The People of Northern Canada Make Us Who We Are
Keewatin Air recognizes that the people of Nunavut are at the heart of who we are. We believe that by supporting health care, education, and employment opportunities, we can help residents thrive and strengthen our relationship with the communities we serve.
Since our founding in 1971, Keewatin Air LP (KAL) has been guided by the values and teachings of Inuit culture. As the primary provider of medevac and air ambulance services for the Government of Nunavut, we actively engage with government and community leaders to promote the role of Elders in addressing social challenges across the North. Our Inuit Societal Values Project is a key initiative in achieving this goal.
The first presentation of the D. Wayne McLeod Scholarship was made at the Manitoba Aviation Council Conference/Banquet 08 March 2022.The award was presented by Janice McLeod, KAL Air Charters Manager and spouse of Wayne McLeod, Carlee McLeod, AME with EIC subsidiary AMS and daughter of Wayne McLeod, and John Kliewer, KAL Director of Business Planning and Development.
The Scholarship Winner was Juergen Kuleschow. Juergen graduated from the Red River College Aerospace Manufacturing Program in 2018 with a very high GPA, and initially worked in the sector as a Certified Aerospace Technician with Boeing Canada Winnipeg. After a short period of time, Boeing recognized Juergen’s leadership potential, and he was promoted to a position as a Lead Hand. Juergen also worked as a Quality Assurance Inspector. Juergen’s supervisor at Boeing noted that he had a great capacity to learn, and was respected by his peers for his dedication, work ethic, and uncompromising pursuit of quality.
Like Wayne McLeod, even at a young age, Juergen also sought opportunities to give back. He volunteered his time at Manitoba Aviation Council and Manitoba Aerospace Association events to learn more about and help promote the industry to other young people with “the right stuff”. In December 2019, Juergen acted on his dream to pursue a career as an airline pilot. He enrolled in the Professional Pilot Program at Harv’s Air in Steinbach, MB. Like Wayne McLeod, Juergen sought to continue to work at his employer, and through a combination of hard work, self-discipline, and making smart financial decisions, Juergen set about paying for his aviation training himself. While pursuing this dream, due to exceptional circumstances in the industry, Juergen was part of a mass layoff at his employer. Juergen’s character speaks to: Hard work, Dedication, Giving Back to Others, and Leadership. These are attributes and qualities that personified Wayne McLeod and made Juergen a great choice to receive the first Wayne McLeod Scholarship. Wayne’s family and Keewatin Air LP are very pleased to provide Juergen with support that will immediately enable him to continue to pursue his dream of becoming an airline pilot, and we look forward to hearing about his continued success!
