International Woman’s Day

I would like to take this opportunity to wish a very special international woman’s day to my friends, my flying colleagues and to anyone who deserves recognition on this day.

I have been fortunate to have been surrounded by some of the best female role models on the planet. They have inspired me, supported me, mentored me and walked the turbulent path beside me.

I am so very proud of their accomplishements in aviation, in business, in art, in media, in love and for some, in their families. Every time they win, I win, all women win.

I would also like to take this opportunity to reflect upon some of the women in this world that are not as fortunate. I would like to remind everyone that pay equality still falls short of the mark. That being born a female in some parts of the world is considered a disgrace and that infant girls are left in the streets to die. That young girls in other parts of the world are sold into marriage and the sex trade industry.

I would like to remember that spousal abuse exist to an unacceptable degree. That 4 out of 5 women in North America will be the victim of sexual assault, often times perpetrated by trusted family members. I would also like to call attention to the fact that an epidemical number of Native American women have disappeared in northern Canada during the last three decades and the world seems happy to forget about it. A whole segment of the Canadian population is being subjugated and preyed upon without consequence.

I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate my sisters because they are incredible. I would like to celebrate all the heroines of the world that came before me and built the ladder that I stand upon. I would like to encourage every woman who can, to add another rung to the ladder so that the daughters of tomorrow can be all that closer to the summit that we all covet. I also want everyone to remember that a strikingly small percentage of women worldwide were born in the right country, under the right religion or with the right skin color. Remember them and try to help them if you can. We are the fortunate ones. Noblesse Oblige.