John Ackermans, Board Member

John and Faye acquired their current Pender property in 2002 as a vacation haven from work travel schedules. Pender continues to provide a cherished peaceful environment in our retirement years, supplemented with regular visits by our daughters and grandchildren.

John’s initial 20 working years started in Montreal with Price Waterhouse, Beecham Pharmaceuticals and Ingersoll-Rand. The family relocated to Calgary in 1996 to follow Faye’s Executive role in CP Rail’s head office. John joined a 50,000 person engineering firm as VP Finance/Admin enjoying extensive Canadian/International travel, ending his 15-year career as VP Information Technology.

John has been active in non-profit Boards for the past 35 years, enjoying a decade with a Calgary Community Association, the Calgary Seniors Alpine Ski Club and 15 years with Pender Island Junior Sailing. Current island commitments are with the Bridge of Power & Sail Squadron and the Yacht Club representative on the Council of BC Yacht Clubs. Equally memorable was a year with the Health Society to assist in achieving Islanders’ financial support.

We retired at the proverbial 55 to continue as full-time consultants - John focused on systems design while Faye specialized in rail safety. John traded his leather soles for boat shoes at age 60 while Faye continued with the Transportation Safety Board for a further decade.

Pender-time remains cherished as Faye is an avid gardener while our part-time homes in Cochrane and Panorama Mountain are centered around family and winter sports. John continues to pursue his passions of Rocky Mountain skiing, golfing, sailing and cross-Canada drives to visit friends.

Both consider Pender “home” with the Medical Center a shining example of the care and medical support fellow islanders desire and require.