The late Dan Snow was an officer of the Canada Border Services Agency at Pearson Airport for more than 35 years.
Family and friends are mourning the loss of a legendary South Etobicoke border agent who worked at Person Airport for more than 30 years.
Daniel ‘Dan’ Snow, a long-time officer of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), passed away on February 21 at the age of 74.
The well-liked Snow lived on Cordova Avenue for decades after moving here from his hometown of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, where his dad served as a sergeant in the Canadian military.
Famed opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti was briefly detained at Pearson Airport for improper documents.
He obtained a Business Administration Degree from Saint Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, in 1972, and then moved to Toronto, where he worked at Pearson Airport as a Senior Immigration Officer for more than 35 years.
Snow was well-versed in the job, which he loved and formed many lasting friendships.
He is credited for preventing the entry into Canada of Jimmy Hoffa, famed U.S. labour union leader who served as the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from 1957 until 1971. He also intercepted an aging Nazi scientist for being inadmissible into the country.
U.S. labour union leader Jimmy Hoffa was refused entry into Canada by Officer Snow due to criminality.
He, with colleagues, briefly detained Italian opera superstar Luciano Pavarotti, who was travelling here for a sold-out concert. The tenor was released after a warning for not having proper travel documents.
Snow also turned around hundreds of other travellers, including a number of high-profile celebrities, who were inadmissible to Canada.
He is survived by his sister, a brother, nieces, and other family members.
Cremation has taken place, and, as per Dan’s wishes, his ashes will be buried in a plot next to his parents in Saint Anne’s Catholic Cemetery in Glace Bay. An interment of ashes service will be held in Glace Bay in late Spring, with the date to be announced.