Kenn Borek Air has deep roots in Northern aviation. Founder, Kenn Borek, began this company with one Twin Otter to aid his construction business in accessing remote arctic areas. Fifty-two years later, the fleet has grown and provides fixed wing services worldwide. Our maintenance department provides maintenance and repairs to our fleet as well as other clients. Our hangar in Calgary has departments including avionics, structures, manufacturing, upholstery, engine shop, and a paint bay.
The Kenn Borek Air scholarship is a memorial to our founder, but more importantly, is indicative of the commitment the company has to encouraging Northern and Western Canadian students to pursue careers in aviation by providing financial assistance for their education.
In 2023 , two $5,000 scholarships were offered. One for an aspiring Pilot, and one studying Aircraft Maintenance. This year we received a record number of applicants. The selection committee could not decide between two very deserving Aircraft Maintenance students, so we’ve awarded a scholarship to them both! We are pleased to announce not two but a total of three recipients, Bryce Smith, Ashley Egroff, and Matthew Meyer!
Bryce Smith hails from Hay River, NWT and is pursuing an Integrated Commercial Pilot Diploma at Gander Flight Training in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador. Bryce’s grandfather was in the Air Force during World War II. His late father had a passion for aircraft and war history which he shared with his son. Bryce has volunteered in the Hay River Fire Department, as well as with the Hay River Lights On Program, whose goal is to actively discourage kids from falling into habits of using alcohol and drugs. His mother passed away in 2022, leaving him with no parental support at the tender age of 20. Despite this, he is determined to complete his flight training, and return to the Northwest Territories to provide vital aviation services in sustaining northern communities by shuttling cargo, doing charters, flying water-bombers, and transporting passengers.
Ashley Egroff lives in Vernon, BC and completed the first few years of her Aircraft Maintenance Technician Diploma at Okanagan College. She has recently transferred to Northern Lights College in Dawson Creek to finish up her education. Ashley has been involved in her program by organizing study groups and tutoring fellow students. She is committed to helping senior citizens in her community and has participated in a fishing camp held by a local Indigenous group near her hometown of Merritt, where she helped provide fresh fish to households who had lost all of their belongings due to fires and floods. Ashley is the oldest of five children and did not come from an aviation background. In 2021, wildfires raged through the community where she lived. Aerial firefighting aircraft roared overhead daily. This prompted her to begin researching careers in aviation where she came upon the AME-M program at Okanagan College. Ashley is hoping to work for an AMO involved with aerial firefighting, with the goal of contributing to keeping Canadians safe from wildfires.
Matthew Meyer’s attends the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies in Saskatoon, working on his Aviation Maintenance Engineering diploma. Matthew has a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Sociology. His intention was to study Law, but he was always fascinated by aviation. Matthew has a twin brother who is working as a First Officer for Kenn Borek Air. The stories his brother has shared about his experiences from the North to the South Pole ignited his interest and led him to pursue a career in Aircraft Maintenance. He intends to work towards becoming a fully licensed AME, and transition into a leadership and management role within the industry.
