The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology and Boeing Canada have partnered to advance Indigenous involvement in the aerospace industry.  

A $17 million investment from Boeing has established a new Saskatchewan Aviation Learning Centre, located on Koyle Avenue.  

SIIT President and CEO Riel Bellegarde says the new facility features modern classrooms, a specialized avionics lab, and expanded learning opportunities for students.  

“They’re going to tear apart some of these things,” he explained, gesturing at the helicopter behind him. “They’re going to work on engines, and with avionics, they’re going to get inside the cockpit and learn how to repair and fix all the wonderful instruments that keep planes and helicopters in the air.”

He adds that this avionics program isn’t offered anywhere else in Saskatchewan, making the announcement a provincial first.  

Boeing Canada President Al Meinzinger was in Saskatoon for the announcement. 

“The government’s latest announcement around the defense industrial strategy aims to create an additional 125,000 jobs in the aerospace industry over the next decade. There’s a huge demand, and institutions like this being able to double the through-put year over year…that’s going to really add capacity.”

With the investment, SIIT’s aviation division can now hold capacity for 50 students, up from 25 in previous years.