Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform final hometown show before extended pause

The Moose Jaw Airshow, which took place on Saturday at the Moose Jaw Municipal Airport, included the Snowbirds and several other high-flying acts. Saturday's event was the Snowbirds' final hometown event before an extended pause. (Gareth Dillistone / CTV News)

Saturday was a bittersweet day for Moose Jaw residents, as well as aircraft lovers, as the Canadian Forces Snowbirds took part in their final hometown event before an extended pause.

The show started to get underway around 12 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Municipal Airport, with the Canadian Armed Forces SkyHawks Parachute Team descending from the sky.

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After a rough landing, one parachutist had to be placed on a stretcher and into an ambulance. While on the stretcher, the parachutist signaled a clapping action towards those who were in the audience. No update has been given further.

The main events took place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., with various formations of entrances coming from some of the country’s most talented pilots. As a city with deep Snowbird history, it was an emotional day for those who live in the area.

On May 19, the federal government announced the Snowbirds will be temporarily grounded after the 2026 season, until the team’s aging Tutor jets are replaced with the new CT-157 Siskin II.

“Today, it’s important just to be out here and support the team,” said Colin Kunkel, an honorary Snowbird nominated in 2023. “Just showing how much the team means to not only the people of Moose Jaw, but as Saskatchewan and Canada as a whole.”

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The Snowbirds have performed at air shows across North America from May to October each year and have regularly flown overseas - performing nearly 2,900 official shows with another 1,000 fly-bys.

Saturday’s event was the 2,889th show in the Snowbirds’ 55 years of history.

“The core values of the snowbirds are tradition, professionalism, excellence has always been a hallmark for the team, that really hasn’t changed,” said Kunkel. “As far as the legacy of the snowbirds, I feel they’re extremely important, they’re really woven into the identity of Canada.”

Saturday’s show is expected to be the last hometown show until the replacement of the fleet.

“They are a national symbol just as much as any of the other ones are,” said Melissa MacLean, a volunteer with No Pause, a group that formed in May to push back against the 2030 delay.

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“They’re easily recognizable here at home and around the world, there’s lots of memories tied to them. They teach about teamwork and commitment, and it’s such a strong symbol with so many different meanings to so many different people. To lose that for the next several years is probably the worst part.”

No Pause started as a postcard campaign, with the group planning to distribute them in Moose Jaw then sent to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office. No Pause is asking the Canadian government to look at alternatives in the transition period.

MacLean said there’s been 25,000 postcards sent out, and they are printing 10,000 more. Her grandfather was a pilot in Moose Jaw for many years, and her father in law was a pilot in the Air Force.

“It’s part of Moose Jaw’s story, being home of the Snowbirds, so it’s a piece of our family that’s going to be missing for quite some time,” she said. “Obviously, when the new planes come into action we will welcome them back with open arms. We’re extremely proud to have 15 Wing here.”