News

Students enrolled in Dalhousie Engineering’s new Inclusive Pathways to Engineering Careers Program are gaining new opportunities as the Faculty continues to remove barriers and strengthen pathways into engineering for African Nova Scotian and Black students.

That work received a major boost at an event held on campus this week, where the Faculty announced a new $50,000 endowed award from Chorus Aviation supporting students in the program’s African Nova Scotian and Black student stream. The award will provide annual scholarship support while reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing education, strengthening workforce readiness, and expanding opportunities for underrepresented communities.

“This partnership has always been about more than support, it’s about opening new doors for students,” says Dr. John Newhook, Dean of Dalhousie’s Faculty of Engineering. “We’re especially proud to see Chorus Aviation join the inaugural African Nova Scotian and Black student stream of our Pathways Program which will help create new pathways into engineering for future students.”

Pathways to Engineering

Launched in 2023, the Inclusive Pathways to Engineering Careers Program was developed to help address gaps in representation in engineering through two dedicated streams supporting Indigenous students and African Nova Scotian and Black students. Each stream offers tailored supports, including mentorship, tutoring, experiential learning opportunities, co-op placements, and scholarships.

Within this framework, the Chorus Aviation award will provide financial support for students in the African Nova Scotian and Black student stream, with a particular focus on those pursuing Mechanical Engineering.

“We are proud to partner with the Dalhousie University Faculty of Engineering on an initiative that supports students at an important stage in their academic journey,” said Colin Copp, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chorus Aviation Inc. “This commitment allows Chorus to contribute to broader access and opportunity, while helping to strengthen pathways into adjacent fields that depend on diverse talent and perspectives.”

The gift also aligns with Chorus Aviation’s commitment to promote inclusivity and support access to education and training pathways connected to aviation and aerospace.

The Chorus Aviation Lab

Over the years, Chorus Aviation has played an important role in enhancing the student experience at Dalhousie, helping to strengthen hands-on learning opportunities and engagement across the Faculty of Engineering.

That impact is especially visible within the Chorus Aviation Lab. Since its completion through the IDEA Project, the lab has become a cornerstone of experiential learning in engineering at Dalhousie.

Equipped with the tools and resources to support hands-on learning, the lab allows students to move beyond theory and into practice, designing, building, and testing working prototypes. It is also home to the Faculty’s first-year design course, where students take on hands-on projects that challenge them to collaborate, experiment, and create.

“It is through collaborations like this that we are able to offer these kinds of meaningful, hands-on learning experiences to our students,” says Dr. Newhook. “We are honoured by Chorus Aviation’s continued support, and we look forward to the impact it will continue to have on our students in the years to come.”