it described as a “strategic leadership transition” in which De Caria was appointed to replace former CEO Michael Rodyniuk on an interim basis.
With her promotion, De Caria became the first Inuk to lead Canadian North.
The airline also announced Friday that Trevor Wilde — who helped co-ordinate the wildfire evacuations in Yellowknife over the summer — has been appointed to De Caria’s former vice-president position in sales and marketing, on an interim basis.
The news release described De Caria’s appointment as a “new chapter” in the airline’s leadership, with a promise to improve services.
“Our purpose extends beyond just transportation; it’s about genuinely serving these communities and enhancing their lives,” she said.
“This is my promise — to each individual and every community we serve — that improving their lives is at the core of everything we do at Canadian North.”
Gotta be more qualified people , who worked ” DECADE (S) ”
You can have many (DECADES ) of Experience and be uncommitted/ unmotivated ( Life cycle in Marketing I can say it can apply to performance as well …. Time for Growth / Maturity/ Decline ) Time to move on .
Having a DECADE of experience and be Professional / knowledgeable / Committed and a Hard Worker.
With a FRESH FACE / FRESH PERSPECTIVE .
You go Shelly!!!
Hopefully this stops the revolving door at the top and starts the consistent improvement of service which has been lacking over the years. You have a lot of work ahead of you Madame President, so all the best.
To the Can North airline wishes for much success, for with your success comes our’s in the territories and Nunavik.
Meanwhile we hope for a more peaceful world. Chris Hedges in his speech here at The Sanctuary for Independent Media, Addressing the Middle East crisis with a talk on December 6, 2023 at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in North Troy, NY.
We can’t turn away from the cruelty, inhumanity at this time, to say there is nothing we can say or do (even as it is happening in a distant land). May peace be with us all this holiday season. Godspeed.
Being headed by a marketing and public relations professional is very on brand for Canadian North. I’m sure she’ll know all the right things to say to maintain their death grip on air travel in the North.
Drawing a CEO from a pool of professionals, not developing our own that sounds good. Catherine Lui’s book on the PMC Professional Managerial Class is a good read on why things aren’t getting any better for the working class, it’s more relevant in the US but we live in it’s shadow..
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ve been looking for a pertinent piece of non-fiction to read over the break.
It’s Virtue Hoarders: The Case Against the Professional Managerial Class by Catherine Liu if anyone else is interested.
Virtue Hoarders is the title of Lui’s recent publication.