Join one of the 8 Elevate Aviation Wings across Canada as a volunteer! Volunteers are needed for speaking engagement, career fairs, events, and more!
If you are interested in becoming involved in a Wing in your area please join the Facebook page or email us and let us know! If you are interested in leading a wing check below for openings.
We are currently seeking applications for Wing Leads. If you have a passion for aviation and want to see more women enter the industry, become a game-changer by leading an Elevate Aviation Wing in your province or territory. Elevate Aviation Wings are our teams of volunteers in each province and territory in Canada. Each Wing has three Wing Leads – an Ambassador, a Mentor Lead, and a Community Lead. Our Wings, led by the Ambassador, recruit a team in their province to initiate cultural change, enhance presence, and create new opportunities to help women recognize and achieve their potential within the aviation industry.
We are currently in the process of filling the positions in each Wing. Check out the chart below to see which locations currently have vacancies!
Interested in learning more about becoming a Wing Lead? Click the link below for details.
Maegan became interested in aviation when she joined Air Cadets at 12 years old. After 6 years, armed with a glider and private pilot’s license, she attended Seneca College for their Aviation Safety Advanced Diploma Program. She now works at NAV CANADA as a data analyst. Initially joining Elevate Aviation as the Ontario Ambassador, she now leads the program working closely with Elevate Aviation’s Senior Leadership Team, as the main point of contact for all Wing Leads. Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering for other organizations close to her heart, planning trips, and trying new restaurants.
Melissa is an Inuk pilot with Air Inuit, and currently a captain on the Dash-8. She is from Inukjuak, Quebec a small fly-in only community on the Hudson Bay. In 2001, she became a flight attendant with Air Inuit. Her love of aviation blossomed with seeing what the pilots were doing as she saw Nunavik from a different angle, she then decided to take the jump and get her pilot licence. Finishing all her courses, she started flying the Twin Otter with Air Inuit and moved up the ranks. In 2016 she became the first female Inuk to reach captain, in 2017 the Canadian 99s honoured her with a commemorative stamp. She now mentors young women and Indigenous youth in aviation and is the Air Inuit Sparrow co-ordinator that sponsor Nunavik Inuit to obtain their pilot licence.
Jamie is a pilot for Buffalo Airways in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, flying the Curtiss C46 Commando. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario Jamie has a dream to one day fly the Lancaster Bomber in the neighbouring city of Hamilton, inspired by her great grandfather who served as a Rear Air Gunner on the Lancaster Bomber during WW2. After graduating in March 2018 from an IATPL program in Southern Ontario, she flew a single engine commuter aircraft for a local company before moving to Yellowknife that May. She enjoy the northern lifestyle and what it has to offer; hiking, fishing, exploring, and volunteering at the NWTSPCA in her spare time.
Cassandra grew up in Olds, a small agricultural town in Alberta, with three sisters. She took her Bachelor of Science at Mount Royal University before enrolling in the Aircraft Maintenance program at SAIT. After graduating, Cassandra moved to Northwest Territories and began working for Canadian North as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. She recently relocated back to Alberta with Flair Airlines and is excited to take on the role of Alberta Ambassador. She has a true passion for aviation and enjoys sharing her career as an AME to helping others find their dream careers.
Wendy obtained a double degree in Business Management before traveling around the world in various jobs and launching her own consulting firm for strategic development and project management. She obtained her commercial pilots license and instructors rating and worked in places like West Africa as a Business Development Manager and Pilot, in Afghanistan working for the United Nations and Nato, and in South Africa and Mozambique flying the B737. She emigrated to Canada in 2019 and now works as an airline captain in the Atlantic region and a volunteer firefighter to her local community. She joined Elevate Aviation as a Mentor Lead to help guide women in their aviation careers.
Courteney became interested in aviation through the air cadet program at 12 years old. She was one of few in the Atlantic region to be selected for the glider pilot scholarship and private pilot scholarship programs. This gave her a step up in her career as she could begin flight school with her night rating and commercial pilot’s license, instead of from the private license like most students. After flight school, Courteney became a flight instructor at Gander Flight Training for 2 ½ years before moving over to sister company EVAS air as a B1900D first officer where she now works conducting cargo and medevac operations. She wants to assist other women in their journey to beginning a career in aviation and provide mentorship to those who don’t know where to get started.
Becca is a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) who fell in love with aviation at the young age of 11, joined air cadets and worked toward her goals ever since. Becca graduated from Nova Scotia Community College in 2015 and moved to New Brunswick to work as an AME, acquiring her M1 license and filling a number of different positions including Maintenance supervisor. Becca has been volunteering with the Air Cadet Program and helping to get Post Secondary women involved in the trades for many years now. Becca is now an AME at Ocean Side Aviation Ltd in Halifax and is passionate about helping women find their footing in the aviation world.
Major Jacklyn Zacher enrolled in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 2009 as an Aerospace Control Officer (AEC). Maj Zacher was posted to 4 Wing Cold Lake in 2012 following her Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) control training. After an extended posting at 4 Wg, Maj Zacher was posted to 1 Canadian Air Division (1 CAD) as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commander. In 2022, she was posted within 1 CAD to the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) as a Senior Operations Duty Officer (SODO). Maj Zacher is passionate about promoting diversity, equity and inclusiveness. In her free time, Maj Zacher enjoys being adventures with her wife and two young sons as well as playing hockey.
LCol Lydia Evéquoz joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 2003 as a Construction Engineer Officer. With postings to Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario and Alberta, she has supported both the RCAF and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in a variety of tactical and operation roles. LCol Evéquoz has completed two tours in Afghanistan and Iraq in addition to domestic operations. She is currently the 9 Wing Commander in Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador. In her free time, LCol Evéquoz enjoys hiking with her husband and two dogs, traveling, and scuba diving.
Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Jean Plamondon enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as an Armoured Crewman in 1999 and was posted to CFB Edmonton after basic training and battle school. In 2005 CWO Plamondon remustered to the Airborne Electronic Sensor Operator (AES Op) occupation and was posted to 14 Wing Greenwood, 405 Long Range Patrol (LRP) Squadron (Sqn). CWO Plamondon had additional postings within 14 Wg Greenwood, CFB Halifax and Ottawa. CWO Plamondon is currently the Sqn CWO at 404 LRP and Training Sqn at 14 Wg Greenwood, NS where he and his family call home.
Kathleen Henderson has worked at airports in Winnipeg, Regina, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Edmonton, Kindersley, and Iqaluit. She has worked for air carriers, airport authorities, territorial and federal governments as well as being an entrepreneur, business owner and consultant. Employed as the Senior Manager for Security and Environment Committees for the Canadian Airports Council (CAC) Kathleen is currently on a leave of absence from the CAC and working as the Manager of COVID-19 Response for the Government of Nunavut. Kathleen provides a voice for Elevate Aviation to share our projects, advancements and needs with key airport representatives across Canada.
