Arctic aviation show hits Yk skies
Organizers warn boaters to stay off Back Bay during performance Sunday afternoon; city says it has not been asked to close boat launch
Kirsten Fenn
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A pair of skydivers and a CF-18 fighter jet will dance through the skies above Yellowknife this Sunday as part of a Canada 150 air show making its way across the North.
The Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour 2017 is part of this year's Midnight Sun Fly In, which runs from July 6 to 9.
Organizers say boaters should stay off Back Bay, although the city of Yellowknife confirmed in an e-mail it has not received any requests to close either of its boat launches.
Diana Spremo, media relations manager for the aviation tour, said there will be several aerobatic acts.
"Some of them are renowned Canadian air show pilots."
Father and son duo Ken and Kyle Fowler are one of those acts.
Ken, who is also one of the founders of the Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour, has been flying at air shows for several years and has a reputation as a strong aerobatic pilot, according to Spremo.
A skydiving team from Fort Erie, Ont., will also be jumping out of planes with canopies and will unfurl a Canadian flag as part of their performance.
The aviation tour is hosting 97 shows across the North as part of this year's Canada 150 celebrations, taking flight over communities in the Yukon, NWT, Nunavut, northern Quebec and Labrador, according to a new release.
Yellowknife is one of just five destinations where a CF-18 hornet will be gracing the skies.
Spremo said the military chooses a particular aircraft each year, dubbed the demo jet, and sends it to perform in air shows across North America.
When the military heard of the aviation tour, it decided to send the CF-18 to perform in select shows along the way.
"This jet attracts so much attention everywhere (it) goes," Spremo said.
"Not a lot of Canadians have an opportunity to see Canada's frontline fighter jet flying, because there are only two air force bases in Canada that house CF-18s."
According to her, the concept of the air show came about a few years ago amidst talks of Canada 150.
"Canada is coast to coast to coast," Spremo said, explaining it was executive director Nancy McClure who worried many celebrations would focus on southern Canada and not the North.
That's where McClure came up with the idea to host air shows across the territories and Quebec.
"The mandate right from the beginning was to include every northern Canadian, give them an opportunity to be involved in these Canada 150 celebrations," Spremo said of McClure's motive.
While the air show is expected to bring excitement, Spremo said safety comes first.
Organizers of the tour are warning that no boats or watercraft will be allowed on Back Bay during the air show, which runs from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Spremo said local law enforcement will be on the lake to ensure residents are not in harm's way.
Yellowknifer reached out to Yellowknife RCMP about the restrictions but did not receive a response by press time.
Richard McIntosh, communications and economic development officer with the City of Yellowknife, said the city has suggested potential viewing locations for the air show to the organizers.
"However, we are not aware of any restrictions to watercraft," McIntosh said.
"The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the RCMP are responsible for watercraft safety and enforcement."
