John Kirk
Where were you born? In Toronto.
How long have you been in the business? 26 years.
What’s the best part of the job? Knowing that we are part of the process of creating memories for our travellers.
What did you want to be as a kid? A garbage man, because I thought you only had to work on Thursdays. (Laughs out loud) Seriously? An actor.
What was your 1st job? A caddy, at age 13. Good money at $9 a round!
What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done? Singing on stage with Dan Ackroyd in front of about 800 people. That’s all I’m sayin’.
Any guilty pleasures? Live music – any kind.
What do people not know about you? That I’m actually very much a private person who likes my quiet time with my family.
Any hobbies or interests? Golf.
When were you happiest? The 1st time I saw my daughter hug her baby brother. They are now 12 and 7.
What skill or talent do you admire in someone? Perseverance.
Is there anything you won’t eat? Oysters. Don’t ask.
What’s at the top of your bucket list? Seeing the pyramids with my wife and kids.
Ever had a brush with fame? Yes. I’ve had multiple run-ins such as John Candy, Sting, and the original Riddler from Batman and Robin – that was on a cruise ship.
How do you spend your frequent flyer points? On merchandise, electronics.
How do you stay fit when you travel? I walk everywhere.
If you could change one thing about the industry what would it be? Try and have consumers understand the real value of a professional travel agent.
If you could sit next to anyone on a long-haul flight who would it be? Martin Luther King.
What kind of car do you drive? The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission).
Seriously? You don’t have a car? OK, so I have a BMW X5, but mostly I take transit.
Do you have a favourite charity? Anything to do with cancer research.
What will be the biggest challenge for the industry in the next 12 months? Travel agents trying to remain relevant to their customers. It’s very difficult but the strong will survive.
What do you hope to be doing in 10 years? Working here at Porter, being involved day-to-day and building new packages for new destinations.
