On the occasion of International Women’s Day yesterday (March 8), Air Canada and the CAE Women in Flight Ambassador program announced the recipients of the 2023 Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to Canadian women studying to become commercial pilots or aircraft maintenance engineers.

This year, the two Montreal-based global aviation companies joined forces to double the number of recipients, awarding scholarships to eight young women from across Canada. In addition to the $5,000 scholarship, CAE’s four recipients will become CAE Women in Flight – Air Canada Ambassadors, helping inspire more women to become commercial pilots.

The Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship was established in honour of Air Canada’s first female pilot with the goal of fostering the next generation of women following in her trailblazing footsteps and is awarded annually in conjunction with the Northern Lights Aero Foundation.

The scholarship winners are Amanda Tosto, Surrey, BC; Hélène Trudeau, Beausejour, Man.; Charlotte Thorley, Grimsby, Ont.; and Chanelle Wilson, Coldstream, BC.

And CAE Women in Flight ambassadors are Meera Bissonauth, Mississauga; Mia Cochran, North Bay, Ont.; Jaime Hanson, Rocky Mountain House, Alta.; and Kyra Jarvis, Kingston, NS.

“Air Canada is extremely proud of the leadership position it has taken in cultivating diversity, equity, and inclusion in the aviation industry, with women well represented at every level and across all branches of the airline,” said Air Canada VP Arielle Meloul-Wechsler. “We know how crucial this support is to young women seeking non-traditional aviation careers, and we have seen results first-hand from the success of past winners.”

Now retired captain Judy Cameron, added, “As the scholarship goes into its fourth year, it is wonderful to hear the success stories of former recipients. Two women are flying as First Officers, another is a fire patrol pilot, and two more are flight instructors. Thank you to Air Canada and CAE for helping to make their dreams a reality.”