Air Canada Honors Eight Women with Captain Judy Cameron Scholarships

To mark International Women’s Day on March 8, Air Canada and CAE announced the eight winners of the 2025 Captain Judy Cameron Scholarships. These scholarships support eight Canadian women aiming to become commercial pilots or aircraft maintenance engineers.

The Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship, now in its sixth year, honours Air Canada’s first female pilot. Annually awarded by Air Canada and CAE with the Northern Lights Aero Foundation, it supports aspiring women in aviation.

Air Canada award recipients:

• Kimberly Ballantyne – Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Aymie Rioux – Quebec, Quebec 
• Liv Letourneau – Port Moody, British Columbia
• Trisha Virdee – Innisfil, Ontario

CAE Women in Flight Ambassadors:

• Neghat Hidari – Mount Brydges, Ontario
• Kayla McNeely – SW Calgary Alberta
• Arpan Srawn – Edmonton, Alberta
• Miriam Roumia – Waterloo, Ontario

“The highlight of my year is informing recipients that they are receiving the Captain Judy Cameron scholarship. These young women not only excel in their own training but are actively encouraging other women in their aviation journeys,” said Judy Cameron, Boeing 777 Captain at Air Canada (retired) and Director of the Northern Lights Aero Foundation. “As they walk on stage at the Northern Lights Aero Foundation gala on October 4, I will be filled with pride to see the future of aviation. Congratulations to all eight women and to Air Canada and CAE for generously funding the scholarships.”

“Air Canada is proud to be a leader fostering the next generation of women pursuing careers as pilots or maintenance engineers. Initiatives like the Captain Judy Cameron scholarship help inspire and encourage women undertaking non-traditional aviation careers, which in turn develop diverse, rich synergies in our industry and supports young women in STEM,” said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, and Public Affairs at Air Canada. “Congratulations to this year’s winners!”