Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training Celebrates the 27th Annual National Indigenous Peoples Day

In support of Canada’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program, Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training (BLCAT) has proudly built several relationships and partnerships with Indigenous communities, businesses, and peoples as part of our extensive Indigenous Participation Plan.

BLCAT is a pre-qualified bidder for FAcT, a program that will see the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) fixed and rotary-wing aircraft pilots and aircrew receive basic training in Moosejaw, Southport, and Winnipeg. Since 2021, BLCAT has been engaging the Manitoba Métis Federation and Southern Chief’s Organization (SCO) in Manitoba, and Saskatchewan First Nations and Métis Nation-Saskatchewan Western Region 3 in southern Saskatchewan, to explore opportunities for more meaningful participation in, and benefits from, the FAcT Program.

We would like to congratulate the SCO for it’s very first – and highly successful – Economic Reconciliation Business Forum which took place June 13-24, 2023. BLCAT was a proud sponsor of the event, at which we were joined by strategic partners Athabasca Catering, Bird Construction, and Dexterra Group. The forum was a great opportunity to network with economic development representatives from the 34 Anishinaabe and Dakota First Nations from southern Manitoba and business leaders from across Canada and we thank the SCO for including us.

In Saskatchewan we wish to congratulate Pasqua First Nation Group of Companies (PFN Group) – owned Pro Metal Industries on the May 2023 expansion of their Regina operations. This expansion includes a powder paint coating facility. Pro Metal is one of the only First Nations-owned metal fabrication and manufacturing enterprises in Canada, and the only 100% First Nations-owned supplier of metal fabrication services to Canada’s defence industry. BLCAT is working with PFN Group to explore opportunities to collaborate on the FAcT Program.

The BLCAT team includes several strategic partners, one of which is Athabasca Catering Limited. Over the past 25 years, Athabasca Catering – owned by Lac La Ronge Indian Band’s Kitsaki Management – is a 100% First Nations-owned and operated company but also Canada’s largest First Nations-owned hospitality company. As part of the bid for Canada’s FAcT Program, Athabasca Catering will offer unparalleled service at the Moose Jaw and Southport airport locations, designed specifically to fuel the next generation of Royal Canadian Air Force recruits. In addition to top-quality food and sustainable practices, they empower their communities and are authentic to their roots with every solution. Their commitment to providing solutions that perfectly match the needs of their customers and their investment in local Indigenous communities are among the many reasons we are excited to have them on board. Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day Athabasca Catering!

The FAcT program, a program that will set the stage for the next generation of military aircrew training for the Royal Canadian Air Force, provides an incredible opportunity for BLCAT to engage at the grassroots level with Indigenous communities and businesses to provide long-term employment opportunities and sustained business partnerships. Our team is actively working alongside several Indigenous organizations to develop inclusive workforce strategies and forge meaningful business relationships to build a foundation for long-term success for many generations.

As a Canadian business, BLCAT has a responsibility to contribute to the pursuit of reconciliation and today we stand by our commitment as we recognize and celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day.