The Government of Canada is providing $1 million to support Confederation College, based in Thunder Bay, Ont., with the ultimate goal of helping Northern Ontario’s aerospace sector to rebound from the impacts of the Covid 19 pandemic.

The non-repayable contribution of $1 million from is made by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor), through the Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative (ARRI), for Confederation College to implement the Northwestern Ontario Aviation Expansion project.

Specifically, this targeted investment will support the acquisition of state-of-the-art multi-engine training simulators, five Cessna 172 trainer aircraft, lab renovations and site improvements. Once fully implemented, FedNor explains this three-year initiative is expected to enhance program offerings, promote Indigenous participation in aviation, increase domestic and international enrolment by more than 70 students each year, while creating 10 full-time jobs in the Thunder Bay region.

“Confederation College is incredibly appreciative of the FedNor funding and the significant investment it is making in the ability of the College to meet the demands of an aviation industry that so many communities in Northern Ontario depend upon for the transportation of goods, services and people,” said Kathleen Lynch, President of Confederation College. “The funding also enables the College to provide and expand state-of-the-art programming for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to be successful in aviation careers.”

Located at the Thunder Bay International Airport, Confederation College’s Aviation program features a 59,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Aviation Centre of Excellence, which includes two hangers, classrooms, shops and labs for three aviation programs.

(Photo: Confederation College)