About the COPA Flight Leadership Summit

The COPA Flight Leadership Summit is an opportunity for COPA Flight captains (or designate) and future leaders to connect and learn.

Meet fellow COPA Flight members, COPA staff and board members from across the country in this full-day virtual gathering. It will be an enriching opportunity to share best practices, discover COPA programming, and discuss how the association can continue enhancing the flying experience in Canada.

Apart from the opening remarks and keynote address, all sessions are intended to be two-way communication forums.

2022 Event Details

The inaugural COPA Flight Leadership Summit event was held on Sunday, May 1. The theme was All for Flight and the schedule can be viewed below. Topics are separated by the following categories: Leadership Excellence; Program Excellence and Aviation Issues.

Registrants will receive a Zoom link closer to the event date.

Call for COPA Flight Speakers 

Are you a COPA Flight member with a story, idea or best practices to share? Contact programs@copanational.org to express your interest in speaking at a COPA Flight Leadership Summit session.

Registration Process

Two (2) spots are reserved for each COPA Flight, one intended for the COPA Flight captain and their designate. If the captain cannot attend, they can designate two representatives from their COPA Flight to attend.

While there are no costs associated with attending the event, COPA kindly requests only those who can attend to register.

Schedule

(Subject to change)


10:30 a.m. - 10:35 a.m. | CEO Welcome

COPA’s President and CEO, Christine Gervais will provide a welcome to guests participating in COPA’s first-ever COPA Flight Leadership Summit.

10:35 a.m. - 10:55 a.m. | Keynote with Hope Air

Hope Air volunteer, Dave McElroy, will provide a keynote address to COPA Flight Leadership Summit attendees.

Dave McElroy, past Chair of the COPA Board and Director of the Kelowna Flying Club has more than 4,200 hours flying in more than 30 aircraft types across 60 countries. Join him for a keynote on the importance of giving back through flight, the role that this plays in promoting general aviation and keeping flying clubs healthy, and stories from his experience with Give Hope Wings – the only national Grand Flying Expedition for charity, benefiting Hope Air.

10:55 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | COPA Resources

Learn about current and new resources available to COPA Flights as well as provide feedback and share ideas on support that is needed. We will also share best practices for using the COPA logo and leveraging social media to promote regional activities.

11:15 a.m - 12:15 p.m. | Leadership Excellence Sessions

Event Planning During and Post-COVID
We know that events will need to and have changed as a result of the pandemic. Join this discussion stream to learn from other COPA Flight members on how they plan to move forward with event planning during and/or post-COVID.

12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. | Lunch Break + Discussions

We could all use some support with recruiting new members,  join this lunch break discussion with COPA’s President and CEO, Christine Gervais and Chair of the Board of Director, Bill Mahoney for a conversation on how COPA Flights (and COPA) can attract more pilots. We’ll also cover COPA’s insurance program for COPA Flights.

 

 

1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. | Aviation Issues

COPA’s Advocacy and Aviation Safety Updates
Join this session to learn about COPA’s advocacy and aviation safety efforts. At the same time, bring forward ideas to help COPA strengthen its lobbying efforts, both as a national organization and amongst its COPA Flight network.

2:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Break

Let’s take a 15 minute break – walk, stretch and get some coffee!

2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Program Excellence

In this stream, we’ll explore COPA’s modernized Discover Aviation program which blends together COPA for Kids and DiscoverGA programs into one powerful outreach resource for COPA Flights and COPA members. Learn about the new event management process, tool and resources that will soon become available to COPA Flights and COPA members.

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Recap Discussion

Feeling energized from all the conversations you’ve shared with other enthusiastic aviators throughout the day? Join COPA in this interactive discussion on lessons from the day and a way forward.