Emily Crombez, 2004 W. Garfield Weston scholar

A pilot with Wasaya Airways, an airline serving northern Native reservations, Emily Crombez (W. Garfield Weston Award 2004) credits her award with helping achieve a vital breakthrough in her career. “The aviation industry is a tough field to begin in, since every job requires experience,” she explains. “The experience I gained while completing my summer experience program led to my first job—and being employed right after graduation equals success in this industry!”

The W. Garfield Weston Award summer experience in question involved living and working in a small, rural, francophone community in northern Ontario, an hour away from the nearest supermarket. Flying in this isolated region taught her many important bush pilot skills: low-level navigation, docking, sailing, communication, flying in poor weather. Those skills earned her a first job as a bush pilot, transporting fishermen and hunters to remote lakes.

Emily holds an aviation flight management diploma from Confederation College in Thunder Bay. The program was of particular interest because it offered a specialized float endorsement. “That was especially advantageous for me,” she comments, “since I aspired to start my career as a bush pilot flying floats.” Eventually she would like to work as a water bomber for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

During her studies, the support from the W. Garfield Weston Awards gave Emily options beyond working to finance her education. “It allowed me to participate in more volunteer-based opportunities,” she says. “It encouraged me to remain community-minded.” Specifically, through various sports- and nutrition-related commitments, Emily has contributed to the health of those around her. During summer, she coached girls’ fastball. She was a team leader for her college’s intramural program and a member of the food service committee. She also organized a number of food and toy drives to help the needy in her area.