Darcy Belanger, director of U.S. professional development for PCL, which has offices in the U.S. and Canada, died on March 10 in the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa. He was one of 157 killed in the accident involving the Boeing aircraft, which is being investigated.

According to PCL, Belanger, 46, was traveling to the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, in a non-company role as director of strategic initiatives and a founding member of Parvati.org to advocate for the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary (MAPS), which seeks to find solutions for polar cap ice melt. 

Belanger joined PCL in 2004 as a corporate training consultant for the company in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, managing training . in its college of construction. In 2012 he was promoted to manager of the company’s digital communications, including the company’s website and social media program.

He later was promoted to manager of leadership development for PCL's professional development team where he helped develop and launch its leadership academy within the college of construction, including the company’s leadership certification program, a PCL spokesman said.

In 2017, Belanger was appointed director of professional development for PCL Construction Enterprises in Denver, the U.S. headquarters. He was responsible for directing professional development services in the U.S., and implementing company-wide learning.

"In 2014, when Parvati became aware of plans for seismic testing in Canada’s Arctic Ocean, Darcy was one of the first to join the cause for MAPS, recognizing the importance of the Arctic Ocean to our collective future," says parvati.org. " He co-founded Parvati.org and has been on the front lines for MAPS ever since."

Belanger graduated from the University Alberta and Ryerson University in Toronto. He also graduated from Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia. He is survived by his wife Aime.