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
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.