Ontario has announced it is investing an additional $4.4 million into the First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) to rebuild its Aviation Training Centre.
A new centre is under construction with the province saying it will include a state-of-the-art flight simulator and modernized classrooms, creating new in-demand training seats and helping more students access training faster.
“Out of the $4.4 million, $2.1 million is going to go for capital support. So the rebuilding of the Aviation Training Centre, the classrooms, we were able to tour the facility, and they’re going to have modern classrooms for the students moving forward, whereas in the old hangar, the classrooms weren’t modern and open and full of space, so these are really conducive for the students to succeed.” Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities Nolan Quinn tells Quinte News.
Quinn says the other $2.3 million will be going to maintaining the aviation program offered at the school.
“We understand that, you know, the cost of educating our students has has changed over the last few years, and the $2.3 million is going to ensure that the institution, FNTI, has the funds that are required so that they can continue to train indigenous youth to be pilots right across Ontario and Canada as well.”
Back in 2022, the hangar at FNTI caught fire causing it and the contents within it to be destroyed.
Tens of millions of dollars of damage were estimated in the fire.
Quinte says residents have reacted positively to the new funding.
“President (Suzanne) Brandt was ecstatic, to say the least. She’s very excited by this announcement, but also our $57 million into the indigenous institutes right across Ontario,” Quinn tells Quinte News.
“Chief (R. Don) Maracle was there as well. He’s very supportive of what we’re doing. He’s super happy because he knows that youth in his community are going to have a facility that is modern and world class to be able to train the next generation of indigenous pilots.”
Quinn says the new funding will help the school go further with their ability to train indigenous youth for careers in aviation.
