Snowbirds' last show before grounding set for Calgary's Grey Cup Nov. 15
The Canadian Forces aerobatic team flew its final Toronto performance this weekend before retiring its CT-114 Tutor jets, with one last public show planned in Alberta later this year.
Why it matters
Calgary will host the Snowbirds' last public performance before the team is grounded pending its new jets.
Jets from the Canadian International Air Show roared over downtown Toronto and the Canadian National Exhibition grounds on Saturday, marking the Snowbirds' last scheduled appearance over the city until at least the 2030s. The nine-jet team will be grounded at the end of the 2026 season as its signature CT-114 Tutor aircraft, in service since 1971, are replaced by the new CT-157 Siskin II.
Spectators at the CNE, including longtime fan Sandy Seymour, watched the aerobatic team perform alongside other aircraft ranging from Second World War-era planes to modern jets. Seymour said she was disappointed the federal government could not find a way to replace the aging jets without pausing the team's performances, adding that the annual fair tradition will feel different without the Snowbirds overhead.
The Snowbirds have flown roughly 2,700 shows in the Tutor jets over more than five decades, becoming a fixture at national celebrations and events across Canada. Before the fleet is retired, the team is scheduled to perform one final show on Nov. 15 at the Grey Cup in Calgary.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.