As part of the recent Aviation Career Exploration (ACE) week in Edmonton, Elevate Aviation and Air Canada invited a group of 17 women from diverse backgrounds in the city to be introduced to the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) profession as part of a Women Employment skills training program.

“The Aviation Career Exploration program is designed and built to introduce people to careers in aviation by giving them a hands-on immersive experience about various careers in aviation,” said Christine Merrick, Director, Elevate Aviation Learning Centre. “Everybody knows what a pilot is, what a flight attendant is, but not everybody knows what an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer does and not everybody knows what a de-icing technician does, so our goal is to expand that reach and education about these careers.”

The ACE program is not just for adults. Elevate Aviation organizes field trips from students from grade 6 to grade 12, hoping to ignite a passion for aviation in children.

Air Canada solidified its partnership with Elevate Aviation in 2023 by signing an agreement that includes extensive support for many of their initiatives including the annual gala, the Cross Country Tour, which took place earlier this year, as well as the ACE program.

“The Air Canada partnership is very important to us. We would not be able to do this without the support of our partners in aviation. Not only the monetary support but also having professionals in the industry taking the time to come here and talk to our students, like during the ACE week. We are very grateful for that, and it does make a difference in these women’s lives,” said Merrick.

Initiatives

Air Canada says that supporting the event is part of its mission to inspire the next generation of women to pursue a career in aviation, promote non-traditional jobs, break stereotypes and support women in achieving their aviation goals.

Since 2019, the airline has also sponsored the annual Captain Judy Cameron Scholarships awarded in conjunction with the Northern Lights Aero Foundation, established in honour of Air Canada’s first female pilot to help foster the next generation of women following in her trailblazing footsteps.

Earlier this year, Air Canada announced an agreement with seven colleges across the country to provide financial assistance to students who self-identify as women or visible minorities who are pursuing studies as Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs). The airline was the main sponsor of this year’s Ninety-Nines International Conference and Career Expo that took place in Vancouver, BC in July as well as the Canadian Women in Aviation (CWIA) conference in Montreal in May.