An air show in Southport's being planned by women for the first time in history. A delegation from the 99's International Organization of Women Pilots presented the plans to the RM of Portage la Prairie council this week, seeking a letter of approval. U of M student Salina Wall's involved as part of her credit.



"The date is June 4th. We're planning on having an artisan market. We're going to try and have as many local Portage artisans as we can, and from Winnipeg and the surrounding area. We're planning on having a music festival. That's still in the early stages. A fashion show with local businesses being represented. The fashion show's actually being put on by a school in Winnipeg. Food vendors, and then obviously all the aircraft. We're going to have static displays, and museum displays."

Professor in Department of Environment and Geography Dr. Jill Oakes says they're seeking other women's involvement in aviation.

"About two years ago we held an event at St. Andrews airport, where we set three world records. We gave over 750 women free flights in small aircraft. It was an amazing success -- more than anywhere else in the entire world. And at the end of that we thought, 'Hey, we just can't give these gals free rides and then that's the end of it.' So, Sunday nights at 6:00 we started giving free 'Learn how to fly' lessons. And it just grew."

She notes the lessons became more and more popular, with more women becoming interested in flying. One woman stated she had become interested in flying after attending an air show, and Oakes says it was at that point they decided to organize their own event.

"Talked to a lot of the guys, and they told us how much work it would be. I thought I know it's a lot of work, but the guys can do it, and they said they'd help me. So, with that we set up. The gals said, 'Yeah, we're game to do that.' And we've already got several hundred volunteers of professional pilots, aviators, meteorologists that are really keen to come in and make it work. And then on Friday the Canadian Forces said they'd be interested in volunteering as well. Those that are off work are really keen to support it. Also on Friday we discussed with Southport how we're going to work it with their businesses. Right now we're working out the details of that, which is pretty exciting."

Oakes says only 6% of those involved in aviation are women, and shares her thoughts for the reason.

"There's really no good reason. Back in the World War 1 era, there were women who actually owned their own flight training schools, aviation businesses, etc. But when World War 1 broke out, women weren't allowed to be flying. It was actually for very élite guys that got to fly. So after that, there was kind of a resistance to have women in aviation. But that was a hundred years ago. And now the main major airlines are encouraging women to come in. There are definitely openings for women right now. There are openings for men, too. There's a lot of senior folks that are retiring. So, aviation is a growing industry right now."

Wall adds, "I think that's why our goal is to educate, inspire and promote. We're not just promoting Portage and all the things that Portage has to offer. We're also promoting flight for women in general, and educating them. I think a lot of women just don't think about it as a career or even as a hobby for themselves. So, we're promoting that as something that they could do."

Oakes says it might inspire women to do more than just fly. "You can reach of the stars. It might not be aviation. You might just think, 'Oh, you can do that? Well, that means I can do anything if I put my mind to it.'"

She notes they're also looking to inspire children with draws for a free ride. "One of your local school teachers, Jordan Penner, is working with one of the University of Manitoba students to develop youth programming that will go into all the schools in this area from here to Gladstone, Morden and toward Winnipeg and Brandon, which is pretty exciting. Those youth will actually have an opportunity to get free flights. We'll have a draw where everyone will get to put their names in, and a certain limited number will actually get pulled to get a ride for free."

Wall adds, "We have a lot of children-based programs that we're organizing as well. So, we're inspiring kids. We're going to have children's activity tents where they can learn about different aircrafts to educate and inspire kids to maybe become pilots one day."

She feels Southport CEO Peggy May has been a major supporter of their organizing efforts, noting May herself seems quite excited. Oakes explains they're waiting for letters of approval from insurance companies and other agencies, so they can begin to further promote the event.

Kam BlightShe outlines other events involved. "A career and recruitment program, so the local RCMP and fire and all boy scouts, cadets and girl guides -- all those organizations are invited to come and recruit, and promote what they're doing so well in the community. And also the universities, of course, Red River College, MC College, the local Providence College, they're all invited to provide some insight. About 10,000 people are expected, and we expect them mostly to be youth and families. So, they may actually have an opportunity right there to explore ideas they get when they're at the air show. There'll be tons of RC's (remote controlled aircraft), even a robot that you can control remotely, which is pretty cool, and drones. Yeah, it's going to be pretty interesting."

RM of Portage la Prairie Reeve Kam Blight says the RM's excited. "We received a nice presentation from Jill Oakes regarding the air show that's proposed to be on by the Manitoba 99's. It's exciting to see that someone wants to hold something like that in our municipality. Southport Aerospace Centre is obviously a great location for such an event. We'll be sitting down in the near future with Peggy May, the CEO of Southport, to see if this is something that fits."