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The Elevate Aviation Cross Country Tour empowers youth to consider a career in aviation through inspirational presentations and behind the scenes tours.
We are currently planning our 2025 Cross Country Tour! Please check back regularly for updates.
We have now offered tours for 8 years all across Canada! In 2024, we visited 26 cities in our biggest tour yet! Each tour day featured incredible guest speakers, lunch, and behind-the-scenes tours of the airport. Best of all, these tours are completely FREE of charge!
Our teams visit cities in all provinces from Newfoundland to the Northwest Territories, to British Columbia, and everywhere in between.
In our full-day events, participants spend the morning hearing from women employed in a variety of aviation careers such as pilots, flight attendants, air traffic controllers, Royal Canadian Air Force, airport operations, and aircraft mechanics. Following lunch, groups will get a behind-the-scenes tour of local aviation facilities including the airport, air traffic control tower, aircraft hangars, and flight school (this varies by location and is dependent on the facilities in your local city).
This tour helps Elevate Aviation provide a platform for women and underrepresented groups to thrive and succeed through careers in aviation.
Click on the city to view more details.
MAY 19 – 25
MAY 26 – 31
Director & Regional Leads
Emily is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Elevate Aviation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Equity Studies. Emily is GBA+ certified a Positive Space Ambassador facilitator and a certified Change Management Practicioner. She is passionate about making aviation a more inclusive and equitable space for all! She enjoys functional fitness, astronomy, and golf in her off time.
At only 11 years old, after attending a tour of an aircraft maintenance hangar Becca fell in love with aircraft maintenance. She is currently working at Oceanside Aviation Limited in Nova Scotia as a licensed M1 and M2 AME. She has worked in both General aviation and transport category aviation, she quickly realized that small aircraft have her heart. Becca spends her spare time introducing women to careers in both the skilled trades and aviation.
Major Jacklyn enrolled in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 2009 as an Aerospace Control Officer (AEC). In 2022, she was posted within 1 CAD to the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) as a Senior Operations Duty Officer (SODO). For 2023, Maj Zacher decided to make a career change and switched to the brand-new Air Operations Officer (AOO) trade and is the Chair of the Department of Air Operations at Barker College in Winnipeg.
Olivia commenced her aviation journey in 2018, following her graduation from McGill University with a Bachelor of Science. Currently serving as a first officer at a regional airline in Canada, her objective is to motivate young individuals to explore careers in aviation, offering guidance to help them achieve their professional aspirations. Beyond her aviation pursuits, Olivia holds a keen interest in sports, particularly tennis, soccer, volleyball, running, and cycling!
As an aviation writer, Natasha is driven by a resolute mission: To unveil the remarkable stories that reside within the industry. She takes great pride in crafting portraits of courage and determination, revealing the unyielding spirit that propels aviators to reach new heights. Natasha actively pursues opportunities to elevate female voices within the aviation realm, ensuring untold stories meet the spotlight with intention, igniting the dreams and aspirations of a new generation of trailblazing aviators.
Hannah is a flight instructor by trade, with a heart for the community. Volunteering and inspiring women and youth have been her passions for years. She is thrilled to join the 2024 Cross Country tour team as a Regional Lead, bringing inspiration to cities across Canada. In her spare time, you’ll find Hannah enjoying mountain biking and snowboarding with her family.
Meet Cassandra Hepp, an M1/M2 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. Cassandra graduated with the aircraft maintenance diploma at SAIT in 2016, then headed north to pursue her apprenticeship in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. Cassandra has been a volunteer with Elevate Aviation for 5 years and currently holds the role of Alberta Ambassador. Cassandra is very passionate about diversity and inclusion in the aircraft maintenance work environment, and her goal is to influence the workplace culture on the hangar floor so everyone feels welcome and included. She is expecting her first child and is very excited about starting her family.
Born and raised in St. John’s Newfoundland, Leslie completed a Bachelor of Science from Memorial University before joining the CAF in 2005. Upon completion of Pilot Wings Training in Southport Manitoba in 2009, she was posted to 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron in Petawawa as a helicopter pilot on the CH146 Griffon. She remained in Petawawa at 427 SOAS, in various roles from 2009 until being posted to Gander in 2020. Together with her spouse, they have 3 children, ages 9, 7, and 5.
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