Boeing invests $17 million in Sask. aviation program
International aircraft giant Boeing has made a multi-million dollar commitment to the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology (SIIT) to help address shortages in the aviation industry.
The company is putting $17 million towards expanding SIIT’s Aviation Learning Centre.
SIIT president and CEO Riel Bellegarde said the funding will help increase training of aircraft maintenance engineers (AME).
“It’s actually going to double the size of our Aviation Learning Centre,” Bellegarde told media on Wednesday.
“It’s a significant investment and allows us to expand curriculum, bring in innovation, new technology because that’s the future of aviation.”
Pierre Ruel, Boeing Canada’s interim managing director, said as the aviation industry continues to grow, so does the shortage in the AME workforce.
“The number of commercial airplanes that are going to be flying around the world in 20 years from now will be doubled,” he said.
“That’s only the airplane, so we need people to build them, maintain them, and operate them.”
Heather Gardiner-Roy graduated from the aircraft maintenance engineering program in 2021.
“I’m hopeful today inspires fellow Indigenous men and women to consider a career in the aviation industry,” she said.
“I can guarantee you that every day on the job is not the same if you crave that kind of excitement in your life.”
Shelby Savoie graduated from the program in 2019, and now works with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency to maintain water bombers.
“Very exciting career,” she said.
Jeremy Harrison, Minister of Immigration and Career Training, said the program is key in maintaining the province’s forest fighting fleet.
“If we didn’t have the maintainers trained here in Saskatchewan, it would be a challenge to actually maintain our 10 aircraft fleet for forest fighting,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Video shows suspect setting Toronto-area barbershop on fire
Video of a suspect lighting a Richmond Hill barbershop on fire earlier this week has been released by police.
'I have the will to live': N.B. woman needs double lung transplant
A New Brunswick woman suffering from sarcoidosis, a disease that limits your lung capacity, is in need of a double lung transplant.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Premier Legault reiterates that McGill pro-Palestinian camp must be dismantled
Quebec Premier François Legault reiterated that the pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill University must be dismantled while police remain 'on the lookout for new developments.'
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.