Theresa Dufresne’s journey in aviation
BY VÉRONIQUE LOEWEN
LEADING FROM THE GROUND UP
Rooted in the 
North
T
heresa Dufresne still 
remembers the call that 
changed her life. She had 
just finished school in 
La Ronge when her cousin phoned 
from Stony Rapids. There was a 
job opening at West Wind Aviation, 
a predecessor of today’s Rise Air. 
Could she be at the airport in 30 
minutes for an interview? She said 
yes. That was in 2011. She has been 
there ever since.
Today, Dufresne serves as Assis-
tant General Manager for Snowbird 
Aviation Services, a subsidiary of 
Rise Air. Her journey began at the 
front counter as a check-in agent. 
From those early days, she learned 
every aspect of ground operations 
except fueling and de-icing. When 
West Wind merged with Transwest 
Air, she stepped into a supervisory 
role. Later, when ground operations 
transitioned to Snowbird Aviation 
Services, she became Base Man-
ager in La Ronge.
Snowbird Aviation Services man-
ages ground operations across Rise 
Air’s northern network. While Rise 
Theresa, her husband 
Tristan, son Lincoln and 
their dogs Oakley and Storm 
enjoy life in La Ronge.
20   
  Issue 1 – Summer 2026

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