Governor's Newsletter (East Canada Section - Fall 2000) 

by Marilyn Dickson 

The year 2000 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the 99s in Canada.  As far as we can determine, the original First Canadian Chapter began in Eastern Ontario in 1950 and later migrated to the Toronto area, with a new Chapter being formed in Eastern Ontario.  Thus, though First Canadian Chapter claims the incorporation date, the celebration extends well beyond our Chapter's geographic area.  This is quite fitting because of course the beginning of a Canadian chapter also led to the beginning of our East Canada Section.  Members of the First Canadian Chapter are delighted to plan celebrations and are thrilled to have members of other chapters join in the festivities.

Reserve November 18th for a Golden Gala Dinner Party!

Join other Ninety-Nines and guests in celebrating our 50th anniversary as a Canadian organization.

Location:  Brampton Flying Club, Brampton

Time: 18:30 hrs - cash bar

          19:30 hrs - Dinner

The evening will feature special guests June Callwood, powered aircraft and glider pilot (also noted author), in conversation with her 1950 flying instructor, Vi Milstead, Canada's first female bush pilot and pioneering war-time ferry pilot.  With the Air Transport Auxiliary in Britain, Vi ferried many fast, complex and demanding aircraft types such as Hurricanes, Spitfires and Mosquitoes.

and

The "Women in Aviation Exhibit" for the Toronto Aerospace Museum, finance and created by Nat McHaffie, Shirley Allen and other First Canadian Chapter colleagues will have its debut unveiling.

Tickets are $ 30 per person and may be ordered from Treasurer Akky Mansikka  - (email) akky@interlog.com

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Governor in Council Meeting - Nov. 18, 2000

All 99s are welcome to join the incoming section officers at 13:30 hrs at Brampton Airport as they deal with Section business.

 Section Officers (biographical profiles)

• Governor - Marilyn Dickson (FCC)
•  Vice-Governor - Dorothy Berthelet (EOC)
•  Secretary - Jan Sydorko (MLC)
•  Treasurer - Sue Kime (MLC)

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99s International Convention - July 17 - 21, 2001 Calgary, Alberta

Book your reservation at the Westin Hotel (1-800-937-8461) and help our West Canada Section share Canadian hospitality.

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Amelia Earhart Scholarships

It's time now to think about applying for a 2001 Amelia Earhart Scholarship - to receive financial assistance to work on another rating.  You may not plan to do another rating yourself, but think about your colleagues.  Are any of them thinking about working on another licence or rating?  In many endeavours countless women say that they must first decided to try it when someone else encouraged them.  Think about others you might support and encourage.

Our Section AE Scholarship Chair, Kathryn Nazarian will be happy to help you work through the application process.  You may contact her at nazarianka@phibred.com

Application forms are available from the Ninety-Nines, Inc. International Headquarters at ih199s@cs.com

Headquarters must receive applications from Section Scholarship Chairs by Dec. 31, 2000.

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East Canada Section Matters

Section Archives

Pat Crocker (Maple Leaf) does a wonderful job of publicizing section and chapter activities, as well as of collating photographs, descriptions and articles into excellent permanent records of events and achievements.  She works tirelessly and enthusiastically but she needs our help.  We all need to be more diligent in sending her materials which will help to form an ongoing account of Section and Chapter activities.  Please send materials to Pat (address is in the 99s Directory).

East Canada Section Website

Dorothy Berthelet has done a wonderful job of setting up a website for East Canada Section.  Check it out!

When you have information to share, please forward it to Dorothy (canadian99s@yahoo.ca) or your chapter chair.

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Canadian Award in Aviation

This award was created over 25 years ago to acknowledge contributions to aviation of groups or individuals.  It is funded primarily by donations of members.  Please send donations to Grace Morfitt (Maple Leaf - see address in 99s Directory).  

Anyone wishing to nominate a recipient of the award should contact Canadian Award in Aviation Chair Heather Sifton.  

I would like to extend a special thank you to all of these women who contribute so much to the work of our Section, and in particular to Sue Ehrlander who other commitments have led her to resign recently as Treasurer of the Canadian Award in Aviation.

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Gold Cup Air Rally, June 8-10, 2000 

Twenty five women pilots celebrated fifty years of the Ninety-Nines in Canada by flying a 1000 nautical mile air rally from London (Ontario) to Montreal via Fredericton.

The rally was billed as a fun filled competition intended to enhance piloting skills.  Points were awarded for such activities as spot landings, calculating fuel consumption - before refueling, and other navigational challenges.  There were official stops in each of East Canada's five Chapters - London, Toronto, Ottawa, Fredericton and Montreal, finishing with a banquet and the East Canada Section spring meeting in Montreal on Sunday, June 11.

On Wednesday, June 7th, Maple Leaf Chapter members welcomed rally participants at the London airport and drove us to our hotel where they hosted a wonderful reception.  The next morning they were on deck to join us for breakfast and then transport us back to the airport for our briefing and to see us off on our adventure.  Their enthusiasm really helped us get into the spirit of the rally (as if we needed any help!)

Off we were to Buttonville where Laureen Nelson, Shirley Macdougall and Jackie Giles judged our spot landings.    They needed to be good sprinters (or quite far-sighted) to record the details as accurately as possible.

After lunch, another briefing, and the promise of continuing good weather, we headed off for Rockcliffe, Ottawa, where another team member could demonstrate her spot landing prowess.  Once again there were several en route challenges to occupy everyone's attention.  As soon of us got close to Carp (which we were able to overfly), our attention became riveted on the wall of rain separating us from Carp.  (So much for weather forecasts).  Some of the faster aircraft got to Rockcliffe and managed to do a spot landing before the rain washed away the chalk markings and Lorna de Blicquy and her ground crew were washed over to the clubhouse.  Others diverted to Ottawa International (where there were no chalk markings, but they landed anyway).  Ottawa ATC tried to vector at least one aircraft around the weather and promised Smiths Falls, but the pilots knew that there'd be no party there, so they eventually managed to see a path through the rain to Rockcliffe.

We were greeted royally in Rockcliffe by several members of the Eastern Ontario Chapter who helped us refuel and then drove us off to Jane Tilley's home out along a very scenic part of the Ottawa river, where we had a wonderful barbeque.  Typical of the generous hospitality of many pilots, Jane not only provided a sumptuous feast, she offered some of us her car to drive back to our hotel.  Sue Begg, who was flying in the rally, also donned her taxi cap and ferried several of us to and from the airport, Jane's and the hotel.

Lack of space and time necessitate that this saga continue in my next newsletter.

Above, Bev Sharpe, outgoing 99s President; Marilyn Dickson; Anna Pangrazzi

Visit the GC photo album..

Marilyn.

Website email:  canadian99s@yahoo.ca