This Official First Day Cover (OFDC) celebrates Canada’s rich aviation history. It depicts Violet Milstead who is featured in 1 of 5 stamp designs from our Canadians in Flight (Part 2) issue.

Good to know

Official First Day Cover, cancelled in Colborne, Ontario
Celebrates the historic contributions Violet (Vi) Milstead (1919-2014)
Part of the 2022 Canadians in Flight issue

About the Canadians in Flight issue

Brave Canadians took to the skies when airplane flight was still in its early stages. As a result, Canada has enjoyed many “firsts” in aviation and aeronautics, with several Canadians making significant and far-reaching contributions to the field. This second edition of the Canadians in Flight series honours the people, planes and technology that have allowed Canada’s reputation for innovation to soar.

About Violet (Vi) Milstead

One of Canada’s first female bush pilots, Toronto-born Violet (Vi) Milstead (1919-2014) earned her private pilot’s licence in 1939. She then obtained her commercial licence and instructor’s rating and taught at Toronto’s Barker Field until aviation fuel became rationed during the World War II. Milstead joined Britain’s Air Transport Auxiliary, ferrying military aircraft between the factories and front-line squadrons. Over her 28 months with the civilian organization, she logged more than 600 hours and flew 47 types of aircraft from single-engine fighters to large multi-engine bombers. Among her many honours, Milstead received the Amelia Earhart Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. She was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame and a Member of the Order of Canada.

About the design

This OFDC features a greyscale photograph of Violet Milstead in a de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk. A corner of Milstead's 1945 flight log is superimposed over the image. The affixed stamp was cancelled in Colborne, Ontario, where Milstead was a long-time resident and features a greyscale image of the pilot in uniform with her name written in bright red.

Product # 414203131

Canadians in Flight – Violet Milstead: Official First Day Cover