The first female airline jet pilot in Canada and female Officer on a twin-engine jet in North America will be a key guest at YQL Aviation Day.
Rosella Bjornson, who was born in Lethbridge, became the first female airline pilot in 1973. In 2018 Bjornson was inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence and is said to have played a key role in challenging airlines that were not hiring female pilots at the time.
Airport Electrician with the City of Lethbridge Anthony Kish is part of the team to bring the event to fruition, explaining he remembers attending the Lethbridge Air Show with his dad as a kid and seeing the collaboration required to “ensure a successful flight” played a role in determining his future career path, having both a passion for aviation and the trades. Now a father to four girls between the ages of 12 and 18, Kish says his 14-year-old daughter aspires to be a pilot one day, while his 16-year-old daughter is interested in the trades.
The theme for the inaugural event is Women in Aviation, with Kish, acknowledging he is slightly naïve about the challenges women still face in the industry, but it is something he does not want his daughters to have to face in the future.
“When I see women in roles that have been typically dominated by men, nobody sees the battles they go through. Nobody hears the things said to them or sees the people standing between the women and their goals.”
He says the support the event has received to date has been great and the success of putting the event together is because everyone on the team has bought in.
“I really hope people come away from this event inspired, educated and encouraged. I hope they go away excited about a potential aviation career.”
The Saturday, May 25th event will include several displays such as the inside of an F-18 cockpit and STARS helicopter.
