The Aviation Inclusivity Summit is a national, first-of-its-kind forum dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across Canada's aviation industry. Taking place October 5 and 6, 2026 at NAV CANADA headquarters in Ottawa, the Summit is organized by Canadian Aviation Pride (CAP) alongside partner organizations Black Aviation Professionals Network (BAPN), Elevate Aviation, Northern Lights Aero Foundation (NLAF), and Urban Pilots and Professionals Network (UPN), with NAV CANADA serving as Presenting Sponsor and Host. This coalition of five national aviation organizations represents a collective commitment to building a more inclusive industry for everyone.
The Summit brings together aviation professionals, industry leaders, and advocates from across Canada for two days of dialogue, learning, and action. Attendees will span the full breadth of the industry, including pilots, air traffic controllers, engineers, AMEs, and executives, alongside students and emerging professionals just beginning their aviation journeys.
The Summit program is centred around the theme "Change Takes Courage, Community, and Commitment," and is structured around four thematic pillars that reflect the shared priorities of all partner organizations. Each pillar is grounded in the courage to name and confront systemic barriers, the community required to sustain that work across organizations and sectors, and the commitment to move beyond policy into action that is practical, measurable, and lasting.
Getting In the Door focuses on recruitment, pathways, and removing structural barriers to entry across underrepresented communities in Canadian aviation.
Turning Policy into Culture addresses retention, workplace culture, ERG effectiveness, and authentic inclusion that goes beyond tokenism.
Navigating Systems examines regulatory and institutional barriers, including medical examinations, licensing, and accreditation processes, that disproportionately affect equity-deserving groups.
Accountability and Action moves beyond policy commitments to measurable outcomes, industry benchmarking, and corporate accountability frameworks.