YELLOWKNIFE (April 16, 2012) - Residents of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut who are interested in careers in the northern aviation industry will be able to access scholarships and training opportunities under the Aviation Career Development Program (ACDP).

The newest scholarship provider is North-Wright Air. North-Wright joins current aviation partners Discovery Air, Adlair Aviation, and Keewatin Air, with each company providing a $5,000 scholarship. The governments of Nunavut (four scholarships) and the Northwest Territories (six scholarships) provide the remainder of the 14 available scholarships.

“The skills these young northerners acquire will benefit all Nunavummiut and support our aviation industry,” said Peter Taptuna, Minister of Economic Development & Transportation with the Government of Nunavut. “We look forward to having more of our pilots, aircraft mechanics, airport managers, and airline staff coming from this territory.”

This was the first year that ACDP scholarships were awarded to residents of Nunavut. Recipients of the scholarship in 2011-2012 were Raven Beardy and Clayton Tartak from Rankin Inlet and Brent Crooks, Junior of Iqaluit.

NWT Transportation Minister David Ramsay praised the commitment of ACDP’s airline partners to the training of tomorrow’s northern aviation employees. “Flying and maintaining aircraft and the management of airline and airport operations are essential to the sustainability of northern communities,” he said. “The contributions from our airline partners demonstrate a strong commitment to northern economic development and our northern way of life.”

NWT scholarship recipients for 2011-2012 are Brandon Drost from Fort McPherson, Joseph Villeneuve from Inuvik, Larisa Doyle from Fort Smith, and Adam Ahenakew, Adam Jensen, Bryce Styan, Kyla Zenko, Jennifer Waugh, and Josh Lippert from Yellowknife.

The intake for applications for a $5,000 ACDP scholarship begins on June 1 of each year and closes on the last Friday of July.

For more information about the ACDP program scholarships, please visit the Department of Transportation’s website, or contact:

Media Contact:

Earl Blacklock
Manager of Public Affairs and Communications
Department of Transportation, GNWT
867-873-7712
867-445-3494 (cell)
earl_blacklock@gov.nt.ca

Matthew Illaszewicz
Manager, Communications
Department of Economic Development & Transportation
Government of Nunavut
(867) 975-7818
millaszewicz@gov.nu.ca