In 1951, a small, regional airport opened in Lincoln, New Brunswick—staffed by 4 people, served by a ten-seat Lockheed 10 aircraft, and intended mostly for mail. 75 years later, it handles nearly 400,000 passengers a year with more than 475 people working to keep the airport running smoothly. The terminal has been extended twice, while the runways have been lengthened three times. Most things about YFC have entirely changed, while a few things haven’t. This June, we celebrate Airport Workers Day and 75 years of YFC by introducing you to some of the people who have been here for a big part of it. 

Welcoming the community

Faye Downing joined YFC in 1998 as a finance clerk. Nearly 28 years later, she is the Operations Assistant—one of the first people every new employee meets. 

In her role, Faye manages passes and keys that give staff access to the airport’s secured areas. During the airline hiring season, her office is one of the busiest spots in the building, as every new hire needs to get their pass before starting. Over the years, that has added up to a lot of faces—and Faye remembers most of them. 

“Every single person who works here has to come through me first,” says Faye. “I love that part of the job.”  

But Faye’s connection to the community goes beyond the pass office. She organizes tours for school groups and community organizations, giving children of all ages a behind-the-scenes look at how an airport works, from the tower to what all those different vehicles on the tarmac actually do. 

“It’s fun to see the airport through their eyes. They get so excited about things we see every day.” 

Everyone travels with a story 

Rosey Peterson spotted a part-time posting for an Air Canada Customer Service Agent (CSA) at YFC after she moved back to New Brunswick. She thought it would be fun to work at an airport. That was 17 years ago. 

“I love meeting new people from around the world,” says Rosey. “Everyone has a different story, and a different reason why they are travelling—and I enjoy their stories.” 

As a CSA, Rosey checks in passengers, meets the inbound flight, helps deplane, boards everyone back up, and sends the aircraft on its way. Over 17 years, she has watched technology reshape almost every part of that process—from how tickets are booked to how passengers check in and board. The process is now faster with different tools, but to Rosey, the conversations at the counter haven’t changed much. 

She has built genuine long-term relationships with passengers over the years from seeing the same faces through trips from YFC.  

“The long-term relationships I’ve made with customers are what I’m most proud of.” 

Ask Rosey what makes YFC special and the answer comes quickly. 

“I love that it is a small airport. And customers love it too.” 

One big happy family 

22 years ago, a friend told Stacey Doak that the airport was hiring. She lived nearby, so she figured she’d give it a try.  

“Best move I’ve ever made,” she says. 

Stacey started as a Screening Officer, became a Line Lead, and for the past 12 years, she has been a Screening Contractor Training Representative. She is responsible for training the new officers who join the team at YFC. It’s a role she never saw coming. 

“I would have never thought of myself as a trainer, but I absolutely love that part of my job.” 

Training has taken Stacey to airports across the country, and that perspective matters. She keeps coming back to the same conclusion: by far, YFC is her favourite airport. Passengers also say the same thing. 

“So many times I have heard passengers say YFC is the friendliest airport they’ve ever been in. It makes me proud to be part of it.” 

What makes the difference, she says, is the people. The aviation industry changes constantly, and everyone adapts without pushback—something Stacey sees up close every time she brings a new employee in. After all these years, that sense of belonging is still what she values most. “We are one big happy—a little dysfunctional at times—family here.” She wouldn’t have it any other way. 

It’s never a dull day at the airport 

Alvin Nason joined YFC in 1990 with a strong passion for aviation, starting his career in Airfield Safety Maintenance. Today, he serves as Director of Operations with a unique perspective shaped by decades of experience and a front-row seat to nearly the entire history of the modern airport. 

Alvin still recalls the historic moment in 2002, when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II became the first to land on runway 09-27 following its extension. Coordinating that visit brought together security units at the local, national and international level—an effort far beyond the scope of a typical day at YFC. 

He also remembers the rare occasion when two Antonov AN-124 aircraft—among the largest cargo aircraft in the world—were on the ground at YFC at the same time. For a regional airport in New Brunswick, that was extraordinary by any measure. 

Through it all, one thing has stayed constant for Alvin, and it’s not the aircraft. 

“I stay here for the people—employees, tenants and stakeholders. We all share the same passion and dedication for safe air travel, as well as the variety of work, it’s never a dull day at the airport.” 

Over the past 75 years, YFC has grown from a small regional airport into a gateway for hundreds of thousands of travellers each year. While the aircraft, technology and facilities have changed, the people behind the airport have remained at the heart of it all.