Well, where to start! I am a 1956 vintage, born in the
town of Summerside on Prince Edward Island, a province in Canada,
although I actually grew up in Ottawa, Ontario,... the 'Nation's
Capital'. I'm 177.8 cm's, 82 Kg's (or 5'10", 180 lbs for those not
afflicted with the metric system), have hazel green eyes, black/grey
hair.
I started school on the military base at Uplands, in Ottawa, and did grades 1 through 5 there. My Dad got out of the military in 1967 and I started grade 6 at Blossom Park Public School. Went to Gloucester High School for grades 9 and 10 (for those who went there check out the Gloucester High - Alumni site), but due to a re-location, completed grades 11 and 12 at Canterbury High School, BEFORE it became an "School for the Arts", I took Aero Engine & Airframe courses there.
My first real job, was in the aviation sector, working on a PBY
Canso (a flying boat similar to this pic). The place where my Dad
worked (Personal Planes Sevices) couldn't find
anyone small enough to get out to the end of the wing, from the inside,
to 'buck' rivets, so he brought me in. 25 cents an hour for 4 hours, was
pretty good money to an eleven year old in 1967. I've worked in aviation
most of my working career. I worked part time through school at Cross Canada Flights, a flying club in Ottawa, and as
an Aircraft Engineer Apprentice for Kenting Earth Sciences (an aviation
survey company) after high school.
I
managed to graduate (much to my Dad's surprise) from Canterbury High
School in June of 1975 and after a brief stint working for Kenting, in
July of '76 I joined the Canadian Air
Force as an Airframe Technician. After my basic and trades training
I served 5 years at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Shearwater in Nova
Scotia, Canada, (part of Maritime Air Group)
working on Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King
helicopters (of which 22 months was served as a member of the Helicopter Air Detachment aboard Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Athabaskan, a
DDH 280 Iroquois Class Destroyer).
To escape the ships, I applied for
and was accepted into the Nondestructive
Testing Specialty (very lucky, as only 12 candidates were chosen out
of about 525 applicants that year). I then spent 5 years at CFB Trenton in Ontario, Canada,
working at the Areospace Maintenance Development Unit's (AMDU)
Nondestructive Testing (NDT) Branch, the name has since been changed to
Aerospace and
Telecommunications Engineering Support Squadron (ATESS). There I
worked 2 years in the NDT Technique Development Section and 3 years as
the Radiographt Instructor.
Next it was 4 years at CFB Baden Sollingen
in West Germany, as an NDT Crew Supervisor. Got to do some phenomenal
motorcycle riding through the "Black Forest" while in Germany, I sure
miss those rides. Finally, I spent my last 5 years (completing a 20 year
military career on August 9th 1996) at 19 Wing Comox in British
Columbia, Canada, where I was the NDT Section Supervisor. During my tenure in Comox, I was presented with an Air Command Commander's Commendation by the Canadian
Armed Forces Chief of the Defense Staff at that time, General Jean
Boyle. A very proud moment in my military career).
Germany, by far, was my best posting (the motorcycling there is FIRST RATE !!) with the
highlight going to the 99 days I spent in Doha, Qatar, as an Aircraft
Battle Damage Assessor/NDT Tech for the Gulf War. So, if this 'Web site'
looks a little disjointed, I'll blame it on the 'side effects' of either
the 30mg Pyrodostigmine Bromide (A drug which when prophylactically
administered greatly enhances the therapeutic effect of Stropine in
treating the effects of nerve agent poisoning,... or so 'they'
claim) tablets we had to take evry 8 hours for a total of 91 tablets
or 2730 mg, or the 100 mg Doxycycline (An antibiotic which can be
used in treating the effects of certain biological agents) pills
every 12 hours for a total consumption of 41 pills or 4100 mg.
Married, again (May '87) , yeah, yeah, I know but let's not go there. Have 3 children; girl '89, boy '92, and
girl '94, which means that my life is still pretty heck-tick, but
less heck-tick than the wife's (I work outside the home).
I retired from my first career in August of 1996, after 20 years with the Department of National Defense , an offer came up that I just could not refuse, like a BIG pay raise!... sorry guys, but comraderie won't pay for my Internet Connect time ; ). Employed as the NDT Specialist at Hope Aero Propeller and Components Inc. in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, a small family owned business specializes in propeller, brake, wheel, and governor maintenance and overhaul, as well as In-house and On-aircraft Nondestructive Testing (that's where I come in).
June 1998 sees me depart my long association with the aviation community and bring my NDT talents to bear on the pipeline industry as Supervisor of UltraScan CD Analysis for Pipetronix in Toronto. 1 merger, 1 buy-out, and 1 move later, countless name changes, and it's now known as GE Oil & Gas, PII Pipeline Solutions, and I am now in their Calgary, Alberta, office. PII Pipeline Solutions is a division of one of the largest, and most respected companies in the world General Electric.
My new job involved forming and overseeing a Team of Analysts, in Canada, to evaluate pipeline integrity by analyzing Ultrasonic data collected by PII's UltraScan CD (Crack Detection) ILI (In-Line Inspection) tool. Analysis is accomplished utilizing visualization software running on computer workstations. My responsibilities included hiring data analysts, arranging thier training (originally carried out in Germany), coordinating analysis effort per inspection, and overseeing analysts in the timely and accurate interpretation of USCD data. This state-of-the-art unit (shown here being inserted into a 36" launcher), first developed by Pipetronix, is a free-swimming device designed to detect axially oriented anomalies, such as fatigue or stress corrosion cracks, in an actively operating pipeline. This was a very intimidating and exciting phase in my career, leaving the aviation sector that I knew quite well, to learn a completely different inspection technology.
I was fortunate enough to hire a great bunch of people, and based on the Team's performance in 2001, I was presented with an Award from our company's President, and then in 2002 the CD Team was presented, deservedly so, with PII's "Analysis Team of the Year" Award.
In September 2003, I was moved into a newly created position, as Analysis Quality Manager PII (Canada) Ltd. Once again, I am presented with a new role to learn and a whole new set of challenges to keep me on my toes.
September 2004, I'm now part of a newly created Dig Verification Group, responsible for collecting field excavation results to correlate back to our analysis predictions in an effort to continually improve our Analysis capabilities.
A few pictures, .... just over 100 of them
My Dog Pal , catching some zzzz's with my dog. Not sure of the year, but it was before I started school so I was 4 or 5.
Me and my sister Cindy about 1962. We were living at the airforce base in Ottawa. Check out the boots, I was styling.
Cub Scout , yeah, who would've thought.
The Stewart Family, mid 60's , back row, My Dad (Bob), Mom (Joanne), me, (the oldest kid about 10 then), then left to right, Donna, Kathy, and Cindy. Cindy and I are the same age for 10 days each year, which is a BIG deal when your a kid, and she used to bug me those whole 10 days, .... she's stopped bugging me about it, 'cause it's not so friggin' cool now that we've kicked past 40 is it Cindy :)
My Grade 9 High School picture, 1972. I was 15 years old (for those doing the math, school gets out in June, my birthday is in December).
Me at Christmas 1973 I think, about a year and a half before I finished high school.
Me, 1974 having a bad hair day.
Sharon Howell my first girlfriend, just starting grade 12, 1974. Yeah, I was a slow starter.
My passport photo when I was 18, just out of High School.
Me and a Secret Crush, Ottawa, 1975, just after High School. She was my sister's friend who I really liked, but never told her, so this is as close as I managed to get.
At work in the NWT 1975, me refueling a Britten Norman Islander in Baker Lake in the North West Territiories, July 1975, 2 weeks after graduating High School. Another bad hair day I'd say!
Basic Training Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, Fall 1976. I'm the 2nd from left, bottom, with the serious look!
My Airframe Technician's Trade Qualification 5 course photo in Borden, Ontario. I am Top Row, far right. This would have been 1978.
Ship's Divers graduating picture, 1978. I'm top row, far left. The only "Air Type" on course, the rest were Navy.
Hel Air Det - HMCS Athabaskan Helicopter Air Detachment 1979.
At A Beach in Kehnetcook, Nova Scotia, 1982. She was special, probably still is, enough said.
NonDestructive Testing Graduates June, 1982, Trenton, Ontario. I'm 5th fropm the left, rear row.
1985 lounging on the beach at Queensland, Nova Scotia. '85 was a rough year. Headed out from Trenton Ontario to Nova Scotia on a spur of the moment decision to be with some close friends, try to get a handle on life, and find the "Fairy Tale" happy ending. No such luck! Notice the gold dog-tags.
Same trip, same beach, same year, playing my Buddy's Gibson J45 guitar. It's a better guitar than I am a player. Notice the gold dog-tags.
The 1st NDT course that I taught. This was in Trenton, Ontarion, I instructed the 3 week Radiography portion of an 11 week NDT-1 Basic Course. Instructors are seated, I'm far right.
NDT - The Champs The end of a long and competitive season finished on Friday the 20th of December (1985) with an exciting final between TPB and NDT. The last match started with NDT winning the first game in a closely fought battle. TPB rallied in the second game for a win forcing the match to the wire. The last game was won by NDT, completing the finals and crowning the first Inter-Section Volly-ball Champions of CFB Trenton, North Side Gym. I'm far left.
My 1976 K-Yairi Trenton, Ontario, 1985. Notice the gold dog-tags. They were given to me by someone special, and I lost the damned things in a tent at a motorcycle race in Austria. So if you have them, send 'em back !!
Junior Leaders Course, 1985, Borden, Ontario.
Darlene Trenton, Ontario, before I met her, this would have been around 1985 or 86.
Darlene and the dogs at North Beach, Ontario, 1987.
Darlene Trenton, Ontario 1987.
The Girls 1987, Meisha, Darlene, and Taffy.
John & Darlene 1987
Recieving my promotion to MCpl (that would be Master Corporal for the un-initiated), Trention, Ontario, 1987.
John Stewart & Jim Van Bregt, Trenton, Ontario, 1987. I've known this guy since we met at Blossom Park Public School, just outside of Ottawa, Ontario in'67.
My Ducati Sport Bike, 1983 Ducati 900 S2 as I bought it in 1988 in Germany.
My Ducati Touring Bike, same bike, only with a tank bag, who says ya can't tour on a Ducati :)
Me, play time, on my 1983 Ducati 900 S2, getting ready to head up to the Black Forrest tp play for a couple of hours, something I tried to do at least twice a week.
Untersmatt in the Black Forest in Germany, sometime between 1987 and 1991, not sure as I went there most week-ends. A great place to hang out on Sunday mornings. My Ducati is the 8th bike from the right, it'd do 220 kph. The 5th bike is a Dan Filliatrault's Bimota, worth about 35K Canadian. I road that to 240 kph on the Autobahn, then chickened out, as it would easily do 270 kph.
Me and my 1983 Ducati 900S2. Somewhere in the Black Forest, sometime between '87 and '91.
Instructor Achievement Award - Presented by the Canada Safety Council to John Stewart, in appreciation of service to motorcycle safety through teaching "Gearing Up" Canada's Motorcycle Skills Course. This was received in Germany 1988.
Nap time, Germany 1989. Come home from work, grab the remote and put on some good tunes, lay down on the couch real quick with the kid on your chest, and you can get out of all sorts of chores. "Sorry Honey, the baby's asleep and I can't wake her, maybe later, OK."
Me 'n Giverny summer 1989, Soellingen, Germany.
Christmas 1989, Soellingen, Germany. Our first with Giverny.
Me 'n Giverny summer 1990, walking in a garden behind a castle in Rasstatt, Germany.
1983 Ducati 900 S2 - this is what my bike looked like when I left Germany in 1991. Painted by a friend of mine, Randy Quilty.
1991 CFB Comox, British Columbia. On parade receiving my Gulf War ribbon, just to the left on my Canadian Decoration medal.
My promotion to Sergeant (Sgt.), 1991, Comox, British Columbia.
Saudi Medal - LCol King presenting me with a Medal, on behalf of the Suadi government, for participation in the Gulf War. Comox, British Columbia, around 1992.
Me and my little Buddy.
Babysitting - what's so hard about that? Giverny and Jarrett making sure Dad doesn't get into any trouble. This is what the wife saw when she got back, and for some reason or other, I was in trouble anyway. Go Figure !!
Nato Presentation, Comox, British Columbia, 1992. Photo of memebrs recieving Nato medal.
Giverny Comox, British Columbia, 1992.
Caterpillar Game Me, Giverny, and Darlene, Comox, British Columbia, 1992.
Blossom Park Kids a few years later. The Stewart kids, Donna, Kathy, Cindy, John, 1993.
Smack Down Wrestling - having fun with Jarrett and Giverny, 1993.
New Sister Giverny (5 years & 4 months old), Jarrett (2 years & 10 months old), and Demara (1 day old). Comox, British Columbia, October 1994.
My Stewart Family 1994. Comox, British Columbia. Darlene with Demara, Jarrett, me and Giverny.
Sgt. Stewart 1994, isn't that a serious look.
All 3 , all mine.
The Kids 1995. Giverny 5 yrs, Jarrett 3 yrs, and Demara 6 months.
Same Kids same year, 1995.
Snow in Comox, 1995. Me, Demara, a neighbour's kid, & Giverny.
Snow Angels in Comox, 1995. Jarrett, Demara, & Giverny.
Bubble baths girls just love 'em. Demara enjoying her bath time.
Giverny a cute 5 year old.
Deady Bear Jarrett on his smelly dead bear rug that he got from his Uncle.
NDT Supervisor in 1996, Comox, British Columbia recieving my Air Command COMMANDER'S COMMENDATION.
750 Norton My friend Vaughn on his 750 Norton Commando, ... nice ride.
As a Civvy at Hope Aero. This would have been in the fall of 1996, about 3 months after I retired from 20 years military service.
NDT Technician at Hope Aero. This would have been around 1997.
Fall 1998 playing in the leaves at the Mother-In-Law's, in Trenton, Ontario.
Giverny - her talent agency pose, 1998.
Jarrett - his talent agency pose, 1998.
Demara - her talent agency pose, 1998.
Demara summer of 1999.
Jarrett summer of 1999.
Giverny summer 1999.
In Thal Germany, attending a Ducati meet, year is obvious.
Udo Olividese - my very good friend who lives in Karlsruhe, Germany. This was taken in Thal, Germany, 1999 at a Ducati motorcycle meet.
My Good Friends Eva Clenny and Udo Olividese - standing by the Rhein River near Leopoldshaffen, Germany, just outside of Karlsruhe, I think around 1999.
Superb - both, the motorcycle, a 1982 Ducati 900SS, and the man, Udo Olividese, a fine individual to have as a friend. I showed up in Germany one time on an unplanned busuiness trip. Udo was heading out on vacation with his girlfriend when I arrived. He threw me the keys to his garage, and this motorcycle, told me to have fun, and he'd see me when he returned. Not many people would do that.
1999, Shotten Germany, attending an "Old Timer's" motorcycle race.
Giverny at 10 years old.
Jarrett at 8 years old.
Demara at 5 years old.
May 2000 in France with my good friend Udo's gorgeous Ducati 900SS.
Our New Home, Calgary, August 2000.
Snow Bunnies, Givery and Demara at Lake Louise, spring 2001.
Ski Break, Lake Louise, spring 2001, Dad needed a break so I used the excuse I wanted to take a picture. Great kids, Demara and Giverny, and a gorgeous view.
John Stewart, Team Leader UltraScan CD, Summer 2000.
Malzeit (Meal Time), Germany 2000. L - R, John Stewart, Nathalie Ham, Sheri Wyzykoski, Udo Olividese, Eva Clenny, Charlie Cadenhead, Clint Garth. I had hired Nathalie, Sheri, Charlie and Clint as members of PII's new Canadian based UltraScan CD Team, taken them to Germany to attend their USCD training, and my Buddy Udo and his girlfriend Eva took us out to dinner.
Bill Mornigstar, a good friend of mine. We worked together in Germany in the late 80's and early 90's. He owned a Ducati 750 Paso, and we road together on some of the nicest roads in Germany and Farnce during that time. Bill now lives in Edmonton, this was taken around 2001. Notice the Marz Racing decal on his tool box. Bill and I both picked up our Ducatis at Ronald Marz's shop in Ettlingen, Germany.
2nd USCD Training Session, Spring 2001 Rear L-R; Craig, Abdi, Mike, Alan, Herb, Sheri, Clint
Middle L-R; Achim, Charlie, Petra, Gabriela, Nathalie, Debbie, Dave
Bottom L-R; Me, Kathy.
Fall 2001 Charlie Cadenhead and me, lunch break at work. The photo was to show off a Subway napkin to send to Germany to someone who used to frequent Subway when she was here.
Stampede Lunch 2001 Raryl Ronsky and me. Don't look much like Cowboys do we.
Me working ?? well, trying to look that way at least. Calgary, 2001.
Me and Udo in 2001, standing with Udo's Ducati 900SD. I'm the older guy, and slightly taller.
The Arc de Triumphe in Paris. I took this picture in December 2001.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris, December 2001. Started at the Eiffel Tower, then walked to, and then to the top of the Arc de Triumphe where this photo was taken.
The Stewart Family September, 2002.
The Black Beast Chloe, our lovable mutt, 2002.
Demara and Chloe catching a few zzzz'z.
Me helping to take the battery cover off the 24" UltraScan CD tool. You can see the batteries just to the right of me in the picture.
My 4 Wheeled Toy, it's a 2000 Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer. Not the big GMC Denali that I'd like, but managed to pick this up on a lease termination in March, 2002 at a phenomenal price.
My dirty 4 Wheeled Toy, somewhere on a pipeline right-of-way, attending an excavation with a client.
A Gorgeous Day at Lake Louise, 2003. Me stuffing my face with a muffin and drinking hot chocolate while taking a ski break. I've got to make a point of getting out of the office and onto the slopes more often.
Hat Day at work summer 2003. Hmmm, guess where the hat and tee shirt came from? Think anyone would know I spent time in the military?
For the Birds , Giverny, Demara, and Jarrett feeding the birds by the Notre Dame in Paris, July, 2003.
July 2003 Me on the Seine River in Paris.
July 2003 My friend Udo, on the Seine River in Paris.
July 2003 My friend Eva on the Seine River in Paris.
View from the Top of the Eiffel Tower. I managed to get back to Paris in July 2003, and bring the family with me this time. If you look at the top of the first grid, above my elbow, you can see the Arc de Triumphe. Not that I'm a wimp and afraid of heights or anything, but you'll notice I've got a pretty good grip on that railing!!!
The Kids , Giverny, Jarrett, & Demara, October 2003.
The Stewart's, John, Demara, Giverny, Darlene, Jarrett, October 2003.
The Stewart Clan, Demara, John, Giverny, Darlene, Jarrett, and the lovable "Black Beast", ... Chloe, October 2003.
July 2004, a picture my youngest daughter Demara took of me.
Shirtless July 2004, another picture Demara took, not a bad picture for a 9 year old.
Summer 2004, my son Jarrett took this picture of me.
Me & my guitar, my son Jarrett took this picture of me, summer 2004.
Another of Me & my guitar, summer 2004. I like my guitar as much as like bikes.
Me and the Mutt, Chloe, summer 2004.
Chloe & Demara, in our back yard in Calgary, summer 2004.
A New Bike, finally, after 13 years, I get myself another bike. June 17th, 2005, I took possesion of a new 2005 Harley FXDWGI Dyna Wide Glide, affectionately knoown as POSH (an acronym for Piece Of Sh!t Harley). Length - 2377.4 mm, Seat Height - Laden 680.7 mm, Ground Clearance - 137.2 mm, Rake Steering - 32.0º, Head/Trail - 129.5 mm, Wheelbase - 1678.9 mm, Fuel Capacity - 19.3 L, Oil Capacity - 2.8 L, Weight Running Order - 306.0 kg, Engine - Twin Cam 88®, Displacement - 1450 cm³, Bore x Stroke - 95.18 mm x 101.52 mm, Engine Torque - 115.0 nm @ 3000 rpm, Fuel System - Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI ), Compression Ratio - 8.9:1, Liters per 100 KM - ESPFI 4.7 hwy / 5.3 city, Primary Drive Chain, Gear Ratio - 1st - 10.110, 2nd - 6.958, 3rd - 4.953, 4th - 3.862, 5th - 3.150, Final Drive - Kevlar Belt, WHEELS - Front wheel- 21" Steel laced spoke, - Rear - 16" Steel laced spoke, TIRES - Front - MH90-21 54H, Rear - 150/80B16 71H, Electronics - Security system, Instruments, Electronic speedometer; odometer; resettable tripmeter; diagnostic readout, Indicator Lamps Oil pressure; engine diagnostics, CHASSIS - Brakes (diameter x width) - Front 292.1 mm x 5.08 mm, Rear - 292.1 mm x 5.84 mm, Lean Angle - 32º / 31º, Exhaust System - Stage 1 baloney cut shorty duals, Colour Option - Black Cherry Pearl, UNIQUE FEATURES - Black powder-coated engine with chrome covers; wide, raked-out front fork; ape-hanger handlebar; bobtail fender; stepped, chopper seat; forward foot controls; chromed sissy bar and backrest; large, tank-mounted speedometer.
My Scoot, let the fun begin again :)
Soaked, Darlene, on our way to the Canadain National HOG Rally in Saskatoon, August 2005. It was wet and cold.
National HOG Rally , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, summer 2005.
HOG Parade, coming, ..... Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, summer 2005.
HOG Parade, going, .... Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, summer 2005.
Me, taking a sick day, my time with Dr. Davidson worked wonders :).
My sick day Partner-In-Crime, Gary Krivak and myself outside the Last Chance Saloon in Wayne, Alberta. We both felt MUCH better by the end of the day :)
Highest Ridable Road in Canada, the Highwood Pass, Hwy 40, in Kananaskis Country, Alberta. This was taken November 24th, 2005, I was trying to get in one last ride before it closes for the winter (Dec 1st) and yes, it was damned cold. I'm quite fortunate as this pass is only about 130 Km from my house.
2005 Dyna Wide Glide, me on my bike heading down to Lethbridge, November 2005.
DON'T Try This At Home, unless you have an exceptionally long hallway. May not be all that fast for a sport-bike, but beleive me, on a Wide Glide, it gets your heart pumping. The wife took this (yeah, two up riding) pic over my shoulder on our way back to Calgary from the Crowsnest Pass somewhere on Hwy 22, just south of Longview.
Riding South Dec 21, 2004, - temp. +2C to +10C, Dar and I rode south on Hwy 2 down to Pincher Creek, then Crowsnest Pass and Blairmore. Temp started to drop after Nanton, was raining at Crowsnest. Trucker said the roads were ice about 5 Km west of the Blairmare A&W, where we stopped for gas. Back towards Calgary via Hwy 22, stopped at Renegades in Turner Valley for a Hot Chocolate, then home via Millarville, Bragg Creek, Trans Canada, Stoney Trail, to Country Hills. (about 580 Km).
Riding West Dec 26, 2004, - temp. +4C to +9C, Boxing Day, Dar and I went out Beddington Trail\Simons Valley Road, kept going north on 772 out past Madden, then east on 574, to the 2A at Crossfield. North on the 2A to Carstairs. Temperature was starting to drop pretty quickly, so we dicided to head south on Hwy 2. Stopped at the Tim Horton's on Big Spring Hills Road in Airdrie for a hot chocolate, then continued south on Hwy 2. Headed west on Glenmore Trail out to Hwy 8, then west. Was pretty cold by the time we hit Hwy 22. Headed north to the Trans Canada, then west out to the turn off at Seebe, coldest place so far today. Took the 1A back through Cochrane to Stoney Trail, Country Hills, then home. All in all it was a great afternoon, especially when you consider the date. (about 326 Km).
Self Portrait at 120 Kph, I took this pic riding west on Hwy 533 somewhere between Nanton and Chain Lakes. This has to be one of my favourite stretches of ashpalt that's fairly close to home.
3 April 2011
