Richard I. Bourgeois-Doyle

This is the first full biography on Elsie MacGill, who was a remarkable individual. Before I met the author, Dick, I had never heard of Elsie MacGill, which as a Canadian is quite astonishing. Elsie was born in Vancouver in 1905 and schooled at the University of Toronto and MIT. As she was graduating from MIT with a masters in aeronautical engineering, she was stricken with polio, but she still went on to become the world's first female aeronautical engineer; she supervised the production of the Hawker Hurricanes at Can-Car (in now Thunder Bay), which had a great influence on the outcome of the second world war. Elsie was also involved in women's issues, and some of her viewpoints on issues such as taxation and abortion are now part of Canadian legislation. It`s an astonishment that I have lived in Canada for 46 years and had never heard of this outstanding individual. She's a role model for young girls, even today, and it's absolutely wonderful that this book is now available for everyone to hear her story. It's a book about family values and accomplishments throughout life's struggles. You can't help but be touched by her story… (meer)