Honourable senators, last Sunday was Canadian Armed Forces Day. It is timely to highlight the military contribution to Canada of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan’s own Canadian Forces Snowbirds, also known as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron. I recently had the honour of presenting members of the team with King Charles III Coronation Medals in recognition of their service to Canada and the Crown.

For more than 50 years, the Snowbirds have been an important emblem of Canada’s proud air military tradition. In recent months, as Canadian sovereignty has moved to the forefront of public discourse, so too have issues concerning Canada’s defence and identity. The Snowbirds are a perfect icon of Canadian sovereignty and pride. The squadron is a potent Canadian symbol of hope and freedom. The Snowbirds inspire us with soaring strength and elegance in a wide open Prairie sky.

I can speak to that sense of inspiration personally. In fall 2023, I was beyond thrilled to attend the pre-show Snowbirds team briefing at 15 Wing at their year-end closing show. I felt an almost childlike excitement sitting in that room, listening to the pilots go through flight choreography and aerobatics. It is that sense of wonder that makes the Snowbirds such a powerful military recruitment tool, although I don’t anticipate becoming a pilot anytime soon.

That day Snowbird 2, Captain Caitie Clapp, told me she dreamed of becoming a Snowbird pilot at age 12, inspired by a Snowbirds performance under the leadership of Commanding Officer Maryse Carmichael, the Snowbirds’ first female pilot. How wonderful that these pilots are now, in turn, further inspiration for a whole new generation of Canadian children.

The Snowbirds represent the very best of what it is to be Canadian. When I first told Team Lead Major Brent Handy that I wanted to present these medals to the Snowbirds team, he wondered immediately if there would be enough medals to include the entire larger team because he wanted all those team members who support the pilots so ably to receive recognition too. The flying team is capably assisted by avionics and aviation technicians and safety, logistics and public affairs officials. I regret I had only a very limited number of medals available, but I think Major Handy’s request speaks volumes about how each Snowbirds team member is valued. All the team members serve Canada with distinction.

In addition to Major Handy and Captain Clapp, I presented medals to these Snowbirds pilots: Captain Patrick Charette, Captain Brendan Pellow, Captain Scott Boyd, Captain Kyle Taylor, Captain Thomas Thornton, Captain Marc-André Plante, Captain Patrice Powis-Clement, Captain Richard MacDougall and Public Affairs Officer Captain Philip Rochon. On behalf of all Canadians, thank you to the entire Snowbirds team for inspiring us and for bringing Canadians together in a sense of unity and hope. May the Snowbirds soar high for another 50 years.