of Canada Snowbirds will ascend to heaven Moose Jaw, Sask., on Saturday for Tutor jet’s final hometown performance before the fleet is withdrawn from service.
In May, federal Defense Minister David McGuinty announced the aerial performers CT-114 Tutor aircraft are being replaced with CT-157 Siskin IIs and the fleet is being temporarily grounded after this summer for the procurement of new aircraft.
“This season is, honestly, very special. The best analogy I can come up with is watching your kids go to college. Part of you is sad to see them go, just like we’re going to be sad to see the tutor go,” said Lt. Col. Guillaume Paquet, commanding officer of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds.
“The positive side is that we will get new planes.”
Paquet said being able to give back to the Moose Jaw community, who have supported the Snowbirds for 55 years, “is a privilege.”
Dan Dempsey was the commanding officer of the squadron in 1989 and 1990. He was a Snowbird in 1979 and 1980.
“The legacy of the Snowbirds is what they provide to the country (as) an inspiration and pride,” said Dempsey, who described the team as “unifying.”
“No one flies the Canadian flag better than the Snowbirds or, more importantly, in as many places as the Snowbirds. And if we lose the Snowbirds, we lose the ability to influence young men and women at a young age.”
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He said he believes the Tutor planes are repairable, or at least could make it to the early 2030s, when Ottawa estimates the new plane will be ready for takeoff.
Former Moose Jaw mayor and president of the city’s flying club, Roger Blager told Global News he is optimistic about the future of the Snowbirds, even if the decision to put them down was unexpected.
“To have the last thing come down as quickly as it did, it was a shock,” Blager said, adding that he had heard community buzz before the May announcement.
“There was some discussion that accelerated the actual announcement with McGuinty (keeping his feet) on the ground and making it official, but there was speculation that it was going to happen,” Blager said.
“People thought it was misinformation, but sure enough, it turned out to be true. And it’s going to have an impact on the community.”
Seeing the Snowbirds aloft evokes feelings of national pride, he said.
“I don’t think I know anybody, either in private or military aviation, in Canada that the Snowbirds weren’t some kind of influence,” he said, describing the performers as “very important and inspirational” to Moose Jaw residents.
“I have absolute faith that they will come back, but most people here don’t. There’s a lot of skepticism.”
The Snowbirds first performance in Moose Jaw was July 11, 1971. The team has been based at 15 Wing Moose Jaw ever since.
At the news conference announcing the temporary performance hiatus, McGuinty said the team will remain at that base when the new aircraft arrive in the early 2030s.
“The announcement came out and it was a little bit of a shock to us here in Moose Jaw,” said Melissa Maclean, a Moose Jaw resident and member of the Keep Them Flying movement. Her grandfather was also a pilot at the base at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, where she met Global News.
Keep Them Flying is a campaign created by locals to keep Snowbirds flying during the transition period between aircraft. The group is calling on concerned citizens to send a postcard or email to Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Maclean said the original plan was to distribute postcards in the community, but as word spread, more Canadians wanted to help.
More than 25,000 postcards have been distributed so far, she said.
“It’s just one of those things. When people see the Snowbirds, they think Canada. And across Canada it’s always been that way,” Maclean said, comparing the Royal Canadian Air Force performers to other iconic Canadian symbols — including maple syrup, beavers and poutine.
“Whether it’s an air show or a fly-by, when people look up, they see them. They’re easily recognizable. Not just in Canada, but around the world, and there’s a connection to that. People get excited when they see (the snowbirds).
Tickets for The Pimp Jets’ last hometown show in Moose Jaw sold out in minutes. The Snowbirds will finish their scheduled shows this summer before the plane is officially grounded.
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
