When it comes to serving his community, Dave Mellin is as committed as anyone could ever hope to be.

The young-looking 62-year-old with an engaging smile and quick laugh has had a lifelong interest in aviation and was appointed Honorary Colonel of 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron in April 2010. It was the latest of many leadership roles he has undertaken since moving to the Valley some 50 years ago.

The list is lengthy: past-president of the Courtenay Airpark Association, first chairman of the Comox Valley Airport Commission, director of the B.C. Aviation Council, current director of the Comox Air Force Museum Association, an RCMP auxiliary constable with the Comox Valley RCMP for 40 years, member of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association, former member of both Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue and Mount Washington Ski Patrol, executive member of the 201 B.C. Seniors Games held in the Valley and currently serving on the executive of the Mayors Charity Golf Tournament at Crown Isle.

How does he make time to fulfil all his roles?

鈥淚 have a very understanding wife 鈥� that鈥檚 the key,鈥� he smiled.

Born in Kamloops, Mellin鈥檚 love of aviation began when he was 10.

鈥淧WA had a float plane service flying from Stewart to Meziadin Lake. That was my first plane ride and I sort of got hooked on aviation then,鈥� said Mellin, whose father Art flew with 419 Squadron out of Kamloops during the war.

After moving to the Comox Valley, Mellin became involved with Air Cadets and then enjoyed flying and skydiving out at the base. He obtained his private pilot鈥檚 licence in 1990 and says he still flies about 25 hours a year.

鈥淚 like taking people up and showing them the area,鈥� he said. As president of the Courtenay Airpark Association, he led an executive that cleaned up the facility and built new hangars.

鈥淎fter that they decided to form the Comox Valley Airport Commission, and God bless Bronco Moncrief, he nominated me to chair it. We had an incredible group of people on the CVAC board.鈥�

Mellin says the biggest change he has seen in his years in the Valley was securing WestJet. 鈥淚t brought the whole Valley out into the open. It鈥檚 been really good for all of Vancouver Island.鈥�

He says the Air Force museum is working on a couple of interesting projects: they are trying to get a Snowbird jet on a pedestal at the new visitor centre and are working on a display case for a Vampire jet out at the airpark.

鈥淚t鈥檚 got plywood in the fuselage, so it can鈥檛 get wet,鈥� said Mellin of the British-built plane that was the first fighter jet the Canadian Air Force flew.

Mellin says his 40 years with the RCMP auxiliary have been rewarding.

鈥淚 used to work at SuperValu (now Thrifty Foods) and the police station was right across the street from the courthouse. I got to know all the police offers because as a young kid I was packing their groceries. Some of their wives worked at SuperValu. One of them said 鈥楬ave you ever thought of becoming an auxiliary?鈥� I said 鈥淲hat鈥檚 that?鈥� Next thing you knew I was one.鈥�

Growing up in the Valley Mellin enjoyed playing fastball. He also finds time for an occasional round of golf and game of hockey.

鈥淚 play for both the RCMP and the 407 Demons. It鈥檚 a bit of a problem when the RCMP plays the services. Normally I go with team that has the least amount of players. Or if it gets really confusing I just don鈥檛 show up,鈥� he laughed.

As Honorary Colonel for 407 LRP Squadron, Mellin鈥檚 job is to act as a conduit between the military and the community.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important for me to be able to explain to business people downtown what鈥檚 going on out there. Having lived and run a business here for as long as I have, you realize the military is the basis of our community 鈥� the biggest employer, biggest payroll.鈥�

He notes many military personnel stationed at 19 Wing return to the Valley to retire. 鈥�888 Wing (the retired military service club) has the biggest membership in Canada,鈥� he noted.

鈥滻t鈥檚 quite an honour when you become an Honorary Colonel. The Minister of Defence has to approve it and your commission is signed by the Governor-General of Canada. It鈥檚 pretty humbling, to be quite honest with you. Very humbling and quite an honour to be asked to do it.鈥�

What鈥檚 the best part about the Comox Valley?

鈥淭he recreational aspect of what鈥檚 available here. It鈥檚 a clean community, i.e. no major industry as such, and the people 鈥� the people are huge. People are what make any community. Having been on numerous committees the people in this community just constantly give and give and it makes it a fun place to live.鈥�

Mellin has been retired for six years now after being an owner/operator of Comox Valley Insurance. He enjoys woodwork and has just finished helping his son renovate his house.

鈥淏oy, am I ever going to have a lot of free time now,鈥� he smiled.