Aviation was in his blood. From childhood, during the Second World War, seeing huge seaplanes land noisily off the village of Cap-d’Espoir, he understood that his vocation was there. By accompanying his father throughout the peninsula, Michel quickly understood how the vast distances, the winding paths and the vagaries of the climate represented a perpetual challenge in Gaspésie. If the Gaspésiens know how to rely on their own means more often than not, this particular difficulty was added to the other demands of life.
The question of distances became all the more evident during his first flights aboard a small Fleet Canuck. This is how Michel had a very simple idea. For Gaspésie to really develop, it needed its own air service, and not just any air service: a service adapted to its needs, with real runways, installations, equipment, a fleet of aircraft and, above all, a team of pilots who would not be intimidated by the territory and the climate of the region.
Certainly, Michel Pouliot was a visionary spirit. To bring this project to life, you had to have an iron will. But still, we had to be able to bring together the right material conditions, as well as the right people to take action. In a region where this type of business was then unknown and where aviation remained a service inaccessible to ordinary people, this represented a considerable risk. However, through persuasion, Michel Pouliot was able to rally people to his vision. Little by little, a first lead appeared, first in Gaspé. Then a second. Then two more.
For the first time, Gaspésie was connected by air with a regular service. For this territory the size of Belgium, where there was no airstrip east of Mont-Joli before the 1950s, it was a real revolution. Over the years, Transgaspésien grew to become Air Gaspé. His network grew. Gaspésie was connected to Bas-Saint-Laurent, then to the Magdalen Islands. Then Anticosti Island, the North Shore, the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, Quebec, Montreal, etc. were added.
What patience it took to build this business and overcome all obstacles, land, air and human!
In parallel with his activities in aviation, Michel also founded the first shipyard in Gaspé. This second company, responsible for building and maintaining fishing boats, allowed him to maintain a constant link with the fishermen. These activities were closely linked to his second great passion: that for his part of the country. Michel’s profession allowed him to meet thousands of people from home. Through contact with forestry and mining workers in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Murdochville, Sept-Îles and elsewhere, he deepened his understanding of their needs and their realities.
This motivated him to get involved in different ways to ensure the development of his community. His activities as a member of various boards of directors have made him aware of the many challenges that the Gaspé has had to face. These challenges always remained at the heart of his concerns wherever he went in Canada, the United States or Europe, and where his qualities were well known. Over the years, Michel has received very attractive offers to go flying all over the world. But his heart, like a cross, remained firmly planted in the soil of the region where he was born. All his life, Michel remained faithful to Gaspé.
The most beautiful proofs of this fidelity were reflected in his desire to transmit. He passed on, first of all, his passion for aviation. He passed it on to countless people from across Quebec and Canada who wanted to become pilots. These people knew that by going to see Michel Pouliot in Gaspé, they would be dealing with an exceptional teacher. Everyone remembers him, his demanding and rigorous character, but also his great generosity. He loved pilots. He knew how to see in everyone the talent that seeks to develop and the desire to improve.
The need to transmit was also reflected in the support he offered to numerous professional, charitable and cultural organizations. Knowledge of our history and our memory was of the utmost importance to him. He frequently offered his help, always keeping up to date with the progress of projects. He was always willing to listen and give his time to someone who wanted his advice, even on a delicate question. He did it without complacency, but without pettiness either. Many people also remember his talents as a storyteller, his colorful anecdotes and his humor. Finally, Michel Pouliot was also a pious man. He believed in the best part of each of us. Deep down, he was a humanist.
As one of his fellow aviators, Saint-Exupéry, wrote, when you tame something, you become forever responsible for what you have tamed. By traveling the Gaspésie from the air, few men like Michel Pouliot have had the chance to tame their country so well. Without doubt, each time he returned to earth, it allowed him to better appreciate these things invisible, except to the heart, which united him with those for whom he always felt responsible.
Have a good flight, dear Michel. Thank you for everything. See you on the other side of the clouds.