A new era of the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) Aviation Learning Centre took off on Friday. Students, staff and delegates gathered at the SIIT’s hangar to celebrate the opening of the newly expanded centre that began in April 2025. “We’re going to increase the number of participants in each program. But very importantly, the Boeing investment allows us to expand to avionics, a program that’s never been offered to Saskatchewan,” SIIT President and CEO Riel Bellegarde said. The expansion was supported by $17 million from Boeing Canada and $500,000 from the provincial government. SIIT has offered a two-year Aircraft Maintenance Engineer diploma program, and has now expanded the program to include a Category E avionics program, which allows engineer students to delve into the electronic systems and devices that keep planes in the sky. Bellegarde says with the expansion, SIIT will be able to graduate 50 students from the program every year. “This investment was so important because we couldn’t keep up with the demand,” he said. “The Boeing investment allows us actually to double our capacity for learners.” Allan Thompson, an avionics program student, is excited about his prospects after earning his diploma. “I started only working with computers. I was a big gamer, so working with engines was not really my thing until I got into avionics,” he said. “And then as soon as I stepped into SIIT, I knew it was the place I needed to be and where I want to be.” The expansion is also aiming to help ease the skilled labour shortage experienced across the country. The Defence Industrial Strategy announced by the federal government earlier this year is investing billions of dollars into national defence. As the country looks to build more ships, planes and drones — the strategy could create up to 125,000 jobs in the aviation and aerospace industry over the next decade. “It’s going to take a lot of people and focus on the effort, but I’m really excited about the big step forward that they’ve taken here today,” Boeing Canada President Al Meinzinger said. The expansion introduces a series of upgrades, which feature modern classrooms, simulators, a specialized avionics lab and additional hands-on training spaces. This year marks the 50th anniversary of SIIT, and Bellegarde says his predecessors could only imagine a grand opening like he experienced on Friday. “Just keeping in that mandate that they give us to think about the future and our role as First Nation people, First Nation citizens in this economy, so this is another great opportunity to do that,” Bellegarde said.
