The Commanding Officer of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds says the one-year anniversary of the crash in Kamloops that killed Capt. Jenn Casey is affecting members of the team in different ways.

“It is a day that we’ve been watching steadily march towards us knowing that the anniversary was coming up for the accident in Kamloops,” Lt.-Col. Denis Bandet said, on the NL Morning News.

Bandet says the Snowbirds team is taking time today to reflect on the May 17, 2020 crash and everything that has happened since then.

“The team is really almost like an extended big family and so some people take solace in being together in a big group and some people take time to be alone to reflect on their personal memories so we just give everybody that space and recognize that everyone’s a little bit different in how they are dealing with everything and from that, we’ll move forward,” he added.

Capt. Casey, a Halifax native, was killed when the Snowbird Tutor jet she was in crashed shortly after takeoff from Kamloops Airport during Operation Inspiration. An investigation later concluded that Snowbird 11 lost power after a small bird was sucked into the engine shortly after takeoff.

The Snowbirds made an emotional return to the city earlier this month while on route to CFB Comox for spring training ahead of the summer airshow season.

Bandet adds the entire Snowbirds team is grateful for all of the support from Kamloops-area residents over the past year. That was also a sentiment shared by Casey’s partner, Capt. Scott Boyd, and two of her friends, Morgan Muise and Dan McDonald.

Meanwhile, the city of Kamloops unveiled long-awaited new details about a permanent memorial to Capt. Casey which will be located at the future Fulton Field Park by the airport.

“It will be a place for Kamloops residents to meet, some to observe aviation, some to remember military service, and for others to reflect on the life and vision of Captain Casey,” Mayor Ken Christian said.

“We looked at different kinds of things but Transport Canada has a lot of rules about what you can put in and around airports so this will be a low rise kind of park. Its going to have a lot of benches, low shrubbery, the military colours, and then the tributes and the storyboards [showing some history on the relationship that Kamloops has with the Canadian Military and the Snowbirds].”

The project is currently being designed, with construction set to begin in 2023.

Capt. Richard MacDougall continues to recover

Meanwhile the pilot of Snowbird 11, Capt. Richard MacDougall, is continuing to recover after last year’s crash.

“As sad as today is, it’s also a day to celebrate that we still have Rich with us considering how impactful that day was. We’re just being there in support of him,” Lt.-Col. Denis Bandet added. “We got some Squadron mates that are with him today helping him to get through it the way that he knows how.”

“They’re going back and saying ‘hey, if you want to talk or listen or just be with people [we’re here].'”

MacDougall was taken to Royal Inland Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries last year. The exact nature of his injuries was not disclosed, but the Dieppe, New Brunswick native is expected to make a full recovery.

“We’re a big family and we’ll get through this together and Rich is a big part of that family,” Bandet added.

(Photo via CF Snowbirds)

The @CFSnowbirds announce that Operation Inspiration will be back for this air show season carrying on the legacy of Capt. Jenn Casey, exactly one year after it was forced to stop following a tragic crash in #Kamloops. @RadioNLNews https://t.co/znEpcXOYDh

— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) May 17, 2021

One year ago, we suffered a loss that was profoundly felt across Canada, and particularly within the RCAF. Today we send our thoughts to Captain Jenn Casey’s family, colleagues and friends. Her passion to spread joy to others during difficult times will be her legacy. pic.twitter.com/ulkQAO356d

— Royal Canadian Air Force (@RCAF_ARC) May 17, 2021