Lieutenant-Colonel Tania Maurice – Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winner
Lieutenant-Colonel Tania Maurice C.D., MDS, MSc Commanding Officer Air Staff...
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Canadian military members have been actively involved with Elevate Aviation since their incorporation in 2015, with a formal partnership approved by the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 2019. The RCAF and Elevate Aviation share the same values and recognize the importance of promoting gender balance and inclusivity in aviation. Elevate Aviation’s President and CEO, Kendra Kincade, is an avid supporter of the RCAF and is currently the Honourary Colonel for 417 Squadron.
Military personnel who become involved in Elevate Aviation can participate in various activities while representing the RCAF in uniform. Although we have a formal partnership with the RCAF, each Elevate Aviation event must be approved on a case by case basis and funded through the individuals unit.
Anyone interested in joining the RCAF who registers with Elevate Aviation is assigned a military mentor. This mentor can tell them first-hand what life in the Air Force can look like, walk them through the recruiting website, explain both Regular Force and part-time Reserve options available, and help them through the recruiting process. They will be matched up according to what trade that person is interested in.
Additionally, there is an internal Informal Elevate Aviation RCAF Mentorship Program, open to all ranks and all trades (men are welcome to join as well). There are currently over 200 members ranging from Aviators to Generals. Everyone deserves to have a mentor outside their Chain of Command that they can turn to for advice. For junior ranks, mentees are normally paired with a mentor in the same trade, and senior ranking members can choose between a military mentor of any trade or a civilian executive mentor such as a CEO or VP.
Any RCAF Elevate Aviation member can choose to be a mentor, mentee, or both. What is asked of a mentor is to reach out to their mentee a minimum of once every three months, either by phone or videoconference. The mentorship can be terminated at any time by either member, or they can ask to have someone different if it doesn’t seem to be a good match.
Currently serving military members can sign up for the internal Informal RCAF Mentorship Program as a mentor, mentee or both through the link below.
There are many different types of outreach and aviation engagement opportunities available through Elevate Aviation, and for each event, we work towards having both civilian and military Elevate Aviation members present. Immediate Chain of Command approval is required on a case by case basis for each event as Temporary Duty (TD) is granted and members are representing the RCAF in uniform.
Some of these outreach events include our annual Cross Country Tour which features a variety of aviation careers at airports all across Canada, speaking opportunities at schools, attending airshows, career fairs, and other events with the Elevate Aviation booth, presenting at the Elevate Aviation Learning Centre in Edmonton and Calgary, participating in Maintenance Competitions, and being featured as a woman in aviation at the Annual Inspire Gala every October in Edmonton.
We like to showcase all the various super cool RCAF trades out there that most people don’t even know about. If people don’t know something even exists, how can they dream about doing it one day?
This year the March 2023 Cross Country tour will be including five military bases for the first time: Cold Lake, Winnipeg, Trenton, Gander and Goose Bay, in addition to 20 other cities. If you’re interested in being a guest speaker for this particular event in your city, please contact Maj Jackie Zacher.
Elevate Aviation has been running a Leadership Masterclass for the past several years. Initially it was done virtually due to COVID; however, in April 2022 the first in-person Leadership Masterclass was held in Kelowna, BC and we had many RCAF members on the course. It was absolutely phenomenal and highly recommended if you ask anyone that has taken it. The next Masterclass will take place in April 2023 at Hockley Valley Resort in Mono, Ontario. If you have any interest in attending please contact Maj Hannam.
Elevate Aviation encourages and facilitates women getting into aviation and provides support to those already well-established in their careers.
Our volunteer Elevate Aviation RCAF Team are always looking for more volunteers! Whatever it is that you love to do, we’d love to use your talents! We’re currently looking for a social media rep and many individuals to help out with the mentorship program. Contact us at [email protected].
Lieutenant-Colonel Tania Maurice C.D., MDS, MSc Commanding Officer Air Staff...
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Read MoreFor more information, please contact Elevate Aviation Military Relations at [email protected]
