May She Soar tribute to Capt. Jenn Casey a labour of love for Kamloops artist

“It was just this feeling of dread, like, ‘Oh, no. What is happening now?’ Because we were already suffering under COVID,” Holliday said. “She (Casey) was a really inspiring woman.”

The local artist Holliday is the creator of May She Soar, a full-size replica of a Royal Canadian Air Force CT-114 Tutor Snowbird that is being installed at Fulton Field Park near the Kamloops Airport.

Design elements include metallic maple leaves and branches that represent Canadians rallying in collective grief to honour the memory of a hero, along with three pillars symbolic of communities that offered support after the fatal crash — Kamloops (its citizens, officials, first responders, health care workers and the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc community), the Canadian Armed Forces and Casey’s hometown, Halifax.

Holliday worked in concert with Raw Elements Design, the metal fabricators who did their best to make her project sing.

“She’s incredibly talented,” said Owen Jones, co-owner of Raw Elements Design. “It’s been a wild ride, just so much pressure and so much riding on every single hour of every day.”

Casey was flying on a mission to inspire all Canadians amid the pandemic and salute those fighting the spread of COVID-19.

Captain Richard MacDougall was seriously injured in the wreck, which the RCAF reported was caused by an engine stall that followed a bird strike.

Fulton Field Park has been in city plans since 2012. The art monument was added to plans after the crash. The park, which will include a multi-use pathway, trees, chairs and a picnic table, is scheduled to be complete later this month, according to city capital projects manager Matt Kachel.

“I’m in awe of the artist and fabricator that made that,” Kachel said, glancing back at the replica Snowbird. “A lot of hard work went into that.”

by Marty Hastings

May She Soar tribute to Capt. Jenn Casey a labour of love for Kamloops artist

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