First woman pilot in Canada

 In Los Angeles in 1912, the Bryant Brothers Flying School placed an ad for a woman to teach to fly, their ulterior motive was to feature a woman pilot in their barnstorming act. Alys McKay impressed Johnny Bryant enough, having ridden a motorcycle and displaying the most enthusiasm, beat out 17 other women, and  became an accomplished pilot. She participated in a number of airshows along the west coast, setting an altitude record for a woman of 2900 feet. In July 1913 they crossed the border into Canada and performed for royal visitors in Vancouver, BC, being the first woman to fly a plane in Canada. A month later at another flying demonstration in Victoria BC, strong winds cut her flying short. Her new husband Johnny Bryant flew in similar conditions the next day. The plane suddenly went into a dive and crashed into a building, breaking his neck and killing him. She was devastated and gave up flying for a year. She resumed her career in aviation by going to work at Benoist Aircraft, where she helped construct and design aircraft, and became a flying instructor. Alys McKay Bryant died in 1954 at 74 years of age.

And there you have it, the first woman pilot in Canada wasn't even Canadian!