14 Wing joins Elevate Aviation, in promoting careers for everyone
Elevate Aviation’s 2024 cross country tour makes its first landing at 14 Wing Greenwood May 31.
This year mark’s the organization’s eighth tour, and will involve visits to 29 Canadian cities, including Greenwood; one the wing hopes will become a recurring event. Master Corporal Caylen Dorrington, Greenwood’s Elevate Aviation city lead, and the wing’s coordinator for the 2024 tour, is happy to see the program’s growth.
“This is their biggest event yet, and they’ll hopefully keep that momentum going.”
Though the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)’s partnership with the organization was formally established in 2019, the RCAF has been actively involved with Elevate Aviation since its inception in 2015, collaborating with the entity to promote gender balance in the aviation community. As a not-for-profit organization, Elevate Aviation works alongside the RCAF and industry professionals to provide career support, facilitate networking and encourage workplace equity, diversity and inclusion. The organization offers a variety of programs, such as leadership development, bursaries, mentorship, galas and speaking engagements; but its annual cross country tour is an integral part of its mission, raising awareness, reaching out to and supporting young women and underrepresented people across Canada interested in aviation.
“It came down to knowledge,” says Dorrington. “I think it’s important that we show representation, as it can be hard to envision yourself pursuing a career that is deemed non-traditional for women. Research polls from a variety of demographics across Canada prove that the largest barrier to female entry into aviation is simply lack of awareness.”
The event aims to educate young women and underrepresented people on all the different options available in an aviation career. More importantly, it provides interested youth the opportunity to meet women and other underrepresented people currently active in aviation – to hear their stories, speak with them and ask questions. As an RCAF aviation systems technician, Dorrington had the opportunity to share her own experience as a guest speaker in the 2023 Elevate Aviation tour, at both its Moncton and Halifax events.
“It’s about being able to talk about your experiences, representation, networking and showing young kids that women are alive and well in this field.”
Dorrington herself recognizes the value of making these connections.
“There are people to admire. I had this one squadron chief warrant officer, Marlene Shillingford, who was an amazingly inspirational woman and even better mentor.”
Dorrington is excited to see the culmination of months of planning and preparation for the event.
“It’s like I’ve been running a marathon for the past six months, and I’m almost up the hill!”
Though nearing the end of her third trimester of pregnancy means she’ll be sporting Elevate Aviation swag in lieu of her usual RCAF uniform, Dorrington still plans on attending, overseeing activities alongside 14 Operations Support Squadron Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Lara Jennings, the event’s host, herself also expecting a baby. Both women’s presence, and their dedication to the tour, demonstrates the capabilities of women in aviation – and debunks assumptions women can’t succeed in the field.
“It’s important that we showcase to each other that we can do all these things,” says Dorrington. “That we can be moms and still thrive.”
One of the first junior members in her trade assigned to the CH148 Cyclone test cell, and quickly establishing herself as a subject matter expert on the airframe, Dorrington has seized numerous opportunities to showcase her capabilities, representing Canada as a member of a 100-person contingent that commemorated the 100th anniversary of Passchendaele in Belgium, participating in OP Laser during the pandemic, competing in international cheer competitions with Extreme Athletics, and championing adversity across Canada within the Canadian Armed Forces. Dorrington herself has became a source of inspiration for others, and she encourages other women and underrepresented people not to discount themselves.
“We need to get out of that mindset. There’s so much we can bring to the table. Go with your instincts. Trust the process. Trust yourself. And don’t let one hard day define you.”
405 (Long Range Patrol) Squadron aviation systems technician Corporal Emily Tulloch spends her days making sure 14 Wing Greenwood’s CP140 Aurora is airworthy – and mission ready. She’ll represent just one of the aviation trades showcased as the Elevate Aviation tour comes to Greenwood May 31.
Aerospace control officer Captain Danielle Beland supervises 14 Wing Greenwood’s Military Terminal Control Unit.
Register now for May 31 chance to meet aviation industry leaders, go behind the scenes at 14 Wing Greenwood
As 14 Wing Greenwood hosts its first Elevate Aviation tour May 31, four local guest speakers, all inspiring women in their trades, are ready to share their experiences with an anticipated 50 attendees.
Danielle Larson discovered her love of aviation as a teenage Air Cadets. She fearlessly pursued her dream, earning an aircraft maintenance avionics scholarship at age 16 which led to a career as a technician with Heli-One and, later, as a simulator technician for Canadian Aviation Electronics (CAE) at 14 Wing Greenwood. Today, Larson continues to pursue opportunities and advocate for other women to follow their own dreams in the industry.
Warrant Officer Amanda Jardine, who specializes in aviation systems, didn’t slow down after she achieved her dream of becoming a CP140 Aurora aircraft supervisor, progressing to air maintenance superintendent only two years later and leading operational crews.
Aerospace control officer Captain Danielle Beland excelled in air traffic control after earning her wings, and today supervises the Military Terminal Control Unit.
Captain Mary Cameron-Kelly, an instructor at 404 (Long Range Patrol and Training) Squadron, was the Royal Canadian Air Force’s first female CP140 Aurora pilot and maritime patrol crew commander. She is now less than 400 hours shy of surpassing her career goal of flying 8,760 hours, symbolizing a complete year spent in the air.
The 14 Wing-hosted event, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., will also include a behind-the-scenes tour of base facilities, static displays of the CP140 Aurora, CH149 Cormorant and CC130 Hercules aircrafts; a BBQ lunch, some RCAF swag and, most importantly, free time to mingle with presenters. The fully-sponsored event is free to attend, thanks to donations from the Kingston Superstore and CAF Connection. Registration, for participants ages 12 to 18, is open through elevateaviation.ca until May 31.
