Porter Airlines introduces new scholarship and awards for future Algonquin College aviation professionals

Algonquin College ishare the expansion of its aviation partnership with Porter Airlines, including increased support for the Aircraft Maintenance Technician  program through scholarships and awards. The $25,000 gift will establish the following financial aid initiatives: 

• The Porter Airlines Scholarship for Aircraft Maintenance Technicians 
• The Porter Airlines Award for Aircraft Maintenance Technicians 

Combined, these initiatives will support 10 second-year AMT students each year, providing financial assistance, celebrating academic success, and accelerating careers.  As the program’s coordinator, Daniel Maslow, commented: “There are currently exceptional opportunities for aircraft maintenance engineers in Canada as the industry grows and there is a need to fill thousands of open positions in the coming years. Our partnership with Porter shows that we understand the urgency of this issue and that we are working together to address the industry’s pressing need for skilled talent.” 

This increase in collaboration is the result of a memorandum of understanding Porter and Algonquin College signed in May 2024, when Porter inaugurated its aircraft maintenance base at Ottawa International Airport. Highlighting Ottawa’s emergence as a major aviation hub, this agreement recognizes Algonquin College’s vital role in supplying employers in the region—and beyond—with the skilled workforce they require to thrive. 

Mark Savenkoff, Algonquin College’s Vice President, Advancement and Strategy stated: “The MOU signed last year laid a solid foundation for the great work our institutions are doing together. Our partnership is great news for our learners. They will be equipped with the skills, knowledge, and unmatched hands-on experience they need to succeed as the next generation of aviation professionals. It’s fair to say that this partnership is generating a great deal of excitement in our community.”   

The partnership between Algonquin College and Porter goes beyond financial aid and involves facilitating practical learning experiences for students. For example, in April 2025, Porter hosted the AMT cohort at its Ottawa aircraft hangar. According to Maslow, this visit was “a real eye-opener for students. They were inspired to meet some of our graduates now working there. I thought, ‘This is so awesome! This is why we do what we do.’” 

Lawrence Hughes, Porter’s Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, echoes this enthusiasm: “Porter’s presence in Ottawa has grown substantially in recent years and we expect this momentum to continue. As our operations expand, we remain committed to investing in impactful initiatives that help Algonquin College students launch promising careers in the aviation industry.” 

Porter is also committed to supporting students who identify as women, newcomers to Canada, single parents, Indigenous, and members of underrepresented communities. Porter launched an initiative that offers airfare vouchers to Indigenous learners from any academic program at Algonquin College who may be experiencing emergencies. Covering the full cost of a round-trip airfare from Ottawa to wherever Porter flies, these vouchers help Indigenous learners stay connected to their families and communities during challenging times. 

Anita Tenasco, Algonquin College’s Director of Indigenous Initiatives, noted that there are “Indigenous students from a variety of backgrounds in our college community, hailing from across Canada—including remote locations. I am hopeful Porter’s new voucher initiative will help alleviate the pressure these students may feel as they do their best to balance schoolwork and family life.” 

The partnership between Algonquin College and Porter Airlines is expected to continue to grow in coming years. This will raise the profile of the Aircraft Maintenance Technician program and further cement Algonquin College’s position as a leader in polytechnic education.