Billie
Flynn

The Story of a
Modern Day Veteran

From the collection of RCAF Foundation

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Photo of female pilot

First Canadian Woman to Fly

Women have been involved in aviation in Canada since before the first controlled powered flight of the Silver Dart in 1909. However, it was not until 1928 that the first Canadian women earned a Pilot’s Licence. We will look at many of these early Canadian women pilots.

Eileen Vollick

First Canadian Woman to Fly

The Flying Seven Club

Canada’s first all-female flying club, formed in 1936. (Left to right) Tosca Trasolini, Alma Gaudrau Gilbert, Jean Pike, Elianne Roberge, Margaret Fane, Rolie Moore, and Betsy Flaherty.

Mostly a social club that flew together, they did work to promote women in aviation

Eileen Magill

On October 24, 1928, Magill was the second Canadian woman, and Manitoba’s first, to receive a Pilot’s Licence.

Magill learned to fly at the Winnipeg Flying Club and later became a member of its Board of Directors. However, she failed to get a job related to aviation and gave up flying.

Gertrude de la Vergne

Learning to fly in Calgary, de la Vergne received her licence on December 4, 1928. She was Canada’s third female pilot and Alberta’s first. However, costs kept her from flying, so she tried to get a job as a pilot, but unable to do so because of gender discrimination, she gave up flying.

The Flying Seven Club

Canada’s first all-female flying club, formed in 1936. (Left to right) Tosca Trasolini, Alma Gaudrau Gilbert, Jean Pike, Elianne Roberge, Margaret Fane, Rolie Moore, and Betsy Flaherty.

Mostly a social club that flew together, they did work to promote women in aviation.

Raising Awareness of Women Pilots

During the Second World War, the members of the club worked to support the Allied effort. They trained women in aviation related skills.

Although the Flying Seven Club did not survive into the post Second World War period, they raised the profile of Canadian women aviators.

Credits: Sources

Sources
No Place for a Lady : The Story of Canadian Women Pilots, 1928-1992 by Shirley Render Winnipeg: Portage & Main Press, 1992.

“The First 100 Canadian Women Pilots” by Jen Eggleston October 04, 2022
https://randomlygenerated.ca/blogs/family-tree-and-other-research/the-first-100-canadian-women-pilots

Credits: All Media

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