7th Annual Women of Aviation Worldwide Week Celebration!

Edmonton is jam-packed with stories of strong-willed aviation pioneers pushing against the elements and charting new pathways in the north.  The museum continues to carry on this tradition with our 7th Annual Women of Aviation WorldWide celebration.  Today, our hanger will be transformed to remember the legacies of the first women who took to the skies, celebrate the achievements of today’s highfliers, and shape the future of the next generation of women of aviation.

So brave the storm,  prepare for landing, and join us for a full roster of celebration activities.  There is something for everyone.  The museum is truly a place Where Women’s History Takes Flight!

Guest Presentations

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Sophia Wells

Chief Flight Instructor, Edmonton Flying Club

Advocacy and Mentorship Executive, Elevate Aviation

Sophia is the chief flight instructor at the Edmonton Flying Club. She holds an airline transport pilot’s license and serves as a Transport Canada pilot examiner. She is also a Navajo captain for Morgan Construction and works at North Cariboo Air in customer service and passenger screening, adding to her experience within the charter aircraft business. She gets to share her life-long passion for aviation through Elevate Aviation by inspiring and mentoring women new to the industry. Sophia was recognized in 2018 as a Top 20 under 40 recipient for Wings Magazine and in 2019 with the Outstanding Alumni Award from Mount Royal University. When she is not in the sky she enjoys spending her time with her husband Mark and their fur baby Elroy.

Kendra Kincade

Air Traffic Controller, NAV CANADA

Executive Director, Elevate Aviation

Overwhelmed by a decidedly challenging early life, Kendra discovered that the pathway to her own salvation lay in helping others find theirs. Her quest to make a difference in the lives of others included climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money for a local hospital and establishing her own non-profit organizations, Changing Stories and Elevate Aviation.

Kendra’s career as an Air Traffic Controller opened up even more horizons. When she recognized the negligible female presence in the industry, she set out to remedy the situation. Now, an internationally acclaimed humanitarian and Honorary Colonel of the RCAF 417 Helicopter Squadron, Kendra is the award-winning Founder and Chair of Elevate Aviation.

Dina Jammaz

Air Traffic Controller, NAV CANADA

Community Outreach Executive, Elevate Aviation

Dina is an air traffic controller at the Edmonton International Airport tower. She has been a controller for 21 years and still loves every minute of it. Her passion for aviation shines through as Elevate’s Community Outreach Coordinator at airshows, career fairs, and any other events she attends in our community. When she isn’t at karate or riding her Harley, she is kept busy by her spouse Derek, three teenagers, and their Rottweiler.

All Day Activities  (10:00am – 4:00 pm)

Career Fair – In partnership with Elevate Aviation, patrons can explore many aviation career opportunities, meet real-life women experts in their field, and be inspired to consider the aviation industry as a future career path. Representatives from the Edmonton Flying Club, Elevate Aviation, Synergy, Edmonton International Airport, Nav Canada, and RCAF Women will be in attendance.

Katherine Stinson’s Great Escape: Popular with families, this is an escape room inspired scavenger hunt based on recreating Katherine Stinson’s first airmail run in Western Canada. Participants solve clues and puzzles, leading them throughout the museum to achieve this important mission.

Women of the Alberta Aviation Museum Scavenger Hunt and Photo Contest:  Adults can participate in scavenger hunts too through this fun activity. Using clues and a sharp eye, participants locate several of Alberta’s significant women of aviation.  Once located, they can post photos that represent these women and use the tags #WOAW2020  #historytakingflight to be eligible to win a prize.

Pink Paper Airplane Challenge: Part of Women of Aviation Worldwide Week, the museum will be attempting to help set a Guinness World Record. The challenge is to post the most photos of people with pink paper airplanes.  Our photographers will be on site and people can upload their own photos to womenofaviationweek.org

From there, a temporary mosaic art display will be created from the paper airplanes that are left with the museum.  The finished product will be shared online.

History Taking Flight Photo Booths: Get your Instagram filters ready try on an assortment of cabin crew and pilots’ uniforms from our collection.  It is the perfect opportunity to achieve that “unique shot” for your profiles.

Flight Attendants: Their Stories and Struggles – New Museum Display:  Catch a glimpse into the history of flight attendants, their fight for worker’s rights, and the evolution of flight service in Canada.

DC-6 Flight Simulator:  Guests will have the rare opportunity to take the wheel of the museum’s DC-6 Flight Simulator.  Experience the awe of what it’s like to sit in this massive artifact.  There are bonus points for those who can make it land.

Note: This is a limited, timed activity.  First come, first served. Participation is $5 for 10 minutes. 

We look forward to having you join us!