Craig Denis Nicholson

Author of the One-Stop Survival Preparedness Guide

         Craig Nicholson is a writer, inspirational speaker and professional pilot. His interests include his family, sports, photography, aviation and personal growth.

         He was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. After graduating from High School, he spent 12 years in the South African Air Force as a pilot and flying instructor. He also got interested in photography, research and writing. In the 1980s he self-published "Helping Perspectives", a booklet of inspirational poetry, and "Freedom for South Africans", a booklet on the current political situation in South Africa under apartheid. In it he proposed some non-racial solutions which would foster fairness, security and freedom for all South Africans.

         He also got involved in inspirational speaking and personal growth. In 1987 he resigned from the Air Force with the rank of Major and Flight Commander on 17 Squadron to pursue a civilian flying career. A year later he immigrated to Canada and later became a Canadian citizen. He worked in various areas including sales, management and flying helicopters. He flew in the the bush, including the "oil patch", in the Arctic, as an Air Ambulance/EMS pilot and for a scheduled helicopter airline service.

         He met a wonderful woman and is now happily married with a family. In 2009 he started documenting his survival experience to develop this One-Stop Survival Preparedness Guide.

        Craig started learning about survival as a young Wolf Cub and then as a Scout in the Boy Scout movement. It is a great organization, full of fun indoor and outdoor activities, including cooking and surviving in nature.

         When he joined the South African Air Force as a pupil pilot, he was taught survival right from the start. Between the airplane and jet phases of his pilot training, he did the practical phase of survival. This included sea and land survival. The land survival phase included being dropped off in a remote part of the Harkerville forest near Knysna on South Africa's Garden Route coast. They had to survive there for a week, and this greatly increased his survival experience.

         Years later, after moving on to helicopters, he did more marine survival training. This included underwater escape training in the frigid waters of Cape Town harbour, simulating a helicopter ditching in the sea and rolling over.

        He has since done this type of training many more times in various places, including in western and eastern Canada. He has also done winter survival courses many times, and remains current in both types of training.

        If you are interested in inviting him as a guest speaker on any of the subjects covered on this website, please contact him via the Contact page.