Although the school became The Calgary Jewish Academy in September 1987, the graduating Classes of 1988-1990 are recognized as Calgary Hebrew School (CHS) alumni.
Some pillars of the community are grounded, but David Spevakow, a Grade 6, 1988 graduate of Calgary Hebrew School, has taken that responsibility to the skies. As a WestJet pilot since 2007, David understands the importance of reliability and trustworthiness. These values were cemented during his time at CHS and have since extended beyond a single province. He currently lives in Kelowna, BC, with his wife, where the two continue their work giving back to the community by serving on several committees.
To say that Calgary’s Jewish day school showed David the importance of heritage would be an understatement. As a father of two kids who attended public school, David has been able to reflect on the privilege that CHS offered with its many celebrations and community. David shares his gratitude for being able to share that with his own children, stating, “I’m so grateful that the CJA gave me a place to start growing my Jewish roots so that I could share and teach my children the importance of growing up Jewish.”
David shares his memories of the school through various activities such as soccer, tetherball, and four square, but especially remembers his parents’ contributions to the construction of the playground and “how exciting it was to watch [them] build the playground and then play in it for endless hours after its completion.” Clearly, observing his community come together throughout his childhood inspired him to continue that responsibility after he moved to Kelowna and became President of the Okanagan Jewish Community there.
Although David values being an important member of his community, his own goals were never forgotten. The journey to becoming an airline pilot began in 1992, when David first took to the skies. This ignited his interest in flying, and within a year, he received his private pilot license. The momentum didn’t stop there; he completed his exams and flight tests for his commercial license in 1994, making him Canada’s youngest commercial pilot at age 17. Another year passed, and he finally received his official license at age 18.
David’s life reflects a quiet dedication to the things that matter most to him. Whether pursuing a career in aviation or giving back to his community, he approaches each commitment with focus and integrity. The values instilled at CHS continue to guide him today: in his career, his family, and his lifelong connection to the Jewish community.