The Elsie MacGill Northern Lights Award Nomination Form

The Purpose of the Award is to celebrate the achievements of Canadian women in aviation and aerospace. This award is named after Elsie MacGill who is acknowledged to be the first woman aircraft designer in the world. She is Canadian and she designed the Maple Leaf II and was pivotal in the production of the Hurricane in Canada during WWII. Elsie also served on the Canada’s Royal Commission on the Status of Women. Despite a disability caused from polio at a young age, Elsie went on to make very significant contributions to aviation and women in Canada.

Award Criteria

This award is for any Canadian woman who has demonstrated determination, enthusiasm, courage and personal accomplishments in the aviation or aerospace industry. She has made a contribution to aviation/aerospace over an extended period of time. As a role model she inspires and motivates other women.

Though the award is presented by the First Canadian Chapter of the Ninety-Nines, the recipient need not be a member of the Ninety-Nines.

Want to apply?  Click here for the application form

AWARD WINNER:

2009: Heather Sifton is our first Award winner.  She has been a champion of general aviation and a leader in the Ninety-nines, opening so many doors so that thousands of pilots could fly. She will be honoured at a tribute dinner this fall, sponsored by the FCC Ninety-nines, when she will be presented with the first Elsie MacGill Northern Lights Award. An active member of the FCC, Heather flew in the Toronto to Nassau Angel Derby with Shirley Allen in 1970, helped establish the FCC Canadian Award in Aviation, and in 1984 attended the “Fly Away” tree sapling ceremony in Atchison Kansas with Margo McCutcheon. The Sifton family through their business, Toronto Airways, has owned and operated the Buttonville Municipal Airport since 1963. As President and CEO from 1990 to 2006, and continuing as CEO, Heather has fought bitterly to keep the airport open for GA, a fight that will come to a head again in 2010. Home to over 300 aircraft, Buttonville Airport is the 10th busiest airport in Canada, with 150,000 aircraft movements a year in one of the most complex airspaces in the country. Over 300 people work at Buttonville, 100 of them directly for Toronto Airways which operates the largest flight school in Canada, with a fleet of 41 training aircraft and 250-300 students enrolled at any one time. Heather’s personal contributions, supporting charities particularly for health and the arts, have created bridges between aviation and the greater community. Her devotion to the aviation industry, her determination to enforce their rights, her grace and her love of  flying have inspired, and protected the rights of, thousands of pilots who fly for pleasure and who have pursued exciting and rewarding careers in aviation. Buttonville has been Heather’s gift to aviation.

2010:  October 1st Award Dinner - Kathy Fox

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