Oakville’s Denise Egglestone Receives Trailblazer Award in Aviation

Denise Egglestone, an Oakville resident, has been awarded the prestigious Trailblazer Award by the Northern Lights Aero Foundation. This accolade recognizes women who have made significant contributions to the aviation and aerospace sectors in Canada. The award will be presented at a gala in Toronto on October 4, 2025.

The recognition comes after decades of breaking barriers in the aviation industry, a journey that began for Egglestone in the 1970s. Growing up, she often visited Trudeau International Airport in Montreal, where her father worked for Air Canada. These early visits sparked a lifelong passion for aviation. “I was always around airplanes,” Egglestone recounted, noting that lax security at the time allowed her to explore the airport freely.

Path to Aviation Leadership

Throughout her career, Egglestone has held multiple roles, including becoming a licensed commercial pilot. She notably made history as Air Canada’s first female ground school instructor for the Boeing 727. Later, she took on the role of one of the airline’s earliest female flight dispatchers, a position she maintained for over 20 years.

Egglestone faced significant challenges as one of the first women in these roles. “I wasn’t experienced as all the guys,” she admitted, contrasting her background with that of her male colleagues, many of whom had more extensive experience in the airline industry. Lack of support was also a hurdle. “When I asked them for help, it wasn’t always readily available,” she explained. “The mentality was, ‘If you think you can do this job, you better just do all the work.’”

Teaching predominantly male students in their fifties proved daunting. She remembers an instance where she introduced herself to a classroom of skeptical students: “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.’” Despite the initial doubt she faced, Egglestone persevered, supported by her husband, an Air Canada pilot.

A Legacy of Mentorship and Community Involvement

Now retired, Egglestone remains active in the aviation field. She serves as the President of Dreams Take Flight National, an Air Canada charity that provides children facing medical or social challenges with a special trip to Disneyland or Disney World. Additionally, she coordinates with agencies as Vice-President of the Toronto chapter, ensuring deserving children have the opportunity to participate each year.

Egglestone also dedicates her time to mentoring young women interested in aviation. One of her most recent mentorships began unexpectedly during a grocery store visit, where a cashier recognized her Air Canada lanyard. This interaction blossomed into a valuable mentoring relationship.

In addition to her mentoring efforts, Egglestone remains a licensed commercial pilot and is an active member of The Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots. She currently serves as treasurer for the Women in Aviation Upper Canada Chapter and volunteers with CASARA (Civil Air Search and Rescue Association) after being inspired to contribute following a slow emergency response to a plane crash in 2022.

For Egglestone, the pursuit of aviation has always transcended personal achievement. “I really want to encourage more women into the field. I want to reach women who say, ‘I can’t do that’ – yes you can,” she emphasizes, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more inclusive environment in aviation.