Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will be hosting Girls Take Flight on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 10 AM to 2 PM. This award-winning and free event features exhibitors, static aircraft displays, flight simulations, a speaker series and more, providing an opportunity to learn about science, technology and educational pathways in aviation and aerospace.
The speaker series includes senior leaders Lesley Page (Founder, Girls Take Flight); Tim Yee Lee (Aircraft Design & Development Safety Officer and Manager, Core Airworthiness, Bombardier); Lori Duthie (Executive Director, Canadian International Air Show); Captain Claire Lemiski (Assistant Chief Pilot, Porter Airlines); Lola Reid (Author and Pilot) and Major Marlene Shillingford (MMM., C.D., Air Reserve Flight Commander, 1 Wing Headquarters, Kingston Canadian Armed Forces), , plus an inspiring panel featuring RCAF Foundation Scholarship students sharing their journeys.
The event program also includes a limited number of exploration flights, giving young women ages 8 to 17 to experience what it’s like to operate a small aircraft and ride alongside a pilot on a real flight. Exploration flights are run by event partner Stolport, a fixed-base operator at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
Except for the exploration flights, activities are drop-in and open to all young people. Girls Take Flight at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is produced in partnership by PortsToronto, Nieuport Aviation, Stolport, Porter Airlines and Ornge, with participation by NAV Canada and support from Indie88.
What Attendees Can Expect
- Close-Up Aircraft Views: Get an exclusive, up-close look at various static aircraft and learn about their functionality and design.
- Inspiring Speakers: Hear from female pilots, engineers and mechanics (among others) about their journeys and achievements.
- Career Guidance: Learn about educational pathways and career opportunities in aviation and aerospace.
- Interactive Exhibits: Engage in flight simulations, aircraft engineering challenges and more.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry professionals and like-minded peers.
- Exciting prizes: To be won from our event partners.
Who Would Enjoy This
- Girls interested in aviation, aerospace, science, technology engineering and math (STEM).
- Industry professionals who want to mentor and inspire the next generation.
- Educators and parents looking to support and guide girls toward these careers.
- College and university representatives seeking to promote their aviation and aerospace programs.
- Anyone passionate about promoting diversity and representation in these fields.
Quick Facts
- Except for the exploration flights, activities are open to all young people regardless of gender, at no cost, and drop-in—no tickets needed.
- Girls Take Flight is an Ontario-wide event founded by pilot Lesley Page, with a mission to encourage a new generation of women to pursue their dreams in the dynamic and rewarding fields of aviation and aerospace, as women are still underrepresented in the industry.
- Aviation and aerospace careers are essential to many different industries, and support our economy, our security and our country’s position as a leader in innovation.
- Registration for the exploration flights is open for a limited time in September–keep an eye on our social media for announcements. Those that miss the registration window and meet eligibility requirements are encouraged to attend, as occasionally slots can become available. Availability of “rush” slots cannot be guaranteed in advance.
For more information, visit toronto.girlstakeflight.ca.
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