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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
About 150 Yellowknifers packed into the Yellowknife International Airport last Friday as the city was honoured as the most female-pilot-friendly city worldwide.

The announcement came after pilots with Trinity Helicopters flew 421 girls over Yellowknife March 10 as part of a Women of Aviation Worldwide Week competition between pilots from seven countries vying for the title to see who could fly the most girls.

"I'm just really pleased and I am so proud of the turnout and the support from the community," said organizer Kirsten Brazier.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem, Transportation Minister Dave Ramsay and Premier Bob McLeod were all on hand offering congratulations to the organizers and talking about the need to get more women into the aviation industry."

At the end of the ceremony, a large, bright pink display was unveiled at the airport featuring pictures and a description of the events that day.

Brazier, who won the award for most dedicated female pilot worldwide for her work, said she hopes the display will spread awareness for next year's event and that it will be even bigger.

"Next year when we advertise the event, they will know what it is and it won't be as hard to get people to come," Brazier said.

Van Tighem said the award was very well-deserved and congratulated everyone involved.

"I'm quite excited that we have this award. I'm not surprised and I hope that we will see a lot more career aspirations from ladies in the industry moving forward."

Mireille Goyer, founder of Women of Aviation Worldwide Week, was present at the airport to present the awards.

"(The) week is really about changing that perception and sending that understanding of how the world should be for girls and women and the way we do that is not so much by talking, but by taking action," Goyer said.

"Who can show them they can do it more than somebody who already has because if you see somebody who doesn't quite look like you do it, it's not exactly the same impact as when you see somebody who looks like you and can do it," Goyer said.

Megan Tyler also of Trinity Helicopters, was the runner up for the most dedicated female pilot worldwide award; Derrick Robinson received an award in the most supportive male pilot worldwide category while Robert Ferlisi was the first runner up.

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