Scientist+Hall+of+Fame

Elizabeth Muriel Gregory MacGill was one of the strongest and most independent woman of her time. She was born in Vancouver on March 27, 1905 and grew up with her mother, Helen Gregory MacGill and father, James Henry MacGill. Elsie's father was a lawyer whereas her mother was British Columbia's first woman judge. Although there are various reasons as to why Elsie MacGill should be in the Canadian Scientist Hall of Fame, however these few reasons are the most significant.

First, Elsie graduated from the University of Toronto as the first Canadian woman to earn a degree in electrical engineering in 1927. In 1929, she was the first woman to graduate with a masters degree in Aeronautical engineering. However, before she graduated she contracted Polio. She refused to live with the idea that she would never walk again so she trained herself to walk with two large metal canes. When she received a job at Fairchild’s Aircraft’s Canadian Operations in Montreal as an assistant engineer in 1934, she continued to progress in her career and four years later in 1938, she became the first woman elected to Corporate Membership in the Engineering Institute of Canada. Later on, she was hired as Chief Aeronautical Engineer at Canada Car and Foundry where she designed her first trainer place called the "Maple Leaf Trainer II." Although she could not fly the plane herself because of the weak muscles in her legs, she flew on most of the test flights in the observers seat. In this aspect, Elsie would considerably make the Canadian Scientist Hall of Fame. Elsie persevered from the obstacles that life threw at her, and strived to be the best that she can be.

Elsie moved to Thunder Bay where The Maple Leaf was first designed and built. Even though the Maple Leaf did not meet Commonwealth Standards, it was not widely built in Canada. However, the CCF had a branch plant in Mexico where the Maple Leaf went into production for their airforce where they had excellent high-altitude performance for a trainer and which operated from 7,000 ft. This proves that Elsie was a very accomplished and successful woman. Especially because during the mid-1990's and World War II, women didn’t have many significant rights, such as freedom of speech or the right to vote, and Elsie MacGill obviously had a huge part with increasing the rights of woman today.

I believe that Elsie MacGill should be a part of the Canadian Scientist Hall of Fame because she is a role model for women of all ages. She devoted considerable time and energy to women’s organizations and also participated as a national president of the Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs from 1962 to 1964. Also, in 1967 she was named to the Royal Commission on the status of women and co-authored the article which was published in 1970. Elsie was a strong woman who fought for women’s rights, she was also hard-working when it came to getting what she wanted in her career. For example, being the first Canadian woman to receive a degree in Aeronautical engineering and Electrical Engineering and also being the first woman to serve as Technical Advisor for ICAO where she helped to draft International Air Worthiness Regulations for the design and production of Commercial Aircraft.

Elsie MacGill had an extraordinary life, changing the lives of many women still today. As always, all good things must come to an end. Elsie died on November 4, 1980 in a car accident in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Three years after her death she was put into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame, and in 1992, she became a founding inductee in the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame in Ottawa. As you can see, Elsie had more than a successful life and career, and she accomplished all of this while persevering through the terrible disease of Polio. MacGill once said: "I have received many engineering awards, but I hope I will also be remembered as an advocate for the rights of women and children." Personally, I believe she will.