The First 100 Canadian Women Pilots

by Jen Eggleston

In Shirley Render's wonderful book 'No Place for a Lady: The Story of Canadian Women Pilots 1928-1992', she investigates the lives and careers of the female pioneers in Canadian aviation. She even includes a helpful appendix, listing the first 100 women to get their private pilot licences.

First 16 female pilots in Canada

The book was written in the early 1990s and the amount of work Mrs Render must have done is staggering - trawling through archives and interviewing hundreds of people. However, there were certain women she just couldn't find and they're marked on her list with an asterisk. I've decided to try filling out the list a bit more!

Click on the person's name for more info. And be sure to read 'No Place for a Lady'.

 

# Name Province Date of issue Licence
1 Eileen M. Vollick Ontario  March 22 1928 77
2 Eileen Magill Manitoba  October 24 1928 142
3 Gertrude de la Vergne Alberta  December 4 1928 157
4 Dorothy Bell Manitoba  February 16 1929 220
5 * Louise Burka Alberta  April 3 1929 243
6 * Julia MacBrien Ontario  August 14 1929 325
7 Daphne Paterson Quebec  August 15 1929 327
8 Gladys Graves Walker (Mrs) Alberta  September 27 1929 372
9 Nellie Carson Saskatchewan  October 12 1929 384
10 Grayce Hutchinson Saskatchewan  October 12 1929 387
11 Elsie MacLean Alberta  November 12 1929 423
12 Edina Newlands Saskatchewan  November 19 1929 429
13 Jeanne Genier Gilbert (Mrs) British Columbia  December 28 1929 479
14 Marjorie Chauvin Alberta  December 28 1929 480
15 Grace "Tib" Goulding Ontario  January 15 1930 495
16 * G. Thomson (Mrs) Unknown January 22 1930 500
17 * Alix Samarow Quebec  March 3 1930 512
18 * Florence E. Spencer Ontario  May 5 1930 514
19 * J.C. Webster (Mrs) Quebec  May 20 1930 556
20 * Marion Swaim Alberta  August 15 1930 613
21 Eliane Roberge Quebec  October 18 1930 678
22 * Clara Hooker Alberta  November 12 1930 694
23 * A.A. Camm (Mrs) Ontario [added] January 9 1931 755
24 Margaret Rankin-Smith Ontario  April 8 1931 811
25 Jessica Jarvis Ontario  August 21 1931 860
26 Enid Norquay Alberta  November 23 1931 928
27 Betsy Flaherty (Mrs E) British Columbia  December 19 1931 942
28 Louise M. Jenkins (Mrs) Prince Edward Island  March 8 1932 973
29 * Wanda Brodowich Manitoba  July 5 1932 1029
30 * Margaret de N. Caldwell Alberta  October 24 1932 1124
31 Margaret Fane Alberta  October 12 1933 1317
32 Isobel Secord Alberta  October 12 1933 1322
33 * Edith Freeman Quebec  October 12 1933  
34 * F.E. Lundon New Brunswick [added] October 12 1933  
35 * J.T. O'Brien-Saint (Mrs) Ontario [added] October 27 1933  
36 Isobel Whitaker British Columbia  December 7 1933  
37 Alma Gaudreau Gilbert British Columbia  April 7 1934 [fixed]  
38 * E.H. Vance Ontario [added] May 10 1934 [fixed]  
39 * E.M. Hall Ontario [added] September 26 1934  
40 Margaret Clements Saskatchewan  October 9 1934  
41 * Mary A.M. Weber Ontario  October 22 1934  
42 Dorothy Renton Saskatchewan  June 7 1935  
43 Rolie Moore  British Columbia October 7 1935  
44 * Alice E. Blake Saskatchewan  October 18 1935  
45 * A.L. McNeil Saskatchewan [added] October 18 1935  
46 * Rosie Campbell Ontario  November 16 1935  
47 Joan Bonisteel Ontario  January 3 1936  
48 Jean Pike British Columbia  February 4 1936  
49 Tosca Trasolini British Columbia  August 12 1936 2151
50 * Mary A. Canfield (Mrs) Ontario  October 7 1936  
51 Joyce Bond Saskatchewan  December 8 1936 2092
52 * M. Skrypnyk Ontario [added] December 18 1936  
53 * M.E. Holmes Ontario [added] January 14 1937  
54 * M.C. Yates Ontario [added] March 17 1937  
55 * Doris Manewell Ontario [added] May 14 1937  
56 * M.M. Roberts (Mrs) Ontario [added] July 14 1937  
57 Mary Spearing Ontario  June 29 1938  
58 * L.N. Rifler Ontario [added] July 19 1938  
59 * C.E. Stock Ontario [added] August 2 1938  
60 * A. Sinkins Ontario [added] August 3 1938  
61 Margaret Littlewood Ontario  August 3 1938  
62 Marion Gillies Ontario  August 3 1938  
63 Connie Culver Ontario  February 21 1939  
64 Iva J. Coutts Manitoba  June 6 1939  
65 Joyce A. Reid Ontario [added] June 24 1939  
66 * R.A. Fitzgerald Unknown July 12 1939  
67 * M. McQueen Unknown August 2 1939  
68 * M. Munn Ontario [added] August 24 1939  
69 Ethel Higdon Alberta  August 29 1939  
70 M.E. Treau de Coeli Ontario [added] September 28 1939  
71 * E. Fletcher Alberta [added] October 24 1939  
72 Florence Elliott Ontario  November 16 1939  
73 Violet Milstead Ontario  January 3 1940 3339
74 Marion Powell Ontario  January 5 1940 3338
75 Gladys Smirle Ontario [added] January 15 1940  
76 * Helen Julia Cowan Ontario [added] January 20 1940  
77 * V.E. Harris Alberta [added] June 4 1940  
78 * K.E. Kinman Ontario [added] June 20 1940  
79 * M.A. Richards Unknown August 13 1940  
80 * M. Honsinger Ontario [added] September 18 1940  
81 Beryl Armstrong British Columbia [added] October 21 1940  
82 * H.J. Walker Unknown October 31 1940  
83 Margaret Carson Ontario  November 4 1940  
84 * M. Maxwell Ontario [added] January 9 1941  
85 * L. Rashaw Ontario [added] April 7 1941  
86 Elspeth Russell Quebec June 30 1941  
87 * C. Connon Unknown September 16 1941  
88 * P. Hecker Unknown September 23 1941  
89 * P.A. Gray British Columbia [added] September 25 1941  
90 * L.L. Treble Ontario [added] September 25 1941  
91 Sally Kerton Ontario  October 29 1941  
92 * L. Richards Unknown November 12 1941  
93 * I.M. Collins Ontario [added] November 27 1941  
94 * M.B. Lang Ontario [added] January 28 1942  
95 * C.F. Williams Ontario [added] February 19 1942  
96 M.B. MacLeod New Brunswick [added] April 30 1942  
97 Gloria Large Prince Edward Island  June 4 1942  
98 * O.M. Leach Ontario [added] October 3 1942  
99 * M.L. Morkin Manitoba October 30 1945 [fixed]
100 * E.C. Dawson Manitoba  November 26 1945  

 

Photo credits:

  1. Eileen Vollick (The Ottawa Citizen, June 17, 1927)
  2. Eileen Magill (The Winnipeg Tribune, January 25, 1929)
  3. Gertrude de la Vergne (Calgary Herald, November 7, 1928)
  4. Dorothy Bell (Calgary Herald, February 16, 1929)
  5. Louise Burka (Calgary Herald, April 20, 1929)
  6. Julia MacBrien (The Ottawa Citizen, August 14, 1929)
  7. Daphne Paterson (Canadian99s - http://canadian99s.com/daphne-paterson)
  8. Gladys Walker (Edmonton Journal, March 31, 1928)
  9. Nellie Carson (The Leader Post, October 5, 1929)
  10. Grayce Hutchinson (Star Phoenix, August 8, 1930)
  11. Elsie MacLean (The Edmonton Bulletin, August 2,1929)
  12. Edina Newlands (Saskatoon Daily Star, May 23, 1921)
  13. Jeanne Genier (Edmonton Journal, March 31, 1928)
  14. Marjorie Chauvin (The Ottawa Citizen, October 26, 1931)
  15. Grace "Tib" Goulding (The Ottawa Citizen, July 2, 1931)
  16. Alix Samarow (The Leader Post, July 5, 1930) - she was the 17th pilot, but I haven't found a photo of Mrs G. Thomson yet)

5 comments

  • Hi Margaret, I’m going to email you. Thanks!

    Jen Eggleston (author)

  • Have a beautiful portrait of Louise Treble. Bought at an auction over 30 years ago. Would you be able to contact me?

    margaret frise

  • Hi Don, I’m going to email you to check her details. Thanks!

    Jen Eggleston (author)

  • My mother Isabel McEachern got her pilots license in Yellow Knife in 1938. Does this find its way on the list? Regards

    Don mceachern

  • I am so excited to find this web page!! I have web pages ad a facebook page called Famous Canadian Women. There is a section called ON – THE – JOB with a sub section for Aviators. I only have 17 women covered in this area and I look forward to learning more about these adventuresome women.
    I have posted your site on the Famous Canadian Women FB page.
    Naturally if I use the information from your web site I will give full credit with any write up I do.
    Congratulations on your research. Well done!!
    Dawn Monroe,
    Famous Canadian Women (http://famouscanadianwomen.com

    Dawn Monroe

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