Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By James Peters

Snowbird Crash

Memorial to Snowbirds at Kamloops Airport carefully removed

May 29, 2020 | 11:27 AM

KAMLOOPS — Members of the Rocky Mountain Rangers (RMR) teamed with staff from the City of Kamloops and Kamloops Airport Friday (May 29) to begin removing a makeshift memorial erected at the airport’s east fence.

The memorial arose in the wake of a horrific crash in Brocklehurst May 17 that killed Canadian Snowbird Capt. Jennifer Casey and injured Capt. Richard MacDougall.

Items being removed included flags, handmade tributes and messages of support.

“Most of everything is moving to Moose Jaw, to 431 Squadron where the Snowbirds train,” said RMR Capt. Elijah Macaluso. “From there, it’s going to be divided into things for Capt. Casey’s family, things for Capt. MacDougall and then things for the squadron in general.”

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“I’m excited that we’re going to get the opportunity to share what Kamloops has put together with the rest of our family in the Canadian Armed Forces.”

A fourth group of material, intended for the neighbourhood of Brocklehurst and local first responders, will remain in the community. Macaluso says a method of displaying that material has yet to be decided upon.

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

Rangers reservists helped provide support as forces investigators looked into the circumstances of the crash in the days that followed. Macaluso says Kamloops showed its character with its compassionate response.

“You see the memorial, but things that the media maybe hasn’t seen is the support that our members received on the scene – not only on the day of, but in the weeks to follow. Members of the community came together to make food, provide drinks and provide moral support,” said Macaluso. “Words won’t express what I feel.”