(Image Credit: Mark Brett / Canadian Forces Snowbirds / Facebook)

By James Peters

Meritorious Service Medal

Capt. Jennifer Casey, killed in 2020 Snowbird crash in Kamloops, given special recognition by Governor General

Oct 6, 2025 | 2:22 PM

OTTAWA — Governor General Mary Simon has bestowed special recognition on a group of Canadian service members — including a member of the Canadian Snowbirds who died in Kamloops five years ago.

Capt. Jennifer Casey was posthumously given a Meritorious Service Medal Monday (Oct. 6) in Ottawa.

As public affairs officer for the Snowbirds, Casey was the driving force behind Operation Inspiration, which had the team performing aerial demonstrations across Canada during the imposition of COVID-19 measures.

The tour was cut short on May 17, 2020 when one of the team’s CT-114 Tutor aircraft struck a bird while taking off from Kamloops Airport, causing it to crash into a Brocklehurst neighbourhood. Casey was killed and Capt. Richard MacDougall, the pilot, was seriously injured.

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A memorial sculpture, ‘May She Soar’, now stands near Fulton Field in tribute to Casey.

In recognizing Casey, the Governor General’s office noted her use of social media to spread a positive message on behalf of the Snowbirds during the pandemic.

Casey’s lifelong friend Morgan Muise accepted the honour on behalf of Casey’s family.