October 2005 ISSUE
 |
Sid Cool |
volunteer profile
‘That Airplane Guy’
Being a volunteer is a memorable experience - not just for APEGGA professionals,
but for the people they reach as well. Ask Sid Fontoura, P.Eng., about the kids
who recognize him.
BY KIRSTEN MILNER
Public Relations Coordinator
For Sid Fontoura, P.Eng., volunteering is an opportunity to return something to his community and be a role model to students. And it’s something he’s been doing a lot of.
Sid is on the APEGGA Edmonton Branch executive and also volunteers for the Outreach Program. He has helped judge the Science Teacher of the Year Awards, and he delivers presentations on air and aerodynamics to Grade 6 students.
“I love being able to present a pretty esoteric topic, aerodynamics, and show students how this knowledge of science has led to mankind being able to do incredible things like fly and go to the moon,” he says.
Sid’s passion for aerodynamics began at an early age. “At about nine years old, I knew I wanted to work on airplanes,” he says. “I joined air cadets and had an officer who showed me what he did, which was design parts for airplanes. Right away I knew that was what I wanted to do.” As a senior engineer with L-3 Communications/Spar Aerospace Ltd., Sid is fulfilling his dream.
“My ideal project is working on something huge with lots of moving parts,” Sid says. “I really love jobs where I can spend a lot of time on the shop floor designing and building stuff.”
His biggest challenge is getting co-workers from other disciplines to trust that what he develops will help them work more quickly and safely. “Earning the trust of the people I work with is one thing I do my best to succeed at. I do my best to show the mechanics that I respect and value their opinions and skills as well.”
Sid’s skills extend beyond the shop floor. As an Outreach volunteer, he enjoys the impact he has on students.
“I love the cards and e-mails I get from kids where they say how much fun they had and what they were able to learn in my short time with them,” he says. And there is no doubt that his presentations are memorable.
One Halloween, Sid opened his door to a trick-or-treater who immediately said, “I know you; you’re that airplane guy.”
Youth from as far away as South America have learned about airplanes through Sid. When he worked in Brazil, he delivered a presentation to a local Scout troop in Portuguese no less – and then helped them build some models.
Sid welcomes oppor-tunities to follow the examples set by two of his mentors. “Both Rick Howard, P.Eng., my mentor in Winnipeg, and Asad Baig, P.Eng., my boss and mentor here in Edmonton, have shown me what it means to be a true professional,” says Sid. “I hope to inspire others in the same way.”
In his spare time, Sid is an avid rugby player. One of his most memorable experiences was being the only civilian allowed to play with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry rugby team in Winnipeg. He also enjoys fixing cars and houses, and reading Harry Potter books with his children.