Donate

Canada is in desperate need of a national pilot scholarship program

Pilots do more than fly

184 communities in Canada rely on pilots to survive because air transport is the only  way for critical supplies like food and medicine to reach them. Pilots are lifelines in times of crisis, ensuring medical teams and critical supplies reach regions affected by wars and global emergencies, while bringing people home safely.

So there's a pilot shortage...

The aviation industry is experiencing a global pilot shortage, and Canada isn't on track to train the 3,000 ​pilots it'll need by 2025. Hard to reach communities are struggling to receive critical supplies and disaster victims remain stranded because regional airlines and government services don't have enough pilots on call.​

...but students are footing the bill?

Today pilots have become a necessity. Problem is flight training isn't subsidized, meaning 18-year-old students are alone in footing the $80,000 bill! Flying has never been so out of reach for young Canadians, who often choose to work in another industry when faced with the unbearable cost of following their dreams.

Our Initiatives

The Wings of Opportunity Foundation has established a nationwide commercial pilot scholarship program, providing funding to youth from coast to coast, so they can jumpstart their careers in aviation! We help take money out of the equation so our scholars can focus on what matters most: soaring high!

Your contribution makes a difference.
​Thank you for your generosity!

Help Out

We strive to create a more inclusive and equitable world by empowering  youth from all backgrounds to follow their dreams.

The Wings of Opportunity Foundation has an equitable and fair selection process that strives to give equal opportunities to all, irrespective of sex, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic status.

Our Values

The sky isn't the limit!

​
​
​Every young Canadian who dreams of becoming a professional pilot takes flight. 

---

​​We aim to provide 10 young Canadian pilots each with a $4,000 scholarship, covering the first part of their commercial flight training: the Night Rating. This allows them to get their foot in the door without worrying about how they'll pay for it.

---

​
​A Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) is required for pilots to enter the workforce. With cost being a deciding factor for most young pilots, getting a scholarship could determine whether a student begins their CPL or not.

---

After completing his Private Pilot Licence through the Canadian Air Cadets in 2022, Lucas Dejmek realized just how difficult completing further flight instruction would be.

To give youth across the nation a chance to continue flight training, he established the Wings of Opportunity Foundation in 2023, a registered charity run only by volunteers.​

---

If you've experienced the magic of flight, help the next generation take flight!

Donate

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

- Nelson Mandela

Recommendations from Canada's House of Commons

Our activities are aligned with recommendations made by Canada's Parliament in the 2019 report entitled “Supporting Canada’s Flight Schools”.

Our scholarship initiative establishes financial assistance for professional students to help alleviate the high cost of flight instruction, as recommended by the report.

We also respond to the report's recommendation to encourage the growth of Canada's flight training industry through our awareness activities.

Read the full report here: 

Supporting Canada's Flight Schools

The Wings of Opportunity Foundation gives young people across the country the chance to aim high - sky high!