My BCom made me a better artist 1972

The BCom I got from Queen’s in 1972 helped me to become the artist I am today. But let me start at the beginning.

In 1968 I graduated from KCVI (across the street from Queen’s). I wasn’t sure what path to take, but thanks to some encouragement from my future wife, Laurie (whom I married in 3rd year), and some very kind assistance from Dr. Carl Lawrence (Dean at the time), I entered the School of Business.

I always wanted to be a pilot, so wasn’t sure why I needed a BCom. I got my commercial pilots licence while at Queen’s and flew part-time for Wagner Aviation at the Calgary airport. I was interviewed by Air Canada six months before graduation and was all set to join them, when out of the blue they laid off 300 pilots.

To use my flying skills I joined the Royal Canadian Airforce for a while until a medical condition resulted in my discharge from the Air Force. My last posting was in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. I then used my BCom to move into the Human Resources field and spent 30 years as a Manager of Human Resources or Management Consultant.

Finally retired and was sitting on my back deck in the summer enjoying a few beers when my wife “suggested” it was time to find something to do. Many years before I had taken an art class so I thought maybe I should try that.

After five years I am now an established artist selling my paintings of Western Canadian landscapes. There are many other artists, probably just as good as I am: however, they do not have the marketing skills to sell their paintings. So my BCom made me a better artist.