Norman Gardner

Throughout his long life, Norman Gardner welcomed new challenges by pursuing multiple career paths and he achieved high positions in both the public and private sectors. 

Over the course of seventy years, he worked as a Professional Engineer and Manager. He foundered his own consultancy business, took on senior executive roles in companies, governments, and promoted international development and trade. An expert in mathematics, he enthusiastically embraced the emergence of personal computing. A lifetime learner, he was still pursuing University Level online-courses in his nineties.

Norman was born on January 19, 1929, in County Durham, Northern England. His father worked in the coal mining industry. It was a time of crushing poverty, the family struggled with limited means.

In his teens, Norman became a Royal Air Force Cadet. It was the start of a lifelong passion for aviation. He became a student apprentice at the Bristol Aeroplane Company where he began developing advanced airframe construction methods that are still in use today.

On graduation in 1952, Norman decided to serve his country as a Royal Air Force Engineering Officer. The position provided some financial security and in that same year, he married the love of his life, Daphne. The couple would produce two sons and enjoy 67 years together.

During his 16 years of service with the British Military, Norman earned a Masters’ Degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Cranfield University and qualified at the RAF Staff College.

He served in Singapore (then a British Colony) for three years where he was in charge of military aircraft servicing at two bases, Tengah and Changi. On returning to England, he led a scientific team at theRoyal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, England, advising the aerospace industry on protection methods against nuclear warfare. Cold war tension was running high. His expertise, especially in Russian aircraft design and construction, was valuable. He became a Defence Intelligence Officer in London.This new role involved working on top secret projects with friendly nations such as the United States and Canada.

During a liaison visit to Ottawa in 1965, he learned that experienced candidates were needed for a newly established Federal Industry Department. With its rapidly expanding economy, Norman saw Canada as a great opportunity. He secured the promise of employment in Canada at the end of his RAF service.

The family emigrated to Canada in 1967, the country's Centennial year. Norman rose through the ranks of the Canadian Public Service attaining the position of Director for Aerospace Industries. His work involved assisting Canadian aerospace companies to participate in international defence and civil aviation projects, especially in collaboration with UK, USA and German companies and governments. 

Additionally, he authored the section on the Canadian aerospace industry for the publication of the first-ever Canadian Encyclopedia. He then turned his attention to urban transportation, becoming President of Metro Canada International, a Vancouver based company marketing the Canadian Skytrain system in North America, China and Thailand. These international business deals led to an expanded government/industry career path. He became a Trade Consul for the Province of British Columbia in Europe, a job that meant moving to London, England. After three successful years, the BC Government asked him to head its government trade office in California where he spent three exciting years finding and arranging trade deals. Then wishing to live in Canada permanently he moved back to Vancouver as a part-owner of a leading medical services laboratory where he assisted in the development and use of mass spectrometer and laser facilities. 

In 1996, Norman and Daphne decided to move from Vancouver BC to grow grapes with their younger son Paul who would go on to establish a successful boutique winery in the Okanagan region.

When Daphne passed away in 2018, Norman decided to move back to Ontario where he took up residence at Carp Commons, a retirement home on the outskirts of West Ottawa. His older son, Simon (who also lives in Ottawa) welcomed his dad’s return to the Capital. Over the past 4 years, they have re-established a very close, loving relationship.

Norman Gardner is fondly remembered and greatly missed by son’s Simon and Paul Gardner, Granddaughter, Sarah Kerr Gardner, Julie Rennie (Paul’s Wife), loving friend Iliyana Marinova (Simon’s Partner), niece Kathleen and her husband Bob and nephew, Anthony Grice as well as many long- term friends in Canada and across the world. A special mention for niece Margaret Richardson and her husband, James for their constant devotion.

Norman lived a long and successful life.