Aéro Montréal mobilizes the next generation of aerospace workers

More than 400 young people participate in Passion for Flight

MONTRÉAL, April 17, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Aéro Montréal, Québec's aerospace cluster, participated yesterday and today in a Ligue d'improvisation en science et technologie (LIST) event at Montréal's Paradox Theatre featuring the Passion for Flight challenge. This initiative, implemented by Bombardier and powered by Aéro Montréal, brought together more than 400 young people between the ages of 9 and 13 years. Marking LIST's 10th anniversary, the two-day event allowed students from the Marguerite-Bourgeoys and Lester B. Pearson school boards to assemble gliders with the goal of sparking their interest in the aerospace sector. It was made possible by the support of many major stakeholders in Québec's aerospace industry.

"We are very proud of the success of this event which is the result of an extraordinary collaboration between Québec's aerospace industry and the educational community," says Suzanne M. Benoît, President of Aéro Montréal. "The next generation is vital to our strategy for expanding the aerospace sector since it constitutes the workforce of tomorrow. Getting young people enthusiastic about science and technology, particularly aerospace, and encouraging them to stay in school are a priority for Aéro Montréal."

The competition is the culmination of an education strategy that was developed over a year and which is aligned with the evaluation and training practices for science and technology programs in Québec schools. The Passion for Flight challenge was deployed during a classroom science workshop with the appropriate educational support materials for teachers: PowerPoint presentation, video, a glider assembly kit and an interactive 3D software presenting the various manufacturing steps for a glider.

This event was made possible through the collaboration of the Marguerite-Bourgeoys and Lester B. Pearson school boards and the support of our partners: Bombardier, Deloitte, CAMAQ and the Montréal Urban Community, as well as Esterline CMC Electronics and Safran.

"Given the exceptional participation in this competition, we have great hopes of interesting all the school boards in Montréal in joining the next edition of this challenge," says Ms. Benoît.

About Aéro Montréal

Aéro Montréal, Québec's aerospace cluster, is a strategic think tank that groups all the major decision makers in Québec's aerospace sector, including companies, educational and research institutions, associations and unions.

Aéro Montréal's mission is to mobilize industry players around common goals and concerted actions to increase the cohesion and optimize competitiveness of Québec's aerospace cluster. It aims to foster the growth and expansion of the cluster so as to ensure that it may continue to create wealth for Montréal, Québec and Canada.

SOURCE Aéro Montréal

Image with caption: "Logo. (CNW Group/Aéro Montréal)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150417_C8923_PHOTO_EN_14415.jpg

For further information: Véronique Auclair, Communications Director, Aéro Montréal, Office: 514 987-9334 | cell.: 438 497-5744, veronique.auclair@aeroMontréal.ca