COLD LAKE – The City of Cold Lake has received a formal response from Minister of National Defence Bill Blair regarding its request for partnership opportunities with the federal government and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
Council and administration discussed the response, as well as progress on the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, Structures (AME-S) program based at the Cold Lake Regional Airport, during the City’s Corporate Priorities Committee meeting on April 15.
The AME-S program is being developed through a collaboration between the City of Cold Lake and Portage College and aims to provide certified aircraft maintenance training to both civilian students and, potentially, CAF personnel, according to the City of Cold Lake.
Minister Blair’s March 21 letter acknowledges prior conversations between Portage College and the CAF and highlights the potential for the Cold Lake school to be included in future outsourced military training.
While the federal response was encouraging, Blair noted that CAF participation depends on the AME-S program receiving Transport Canada accreditation, an approval that requires the instructional space to be completed and ready for use.
“The AME project has achieved several important milestones, and work is continuing to have the instructional space ready for Transport Canada approval in time for a fall 2026 start,” Serba added.
Since launching the initiative, the City and Portage College have made considerable progress. The City has led the design of a dedicated AME facility, purchased curriculum and hangar space, secured communications infrastructure, worked with ACTO Electric to extend three-phase power, and established relationships with potential industry and military partners.
Meanwhile, Portage College has hired program staff, brokered and updated the AME-S curriculum, begun ordering necessary tools and machinery, and achieved several levels of provincial and curriculum accreditation. The College has also been developing dual credit pathways with local high schools and maintaining ongoing discussions with 4 Wing to explore resource-sharing opportunities, according to the City of Cold Lake.
The CAF plans to begin contracting out basic aircraft maintenance training starting in late 2025.
Council made a motion to accept the report as information.
