Girls Fly Too in Abbotsford

The Sky’s No Limit – She Is Anything is a free event. It features airplanes, helicopters, emergency vehicles and flying opportunities at the Abbotsford Airport.

What makes the Sky’s No Limit – She Is Anything event quite special is the partnership between Canada and America aimed at enhancing gender and cultural diversity in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Admission to the event is free.

This article contains the following information about the She Is Anything event:

Abbotsford Airport’s She Is Anything

The Sky’s No Limit – She Is Anything event is the largest diversity outreach event in the world, encompassing the aerospace, aviation, defence, and marine industries. The event was previously called The Sky’s No Limit – Girls Fly Too until the second part was rebranded as She Is Anything.

The event strives to inspire women to consider a future career not just in aviation but also in the aerospace, marine and defence industries. Since launching, She Is Anything has reached over 160,000 women and girls across Canada, including giving more than 14,000 participants their first-ever helicopter flight.

The organization runs three main initiatives. The Sky’s No Limit – She Is Anything. This IS You!, which provides smaller, hands-on STEM experiences year-round. Finally, Project STEM Girl is a new program currently in development.

The overall mission focuses on closing gender gaps in technical industries where women remain underrepresented. Programs are open to all ages and backgrounds and rely entirely on volunteers and community partners.

Free Helicopter Flights

One of the best parts about She Is Anything is that all their events are free! The only activities that aren’t all-inclusive are the free flights. They are exclusive to first-time female fliers. That includes girls as well as women of all ages. Folks who are both eligible and interested have two ways of earning a free flight.

First, eligible attendees can participate in social media challenges and promote the event, with the prize being a free flight. The second option is to go directly to She Is Anything to obtain a flyer describing the event. A treasure map is usually included in each flyer, and people need to go to the locations listed on it. Folks can get verified for visiting each place, and women and girls can use the completed map as a passport to board a free flight.

Note: The free flights have limited capacities. People are also chosen on a first-come, first-served basis. Unless you win your flight, after completing your passport map, you have to join the lineup. Government-issued photo ID is required, and participants (or their guardians) must sign a consent form.

Inside a Military Transport Plane — Inside a Military Transport Carrier

When is the Event?

The Sky’s No Limit – She Is Anything takes place over two days in April 2026. The first day is Saturday, April 25th, and the second day is Sunday, April 26th. The gate opens at 8:30 am and remains open until 6:00 pm. Official event hours are between 9:00 am and 5:30 pm both days. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome, not just females interested in flying.

Where Does She Is Anything Take Place?

The Sky’s No Limit – She Is Anything event takes place at the Abbotsford International Airport. The airport terminal’s address is 30440 Liberator Avenue in Abbotsford. That’s where you’ll find the airport’s Arrival and Departure gates. The event, however, doesn’t take place at or near the terminal!

The actual entrance to the She Is Anything event is near the Abbotsford International Airshow in the summer, at 1595 Townline Road. It can be tricky to find.

From the terminal, drive north along Mt. Lehman Road, turn right onto Marshall Road, and then right again onto Townline. On Townline Road, signs direct people to the entrance (it’s an area that is not usually open to the general public).

To get to the Abbotsford Airport, if coming from Vancouver, head east along the Trans-Canada Highway. Take exit #83 to merge onto Mt. Lehman Road, and the airport can be reached within minutes. People coming from further east in the Fraser Valley can also take the Highway, but get off at exit #87. They can then merge onto Clearbrook Road and soon arrive at the airport.

US Military at Abbotsford Airport

What to Expect

After driving into the airport via the Townline Road entrance, you’ll park your car. The first thing you’ll likely see is a number of food trucks. From there, you’ll head towards the airfield.

On the tarmac, you’ll see rows of small planes as well as a few giant aircraft. It’s an impressive sight! Only at the Abbotsford International Airshow are there more planes on the ground for people to see and admire.

At the event, you can expect to see military personnel, search-and-rescue workers, police officers, and firefighters. In 2024, there was also a NASA Astronaut to talk to!

When we went previously, we were surprised at how many planes there were for people to see and climb aboard. There was a long lineup for the free flights for women and girls, and for people wanting to climb up the giant fire truck ladder. There were no lineups, however, to board most of the planes.

In addition to a wide variety of airplanes, there are also helicopters, police vehicles and at least one fire truck most years. There are also lots of people who can tell you all about careers in a variety of related industries.

If you like airplanes, helicopters, military things, and vehicles with sirens, this is a fabulous event! There is so much to see and do, and all of it is free! It’s a lot like the Abbotsford Airshow, but without the cost, crowds, fireworks and stunt shows.

Military Helicopter

Event Schedule

The 2026 schedule is yet to be confirmed. Below is the 2024 schedule for your reference, as the 2026 event will likely follow a similar pattern.

Saturday: Day 1

9:00 am: Free flights, hands-on and interactive activities start
10:00 am: Highlight activity
11:00 am: Speeches and opening ceremony
12:00 pm: Highlight activity
2:00 pm: Highlight activity
5:30 pm: End of the day

Sunday: Day 2

9:00 am: Free flights, hands-on and interactive activities start
10:00 am: Highlight activity
12:00 pm: Highlight activity
2:00 pm: Highlight activity
5:30 pm: End of the event

She Is Anything Video

Check out the video below to get a good sense of the She Is Anything event. The footage is from 2021. As you can see, participants get the chance to tour the insides of various planes. There are opportunities to meet and chat with people working in aviation and other industries, too!

Tips & Advice

Below are some suggestions and extra information to help you make the most of your Sky’s No Limit – She Is Anything experience.

TIP #1: Be sure to read our note above about where the event takes place. It’s at the Abbotsford Airport, but not actually near the main terminal.

TIP #2: You don’t have to book your visit in advance. You can just show up on the day, and admission is free.

TIP #3: If you like airplanes, then go to this event if you can. It provides an exceptional opportunity to learn about planes and careers in aviation and related industries.

TIP #4: The event isn’t just for girls. It’s for everyone. Males don’t qualify for the free flights, but they can enjoy pretty much everything else.

TIP #5: Go even on a rainy day! If you do, you’ll find even fewer crowds and lineups. On a miserable day, you’ll have even more time to sit in the cockpits and ask questions.

TIP #6: If coming from Metro Vancouver, don’t forget that gas is usually cheaper in Abbotsford and other parts of the Fraser Valley. Remember to fill up your tank while you’re out there.