The moment that changed Captain Damar Walker’s life happened when he was just three or four years old, on his very first flight from Spanish Town, Jamaica, to Canada. During the journey, Walker had the opportunity to visit the cockpit of the aircraft. Inside, surrounded by hundreds of switches, gauges and glowing instruments, he found himself completely captivated.
“I remember going up there and seeing all of those instruments and just being mesmerised by it,” Walker recalls.
That pivotal childhood experience would eventually lead him to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and later to the captain’s seat of a commercial airliner flying routes around the world. His remarkable journey is the focus of this week’s episode of Jamaicans to the World, where he shares how a young boy from Jamaica followed his fascination with flight all the way to the cockpit.
Roots in Spanish Town and Clarendon
Captain Damar Walker was born in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, to Jamaican parents originally from Clarendon—his father from Crooked River and his mother from Rock River. His father, a pastor who ministered in Old Harbour, later migrated with the family to Canada when Walker was still very young.
Although he grew up in Canada after leaving Jamaica at around three or four years old, Walker maintains a strong connection to his roots. Family visits back to Clarendon allowed him to experience rural Jamaican life and the traditions that shaped his early memories.
“I’ve been to both, uh, Crooked River and Rock River. It’s country, but I love it. Um, it’s a different way of life from living in Canada, but I appreciate the simplicity of the countryside and the natural beauty of Jamaica.”
Those childhood visits also came with a dose of Jamaican folklore.
“We were always told duppy stories… wondering if one of these duppiies that they talked about was gonna come and get us,” he recalls fondly.
Growing Up Around Airplanes
Ever since that first visit to the cockpit, Walker developed a lifelong fascination with aviation—an interest nurtured by his father, who shared a deep love for airplanes even though he never became a pilot himself. Growing up in Canada, Walker often accompanied his father to the airport to watch aircraft take off and land. “He would take us to the airport. We’d watch airplanes take off and land… he knew them. So he knew, okay, that’s a 727, that’s a 747.” Those moments helped cement Walker’s passion for aviation. As he recalls, “Everything that I did was around airplanes.”
Determined to pursue that passion, Walker later enrolled in university, where he studied commercial aviation business management, with a minor in geography, while earning his pilot’s licence. However, the aviation industry was struggling at the time. “I started university in 2003, which is a couple years after 9/11. The industry was not doing well.” Faced with uncertainty, he chose to build his career through the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), a path that provided advanced training, operational experience, and the foundation for his future in aviation.
Cockpit Dream’s Come true
During his time in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Walker flew the CC-130J Hercules transport aircraft, eventually becoming an Aircraft Commander and instructor. His service took him into demanding environments, including operations connected to Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq, experiences that left a lasting impression. Walker was also entrusted with transporting senior government officials, including Canada’s Prime Minister and other high-ranking leaders. “I was able to fly the Prime Minister of Canada… the Minister of National Defence… and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.”
After completing his military service, Walker transitioned into commercial aviation. He first flew regional aircraft with WestJet Encore, before advancing to fly Airbus aircraft with a major Canadian airline, where he now serves as a captain. Reflecting on the journey from military pilot to airline captain, Walker says perseverance played a key role. “If you love something, it’s worth fighting for.”
Flying commercially has also given Walker a unique perspective on the world. “I think every day seeing the world from that perspective… you realise how good God is and how small you are.” His career has taken him to destinations across Europe, Africa and Latin America, including Brazil, Cyprus, Iceland and Ghana. Visiting Ghana, in particular, highlighted cultural connections that felt surprisingly familiar. “You see the culture is not that far apart… and you can see where we intersect.”
Mentorship and Inspiring the Next Generation
Beyond flying, Walker is deeply committed to helping young people pursue careers in aviation. Through the Urban Pilots and Professionals Network (UPN), he helps run summer camps and outreach programmes that introduce students—particularly those from communities with limited exposure to the aviation industry—to opportunities within the field.
“Aviation is kind of this secret club. You need to know someone in the industry to have access to the industry,” Walker explains.
Through school visits, mentorship initiatives and hands-on programmes, UPN exposes students to the world of aviation and encourages them to consider career paths they may never have imagined. Walker also hopes to eventually extend those opportunities to Jamaica by helping aspiring pilots who may not have the financial resources to pursue flight training. His message to young people remains simple: “Whatever you want to achieve… you can do that. You just gotta believe in yourself.” Even when the journey becomes difficult, he says perseverance is key. “Just make a plan and execute that plan… and if it’s not going smoothly, that doesn’t mean that it’s not right for you.”
Discipline and Hardwork
Captain Damar Walker’s journey illustrates the power of curiosity and what can happen when parents nurture and encourage a child’s dreams. What began with a childhood cockpit visit grew—through his father’s encouragement, his mother’s support, disciplined study and years of rigorous training—into a distinguished aviation career that has taken him from the Royal Canadian Air Force to the captain’s seat of a commercial airliner. Along the way, Walker has also earned recognition beyond the cockpit, including being featured in Skies Magazine for his work supporting youth in aviation and on CTV News for his military service.
Today, Captain Walker lives in Ontario with his wife, Andreen, and their two children, Elijah and Amari, while continuing to give back through leadership and advocacy that helps make aviation more accessible to the next generation. Walker serves as a National Vice Chair of the Airline Pilots Association’s Elevate Committee, which focuses on diversity within the aviation industry. His story is a reminder that opportunity often begins with exposure, encouragement and determination—and that those who succeed can help open the cockpit door for others to follow.
Follow Captain Damar Walker on Instagram and LinkedIn to learn more about his aviation career and his efforts to open doors for the next generation of pilots.
