The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will headline the Grande Prairie Regional Airshow on August 1 and 2, giving residents a final chance to see the iconic jets before a major fleet transition. The performances at the Grande Prairie Airport mark the team’s last appearances in northern Alberta with the Canadair CT-114 Tutor aircraft, which have been flying since the 1960s.
August’s airshow is part of the Snowbirds’ 55th anniversary season and the final year for the Tutor jets. Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed in May that 2026 is the last season for the aircraft, which the team has used since 1971. The Snowbirds will eventually switch to the CT-157 Siskin II, a turboprop plane, but the new fleet is not expected to be ready until the early 2030s.
The event has extra local meaning because Captain Iain Muir, a pilot raised in Grande Prairie, will perform in his hometown. Muir joined the Snowbirds in 2025 after being a member of the Air Cadets and earning a degree in aeronautical engineering at the Royal Military College. Amanda Erechook and Bruce Tattrie, co-chairs of the airshow, said hosting the Snowbirds is an honour for the community.
The airshow was revived in 2024 after a 19-year gap by the Rotary Clubs of Grande Prairie, working with the Grande Prairie Airport. Proceeds from the event go to local projects, including the D-Coy Armouries Community Hub Project. This year is the second edition since the return, and organizers are building on the successful comeback as a bi-annual tradition.
Over their history, the Snowbirds have performed more than 2,700 shows for over 140 million people across North America. The August airshow offers a rare opportunity to see their signature nine-plane formations before the team grounds the Tutor fleet for good.
