The airspace over Nanaimo Harbour will be a no-fly zone for everything and everyone except for the Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds.
The 431 Air Demonstration Squadron will perform for at least 45 minutes over the harbour Wednesday, Aug. 8, with the centre of the action above and in front of Nanaimo’s historic Hudson’s Bay Company Bastion, but spectators will have great views of the show anywhere between the Nanaimo Yacht Club and Cameron Island.
All Snowbirds shows are performed to support the CHILD Foundation for children with intestinal and liver disorders.
The Snowbirds visit Nanaimo Airport on Tuesday, Aug. 7, for a private, invitation-only event when the pilots and technical crew will meet and have lunch with local children suffering from liver and intestinal diseases.
The lunch event is hosted and sponsored by Nanaimo Airport and the Nanaimo Flying Club and this year Alkan Air staff have also volunteered to help out.
“The flying club supports different charity organizations,” said Don Crocker, Nanaimo Flying Club president. “We’re big into the air cadet support and we were asked a number of years ago to help out with the CHILD foundation so we took that under our wing too.”
Nanaimo flying club members are preparing hamburgers and hotdogs for up to 50 children who organizers are expecting will be coming out to meet the Snowbirds team.
The Snowbirds don’t raise donation directly for the foundation, but bring much-needed awareness to the disorders the foundation raises money for, said Mary McCarthy Parsons, CHILD Foundation CEO.
Money is raised through sponsors and from sales of merchandise, such as caps and T-shirts, which will be available on the Nanaimo waterfront Wednesday from about 4 p.m. until the end of the show.
“When you see the show, as you know, it grabs at your heartstrings to see the Snowbirds fly because they’re such great ambassadors for Canada and they’re ambassadors for the CHILD Foundation … people are very thrilled and honoured when they come and Nanaimo has been extremely generous to the CHILD Foundation. I mean, they just throw money at our volunteers when it’s over with, so that is part of our fundraising too.”
The Snowbirds’ aircraft will park overnight at Nanaimo Airport on Tuesday following the luncheon event.
“We’ve been delighted to host them at Nanaimo Airport for the CHILD event and we really hope to host them in the future again,” said Mike Hooper, Nanaimo Airport president and CEO. “It’s a great opportunity for the airport to help the Snowbirds with their sponsorship program.”
Wednesday’s air show starts at 5:30 p.m.
People who want to listen to commentary during the show can tune in to RSM Productions special event radio at 98.7 FM.
For the safety of the pilots and spectators the airspace above Nanaimo Harbour will be restricted during the airshow, which includes a complete ban on the use of drones within the Nanaimo Harbour aerodrome area. Boat access to the harbour will be restricted as well.
For information about parking, visit the City of Nanaimo website.
photos@nanaimobulletin.com
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