Excerpted from Central Region LIAISON

December 1989

Written by Shannon Soderquist

 

Jan Skora was the Deputy Director General for Central Region until December 4, 1989. He has since re-located to Ottawa to the position of Director, Regulatory Policy & Planning.

 

A little History.

 

Jan confirms the fact that he was born. The grand event took place in Granby, Quebec.

 

Jan’s D.O.C. history began in 1974 as he had a D.O.C. contract in the Cable TV Branch in Ottawa. From 1974-76, he was a Cable TV engineer in Headquarters. In 1976, Jan moved to Winnipeg “for a couple of years” to see what Western Canada was like.

 

Jan became a turncoat from 1980 to 1985 as he fled to the CRTC in Winnipeg as the Regional Director. As a result of rash of retirements in D.O.C. management in 1985, it was suggested jokingly to Jan that he should rejoin the department and Jan took Bill Johnston’s suggestion and was hired as Deputy Director General.

 

Memories.

 

Jan has noted three memorable events at D.O.C. To begin with, his first day of work began by having Andy Cobham giving him orders on what had to be done that day. Then Stan Davis (DD Manitoba at the time) approached him to say: ‘:Jan, nothing personal, but I’m resigning”! Would things ever settle down to normal.

 

The Red Deer Ball Tournament of ‘88 rates high with Jan as he was drafted by the Grande Prairie D.O. team to play. ‘He claims he only played mediocre but the Grande Prairie team says he did very well. The best part of the tourney though was when the G.P. Bud-Lites agreed amongst themselves to let the other teams win. Jan still won’t admit that it was his idea!

 

Another highlight for Jan was the Calgary Olympic games. It was an incredible display of the region coming together to support the Calgary office in doing a bang up job of managing radio users during the Olympics. It warms the heart!

 

In 1986, Jan found himself in Honolulu thanks to a business trip! Fortunately it was his wife’s company that took them there and Jan’s only jobs were to be baggage handler and to be a “proper spouse”. Other than being wined and dined, his most memorable experience was seeing his wife off each morning as she went in full business attire to her meetings and he hopped over to the beach Revenge is so sweet!

 

A mechanic is born!

 

If Jan can find some free time, he enjoys spending it in the outdoors - providing it is not 50 below celcius. He also enjoys laying around! Trying to repair the car and the house are among Jan’s hobbies - but who has time for hobbies? He is in a severe deficit position regarding repairs.

 

The Christmas season is enjoyed very much in the Skora household as every Christmas Eve they organize a horse drawn sleigh ride through the bush for relatives and neighbours. It is very popular as both big and small have the opportunity to “settle the score” with their favourite relative once a year by pushing them off the sleigh - all this is done in fun! After the ride, everyone retires to Jan’s place for copious amounts of food and “beverages” to celebrate their triumphs.