Dov Bensimon: Operational Meteorologist

Man wearing glasses, baseball cap and blue lifejacket smiles in front of lake.
Photo: Dov Bensimon

“The best part of my job is the feeling of contributing to an important cause and providing real-time information that contributes to the safety of others.”

Meet Dov Bensimon.

Dov joined Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in 1999. In his position as an Operational Meteorologist, Dov’s greatest motivation is knowing that the work he does helps protect Canadians and guide the decisions they make each day.

Dov has wanted to be a meteorologist ever since he was in elementary school. “Working at ECCC has fulfilled my childhood dream,” he says.

Working with the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC), Dov has witnessed many advancements that have shaped this field over the years. One of the most significant changes Dov has noted is the launch of the most recent generation of geostationary satellites, which have allowed his team to better detect volcanic ash and other weather events. From his experience working at the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Montreal (VAAC), Dov explains that this has allowed the MSC to detect a larger amount of volcanic ash, and follow it for longer amount of time.

One of Dov’s favourite memories was when he had the opportunity to work as a forecaster for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic games. For Dov, his time in British Columbia in preparation for and throughout the games has definitely been a highlight of his career.

Dov currently works at the heart of the Environmental Emergency Response section, as part of a small team of responders providing a 24/7 service. “If a pollutant is found in the air, we run dispersion models to predict its movement,” he explains. “Being able to provide the results of such simulations to environmental emergency responders in real time to help deal with the emergency is extremely motivating.”

To learn more about Dov Bensimon, visit: Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Montreal – Canada.ca

Here are a few random facts about Dov:

  • What was your first job? I worked at a snack bar called ‘Le Comptoir’, where I prepared food and cleaned the restaurant.
  • What is your favourite game or sport to watch and play? I watch baseball and soccer, and I like to run and swim.
  • Would you rather ride a bike, ride a horse, or drive a car? My first choice by far is to bike!
  • If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to? Being a history buff and a native of Montreal, I would like to go back to the year 1500, to see what Montreal looked like before the Europeans arrived.
  • What is your favourite flavour of ice cream? Any flavour with chocolate.
  • How many pairs of shoes do you own? Fifteen, if I include my winter boots.
  • If you were a super-hero, what powers would you have? I would like to be able to time-travel.
  • What form of public transportation do you prefer? (air, boat, train, bus, car, etc.) The train.
  • What's your favourite zoo animal? Hippopotamus.
  • Summer or winter? Summer.
  • What's your favourite holiday? Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, because it marks the birthday of Quebec and the unofficial beginning of summer.
  • Do you love or hate rollercoasters? I am not an amateur when it comes to roller coasters.
  • Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Possibly retired!

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