Summerside airshow to salute troops overseas

the Canadian Forces Snowbirds

The Charlottetown Guardian

Canada’s Air Force served Canadians for decades at Canadian Forces Base Summerside.  Fifteen years after the air force base closed, the skies over Prince Edward Island will once again roar with the sound of military jets during the Summerside air show this coming weekend.

It's a tribute to Canada's Canadian Forces serving overseas and a chance for the public to say thank you to the troops as Tourism Summerside presents “Airshow on the Bay and Salute to the Military” September 14 to 17 on the waterfront behind Shipyard Market.

This is a four-day event with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds arriving at Slemon Park Sept. 14.

Later that evening, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., an autograph session will be held at the Waterfront Shopping Place.

Summerside Tourism's Tammy Pickering has been working on the project non-stop for nine weeks and sees the event not only as an important event for the city but also as a way of honouring Canadian Armed Forces overseas.

She said the entire event will be videotaped by Diamond Video of Kensington and played for the troops overseas.

Along with the Snowbirds, there will be a demonstration by search and rescue helicopters from 413 Greenwood Squadron and 403 Gagetown Squadron, the Aurora aircraft and tentatively an F-18 fighter jet.

Master Corporal Jason Taylor of the P.E.I. Regiment said events like this from home shared with the troops stationed across the world are important.

"It's a huge boost for morale for everybody over there," Taylor said. "We do quite a bit of this out of Gagetown. The big thing is it's showing support from the Island which is something I feel we don't get a lot of. As an Islander myself I feel we don't express that side of us a lot particularly with the military history we have."
Taylor said 16 members of the P.E.I. Regiment are ready to go to Afghanistan in February on peacekeeping duties for about six months. Taylor will be on hand during the four-day event to promote the P.E.I. Regiment.

"We are coming down here to set up an information booth," he said.
"We will have some tables, some weapons and there will be information for people on how they can join the reserves and answer any questions at that time they may have as well. It will be an educational experience. A lot of people don't even know that there is a Prince Edward Island Regiment. My biggest job right now is not only to improve their numbers in ranks in the regiment but to get the word out that we are here and been here for approximately 125 years."

There will be VIP Passports for sale which will get purchasers two-day bleacher seating at Show Center, close access to beverage and BBQ tents and admission to the Military Salute Saturday evening. These will be available from Theme Team businesses throughout the city or by contacting 902-436-6042.

Show schedule:

THURSDAY, SEPT. 14:
6:30-7:30 p.m.: Snowbirds arrive at Waterfront Mall for autograph signing session.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 15:
The tall ship Picton Castle arrives in Summerside and is open to the public.
10-11 a.m. : pilots visit SIS;
3- 4 p.m.: Snowbirds practise and get debriefed;
6-8 p.m.: meet and greet sponsors at Shipyard Market

SATURDAY, SEPT. 16:
11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Tall Ship Picton Castle open to public;
noon-2:30 p.m.: Entertainment by the Air, Sea and Army Cadets at Shipyard Market, which is turned into an interactive military centre with static displays and demonstrations;
2:30-4 p.m.: Air Show on the Bay;
6 p.m.-midnight: Salute to the Military, entertainment and food $5 admission.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 17:
10 a.m.-1 p.m.: pancake breakfast, Shipyard Market;
noon-2:30 p.m.: Entertainment by the Air, Sea and Army Cadets at Shipyard Market;
2:30-4 p.m.: Air Show on the Bay.