Barrie Airshow takes flight bringing big boost to local economy
Thousands of onlookers had their eyes on the skies as the Barrie Airshow, featuring the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, took flight Saturday.
People crowded the shores along Kempenfelt Bay throughout the afternoon to see fan favourites, including the famous Snowbirds.
The group consists of 24 individuals who undergo intense training for the aerial performance.
"Developing the show, working on their skills to fly tutor jets and then they train in Moosejaw, and then they go to Comox. They practice in Comox for about a month to solidify the show," said Capt. Philip Rochon, public affairs officer with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds.
"Every day, they're perfecting the show. So, once they get the maneuvers down, the different shows they do - the high show, the low show, a flat show," the captain added.
Officials with the Snowbirds said they spent the entire winter training together as a team.
"We start from small formations, working our way up to building the whole nine-plane formation and throughout the winter, we're using two to three opportunities a day to go flying and working on our flying in close formation but also working on those splits and the mechanics that go behind all that," said Canadian Forces Snowbirds pilot Capt. Steven Spark.
Two jets fly over the City of Barrie, Ont., as part of the Barrie Airshow on Sat., June 10, 2023.
The Canadian Forces Base Borden, the County of Simcoe, the Downtown BIA and the City of Barrie came together to plan the weekend's event, which brings a significant economic boost to the city.
"Where we expect tens of thousands of visitors here to watch, to spend. They dine, they shop, and they really get a sense of what the flavour of the community is," said Stephannie Schlichter, Barrie's economic and creative development director.
The airshow continues on Sunday in Barrie at 1:00 p.m.
The Snowbirds will conduct 23 shows across Canada as part of its tour.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6978852.1722008165!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before Jasper can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes "for several weeks."
'He was just gone': Police ramp up search for vulnerable 3-year-old boy in Mississauga, Ont.
Police in Mississauga are conducting a full-scale search of the city’s biggest park for a non-verbal toddler who went missing Thursday evening. Sgt. Jennifer Trimble told reporters Friday morning that there has been no trace of three-year-old Zaid Abdullah since 6:20 p.m., when he was last seen with his parents in Erindale Park, near Dundas Street West and Mississauga Road.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
BREAKING Celine Dion performs at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rain-soaked, rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy along the Seine River.
Canada's Christine Sinclair: 'We were never shown drone footage'
Canada soccer great Christine Sinclair said on Friday national team players were never shown drone footage during the more than two decades she was on the team, following a spying scandal that cast a shadow over the Canadians at the Paris Games.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn $146,000 for water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six figure water bill.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
At least 4 buildings burned at Jasper Park Lodge, others damaged: Fairmont memo
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge said Thursday afternoon most of its structures are 'standing and intact,' including its iconic main lodge.
She couldn't stop thinking about the guy she met at the Athens Olympics. Then a message from him changed her life
Omaira Gill grew up counting down the days to each Olympic Games. She wasn’t especially sporty, so she ruled out the prospect of competing pretty early on. But she still harboured Olympic dreams – even just spectating would do.