Memorial honouring Snowbirds in Kamloops, B.C., to be taken down and preserved

The memorial set up by Kamloops, B.C., residents honouring the victims of a fatal Snowbirds plane crash in the city on the Victoria Day long weekend will be taken down Friday. 

Capt. Jenn Casey was killed May 17 when the jet she was travelling in went down shortly after take off from the Kamloops airport. Capt. Richard MacDougall, who was also in the plane but managed to successfully eject, was sent to hospital with injuries but is now home in Moose Jaw, Sask., and is expected to make a full recovery.

The Snowbirds were in Kamloops as part of a cross-country tour called Operation Inspiration, meant to salute Canadians amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

After the crash, hundreds of flowers, hearts, art and messages of condolences were attached to the fence along the airport as residents turned out to pay their respects to Casey, MacDougall and the Snowbirds. 

The City of Kamloops, the Kamloops Airport and Rocky Mountain Rangers will work collaboratively to remove the memorial. Eventually, items will be divided up among the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, Casey's family and MacDougall.

"The idea had been floated around last week to try to preserve it," Lt. Alexandra Hejduk, public affairs officer with 19 Wing Comox, told Daybreak Kamloops host Shelley Joyce. 

"We did want to have that memorial up for as long as possible but then because of the inclement weather, if we want to preserve anything we'll have to take it down."

Rain has already damaged parts of the memorial. 

Hejduk visited the memorial when she was in Kamloops last week following the crash and was surprised by the outpouring of support from the community.

"To see that come so spontaneously together in such an organic way was astounding," she said.

"There are so many heartfelt messages and messages of support ... and we wanted to try to capture that and preserve it going forward and so that it is there for all time."