Frances Phipps was a Canadian, and the first woman who reached the North Pole (on April 5, 1971).
Phipps grew up in Ottawa, Ontario as Frances Coolin. She was married to the Canadian bush pilot "Weldy" Welland Phipps, who had been her flight instructor, and the couple had nine children. Along with her husband, she founded Atlas Aviation in Resolute Bay, Nunavut,"Phipps First Woman at North Pole " . The Canadian Encyclopedia. which was at the time the most northerly charter air service in Canada."A life of adventure ends" . Northern News Service, 6 November 1996.
The Phipps couple flew together to the North Pole in a Twin Otter ski plane, to install a radar beacon and to promote northern travel.The beacon was placed to help NWT Commissioner Stu Hodgson and his party to fly with Weldy Phipps to the Pole. This mission was aborted after two attempts."Fran Phipps lived a lifelong adventure after meeting her pilot in 1946" . DAVE BROWN, Ottawa Citizen October 13, 2013 Because no woman had been to the North Pole before, Frances' trip was included in the Guinness Book of World Records.
In 1972, Fran and Weldy bought a 48-foot sailboat, and for over a decade traveled the world by sea."Couple share a sea-faring life". Palm Beach Daily News - Jun 5, 1983
Phipps died in July 2013 at New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island.
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