Image Credit: Contributed / City of Kamloops

By James Peters

Memorial Park

Plan for park honouring Snowbird Capt. Jennifer Casey near Kamloops Airport unveiled

Apr 16, 2024 | 5:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — An awe-inspiring memorial art display — a 1:1 ratio of a Royal Canadian Air Force CT-114 Tutor Snowbird — is being installed at Fulton Field Park, adjacent to the Kamloops Airport, as a tribute to fallen Royal Canadian Airforce Captain Jennifer Casey, according to a City of Kamloops press release issued on Tuesday (April 16).

Captain Casey was killed when her Snowbird jet crashed in Kamloops on May 17, 2020, during Operation Inspiration, a mission to salute those doing their part to fight the spread of COVID-19 and bring hope and inspiration to all Canadians during the early stages of the pandemic.

The tragedy dramatically impacted the entire community and created an outpouring of support from residents of Kamloops, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and neighbouring communities and Indigenous nations, says the release.

Flowers, signs, Canadian flags and personal mementos lined the fence of what would become Fulton Field Park to pay tribute to Captain Casey, the Snowbirds’ team and Captain Richard MacDougall, who was seriously injured in the crash.

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Elders from several local Indigenous communities showed support through drumming circles and prayer ceremonies at the airport perimeter.

The city has long planned to construct Fulton Field Park to commemorate John Fulton, a decorated World War II veteran killed in action in 1942, after whom the airport lands — Fulton Field — are named.

The park has been included in City plans since 2012 and gained more cultural and community significance after the tragedy in 2020.

Park plans soon included memorializing two Canadian veterans with strong ties to Kamloops.

Local artist Sarah Holliday is the creator of the memorial, art entitled ‘May She Soar.’

“We wanted her memorial to help carry on her encouraging mission,” Holliday said in the press release. “The maple leaves are meant to be a mosaic of our collective grief at the loss of Jennifer Casey, while the branches represent Canadians joining together to lift up the memory of a hero.

“The three supporting pillars are symbolic of the specific communities that rallied around this tragedy, namely the City of Kamloops (its citizens, officials, first responders, health care workers and the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc community); Captain Casey’s hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia; and the Canadian Armed Forces.”

Holliday worked closely with local metalworks company Raw Elements Design, which managed the project and fabricated and installed the monument.

“The installation features clean-cut lines, angles and a modern look, making it consistent with the formal lines of the future Fulton Park design,” Holliday said in the release. “The shape and sideways lean of the plane resemble a Snowbird high in the sky performing aeronautical maneuvers, which is meant to celebrate the relationship and history between the Kamloops Airport and the Royal Canadian Air Force.”

Fulton Field Park, home of the Jennifer Casey Memorial, is under construction and will be completed later this year.

At that point, residents will be invited to visit the park and enjoy its amenities, including the art piece, a multi-use pathway, tree varieties, rocking Adirondack chairs and accessible picnic tables.

During construction, residents are reminded that the park remains closed as crews work to finish the project in conjunction with the Tranquille Gateway Improvements Project.