As Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaches, Exchange Income Corporation (“EIC” or the “Corporation”) a diversified, acquisition-oriented company focused on opportunities in the aviation and aerospace and manufacturing segments, marks the successful completion of the Atik Mason Pilot Pathway (the Pathway) first season in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.
The Pathway program removes significant barriers to flight training faced by Indigenous students including cost and location and honors the importance of retaining a deep connection to Indigenous culture while training.
“Integral to the success of the student training was moving the program to the people versus the people to the program.”
The seasonal base expansion included two training aircraft, three instructors, as well as cultural support and lodging for the Rankin Inlet inaugural class of eight Indigenous students.
EIC was proud to celebrate the student’s graduation on Aug. 27 and honoured their growth and achievements as aviators. In their first year, students worked towards completing their recreational pilot permit and will have the opportunity to continue training with EIC subsidiary, MFC Training, on Canada’s east coast while working towards their commercial pilot license.
Thereafter, they will be offered employment as pilots with one of EIC’s operating subsidiaries.
“EIC is proud to continue to partner with the communities we have had the privilege of serving, for more than 50 years, by offering this fully funded aviation training opportunity to students in their home communities. The expansion of the training base to Rankin Inlet is the most northernly flight training school in Canada and the first of its kind in Nunavut,” said Mike Pyle, CEO of EIC.
“Integral to the success of the student training was moving the program to the people versus the people to the program.”
“The program inspired me to pursue a career in aviation, while being able to train in the North,” said Seeka Veevee, a student at the Rankin Inlet base who was born in Iqaluit, Nunavut. “The instructors were supportive of my efforts, they encouraged me to keep going, and never gave up on me or my fellow students.”
Seeka plans to continue training with MFC Training to obtain her commercial pilot licence with the end goal of working for Keewatin Air.
EIC also looks forward to celebrating the student pilots from the Thompson, Man., base on September 24.
This press release was prepared and distributed by Exchange Income Corporation.
