Greydon’s path to becoming a pilot was anything but straightforward. He was always fascinated with aviation, but initially chose to follow in the footsteps of his father and older brothers and pursue firefighting. For two fire seasons, he served his community in Shamattawa, where his late brother was Fire Chief. Though proud to call himself a second-generation firefighter, Greydon realized his true passion lay elsewhere.
Being able to call myself a 2nd generation firefighter is something I’m very proud of, but deep in my heart I knew that it just wasn’t for me. I needed to forge my own pathway.
With that realization, Greydon decided to start his own legacy; chasing his dreams of being a pilot and being the first in his family to do so. “And hopefully not the last,” he added. His motivation wasn’t just personal; it was deeply tied to his roots.
I wanted to be a bright spot for my community, I wanted to affect change in a positive way. I wanted to inspire everyone back home. Over the years, anytime Shamattawa was mentioned in the media it was always for a negative reason. I wanted to change that narrative. I’m proud of where I come from and I hope the people back home are not only proud, but are inspired by me.
When it came time to start this new journey, Greydon looked to Indigenous pilots who had paved the way before him. The first-ever female Indigenous Medevac pilots, Robyn and Raven, were two trailblazers he admired greatly. Another inspiration was Atik Mason, whose career led to the creation of a fully funded flight pathway for Indigenous youth, with training in Thompson or Rankin Inlet. The pathway opened the door for Greydon’s pilot dreams to take flight.
Greydon originally began his training part-time at Harv’s Air while working full-time as a Ramp Agent with Perimeter Aviation. In 2023 he decided to take the leap and joined the second class of the Atik Mason Indigenous Pilot Pathway.
Joining the Pathway was easily the best decision I made. Everything from my PPL to my Multi/IFR was amazing.
He trained hard during the summer in Thompson and then completed the remainder of his training in Moncton, setting ambitious goals for himself along the way.
I remember when I first started flying. I challenged myself to get my first solo as fast as I could, which I did at 10.8 hours.
When he received his Private Pilot License, his lucky first passenger was his fiancé, a milestone neither of them will forget.
His dedication didn’t go unnoticed. During his time in the Pathway, he met Perimeter Aviation’s CEO, Joey Petrisor, and the connection was immediate. “When a company wants you to join them, it’s a great feeling. From then I was pretty much sold on Perimeter.” Today, Greydon is proud to be part of the Perimeter team, a role that perfectly aligns with his favourite part of the job, teamwork.
Anyone who really knows me knows that I love being part of a team. I grew up playing hockey among other sports, I like the feeling of a team dynamic and helping other people.
Greydon’s advice for aspiring aviators is simple:
Try to have fun with your training. You can’t get to where I’m at without enjoying the grind of being a student pilot. I know there’s a rush to get to the right seat, but try to enjoy training. Make the best of each flight. Always try to learn something and keep exercising your brain.
Greydon’s path to becoming a pilot wasn’t always clear, but with heart and determination he ended up making a lifelong passion come true. His story is a testament to the power of chasing your dreams and inspiring others along the way. We are proud of his accomplishments and inspired to have him in the cockpit.
To follow in Greydon’s footsteps, learn more about the Atik Mason Indigenous Pilot Pathway at Indigenous Pilot Pathway.
