Meet the Team
current directors
mcpl ret'd gord 'maider' maidment
Director
Gord “Maider” Maidment served with the Royal Canadian Regiment, 3 Commando of The Canadian Airborne Regiment, The Airborne Holding Unit, Light Infantry Battalion and the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry as a static line/Military freefall Paratrooper. Gord Served as a Sniper Instructor, spending his 17yr career as an active paratrooper, spending the majority of his career in Sniper Platoon.
Maider served in Afghanistan, Croatia, and Bosnia. Following the Army, Maider served with the Alberta provincial corrections and the Alberta Sheriffs branch in the courts, transport and in the Specialized covert surveillance unit. He also served as a Military contractor in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Maider eventually retired as a paid-on call firefighter Lieutenant and a full time Peace Officer with the city of Edmonton’s Park Ranger Unit.
Maider is a B CoP license holder, Skydive School Instructor, Skydive Coach 1, Ground school Instructor and Jump Master. Maider suffers with his own mental health issues however, skydiving helps manage it and he takes passion in helping others to do the same. He is beyond honoured and pleased to be a part of Operation Pegasus Jump, helping others deal with mental health, assisting them out of their comfort zone and observing everyone’s huge smile while getting thrown out of an aircraft! He can’t wait to see everyone at OPJ!
sgt ret'd rob macneill
Director
Sgt (Ret’d) MacNeill Joined the military in 1981 for the sole purpose of jumping out of airplanes. Rob was posted to the 3rd Battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) in Victoria BC after basic training. After completing Recce and other courses, he took his Jump course in 1983 and was posted to 2 Commando of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. He then took the Jungle Warfare course in Panama in 84 and in 1985 posted to The Elite Pathfinder Platoon, completing his Pathfinder course in 1986 along with The Military Freefall course. After 5 years with the Regiment, he was posted back to 3 PPCLI, where he remustered to Parachute Rigger in 1990. He was Posted to The Canadian Airborne Centre in Edmonton where he completed the Parachute Rigger Qualification, Static Line Jump Master and Military Freefall Jump Master, along with The Parachute Instructor static line course, Military Freefall Jump Master and Military Freefall Parachute Instructor Courses. Posted back to the Airborne Regiment in 1993 Rob served until the disbandment. Following disbandment in 1996, He was posted to CFB Esquimalt where he trained as a Navy Diver and member of the Ships boarding party aboard HMCS Winnipeg. Having sailed 279 days on his first year and 243 on his second year he proved himself as a worthy sailor. After serving his ships sea duties he was posted in 1998 to The Canadian Parachute Centre in Trenton to Support Company as a Parachute Rigger. The Canadian Parachute Centre used Robs Subject Matter expertise as a Pathfinder Instructor and Parachute Instructor to instruct at the Centre for his reaming time there. With a short stint in Ottawa, he was posted back to 3PPCLI Edmonton as the Senior Parachute Rigger and served till 2004. After retirement he worked as a civilian freefall instructor back at the military jump school and with the Search and Rescue school in Comox. Sgt (retd) MacNeill currently resides in Campbell River BC working with at risk kids and Veterans in support of Operation Pegasus Jump.
Mwo ret'd tim (gunny) turner
Director
Gunny served with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry as a static line/military freefall paratrooper and master sniper, as well as the Canadian Airborne Regiment, 2 Commando, Pathfinder platoon, and the Canadian Armed Forces Parachute Team the Skyhawks. Gunny served in Afghanistan, the Middle East, Cyprus, Croatia, and Sierra Leone, West Africa. Following the Army, Gunny served with the Alberta Sheriffs branch in the executive protection unit to the premier of Alberta, serving 5 premiers at the rank of Inspector. Gunny is a skydive school instructor, coach 1, and jump master. Gunny does have PTSD, and skydiving helps him manage his stressors. He feels skydiving is a great way for first responders, veterans, and serving members to help manage these emotions as well.
Past directors
Sgt ret'd gavan jones
Director
Gavan served with the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry for 11 years, spending the majority of his time in Sniper platoon. He deployed twice to Afghanistan, served one season with the Canadian Armed Forces Parachute Team the Skyhawks, and was also a Military Freefall Parachute Instructor. He is currently a skydive school instructor, jump master, coach 2, and tandem instructor. Gavan credits moving to Vancouver Island and returning to skydiving in 2021 at the Campbell River Skydive Centre as a major step forward in his own personal struggle with physical and mental health issues. Because of this experience, Gavan is passionate about getting serving military, veterans, and first responders into skydiving, as he feels it is a great way to cope with the stresses brought on by these professions. He is stoked to be a part of the Operation Pegasus Foundation and looks forward to getting participants out of their comfort zone!
Ms. Tamara szewczyk
Director
Tamara, aka “T”, is an advocate for military and first responders! Having many close friends and family who have served our country has allowed her to develop a greater understanding of what serving members and veterans face day to day. With her own journey through mental health and trauma, she holds promoting mental health awareness and helping others heal very close to her heart. Skydiving has proven to be extremely beneficial for her in coping with the struggles of mental health. It not only forces her to live in the moment but has strengthened her confidence, which continues to positively affect everyday life. She has been skydiving for 9 years and enjoys being a skydive school instructor, as it gives her the opportunity to introduce others to the benefits of the sport and community. Tamara is honoured to be a part of the Operation Pegasus Foundation and can’t wait to see what we will accomplish!
