In the aviation world, some paths are straight forward but others take different paths.  For Major Nadine Dale, a Saskatchewan-born engineer now stationed at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, the journey has been demanding with a number of curves in the road, but ultimately rewarding she says.  It is a journey that has recently earned her one of the highest honours in her field: the Northern Lights Award in Engineering.

The Northern Lights Aero Foundation (NLAF) announced the 2026 recipients earlier this year, recognizing Canadian women who have made significant contributions to the aviation and aerospace industries. The foundation, which is dedicated to promoting and supporting women within these sectors, will present Major Dale with her award at the NLAF Gala, held at the Pearson Convention Centre in Brampton on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

For Major Dale, the recognition is a moment of deep professional and personal reflection.

“I feel incredibly honoured to be recognized by the Northern Lights Aero Foundation,” Major Dale said. “This particular award is especially meaningful because it is named for Elsie MacGill, herself a pioneering Canadian engineer who worked in aviation during the Second World War.”

MacGill, known as the “Queen of the Hurricanes,” was the first woman to earn a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering in Canada. To be counted among her successors is, for Major Dale, a humbling experience.

“There are so many remarkable women working throughout Canada’s aviation and aerospace industries, and to be counted among them is incredibly humbling,” she added. “Personally, it also gives me an opportunity to reflect on all of the people who encouraged and supported me throughout my career. Professionally, I hope this recognition helps show young women there are so many opportunities available to them in aviation and engineering close to home.”

Major Dale’s path to becoming a leader in aerospace engineering began long before her current posting at 15 Wing. Born in Creelman, Saskatchewan, she developed a fascination with aerodynamics while participating in Air Cadets as a twelve-year-old. She earned her glider and private pilot’s licences in Regina and spent formative teenage years flying gliders in the skies over Moose Jaw.

When her eyesight prevented her from pursuing a career as a military pilot, she pivoted toward engineering, a move that eventually led her to Carleton University and a distinguished career in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Looking back, she views what she calls her “side steps” as the most vital components of her development. After finishing her engineering degree, she joined the Army as an Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME) Officer.

“At the time, I didn’t necessarily see that as moving me closer to my original goal of working in aviation, but it turned out to be one of the most important experiences of my career,” she explained. “My time in the Army really shaped my leadership style and how I approach problem-solving, planning, and working with teams. Looking back, that sidestep wasn’t really a detour at all; it gave me skills and experiences that I still rely on today.”

Her operational roles, including deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq solidified her perspective. Whether she was working with the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar or managing helicopter maintenance on the CH-146 Griffon in Iraq, the main lesson remained consistent: engineering is, at its heart, about the people.

“Today, I try to approach engineering decisions by considering not only the technical solution but also the operators, maintainers, and others who may be affected by those decisions,” she said.

Major Dale is now applying that philosophy to her latest chapter in working with the iconic Canadian Forces Snowbirds at 15 Wing Moose Jaw. It is a homecoming that is very important, bringing her back to the province where she first fell in love with aviation.

“It’s especially meaningful because some of my earliest experiences in aviation happened here,” she noted. “After years of working throughout Canada and deploying overseas, it’s wonderful to be able to continue working in the aerospace industry while also being closer to family.”

Her role with the Snowbirds comes at a pivotal, transformative time for the team. While the aircraft are currently grounded for a period of transition, Major Dale views the challenge with optimism. She sees it as a rare opportunity to preserve a national capability while the organizational culture needs to change.

“The exciting challenge now is to make sure we retain that expertise and institutional knowledge while preparing for the future,” she said. “We will need to develop new engineering and maintenance programs, training and support systems. For me, being part of building that next chapter is incredibly exciting.”

Central to the Northern Lights Aero Foundation’s mission is mentorship, a practice Major Dale champions in both her professional and personal life. She credits her success to the many mentors who offered guidance and pushed her to think critically.

When asked what advice she would give to a young girl in Moose Jaw today, who might be standing exactly where she was at twelve years old, Major Dale offers a practical perspective.

“My best advice would be to not wait for the conditions to be perfect before pursuing something you want to do,” she said. “In engineering and in life, sometimes you’ll only have 80 per cent of the information or solution you think you need. If you wait until you have 100 per cent certainty before making a decision, an opportunity may pass you by.

“My career can be demanding, so spending time in nature helps me slow down, recharge, and reconnect with the environment around me,” she said.

As she prepares to head to Brampton to accept her award, Major Dale remains focused.  Her career stands as a testament to the idea that the best paths aren’t always the ones we initially map out but turn out to be right where we should be at the right time.

By Joan Ritchie

Moose Jaw Express