SHSM Students Explore Aviation Careers at Centennial College Downsview
Some workshops work so well you run them twice. On the second visit to Centennial College's Downsview Campus, students from two school boards spent a full day surrounded by real aircraft, real engines, and the professionals who keep them flying.
This return trip brought ICT, Manufacturing, and Transportation SHSM students from St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School (York Catholic District School Board) and Galt Collegiate Institute (Waterloo Region District School Board) into one of Ontario's most hands-on post-secondary aviation environments.
Inside the Downsview Campus
Centennial College's Downsview Campus is not a typical lecture hall. It houses aircraft hangars, maintenance labs, and systems that students in aviation technology programs work with daily. For high school students in SHSM pathways related to technology, manufacturing, and transportation, the connections between what they study in class and what they saw in the facility were immediate.
Students walked through labs and hangars where real aircraft systems are disassembled, inspected, and rebuilt. They saw the technical infrastructure behind aviation maintenance and manufacturing, and they heard from people who do this work professionally. That kind of exposure turns abstract career options into concrete possibilities.
Samira Bullock and Aaron Schoenmaker from Centennial College hosted the visit and created an experience that went well beyond a campus tour. Students engaged with equipment, asked questions about programs, and began to understand the breadth of career pathways available in aviation and manufacturing sectors.
The Royal Canadian Air Force Perspective
The Royal Canadian Air Force brought a dimension to the day that a campus visit alone cannot provide. Sgt. Alexandre Harnois and WO Christine Plume shared firsthand perspectives on what careers in aviation look like within the military context: the technical demands, the teamwork, the pathways that actually exist for young Canadians.
For students, hearing directly from people serving in the RCAF opened doors many didn't know were there. Military aviation careers combine the technical skills these students are building in their SHSM programs with a sense of purpose and service that resonates differently than a typical career talk. The conversations were grounded, honest, and accessible.
Why Multi-Sector Workshops Work
This workshop served students from three SHSM sectors: ICT, Manufacturing, and Transportation. That overlap was intentional. Aviation sits at the intersection of these fields, and students could see how skills in one area connect to careers in another. A student studying ICT could envision a future in avionics systems. A student in a manufacturing pathway could see precision engineering in action. Transportation students could understand the logistics and operations that keep aircraft moving.
These cross-sector connections matter because real careers rarely fit neatly into a single category. Showing students the intersections between fields helps them think more flexibly about their futures.
What Made the Return Visit Worth It
The first edition of this event, held in October with students from Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, Peel District School Board, and Halton Catholic District School Board, generated enough interest and positive feedback to warrant a return. That cycle of one successful experience leading to the next is exactly how experiential learning programs build momentum within school boards.
Lauren Lamonaca-Bada, who accompanied students from St. Maximilian Kolbe, and Tyler Postma from Galt Collegiate Institute both supported their students throughout the day. Teachers who make the effort to bring students to experiences like this play a critical role in making the learning possible.
Facilitators Ishaan Takrani and Mayurah Thayaparan kept the energy high and made sure every student had the opportunity to engage meaningfully with the space and the professionals in the room.
For SHSM Coordinators Planning Sector Visits
Post-secondary campuses with specialized facilities offer something that most industry sites cannot: a visible bridge between high school learning and the next step. Students don't just see a career in action. They see the training pathway that leads there.
When planning visits to facilities like Centennial College's Downsview Campus, prepare students with context about the sectors they'll encounter. Brief them on the programs available and the careers those programs lead to. The more students understand before they arrive, the better questions they'll ask and the more they'll take away.
If a first visit works well, plan a return. Different cohorts of students benefit from the same high-quality experience, and partners like Centennial College appreciate the continuity of an ongoing relationship.
About LearnIt Solutions
LearnIt Solutions partners with Ontario school boards and independent schools to deliver experiential learning programs and SHSM certifications. We work with 20+ school boards and corporate partners to help students develop real world skills and career clarity. Learn more at www.learn-it.ca.
As part of LearnIt Media, we also amplify education innovation stories through our LearnIt podcast, featuring conversations with Ontario superintendents, principals, and education leaders reimagining student learning.
Founder Dhiraj Hariramani
CEO & Chief Learning Officer, LearnIt Solutions Inc.
Dhiraj founded LearnIt to bridge the gap between classroom theory and career readiness. A UBC graduate and consultant at Accenture, he has directly impacted 10,000+ students across Ontario school boards.
As host of the LearnIt podcast, Dhiraj facilitates conversations with education leaders exploring innovation, equity, and student centered approaches to learning.
Connect: LinkedIn | dhiraj@learn-it.ca | +1 (236) 788 6830
