Mal Macdonald is no longer a pilot, but he still helps people get from point A to point B.
The 73-year-old retiree volunteers his time leading people through the Gimli Glider Exhibit, a museum that commemorates the day a Boeing 767 jet ran out of fuel and was forced to land like a glider in the Interlake community.
“I like the story,” says Macdonald, who flew for Air Canada for 35 years. “What a miracle it was that everyone survived.”
SUPPLIED
Former pilots Mal Macdonald (left) and Emery Gal volunteer with the Gimli Glider Exhibit.
On July 23, 1983, Air Canada Flight 143 ran out of fuel mid-flight as it was headed from Montreal to Edmonton.
Capt. Bob Pearson and First Officer Maurice Quintal were planning an emergency landing in Winnipeg when the engines died.
Pearson began flying the jet like a glider.
Quintal calculated they would not be able to glide as far as Winnipeg and suggested they land at a decommissioned runway outside of Gimli.
They landed the plane successfully, saving themselves, the crew and the 61 passengers.
The Gimli Glider Exhibit, located in the Lakeview Resort and Conference Centre, contains components of the plane, Pearson’s uniform, and storyboards and videos that tell the tale.
Among the exhibits is a simulator that allows visitors to try their hand at landing the plane.
“We have a lot of fun with it,” Macdonald says. “Even if you don’t have a successful landing, everyone gets a lot of enjoyment out of it.”
Like Macdonald, Emery Gal understands the magnitude of Pearson and Quintal’s accomplishment.
The 81-year-old volunteer was in the Royal Canadian Air Force for 25 years.
“I always thought it was quite a feat,” Gal says.
He got involved with the museum when it opened in 2017.
Volunteer opportunities
The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to www.volunteermanitoba.ca or call 204-477-5180.
The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to www.volunteermanitoba.ca or call 204-477-5180.
The Spence Neighbourhood Association needs a kitchen volunteer on Fridays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteers will assist their chef or kitchen manager with preparing meals for daily drop-in programming. The association prepares up to 200 meals daily for people ages 6 to 26. Commercial kitchen experience and food handlers certification are assets, but someone who is a confident home cook is encouraged to apply. Volunteers should be comfortable in a fast-paced environment. The duties involve handling produce, pots and pans; washing dishes and serving food. Apply at chefsam@spenceneighbourhood.org or http://wfp.to/ykV by Aug. 1.
Deer Lodge Centre needs recreation assistants. Working under the guidance of the recreation facilitator, the volunteers help offer leisure activities and assist patients in enjoying recreational time. Volunteers should be reliable and able to handle wheelchairs, follow instructions, and collaborate effectively. Applicants must be available for daytime, evening or weekend shifts that are at least two hours long, with a minimum commitment of six months. Apply at http://wfp.to/ykL by Aug. 30.
The Leftovers Foundation needs volunteers to join its Rescue Food team. Download the app and sign up, then choose the routes that work best for your schedule. Volunteers help prevent food waste by transporting food from donors to service agencies, ensuring fresh produce reaches those in need and repacking donations for distribution. Applicants must have a driver’s licence, access to a vehicle, the app downloaded on a smart device and be able to carry boxes in and out of the car. Apply at alyssa@rescuefood.ca or http://wfp.to/yk8.
Habitat for Humanity Manitoba is hosting a blitz build from Aug. 13 to Aug. 16. Fifty volunteers are needed per day for four consecutive days. Lunch and snacks are provided. Go to http://wfp.to/y0O for more information. Email Kelley Shuster at kshuster@habitat.mb.ca by July 29.
Inclusion Winnipeg needs volunteers to join its board of directors. The registered charity has been dedicated to making life better for children and adults living with intellectual disabilities for more than 60 years. Volunteers must be passionate about creating inclusive communities and willing to contribute their expertise and energy. Enthusiastic and dedicated people from diverse backgrounds and various skills are needed. Successful candidates should have a commitment to the organization’s mission and be able to participate in monthly meetings. Apply to executive director Janet Forbes at jforbes@inclusionwinnipeg.org by Aug. 16.
The Manitoba Robot Games, a volunteer-led organization, supports an annual competition involving student robot builders. The committee also supports a program of robot-building workshops for youth groups and classes of school students. Volunteers are needed to lead and help with workshops. People are needed to help lead the organization, solder controllers, make contacts with schools, and assemble robot parts and kits. Apply to Herb Reynolds at herb@mbrobotgames.ca or 204-668-3315 by Sept. 1.
The Canadian Red Cross needs volunteers. The Red Cross can show you how to help when disaster strikes. Go to http://wfp.to/0pE, email volunteer@redcross.ca or call 1-844-818-2155.
“After I retired, I wasn’t really ready to sit back and relax,” he says. “So when the opportunity arose, I jumped at it.”
Gal enjoys interacting with visitors. In addition to folks from North America, he’s spoken with tourists from across Europe, Africa and Australia.
“I’ve also met a couple of people that I knew many years ago in the air force, so it’s also exciting to run into some old acquaintances,” he says. “And of course, I enjoy telling the story and answering questions about the Gimli Glider.”
The Gimli Glider Exhibit receives more than 2,000 visitors annually, says museum president Barb Gluck.
“We’ve got a pretty nice museum that attracts people from all over the world,” she says. “We’re really quite proud of it.”
Gluck is looking for more volunteers to welcome visitors, operate the cash register and answer questions.
No experience is necessary. The only prerequisites are an interest in Canadian history and a desire to work with people.
Email gimligliderinfo@gmail.com or call 204-642-5577 for details.
Additionally, the museum is hosting a fundraising dinner at Waterfront Centre in Gimli on July 21.
Pearson will speak at the dinner. He will also be at the museum on July 23 — the 41st anniversary of the Gimli Glider incident — to meet the public.
For details, visit gimliglider.org.
If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca.
Aaron Epp
Reporter
Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. He was previously the associate editor at Canadian Mennonite. Read more about Aaron.
In addition to providing opinions and analysis on wine and drinks, Ben oversees a team of freelance book reviewers and produces content for the arts and life section, all of which is reviewed by the Free Press’s editing team before being posted online or published in print. It’s part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.