Birtle Raymond Nord

Birt Nord was a loving husband to Shirley Rock, a devoted father to his son Leif (Thuy), and the very best Papa to Cassandra and Mattias. Known to many simply as “Birt,” he was born in Grahamdale, Manitoba. His father, Simon Nord, was born in Percival, Saskatchewan, and his mother, Violet Sigurbjorg, was born in Reykjavik, Manitoba. Birt had three siblings: two brothers and a sister. His oldest brother, Verner Nord, predeceased him and is survived by his wife Ailin. His sister, Sonja Boyce (Bryan, deceased), lives in Calgary, Alberta and his youngest brother, Donald (Kathy), resides in Red Lake, Ontario. Birt was held in high esteem by his nieces Linnea, Kristen, Jennifer, and his nephews Graham, Kevin, and Robin (deceased).

As a young boy growing up in Red Lake, Birt developed a deep appreciation for nature and the outdoors. He loved hiking, hunting, and fishing. This connection to the natural world helped shape the responsible and caring man he became. Birt’s father worked a hard life in the surrounding mines of Red Lake.

While Birt was still in school, his father arranged part-time employment for him in the mines as an apprentice electrician. The skills Birt learned there served him well throughout his life — especially when he later built his own home and completed all of the electrical wiring himself.

A close friend, a local Red Lake, Ontario bush pilot, introduced Birt to flying. He was immediately captivated. He saved his money and enrolled in flying lessons at the Winnipeg Flying Club. Beginning in June 24, 1960, Birt focused intensely on his training, and through dedication and hard work, he earned his Private Pilot’s Licence on July 22, 1960 — just two days shy of one month. Returning to Red Lake, Birt continued working in the mines while saving money to fly locally and build his hours. Applying the same strong work ethic, he completed his training and earned his Commercial Pilot’s Licence on September 26, 1960. It was the beginning of a long and deeply loved flying career — the love of his life. Back in Red Lake, Birt secured his first flying job with Green Airways.

It was during this time that he met the other great love of his life. At a New Year’s Eve party in Winnipeg, Shirley Rock entered his world. Shirley was working as a Registered Nurse at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg. One year later, on May 4, 1963, Birt and Shirley were married — beginning a happy and contented marriage that lasted 63 years. The newlyweds settled in Red Lake, where Birt continued to build his floatplane experience.

He later returned to Winnipeg to pursue his multi-engine instrument rating, successfully completing his instrument endorsement on April 29, 1965. After returning to Red Lake, Birt was hired by Ontario Central Airways (OCA), where he developed a special love for what he considered the best floatplane in the world: the Noorduyn Norseman. After many hours flying in Northern Ontario, Birt accepted a position with British Columbia Airlines (BC Airlines). He and Shirley were subsequently based in Sandspit. He loved coastal flying with its magnificent scenery; however, he often expressed his concerns to Shirley about the hazards of hitting the mountains.

Birt’s flying career truly took off when he was hired by Pacific Western Airlines (PWA), beginning a new chapter based in Edmonton. His first flight with PWA was on June 6, 1966, as a First Officer on the DC-6B. A series of airline mergers in the mid-to-late 1980s led to the formation of Canadian Airlines International. This new era allowed Birt to continue his career flying the next generation of airliners.

As a Boeing B-767 Captain , Birt flew globally — including destinations throughout Europe as well as the South Pacific and the Orient . One special highlight was the opportunity to take Shirley with him to Auckland, New Zealand during a temporary base assignment. Flying between Auckland and Hawaii twice a week became a second honeymoon for them.

After 38 years of flying a wide variety of aircraft — from Cessnas and Pipers, to Otters, Beavers, Norsemen, DC-6s, Convairs, Lockheed Electras, Boeing B-737s, and Boeing B-767s, Birt completed his last flight in September 1998.

Retirement became a full-time job on its own. He took pride in maintaining his immaculate home, servicing his vehicles, and most of all, enjoying time with family and his beloved grandchildren. During these years he also became a talented and recognized photographer, often seen with his cameras whenever he set out hiking or canoeing. Birt approached life with a smile and a positive outlook.

Birt never hesitated to help family, neighbours, or friends and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.