Photo courtesy CFJC Today

By Chad Klassen/CFJC Today

Snowbirds tragedy

Kamloops residents come together to honour Capt. Jennifer Casey and Canadian Forces Snowbirds

May 19, 2020 | 8:23 AM

KAMLOOPS — Drums could be heard all around Fulton Field on Monday, just a few blocks away from where Capt. Jennifer Casey’s jet crashed into a Brocklehurst neighbourhood.

Hundreds of Kamloops residents and members of the Secwepemc Nation came together on the Victoria Day holiday to honour Capt. Casey and entire Canadian Forces Snowbirds team.

“Devastating and tragic. It’s just the saddest thing. It really shook me,” said Kamloops resident Jennifer Hanson.

Monique Ramunno added: “Very tragic what happened and hearbreaking. We’re very upset and glad to see a lot of people in Kamloops come out to support this.”

Dozens of Canadian flags are drapped over the fences in front of the Kamloops Airport. Many hearts are visible and notes that tell you Casey will never be forgotten, not only by the nation but the Kamloops community.

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“We’re just showing our respects for the snowbirds and for Jennifer. She’s lost her life,” said resident Tresa Knuit. “They were trying to do something nice for us in these crazy times right now. We’re just showing some love.”

Hanson added: “We just came to see. We just were driving by. We had to stop.”

A few members of the Royal Canadian Air Force from Comox, helping the snowbirds team, took in the drum circle. They expressed their appreciation and said they would pass along all the love they’re receiving.

“It was maybe the energy that brought us here because we were supposed to be in another place and we saw this happening and we came down to see,” noted Public Affairs Officer Lt. Alexandra Hejduk. “This is more than anybody can even imagine would be able to occur as a tribute to the snowbirds and Capt. Jennifer Casey, to Capt. Richard MacDougall. It’s so incredibly special right now.”

Public Affairs Officer Lt. Alexandra Hejduk from the Royal Canadian Air Force speaks with Skeetchestn Chief Ron Ignace after the drum circle on Monday (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

Hejduk was swarmed after the ceremony by Secwepemc chiefs and members of the public. Even a small child handed her flowers. She says the snowbirds are hurting deeply at the loss of one of their comrades.

“Everyone is doing as when a member of your own family has just passed away, and so everyone is grieiving,” she noted. “Than you again for respecting that privacy of that team right now, letting them to mourn and letting them to grieve privately.”

Meantime, investigators were on scene of the crash all Monday, scouring Glenview Drive in Brock, the site of the accident. They’re trying to piece together what went wrong Sunday morning when Casey and MacDougall’s jet lost control and took a sudden nose dive.

According to the Royal Canadian Air Force, MacDougall is in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries. He’s expected to make a full recovery.