His dad is a floatplane pilot and his mom is a flight attendant, so it was only natural that Christopher Gillies wanted to spend Take Your Kids to Work Day in the air.
However, with dad Bill currently grounded through injury, the Grade 9 McMath secondary student was instead taken under the wing of family friend and floatplane pilot legend Saint Clair McColl.
And Christopher, a first year Air Cadet, ended up having the time of his life last week, after McColl - who owns and operates Saltspring Air - used the 14-year-old as his co-pilot on a flight to Saltspring Island and as a "dock boy" at his Ganges base on the island.
"I think Christopher had a very unique experience," said Gillies.
"I'm not sure many of his classmates would have been doing something like this for the day."
As well as taking his position in the co-pilot's seat, Christopher, while working at the dock, helped refuel the aircraft, washed them down after each flight and moved them around the dock.
"Saint is a legend in these parts, so it was great that Christopher got to spend the day working with him," added Gillies.
