'We all miss it': Snowbirds alumni celebrate 50-year reunion in Moose Jaw
'We all miss it': Snowbirds alumni celebrate 50-year reunion in Moose Jaw
Hundreds of past and present members of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds have gathered in Moose Jaw to celebrate the squadron’s 50-year reunion.
The reunion, which was initially planned for October 2020 and delayed due to COVID-19, coincides with the end of the Snowbirds’ 52nd season.
“The city has really done a lot to welcome us back. A lot of us started our families here and got married here. So it’s always great to come back to Moose Jaw,” said Ret. Lt. Col. Dan Dempsey.
“We have our own families and then we have our snowbird families and that’s what we’re welcoming back this weekend.”
Dempsey did two tours with the Snowbirds. He flew Snowbird 9 in 1980 and 1981 before becoming team leader and commanding officer in 1989 and 1990.
Outside of his tours, he was a RCAF fighter pilot in Europe and instructed other pilots in Moose Jaw. His military career spans 23 years.
He formed the Snowbird Alumni Association in 2013, which is the group that organized the 50-year reunion to reunite with past members and support the current team.
“We all miss it. But we were lucky. We did it. A lot of people don’t get a chance to do that,” he said.
“A lot of my team is back here for this reunion … You can just feel the euphoria in the room. You hear the laughter and all the stories come out.”
A number of private events are being held over the weekend to mark the occasion.
The current Snowbirds performed a 30-minute flypast over the city on Friday as dozens of alumni, honourary members and their families watched from the rooftop of the Grant Hall Hotel.
“It was a pretty special moment,” said the current Snowbirds commanding officer, Lt. Col. Denis Bandet.
“I think you have to remember when you’re on the team you have to remember you’re just borrowing the suit and you’re paying respect to the people who came before you.”
The City of Moose Jaw honoured the alumni by decorating businesses and homes in red and white—an ode to the Tutor jet and the ones who have flown it.
“Truly they’re an iconic team that represents Canadian values. They’ve been inspirational the last two years as they’ve flown across Canada,” said Fraser Tolmie, former Moose Jaw mayor and current Member of Parliament.
The reunion flypast marked the official end of the Snowbirds 2022 season
As Joe Biden makes his first trip to Canada as president of the United States, CTVNews.ca is offering live coverage of the leader's visit. Follow our live blog on CTVNews.ca and the CTV News app for the latest updates.
U.S. President Joe Biden has arrived on Parliament Hill for a jam-packed day of events as part of his first official visit to Canada since taking office.
Ontario’s self-described crypto king was allegedly abducted, tortured, and beaten for days as his kidnappers looked to solicit millions in ransom, his father told a court in December.
W5 investigates aging asbestos pipes across Canada and the potential health hazards if it ends up in your tap water. Watch W5's 'Something in the Water' Saturday at 7 p.m. on CTV.
An Ontario couple has filed a request with the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) to appoint a new police force to investigate the death of their 17-year-old son Benjamin, who died during a hockey team-bonding event in September 2019.
Canada's restaurant industry is bracing for the biggest jump in the country's alcohol excise duty in more than 40 years, spurring warnings the tax hike could force some bars and restaurants out of business.
The idea of using firing squads is making a comeback in the U.S. Idaho lawmakers passed a bill this week seeking to add the state to the list of those authorizing firing squads, currently Mississippi, Utah, Oklahoma and South Carolina.
The United States' first lady will be given a sweeping introduction to Canadian sports culture in Ottawa today as Sophie Gregoire Trudeau takes Jill Biden to the curling rink.
An alleged victim of a former staff member of Legacy Christian Academy can now be identified after she successfully petitioned in court to have a publication ban lifted.
Many residents across Saskatchewan had a prominent view of the Aurora Borealis also known as the Northern Lights Thursday night and Friday morning and are sharing the pictures they captured with CTV News.
Manitoba’s labour force is growing at a rate to supply enough workers for available positions into 2026, according to the province’s labour market outlook.
Canada's restaurant industry is bracing for the biggest jump in the country's alcohol excise duty in more than 40 years, spurring warnings the tax hike could force some bars and restaurants out of business.
The Calgary Police Service confirms charges have been laid against a driver in connection with Thursday's crash of a semi-truck into the 32nd Avenue N.E. overpass along Deerfoot Trail.
With Calgary Board of Education students set to kick off spring break once the final bell rings Friday afternoon, some Calgarians are eager to leave the country in pursuit of warmer weather with their families.
Beaumont RCMP are advising the public that officers are currently on scene at École Secondaire Beaumont Composite High School after a threat was made against the school online.
Canada's restaurant industry is bracing for the biggest jump in the country's alcohol excise duty in more than 40 years, spurring warnings the tax hike could force some bars and restaurants out of business.
Ontario’s self-described crypto king was allegedly abducted, tortured, and beaten for days as his kidnappers looked to solicit millions in ransom, his father told a court in December.
Toronto Coun. Josh Matlow broke council’s code of conduct by criticizing two public employees on Twitter before retaliating against one of them after she filed a complaint, the city’s integrity commissioner has found.
With fares set to increase in a matter of days, a new report has found that Torontonians are already paying more than residents in most other cities for transit when compared to average incomes.
U.S. President Joe Biden has arrived on Parliament Hill for a jam-packed day of events as part of his first official visit to Canada since taking office.
U.S. President Joe Biden has arrived on Parliament Hill for a jam-packed day of events as part of his first official visit to Canada since taking office.
A series of ancient landslides have been “reawakened” in British Columbia's Cariboo region, costing hundreds of millions in federal disaster assistance funds and prompting warnings that logging is connected to the problem.
Canada and the United States are negotiating a deal that could see asylum seekers turned back at irregular border crossings across the border, including Roxham Road in Quebec.
For the first time, the owner of a building in Old Montreal has responded to questions about the fire — through his lawyer — addressing allegations that the building was unsafe.
A first-of-its kind study in British Columbia suggests salmon hatcheries could improve survival rates by optimizing the weight of the juvenile fish and the timing of their release.
A Victoria man’s life of crime has turned into one of survival, hope and advocacy amid ongoing conversations in the community about how best to tackle public safety matters.
The Tim Houston PC government remains firm in their promise they'll fix the health-care system by spending more taxpayer money on health than any previous government before.
Ontario’s self-described crypto king was allegedly abducted, tortured, and beaten for days as his kidnappers looked to solicit millions in ransom, his father told a court in December.
The ‘Catch the Ace’ jackpot is still up for grabs in Hagersville. There was no winner Thursday night so the total prize money is now an estimated $1,526,067.
An uncommon phenomenon lit up the skies across southern Ontario on Thursday night, including in Waterloo region where the aurora borealis – also known as the northern lights - shone bright enough to see with the naked eye.
