They said she couldn’t fly in a jet because her "female parts would be damaged."
“It was quite a thrill breaking the sound barrier at 100 feet, climbing straight up, and doing rolls and loops above the clouds.”
They said she couldn't complete the same basic training.
They said she couldn’t work on the operations staff.
They said she couldn't work in Intelligence.
They said she couldn’t work overseas.
They said many things.
She proved them wrong.
On one course, an instructor threatened to resign rather than accept a woman in his classroom.
When she finished first in class, he had the staff review all the results. When they found no cheating or academic misconduct, he accepted her. Only then.
And then he apologized.
They said she couldn’t work overseas because as a single woman, she would be vulnerable to blackmail by the Soviets.
Naturally, she went to Germany to be the Chief Intelligence Analyst during the Gulf War.
The Cold War.
The Gulf War.
She served at NORAD during 9/11.
Leader. Trailblazer.
She overcame discrimination, sexual harassment, physical assault, ignorance, prejudice, and chauvinism to fight for Canada.
She fought to fight for Canada.
Lieutenant-Colonel Susan Beharriell proved them wrong.