Air Canada, CAE Collaborate On Canadian Awards

In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2025, Air Canada and CAE, in conjunction with the Northern Lights Aero Foundation, announced the eight winners of the 2025 Captain Judy Cameron Scholarships, awarded to Canadian women pursuing careers as commercial pilots or aircraft maintenance engineers.

This is the sixth year for the scholarship awards, which were established in honor of Capt. Judy Cameron, the first female pilot at Air Canada and are presented annually by Air Canada, CAE, and the Northern Lights Foundation, whose current Director is Capt. Judy Cameron.

The Air Canada recipients are:

• Kimberly Ballantyne – Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Aymie Rioux – Quebec, Quebec
• Liv Letourneau – Port Moody, British Columbia
• Trisha Virdee – Innisfil, Ontario

The CAE recipients are:

• Neghat Hidari – Mount Brydges, Ontario
• Kayla McNeely – SW Calgary, Alberta
• Arpan Srawn – Edmonton, Alberta
• Miriam Roumia – Waterloo, Ontario

Capt. Cameron, retired Boeing 777 captain at Air Canada explained, "The highlight of my year is informing recipients that they are receiving the Captain Judy Cameron scholarship. These young women not only excel in their own training but are actively encouraging other women in their aviation journeys. As they walk on stage at the Northern Lights Aero Foundation gala on October 4, I will be filled with pride to see the future of aviation. Congratulations to all eight women and to Air Canada and CAE for generously funding the scholarships."

Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer, and Public Affairs at Air Canada said, "Air Canada is proud to be a leader fostering the next generation of women pursuing careers as pilots or maintenance engineers. Initiatives like the Captain Judy Cameron scholarship help inspire and encourage women undertaking non-traditional aviation careers, which in turn develop diverse, rich synergies in our industry and supports young women in STEM. Congratulations to this year's winners!"

Marie-Christine Cloutier, VP of Performance, Strategy and Marketing at CAE said, "Women will play a key role in meeting the aviation industry’s demand for pilots in the future, and the CAE Women in Flight program and Captain Judy Cameron scholarship provide invaluable, merit-based support to deserving recipients. By spotlighting the journeys and achievements of the four CAE Women in Flight Ambassadors, we hope to inspire the next generation to pursue their dreams in aviation with confidence and determination, leading to the success of the industry as a whole."

FMI:  northernlightsaerofoundation.com/