Nanaimo Airport are hosting a free event for registered Indigenous youth and young adults, looking to start a career in aviation. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

take to the skies

Nanaimo aviation experience connecting Indigenous youth with new careers

Aug 7, 2024 | 3:59 PM

NANAIMO — A returning event is looking to connect Indigenous youth and young adults with careers in aviation.

Give Them Wings is being hosted at the Nanaimo Airport on Tuesday, Aug. 13 between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., open to Indigenous youth and adults aged 15 to 39 years old.

Keith Granbois, airport chief financial officer, said planes will take participants up in the air throughout the day, while a ground simulator will help expose people to the aviation industry.

“Give Them Wings, they’ve done three other events and this is the first one being done post-COVID. There’s such a demand for aviation jobs out there right now that we’re just hoping to extend this as an opportunity for First Nations to explore this as a career.”

Up to 100 people can take part, with pre-registration available through the event’s website.

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As of Wednesday, Aug. 7, around 30 had signed up.

Granbois said the industry is expansive with a wide array of opportunities.

“It’s everything. In the aviation sector, it’s probably one of the largest career bases you can do. You can be an engineer, a mechanic, a pilot, you can work in marketing, there’s food and beverage services…just about everything you can think of the aviation sector has a position for that.”

In addition to the real world and simulated flights, the airport will host a Flight 101 class with more information on careers.

The goal is to turn this summer’s event into something bigger and better.

“This is the first year we’re doing this but we’re hoping to turn this into an annual event then open it up bigger next year to make it a two day event…that would be open to registration from the general public as well.

More information is available through the Airport’s website.

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