Photo: Contributed Click here to view gallery Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed Jean-Pierre Thimot could see the memorial sculpture “glistening in the distance” when he landed at the Kamloops Airport — his first time visiting the place his daughter lost her life four years ago. The City of Kamloops hosted a meet-and-greet Thursday marking the completion of Fulton Field Park. The new park has as its centrepiece public art paying tribute to Royal Canadian Air Force Capt.
Jennifer Casey, who was killed when the Snowbird jet she was inside crashed following a bird strike shortly after takeoff on May 17, 2020. Thimot, 60, told Castanet Kamloops it’s hard to put his feelings about the sculpture into words. “It’s absolutely spectacular,” Thimot said.
“It exceeded all my expectations.” The sculpture is a mosaic of maple leaves held together by branches and built full scale to depict a Royal Canadian Air Force CT-114 Tutor Snowbird — the plane Casey was in when it crashed. Thimot said being in the place where his daughter died has been a “cathartic” experience.
“My only vision of Kamloops prior to this was the flags on the fence,” said Thimot, referencing the makeshift memorial that grew on the chain link fence lining the airport in the days after Casey’s death. “The flags and the signs — nothing makes it feel better, but it gave you a sense of how much support there was for her.” The Buff.