Everyday Heroes: Meet Finning's service ... - Finning Canada

REMEMBER WHEN…Terrace, B.C. field service: circa 1972the front seat to take in the view. “He hadan insatiable curiosity and loved to learn asmuch as he could,” says Ritchie. “I have greatadmiration for what he did. He and Rosellawere such a hardworking, great team.”At one auction in Whitehorse, no soonerhad the Boreks bought two Cat 621 scraperswhen Rosella and Kenn hopped on them anddrove them the long haul to Dawson Creek.To say Kenn was hands-on is an understatement.He knew every aspect of his business,and knew where every cent went. Whenhe went to a sale, says Middleton, everybodywanted to talk to Kenn. He could be foundleaning on a piece of equipment, likely with apair of gloves in his front pocket, checking outhis competition. “He never owned a suit, hegot dirty just like everybody else,” Middletonsays. And he and Rosella always made suretheir employees were well looked after.“He knew how to do business the rightway,” Middleton says. “He knew his equipmentand passed on principles that we stilluse today. I learned an immense amountfrom Kenn.”Today, business is still going strong forBorek Construction. It has camps in the North-TIMELESS TRUTH: Borek Construction stilluses principles passed on from its founderwest Territories, is building leases and roadsaround Hinton, Alberta, and is double shifting12 or 14 pieces of equipment in Fort Nelson.Still loyal Finning customers, the businessowns more than 100 Caterpillar machines.Rosella serves as president of Borek Construction,while her son Dean manages thebusiness. Most of Kenn and Rosella’s kids areinvolved in the company, including many oftheir 11 grandchildren. (They also have fourgreat grandchildren).And Kenn’s name lives on. The KennBorek Memorial Scholarship recognizes aWestern Canadian or Northern Canadian studentpursuing an aviation career. The familyalso donated $250,000 to what would laterbe named the Kenn Borek Aquatic LeisureCentre in Dawson Creek, and Rosella donatedher CF-PAT, one of the most well-travelledTwin Otters in the world, to the Aero SpaceMuseum in Calgary.Just as she always has, Rosella works hard,going to the office every day. When Kenn died,she slipped into his spot, running the companythey spent decades building together. “It’shard for me to stay home. I’ll keep going in aslong as I can. It’s all I know.”Borek on the wingIf something needed fixing, Kenn Borekwould sit down and figure out how to doit, says his wife Rosella. That includedfinding an easier way to cart his crew,supplies and equipment to the Arctic.In 1970, Kenn bought his first DHC-6Twin Otter and Rosella chose the redand black insignia that still adorns thefleet’s fuselage. Today, the companyowns and operates 57 aircraft and isone of the largest Twin Otter operatorsin the world.Although offering their machines forexploration activities has been the largestsingle source of revenue for KennBorek Air, it provides a range of servicesworldwide. On any given day, its aircraftcould be supporting UN peacekeepingmissions, transporting scientific teamsand adventure charters in both polar regionsor leasing aircraft and equipmentto carriers in Cuba, Panama, the Maldivesand Canada.The company gained notoriety in2001 when it carried out one of theriskiest rescue missions by a smallplane near the South Pole. Kenn BorekAir pilots transported a sick Americandoctor out of Antarctica, taking him tosafety in Chile for treatment.Now led by Christien Vipond, Kennand Rosella’s oldest daughter, KennBorek Air has permanent fixed-wingbase facilities all over the Arctic, in BritishColumbia, Edmonton and Calgary.30 TRACKS & TREADS • Spring 2008 www.finning.ca