Oakville’s Denise Egglestone Receives Trailblazer Award for Aviation

Denise Egglestone, a resident of Oakville, has been honored with the prestigious Trailblazer Award from the Northern Lights Aero Foundation for her significant contributions to the aviation and aerospace sectors in Canada. The award will be presented at a gala in Toronto on October 4, 2025, recognizing her lifelong commitment to breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Egglestone’s journey began in the 1970s during her childhood visits to Trudeau International Airport in Montreal, where her father worked as an employee of Air Canada. Her passion for aviation blossomed as she spent time around airplanes. “I was always around airplanes,” Egglestone recalled. “And back in those days, there wasn’t much in the way of airport security, so I could go in with them.”

Trailblazing Career in Aviation

As an adult, Egglestone pursued a variety of roles within the aviation industry. She became a licensed commercial pilot and made history as Air Canada’s first female ground school instructor for the Boeing 727. Later, she served as one of the airline’s earliest female flight dispatchers, a position she held for over 20 years. Her path was not without challenges, particularly as a ground school instructor.

“Admittedly, I wasn’t as experienced as all the guys,” she explained. Many of her colleagues had backgrounds as airline pilots or mechanics, while Egglestone had been a flying instructor for smaller charter aircraft. Support in her new role was limited, as she often found that when she sought help, it was not readily available. “I felt like when I asked them for help, they weren’t that forthcoming,” she noted.

Teaching predominantly male students in their fifties presented its own difficulties. Egglestone recalled one instance where she introduced herself to her class, only to be met with disbelief. “I remember walking to class one day, arms full of books. I said, ‘How are you all doing today?’ And they said, ‘Oh fine, we’re just waiting for the instructor.’ And I go, ‘That would be me,’” she said. “And they kind of go, ‘Yeah, that’s not happening.’” Despite these setbacks, she persevered, bolstered by the support of her husband, who was also an Air Canada pilot.

A Lasting Impact on Future Generations

Today, Egglestone remains actively involved in the aviation community, even after retirement. She serves as the President of Dreams Take Flight National, an Air Canada charity that has been operating since 1989. The organization provides children facing medical or social challenges with a special one-day trip to Disneyland or Disney World. Her role includes coordinating with agencies to select children for the annual trip.

Egglestone also dedicates time to mentoring young women entering the aviation field. A chance encounter in a grocery store led to a mentorship with a young woman who recognized her Air Canada lanyard. “I just happened to be in the grocery store… the cashier saw my lanyard on my phone and it said ‘Air Canada,’” Egglestone described. “That conversation became a mentorship that continues today.”

She is still a licensed commercial pilot and a longstanding member of The Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women pilots. Additionally, she serves as treasurer for the Women in Aviation Upper Canada Chapter and volunteers with CASARA (the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association), motivated to help improve emergency response capabilities following a plane crash incident in 2022.

Egglestone’s commitment to promoting aviation as a viable career path for women remains steadfast. “I really want to encourage more women into the field,” she emphasized. “I want to reach women who say, ‘I can’t do that’ – yes, you can.” Her journey is a testament to the impact one individual can have on an industry, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps.