Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

Snowbirds to boost morale amid COVID-19 with cross-country tour

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Apr, 2020 11:16 PM
  • Snowbirds to boost morale amid COVID-19 with cross-country tour

The Canadian Armed Forces is deploying its famed Snowbirds aerobatics team on a cross-country tour aimed at boosting morale as Canadians continue to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The plan to unleash the team and have its nine-plane formation fly over Canadian cities starting this weekend follows a similar initiative south of the border, where the U.S. military's own flight demonstration teams have been flying in honour of front-line workers and first responders.

Some have criticized the Pentagon's decision to launch such a tour, given the mounting death toll from COVID-19 in the U.S. and what some have said are more pressing needs, such as getting protective equipment for health-care workers.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the Snowbirds' cross-Canada tour during his daily news conference Wednesday, describing the plan to deploy the red, white and blue Tutor jets as an effort to "salute Canadians doing their part to stop the spread of COVID-19.

As we watch the Snowbirds fly over our homes, let's remember that we are all in this together." The team, which is based in Moose Jaw, Sask., will conduct its first flyover in Nova Scotia before heading west.

Exact details on when and where the Snowbirds will perform are expected in the coming days, though officials have said the team will focus on hospitals and residential neighbourhoods.

Some Canadians took to social media on Wednesday to ask whether the flyovers are necessary, given many people are continuing to struggle and die from COVID-19. That echoed criticisms of the U.S. military's decision to deploy its Blue Angels and Thunderbirds teams.

"We would be flying regardless," the Snowbirds wrote on their official Twitter account in response to criticisms about the planned tour. "Now we're just spreading the love (from a distance of course) instead of saying hello to the same farmers around Moose Jaw."

The Snowbirds initially paused their training in March because of COVID-19 and delayed the start of their flying season, which was to begin in June. Now the team will spend two days at CFB Moose Jaw flying refresher and training missions before starting the tour.

The Snowbirds season ended early last year after one of the team's Tutor aircraft crashed prior to an air show in the U.S. state of Georgia. Capt. Kevin Domon-Grenier sustained minor injuries when he ejected from the plane, which crashed into a farmer’s field. No one else was hurt.

MORE National ARTICLES

Officials set to release estimates of the extent of COVID-19 spread in B.C.

British Columbia is preparing to release its latest estimates of how the new coronavirus may spread through the province over the coming months. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, Health Minister Adrian Dix and health ministry officials release the epidemiological modelling later today.

Officials set to release estimates of the extent of COVID-19 spread in B.C.

Chief public health officer's decisions must be scrutinized: Scheer refuses to express confidence in Tam

Chief public health officer's decisions must be scrutinized: Scheer refuses to express confidence in Tam
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer refused Thursday to express confidence in Canada's chief public health officer, arguing the need to question her decisions around the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the reasons Parliament must resume. The four main parties in the House of Commons are locked in negotiations to determine if and how Parliament resumes on Monday, the deadline set for it to reconvene following its adjournment in mid-March.

Chief public health officer's decisions must be scrutinized: Scheer refuses to express confidence in Tam

Vancouver Aquarium could face closure due to COVID-19

The Vancouver Aquarium says it is facing bankruptcy and could be forced to close permanently if it can't arrange emergency funding. A statement from the facility says animal care and habitat costs for 70,000 animals exceed $1 million a month but revenues have dropped to almost zero since the COVID-19 outbreak forced it close last month.    

Vancouver Aquarium could face closure due to COVID-19

Fluevog designs 'The Dr. Henry' shoe inspired by B.C. provincial health officer

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is adding another title to her long list of credentials — shoe muse. John Fluevog Shoes is launching a limited edition shoe called "The Dr. Henry," inspired by the public health official. The Vancouver designer says the pink-heeled tribute was made with Henry's blessing, and all proceeds from a pre-sale set to begin next week will be donated to Food Banks BC to support the fight against COVID-19.

Fluevog designs 'The Dr. Henry' shoe inspired by B.C. provincial health officer

Crews make progress on wildfire near Squamish, B.C.

The BC Wildfire Service says crews are making good progress on a ground fire that's so far charred one square kilometre of bush and trees in the Upper Squamish Valley. Marg Drysdale, an information officer with the Coastal Fire Centre, says calm weather has kept the fire's activity low Thursday afternoon as 37 firefighters and three helicopters work to get it under control.

Crews make progress on wildfire near Squamish, B.C.

Vancouver mayor says B.C. relief not enough to ward off layoffs, service cuts

Vancouver mayor says B.C. relief not enough to ward off layoffs, service cuts
Vancouver's mayor says community relief measures introduced Thursday by the British Columbia government are not enough to prevent city layoffs and service cuts. Kennedy Stewart said offering municipalities tax-payment delays as well as borrowing and debt initiatives is helpful but won't eliminate financial troubles related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vancouver mayor says B.C. relief not enough to ward off layoffs, service cuts