Bids Farewell After 16 Years at the CYMM Control Tower
After dedicating 16 years of his career to working at the CYMM Control Tower, NAV CANADA Air Traffic Controller Brent Stremel bids a heartfelt farewell to Team YMM.
Brent started in the local aviation industry as a Flight Service Specialist at the Flight Service Station, which changed into the CYMM Control Tower in September 2008. Brent completed his controller training shortly after the tower opened in 2009.
Reflecting back on some of his most memorable moments, Brent said one was during the new YMM terminal’s grand opening celebration and the airshow held in 2014.
“I’m happiest when I’m working in busy traffic, and the two days leading up to the airshow were some of the busiest I’ve worked. Many airshow performers were trying to get in some last-minute practice, combined with all of our usual summer traffic, and it was an absolute blast.”
As he embarks on a new chapter in his life at the Edmonton International Airport in the fall, Brent will carry with him cherished memories of his time at YMM airport and the invaluable experiences he gained.
“I’ll miss working here because it’s where I earned my ATC license and where I learned to do this job that I enjoy so much. I’ll also miss the community because it’s where my daughter was born, and it’s the place where I’ve lived the longest, after my hometown of Kelowna. It would be hard to say how much living in Fort McMurray has meant to me, but I’ll miss it a lot,” Brent shared.