Oakville’s Denise Egglestone Honored with Trailblazer Award

Denise Egglestone, a resident of Oakville, has been awarded the prestigious Trailblazer Award by the Northern Lights Aero Foundation. This recognition honors women who have made significant contributions to the aviation and aerospace sectors in Canada. The award ceremony is set to take place at a gala in Toronto on October 4, 2025.

Egglestone’s journey in aviation began in the 1970s when she was a child visiting her father at Trudeau International Airport in Montreal, where he worked as an employee of Air Canada. Those early experiences ignited her passion for flight. “I was always around airplanes,” Egglestone recalled, noting the lack of security measures at the time that allowed her unrestricted access to the airport.

Over the years, Egglestone took on various roles in the aviation field, becoming a licensed commercial pilot. She made history as Air Canada’s first female ground school instructor for the Boeing 727 and later became one of the airline’s earliest female flight dispatchers, serving in that role for over 20 years.

Navigating these male-dominated roles was challenging. Egglestone acknowledged her initial lack of experience compared to her male counterparts, who often came from backgrounds in airline operations or aircraft maintenance. “I felt like when I asked them for help it wasn’t always readily available,” she shared. The mentality at that time was often dismissive, with a prevailing attitude that women had to prove themselves without much support.

Her experience as a ground instructor presented unique challenges. “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.’ And they kind of go, ‘Yeah, that’s not happening.’”

Despite these hurdles, Egglestone persevered, bolstered by the support of her husband, who is also an Air Canada pilot. Their partnership exemplified a family commitment to aviation, as their daughter has since followed in their footsteps, now piloting for the same airline. “They’re a lot more accepting. They work together, they hang out together,” she noted of the current generation in the industry.

Though Egglestone is now retired, her involvement in aviation continues. She serves as the President of Dreams Take Flight National, an Air Canada charity that provides children facing medical or social challenges with special trips to Disneyland and Disney World. As Vice-President of the Toronto chapter, she plays a crucial role in selecting the children for these experiences each year.

Egglestone remains dedicated to mentoring young women aspiring to enter the aviation field. A chance encounter in a grocery store led to a mentorship with a young woman who expressed interest in aviation after noticing Egglestone’s Air Canada lanyard. “I really want to encourage more women into the field. I want to get to women who say ‘I can’t do that’ – yes you can,” she said, emphasizing her commitment to fostering inclusivity in the industry.

In addition to her mentorship efforts, Egglestone is a long-time member of The Ninety-Nines and currently serves as treasurer for the Women in Aviation Upper Canada Chapter. She also volunteers with CASARA (the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association), motivated by a desire to improve emergency response efforts following a plane crash she witnessed in 2022.

Denise Egglestone’s story is one of resilience and dedication. Through her work and advocacy, she is not only breaking barriers but is also inspiring future generations to reach for their dreams in aviation.