By Michael J. Martin, EAA 1047599
The annual Canadian aviation success story from CYOO (Oshawa Executive Airport) continues unabated. Albeit in a new, different, and exciting manner.
For the past decade, the formidable team of resolute volunteers of about two hundred aviation enthusiasts, led by the powerhouse founder, Lesley Page, EAA 869986, along with her industrious husband, Jeff Page, EAA 760133, who both fly their Cessna 172 out of the Oshawa Executive Airport, have delivered an aviation event unlike any other in Canada. They lead the “Girls Take Flight” event.
From humble beginnings in 2014, this event has grown rapidly each year. While COVID stalled everything in Canada, and this event paused during the pandemic, it has now returned and is improved beyond what anyone could dream. That is except for Lesley, as she has pursued her amazing vision for this event relentlessly.
Formally, Girls Take Flight in Oshawa is an event hosted by the First Canadian Chapter of the Ninety-Nines and Durham Flight Centre to introduce girls and women to aviation.
Girls Take Flight is a special program intended to improve gender imbalance. Girls ages 8 and older, who have never flown in a small aircraft before may register for a free discovery flight. Last year approximately 200 available seats “sold” out in a mere 12 minutes once the online registration portal opened. So, this event is extremely popular in the Oshawa region.
The primary goal is to open the minds of girls and women to consider aviation as either a vocation or an avocation. Women represent just six percent of all licenced pilots in Canada. This imbalance makes no sense whatsoever.
So, the objective of the event is to include women and for girls and women to consider aviation as a viable life option and fulfilling career path.
Or, simply to say, that women are welcome here, and this industry sector is a good fit for those who enjoy pushing themselves beyond their own limits and face technological and political challenge — not so different from any other industry. It is for those who demand more of themselves and those who step up to embrace the idea of slipping the surely bonds that hold us all to the ground. The intent is to get these women to hold their heads high in the clouds, exactly where they should be. Aviation is a place where dreams can come true.
Changes for 2024
After nine successful years introducing girls and their families to aviation and aerospace at the Oshawa Executive Airport, it was decided that some changes were needed.
In 2023, more than 1,600 people attended, including members of the Oshawa community, local politicians, media, pilots, ground volunteers, speakers, and people staffing the exhibitor booths. This event has grown far beyond the original concepts. The Oshawa Executive Airport location limited engagement to those primarily in the Oshawa area. It is difficult for other women to engage from the City of Toronto or west of the city, due to public transportation limits. One of the core aspirations is for inclusion of all women and girls. So, the lack of convenient public transportation constrained this goal of inclusion.
Over the course of the past nine years, more than 1,200 women and girls have received a free discovery flight in a small airplane, thanks to the pilots who donated their aircraft and fuel. So, by all accounts, it has been a tremendous success. But the question that nagged Lesley and Jeff was about how can it grow to include more women from all parts of the Greater Toronto Area?
As a result of this quest for greater inclusion in 2024, they are making a significant and exciting change.
While most of the discovery flights (only) will continue to take place on April 27, 2024, at the Oshawa Executive Airport (CYOO), other activities will be split between two airports.
Girls Take Flight as we have come to know it ‑ including the expo, speaker program, static aircraft display, and a number of discovery flights ‑ will now take place at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (CYTZ) on Saturday, September 21. This location will offer easier access to public transportation and allow engagement for women from within the city and the western and northern portion of the GTA.
In addition, the split of the venue and the event dates will permit girls and women to access two airports and will far better promote the first principle of inclusion of women from the whole of the GTA who can now leverage public transit and easier access compared to struggling to get to Oshawa — which requires a car.
While the event has always been an enormous success, the leadership team wanted to bring Girls Take Flight to new heights in 2024 and secure a corporate partner that would be able to support the event for years to come. With Toronto City Airport also presenting Girls Take Flight, within walking distance for many and easily accessible by public and regional transit for much of the GTA, they will be able to connect with even more young women and girls who may be considering a future career in aviation.
CYOO Events
- April 27, 2024 ‑ Girls Take Flight Discovery Flights
- Enterprise Airlines, Oshawa Executive Airport
- Registration details will be posted on the Girls Take Flight website as they become available
CYTZ Events
- September 21, 2024 ‑ Girls Take Flight Expo and Discovery Flights
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
- Registration details will be posted on the Girls Take Flight website as they become available
So, ladies, please mark your calendars and prepare to take off on an excellent adventure. You never know — your daughter, or sister, or friend, may become the next pilot, air traffic controller, or mechanical expert that keeps Canada’s aviation community airborne.