Meet Manoel: Canadore Aviation Grad Now Thriving in Canada’s Growing Aerospace Industry
May 6, 2025
I chose Canadore College for two reasons—its excellent reputation in the aviation field, and the city where it is located. I found that Canadore was known as one of the best and most highly regarded colleges in Canada.
A fellow Brazilian who had studied there spoke very highly of the institution. And indeed, Canadore offers outstanding infrastructure. For those in aviation, the facilities are excellent: electronics labs, piston engine labs, turbine engine labs, and aircraft structures labs—for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The College emphasizes a lot of hands-on experience, which makes a real difference.
The program demands dedication. At first, I found it difficult to get into the rhythm, but with focus and constant studying, I adapted and achieved good results.
Regarding employability, I had an excellent experience. I secured a summer job at Voyager Airways in North Bay, which has a close relationship with the College: they ask professors to recommend the most dedicated and outstanding students. I was recommended, got the summer job, and during the three-month break (June, July, and August), I earned enough money to cover almost my entire third-semester tuition without having to use my savings from Brazil.
The aviation sector in Canada is booming. Many professionals are retiring, companies are expanding, and there’s a growing demand for mechanics. Just last year, one company received 40 new airplanes, and each airplane requires at least three people for maintenance creating many opportunities for good, well-paying jobs.
As for the city itself, I truly fell in love with North Bay. It’s peaceful, safe, and welcoming.
North Bay also offers many leisure activities at its beautiful lakes and beaches, hiking on the Duchesnay Falls trails, and winter activities like skiing and ice fishing. Another great point is that I met so many people who spoke English, practicing the language became a daily necessity for me.
From the very beginning, I was warmly welcomed by the local community. North Bay truly made me feel at home.
- Manoel de Souza Oliveira