Students from Canadian military attending Okanagan College under new partnership

Okanagan College welcomed a new group of students into Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) at the Vernon and Kelowna airports this fall.

Twenty-two members of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) began the AME program in October, thanks to a new partnership between the College and the RCAF. The two organizations have signed an agreement that will see OC train RCAF members as aircraft maintenance engineers to help grow Canada’s Air Force.

“This collaboration between the Royal Canadian Air Force and Okanagan College demonstrates how Canada’s government is protecting Canadians by forging new partnerships to strengthen our sovereignty and national security,” said the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Member of Parliament for Kelowna and Secretary of State for Defence Procurement. “The Aircraft Maintenance Engineering program at Okanagan College will expand the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces while continuing to enable the growth of the aerospace sector in Kelowna.” 

“We’re excited to be able to work in partnership with the Royal Canadian Air Force, helping to support their workforce demands and the efforts of the Canadian military, alongside our civilian cohorts of students,” said Caitlin Hartigan, Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship at Okanagan College. “There is significant demand for Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, and our program is focused on being agile and responsive in order to continue to produce skilled workers for the region and beyond.”

Under the agreement, RCAF members are trained at OC’s aerospace facilities at the Kelowna and Vernon airports, while living in OC’s campus housing at the Vernon campus. The RCAF cohort is in addition to the AME seats open to all students, as the College is expanding its aerospace programming to respond to both civilian and RCAF student interest. 

“This partnership is about diversifying training opportunities for new aircraft technicians at a time of growth for the RCAF,” said Brigadier-General Dan Coutts, Commander of 2 Canadian Air Division which is responsible for RCAF training.  “This initiative is representative of the Defence Industrial Strategy, partnering with industry and academia to train technicians that will maintain the sophisticated aircraft of Canada’s Air Force today and into the future.”

“It is fantastic to welcome Royal Canadian Air Force students to Okanagan College and build a partnership that connects military training needs with our expertise in aircraft maintenance engineering,” said Dr. Samantha Lenci, Okanagan College Provost and Vice President Academic. “Providing hands-on, real-world training here in the Okanagan allows us to contribute directly to the RCAF’s workforce needs while strengthening Canada’s aerospace and defence capabilities.”

Lenci added her appreciation to both the RCAF and OC Trades and Apprenticeship portfolio for their work in putting the partnership in place, noting that it is a model the College is excited to continue as the aerospace sector expands in the Okanagan. 

The College offers two aircraft maintenance programs: AME Structures and AME Mechanical. To view the rest of OC Trades and Apprenticeship programs go online to Okanagan College’s Trades and Apprenticeship programming.