Northern Lights Aero Foundation Awards 2017

The Northern Lights Aero Foundation board members are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 aviation and aerospace awards.

Each year the not-for-profit foundation honours outstanding women who have made a significant contribution in their field and who continue to lay the groundwork to attract other women to enter or excel in these industries.

The foundation’s Award Program called the “Elsie” is named after aviation pioneer and human rights advocate Elsie Gregory MacGill, the world’s first female aircraft designer. MacGill graduated from the University of Toronto’s electrical engineering program in 1927 and later became pivotal in the design and production of the Hawker Hurricane in Canada during the Second World War. During her career, MacGill was appointed to the Canadian Royal Commission on the Status of Women and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

“Elsie was a woman who was not very well known yet made significant contributions toward the advancement of women in Canada” says Joy Parker Blackwood, President of the Northern Lights Aero Foundation. “Our goal is to bring more recognition for her and all the women doing great work in aviation and aerospace in Canada. They are all awe-inspiring role models for our youth!”

Our special congratulations go to two of the eight 2017 recipients:

Heather Bell, recently retired General Manager of the Vancouver Flight Information Region (Nav Canada).  Following her retirement from a  33-year career in Navigation Services, Heather joined the BC Aviation Council as the Board Chair.  Heather was awarded the Business Award. 

Candace McKibbon

Candace McKibbon, a graduate of the BCIT Airport Operations program, has been awarded the Rising Star Award!  Candace is a Terminal Duty Officer with the Vancouver Airport Authority, and the Executive Director of the BC Aviation Council where she is active promoting aviation throughout the province. 

Congratulations and well done to both these amazing women in aviation!

The 2017 Gala Award Dinner will be held on September 30, at the Toscana Conference Centre in Vaughan, Ontario. Tickets go on sale in July. For additional information and tickets, please visit the website at www.northernlightsaerofoundation.com