Today, Mayor Gillingham announced the six Winnipeg students selected to receive the inaugural Mayor’s Sky Economy Scholarships.
The scholarships support Winnipeg students pursuing education and training connected to aerospace, aviation and defence that are part of Winnipeg’s growing Sky Economy.
“Building our Sky Economy starts with people,” said Gillingham. “Winnipeg is home to Canada’s third-largest aerospace cluster and we want students to see that there are exciting careers in these industries and that they can build those careers right here in Winnipeg.”
The 2026 scholarship recipients are:
- Nadia Bergen
- Muhammad Abbaski
- Mana Zandvakili
- Aidan Simpson
- Isabella Villegas
- Karman Singh
The Mayor’s Sky Economy initiative is focused on growing Winnipeg’s role in aerospace, aviation and defense connected to the Winnipeg airport area, 17 Wing / CFB Winnipeg and CentrePort South.
The scholarship program was launched by Mayor Gillingham in May as part of his broader focus on strengthening Winnipeg’s Sky Economy and positioning the city to attract new investment, skilled workers and high-quality jobs.
In his State of the City address earlier this year, Mayor Gillingham committed to strengthening Winnipeg’s Sky Economy. Since then, he has met with national and local leaders, including Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, federal ministers, industry executives, the President of Red River College Polytechnic and the Chancellor and the President of the University of Manitoba, to promote Winnipeg’s role in Canada’s aerospace, aviation, and defence.