Photo: Town of Peace River / Peace River Regional Airport

By Shaun Penner

Peace River Regional Airport Association

Local non-profit transferred ownership of Peace River Regional Airport

Dec 8, 2020 | 12:42 PM

Ownership of the Peace River Regional Airport has been transferred to a local non-profit organization, which will be headed up by several businesspeople and aviation enthusiasts from the Peace River area.

Following a ratification vote during Peace River Town Council’s November 23 meeting, the airport was officially turned over to the new ownership group, the Peace River Regional Airport Association.

After a lengthy process of trying to find a non-profit organization to take over ownership operations of the airport from the town, Town of Peace River CAO Christopher Parker is glad a local group stepped up.

“We had people from across Canada that were interested, but to find a local group that was actually invested in the airport and really want to make sure that it’ll grow and survive, basically thrive and survive, is great.”

The organization will effectively take over ownership and operations of the airport on December 15. The group will be served by the following Board of Directors, who are all pilots and aircraft owners:

• Jeremy Hand: CEO of Avenge Energy Services
• Brett Smyl: Dealer Principal of Mighty Peace Chevrolet Buick GMC Ltd
• Mitch Krzysztan: President of Northern Air Spray and Two Five Farms
• Nate Hilman: President of Northern Air Charter (PR)
• Matt Gannon: President of AGS Mechanical

“The airport should be viewed not as a want, but rather a need for the Peace Region, and we are willing to face the challenges to not only keep it operating but make it an inviting place to do business,” said Krzystan, in a statement released by the Town of Peace River.

“The Peace River Regional Airport is such a vital part of our region and history which also supports air ambulance and firefighting services,” adds Hilman. “We look forward to working with new and existing businesses, together, as we strive to bring value to this important infrastructure.”

The town had been the owner/operator of the airport since being handed the keys by the Government of Canada in 1996.

After spending approximately three-quarters of a million dollars a year to operate it, the town issued a Request for Proposal from groups interested in taking over operations in August of 2019.

After receiving a number of options, Council later decided to hold a non-binding referendum back in February to gauge residents’ interest in having the airport owned and operated by a non-profit.

Parker said residents strongly voted in favour of that idea, with conditions.

“It was overwhelmingly ‘yes, go do this. This is a smart idea’”.

Those conditions included maintaining air ambulance and firefighting service operations at the airport, as well as have the Town of Peace River contribute $1.4 million over the next two years to aid in the transition.

Funding will also be provided by other area municipalities: the Town of Grimshaw, MD of Peace, County of Northern Lights and Northern Sunrise County.

“We did guarantee that we would do this for two years, and basically the goal is to end it at two years,” said Parker. “Which I’m sure is going to happen.”

At this time, the airport remains without a passenger service, after Northern Air discontinued its service from Peace River in December. Parker says the new ownership group will be actively working on restoring some type of passenger service, but in the current climate, that likely won’t happen right away.

“Let’s be honest, in this day and age right now, passenger service is pretty hurting all the way across,” said Parker. “The economy is just not there right at the moment.”

The non-profit organization adds in a statement that by taking a business-centered approach to the operation of the airport, they will look to streamline processes, reduce operating expenses and have a dedicated approach to the growth and promotion of the airport.