GIVING BACK

New award honourees: Joseph Gossin; Aune Koivula; Manuel Linden; Laura Rutledge; May Sang-Soong; Maryam Shams; Price-De Souza and Kaitlyn Wise.

“She firmly believed that great instructors are a vital part of the future of aviation.”

Aviation pioneer inspires generous gift for next generation of pilots

Maureen and Paul Weber

MAUREEN WEBER reached incredible and inspiring heights in her career and her life.

A professional pilot for more than 40 years, Maureen was a passionate advocate for Seneca’s Aviation program, and her ties to the program go back to its early days at Buttonville Airport in the 1970s.

In the years that followed, Maureen joined Transport Canada where she worked for almost 30 years. Throughout her career, she stayed connected with Seneca Aviation faculty, students and graduates, advising them on training, rules and regulations, and serving as an instructor and mentor. Maureen also completed certifications in commercial pilot’s endorsement, instrument ratings and night flying.

Before her passing in 2015, one of Maureen’s final requests was that a scholarship be established to help Seneca Aviation students absorb the cost of obtaining an instructor’s licence and to support high-performing graduating students. This year, the very first Maureen Weber Memorial Award was presented to Aviation graduate Cameron Pruner.

“Maureen became an advocate for the phrase ‘pay it forward’ later on her life,” says her husband Paul, who started the award and is dedicated to building her legacy. “She firmly believed that great instructors are a vital part of the future of aviation.”

Maureen took her first flight in a Cessna 150 in 1974, and Paul can still recall vividly the smile on her face after landing. He hopes that her award’s recipients gain an appreciation for Maureen’s soaring spirit and undeniable passion for flight. The two were married for 44 years.

“Maureen was dedicated to every aspect of not just our marriage but her friends, family and her passion for flight,” says Paul. “She would often remind those she’d meet how important the Seneca Aviation program truly was, to her, to the industry, and to Canada.”

Learn about Seneca’s Aviation program: senecacollege.ca/school/aviation