Premier Danielle Smith Visits SA Flight Academy

It was an exciting day at the DR South Alberta Flight Academy, where all students in the program gathered for a visit from Premier Danielle Smith. Aside from the Premier there were other dignitaries at the event, including MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat Justin Wright, Mayor of Medicine Hat Linnsie Clark, the Super T and Little families, CEO of HALO Paul Carolan, Medicine Hat College President Kevin Shufflebotham and Vice President/Provost Dr. Nancy Brown, along with teachers and staff from Prairie Rose Public Schools who have played a critical role in creating and running the Flight Academy.  

“South Alberta Collegiate is a forward-thinking educational institution that embraces a micro-school concept, emphasizing personalized, specialized learning experiences tailored to individual students’ needs. The Collegiate’s unique approach integrates micro-schools, each designed to provide students with transformative learning experiences while aligning with the current priorities of the Alberta Government,” Superintendent Dr. Reagan Weeks told those assembled following the arrival of Premier Smith.  

The micro-school concept supports connection, well-being, and future job prospects so graduates will become a vital part of the workforce with the program bridging the gap between academic learning and practical skills.  

“Super T is proud and privileged to be part of the unique in Canada program, which is a collaboration between private enterprise and a public-school division,” said Terri Super, owner of Super T Aviation. “Students in this program, whether they are learning to fly an airplane or learning to build an airplane, are gaining confidence and abilities through these activities that other high school students can only dream of.”

Following lunch, Premier Smith said a few words to those assembled. “I didn’t expect this reception, I thought I was coming just to do a little tour and its sort of amazing how many kids are in this program. I have to tell you, I talk about you all over this province.”

Premier Smith believes the innovation and culture within PRPS serve as a model for other schools throughout Alberta. During lunch, she had the opportunity to talk to each of the Flight Academy students sitting at her table, which helped give her a sense of the growth of the program since it began.  

“19 students in Grade 10 this year, which is amazing, and I hope this keeps on growing, I don’t know what the capacity is, but it’s pretty remarkable,” stated Premier Smith. She believes each of the students in the program are well-placed to have amazing careers and was intrigued by the different paths those sitting at her table were planning on taking after graduating. Students told the Premier about their plans of becoming a commercial pilot, to fly up north, join medevac, or use their pilot’s licence for recreational use or because it would be useful for running a farm.  

Grade 11 student Reid Vossler was lucky enough to be one of the students sitting at the Premier’s table during lunch as well as being part of the group who gave the tour. “Lunch was great,” said Vossler, “it was awesome to meet the Premier and hear her stance on aviation this afternoon. She told us how she was really interested in this program and how she’d like to see if in different schools across the province.”

Grade 12 student Maya Moore also accompanied the Premier on the tour. “We didn’t get to talk to her a ton, she was mainly seeing the facilities Super T has. I was explaining how our build goes on Friday and how it works.” While Moore felt nervous while talking to Premier Smith, she didn’t let it show and managed to speak clearly about student experience of building a plane from the ground up.  

AT the flight simulator Doug Little allowed the Premier to take the pilot’s seat, although she was only able to have a few minutes as pilot due to a shortage of time. Out in front of the hangar, pilot Logan Neubauer had a plane ready and waiting for the Premier to climb into the passenger seat.  

Neubauer and Superintendent Weeks had planned the flight path out beforehand such that it encompassed the experience of flying along with viewing some of the agricultural projects within PRPS. “We ventured out to look at the Agricultural Discover Centre in Irvine as well as discussing our hopes of creating an Ag Innovation Centre,” explained Neubauer.  

Following the flight, Premier Smith shook Neubauer’s hand and thanked him for the flight, telling him he was a good instructor. “We went through it like I would approach any other student, introducing some of the controls and aspects of flying,” said Neubauer. “I gave her the opportunity to do some of her own flying, which she was all over and did very well. I supervised just like I would any other student and it was a surreal experience. I am honoured and humbled to have been a part of it.” 

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer