Biographies of the 2025 Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship recipients
Kimberly Ballantyne, 40 (Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Manitoba) is completing her Commercial Pilot License at Harv’s Air in Winnipeg. She is a single mother and the first indigenous pilot from her community. While working at Manitoba Aerospace, she launched Indigenous Aviation and Aerospace Aviation Showcase. Kimberly belongs to the Manitoba Ninety-Nines and WIA.
Liv Letourneau, 19 (Port Moody, B.C.) is taking the accelerated Aircraft Maintenance Engineering program at the B.C.Institute of Technology, after overcoming significant personal challenges. She has volunteered with Air Cadets, the Junior Firefighters Program, and Junior Police Academy and plans to mentor other women to became AME’s.
Aymie Rioux, 38 (Lac La Tortue, Quebec) is completing her Private Pilots License at the Centre de Formation Aeronautique de Quebec. She has guided outdoor adventure expeditions all over the world, in addition to volunteer work in Bolivia, Nicaragua and Mali. Aymie belongs to the Ninety-Nines and Cercle des Fermieres, and is active with a volunteer search and rescue team.
Trisha Virdee, 24 (Innisfil, Ontario) has just completed her Honours Bachelor of Aviation program at Seneca Polytechnic with an Integrated Airline Transport Rating. She was Vice President of Seneca’s School of Aviation Council, is a member of the Royal Canadian Navy Reserves, volunteers with Dreams Take Flight and Elevate and is a Northern Lights Junior Board member who founded and co-hosts the “Blue Skies by NLAF" podcast.
CAE recipients:
Neghat Hidari, 24 (Mount Brydges Ontario) is completing her Commercial Pilot License at Diamond Flight Centre and her Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Seneca Polytechnic. Despite working up to four jobs, she volunteers with Elevate, Urban Pilots Network, and Women In Aviation International, while co-leading the Mentorship Committee of the Northern Lights Junior Board.
Miriam Roumia, 22 (Waterloo, Ontario) has completed the Commercial Pilot written test at the University of Waterloo, where she is in fourth year of the Science and Aviation Program. She was Vice-President of Marketing for the University of Waterloo Aviation Society, and volunteers with Elevate, the Ninety-Nines, the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aviation, and the Northern Lights Aero Foundation.
Kayla McNeely, 25 (Calgary, Alberta) is building time for her Commercial Pilot License at Moncton Flight College. She overcame childhood adversity to become an international level speed skater and complete her nursing degree. Kayla has provided volunteer medical aid in Nicaragua and coached for the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing. She is supporting her disabled widowed mother.
Arpan Srawn, 23 (Edmonton, Alberta) is completing her Multi-Engine Instrument rating in the University of Waterloo Science and Aviation Program. She revived the Women In Aviation International Winged Warriors chapter, mentors with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the University of Waterloo Aviation Society, supports new students as a university don, and volunteers for aviation events as a Ninety-Nine.