A ceremony was held at Kamloops Airport today as the last of the Snowbirds prepare to the leave the city four months after a fatal crash.

Mayor Ken Christian was part of a ceremony today noting he was able to meet with the Snowbirds Commanding Officer, Lt.-Col. Denis Bandet.

“Certainly one of my darkest days as mayor was when we lost the Snowbird and we lost the life of Capt. Jennifer Casey but they will live to fly again,” Christian said. “[The Snowbirds are] committed to come back to Kamloops and they are most appreciative of the support that they received from the city.”

The Snowbirds are heading back to home base at 15 Wing Moose Jaw. The first two planes left Kamloops Airport on September 1 while two more planes left last Thursday, September 10.

“It was a moving ceremony today. And we were treated to drumming by Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Councillor Jeannette Jules as well as a prayer,” Christian added. “It really was a nice touching, fitting ceremony as they leave Kamloops.”

The Snowbirds were grounded in Kamloops for just over three months, and Christian says a Hercules aircraft will be flying in on Sunday to clear away the rest of the Snowbirds equipment from the airport.

(Video courtesy Larry Wiberg)