They say parents need to give their children roots to help them grow and, later when the time is right, wings to help them fly.
It seems that Tara Granson (nee Meikle) has received both the roots and the wings and is now happily pursuing her dream career in aviation.
The 24-year-old grew up in Ponoka and graduated from St. Augustine High School. She spent several years as a member of the Ponoka Air Cadets where she discovered many activities and opportunities to learn about aviation.
She also met her future husband, Matthew Granson from Bluffton when they were both members of air cadets. The couple met when they were 15 and began dating when they turned 17. The young couple both pursued a career in aviation.
Granson very much enjoyed air cadets, especially all the activities related to aviation.
“I loved it and I decided that when I graduated, I would pursue a career in aviation.”
The decision took her to southern Manitoba where she completed training for her commercial pilot license.
It turned out that obtaining her pilot’s license sparked her interest in another aspect of the field of aviation.
Granson discovered that she wanted to learn more about the machines she was flying so she began hanging out at the flight school’s maintenance shop, asking questions and learning everything she could.
Her curiosity paid off. Engineers were helpful and informative. Looking back, she says it was their patience and eagerness to provide her with the best information possible that led her to another important career decision.
She decided to go into aviation maintenance.
It has turned out to be a great decision for Granson, who is now employed by Keewatin air and is enrolled in the aircraft air craft maintenance journeyperson program at Red River College. While enrolled in the program she is working as an apprentice in Yellowknife where she is now living with her husband.
“Yellowknife is beautiful. It’s like living in a postcard,” she said.
As an apprentice Granson is able to get up close and personal with the machines that she loves.
“It’s very hands on,” she said. “I love that I get to work on the machines and that I learn something new every day.”
Granson encourages other young woman to look at aviation as a career choice. She gives credit to her parents Sheane and Bonnie Meikle for their unconditional love and support as she followed her dream career. She is also grateful to her in-laws, Leonard and Diane Granson, whom she says has also been most supportive and encouraging.
Granson encourages other young women to consider aviation as a career choice.
“They should see careers in aviation as something that is achievable.”