Elevate your career through mentorship

In 2019, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) partnered with Elevate Aviation, a non-profit organization that provides a platform for women and underrepresented groups to thrive and succeed through careers in aviation. Through this partnership, among many other programs and initiatives, an RCAF-wide informal mentorship program was developed.

Elevate Aviation's President and CEO, Kendra Kincade, is an Air Traffic Controller in Edmonton, AB. and the Honorary Colonel for 417 Combat Support Squadron in Cold Lake, AB. "Elevate Aviation is proud to work with the RCAF in many of our programs across the country," says Kendra. "This partnership is near and dear to my heart as Honorary Colonel of 417 Combat Support Squadron. Being able to provide mentorship and career development support to so many members in the RCAF aligns with our mission of helping women and underrepresented groups thrive and succeed through careers in aviation."

The mentorship program is open to all RCAF members, at all ranks, and in all occupations and provides an opportunity to create a one-on-one relationship with someone outside your chain of command who can guide you through your career, regardless of what your goals are. Senior ranking members have the option to be mentored by another military member or a civilian working in an executive leadership role. The mentorship program currently has over 200 RCAF mentors and mentees from Aviator to General.

"The Elevate Aviation mentorship program has helped me explore who I am and where I want to be as a leader. Having a mentor allows for a safe-space to bounce ideas off of or share frustrations and has always given me a good opportunity to reflect on the situation in a more structured or less-emotionally driven process. Over the years, there [has] been countless times that I didn't think I needed to meet but experienced some of the most profound discoveries during those calls. As a mentor, I think I'm learning just as much from my mentee, as perhaps they are from me. It truly is a rewarding experience; not only do I get to help someone else navigate through a career in the CAF but I'm also learning about what challenges they are experiencing and what career aspirations they might have. All of this experience has helped me as a leader but also as a spouse, mother, and friend." LCol Kirsten Dubreuil.

The mentorship program is always seeking more mentors. If you are passionate about helping others, please consider becoming a mentor. Your involvement will make a difference in the life of your mentee.

About Elevate Aviation

Elevate Aviation was founded in 2015 in Edmonton, AB. Today, they are a primary provider of aviation career support for women, working alongside industry professionals to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Alongside the mentorship program, Elevate Aviation has several other programs in place to assist women in becoming successful in the challenging and rewarding aviation industry:

The Elevate Aviation Learning Centre - The Elevate Aviation Learning Centre hosts a variety of programs for all ages. Junior Jets is an introduction to aviation program for kids ages 5-10, ACE is an Aviation Career Exploration program targeted to youth and women to discover aviation careers, and Elevate U has professional development encouraging women into leadership roles. A new program called "Women's Employment Skills Training" (WEST) offering a 9 week skills training for career ready women and introduction to aviation courses launched in summer 2022. The RCAF has actively participated in the ACE program since it launched in 2018.

Cross Country Tour - Annual cross country tours allow attendees to spend the day with women in the industry, hear inspirational stories of their journeys into aviation and visit their workplaces to see firsthand why they love their jobs. What started as a day for 20 young women in Edmonton, has now expanded to 22 cities nationwide, connecting with thousands of women and girls across Canada. In 2023, the Cross Country Tour will feature many military speakers and stops will be hosted at CFB Trenton, CFB Goose Bay, CFB Gander and CFB Winnipeg.

Speaking Engagements - Elevate Aviation provides inspirational speakers across Canada to visit schools, Indigenous communities, career fairs and organizations to share the world of aviation and spark interest in the industry.

Bursaries - Women in Canada who show exceptional potential and require financial assistance throughout training are eligible for our bursaries. Since 2015, they have awarded over $50,000.

For more information, please visit: www.elevateaviation.ca, follow them on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

How to join the RCAF Internal Mentorship Program

Joining the program is simple:

• Submit a request at https://elevateaviation.ca/military-members/
• A program administrator will review your needs with you to find the best match possible before facilitating an e-introduction between the mentor and mentee.
• The rest is up to you! As each mentorship is different, the mentor and mentee will find what works best and foster the relationship, whether it be meeting for coffee occasionally, regular email exchanges, or video chat every couple of months.
• An Elevate Aviation Military Mentorship administrator will follow up with everyone a few times in the year to ensure that the program is beneficial to you, and if required, find you a new mentor or mentee.

If you have any question about the program, do not hesitate to contact your volunteer program Co-Leads, LCol Lydia Evéquoz and CWO Jean Plamondon at [email protected].

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