Jets thundered over downtown Toronto on Saturday as the Canadian International Air Show launched its annual lakeshore programme — a spectacle that doubled as a farewell. The Canadian Forces Snowbirds performed what will be their final appearance over the provincial capital until at least the 2030s as the aerobatic team prepares to retire its long-serving CT-114 Tutor aircraft.
End of a long-running lakeshore tradition
The nine-jet formation, a fixture at national events and the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) for decades, cut striking figures against the blue above the CNE grounds and the banks of Lake Ontario. For many attendees gathered on the exhibition grounds, the display was an annual ritual and, on Saturday, a last look for some years to come.
Federal plans to replace the Tutors with the new CT-157 Siskin II will see the Snowbirds grounded at the conclusion of the 2026 season. The team has flown the Tutor since 1971, logging about 2,700 performances over that span.
Public reaction on the ground
Sandy Seymour, among the crowd decked in Snowbirds memorabilia, said she was dismayed the federal government could not keep the team flying during the transition.
“I’m disappointed the federal government didn’t find a way to replace the Snowbirds’ jets without grounding them,”
She told reporters the air show is part of her CNE routine and that the exhibition “won’t be the same” without the Snowbirds’ high-flying stunts. Hundreds of other spectators on the fairgrounds lifted cameras and phones as aircraft spanning from Second World War-era fighters to contemporary jets traced the lakeshore.
What is changing and when
The grounding is tied specifically to the phase-out of the CT-114 Tutor airframe and the introduction of the CT-157 Siskin II. Officials have scheduled the Snowbirds’ final show of the season — and what is billed as their last appearance for the foreseeable future — for Nov. 15 at the Grey Cup festivities in Calgary.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Snowbirds aircraft in service | CT-114 Tutor |
| Replacement aircraft | CT-157 Siskin II |
| Year Tutors entered service | 1971 |
| Approximate performances | 2,700 |
| Final 2026 show | Nov. 15 — Grey Cup, Calgary |
Local and provincial impact
For Toronto and other Ontario communities that regularly host the Snowbirds, the gap in appearances may be felt culturally and economically. The team’s flyovers have been entwined with public events, parades and fairs — most visibly the CNE — drawing crowds who come specifically to watch the aerobatics. While commercial and private performers will continue to feature at future air shows, the absence of the Snowbirds represents a visible change in programming.
Beyond spectacle, the grounding raises questions among observers about continuity in military public relations and the logistical impacts of transitioning a national demonstration team to a new aircraft. Grounding during a fleet replacement is not uncommon, but for long-time fans the interruption still carries symbolic weight.
What spectators saw Saturday
Spectators reported a broad historical sweep in the aerial lineup, with displays ranging from vintage fighters to modern jets. The day’s performances offered a primer in aviation history as much as a finale for a chapter of Canadian military pageantry in Toronto.
- Thousands of spectators typically attend the lakeshore air show during the CNE weekend.
- The Snowbirds have been performing for more than five decades in the Tutor jet.
- The team’s Nov. 15 appearance in Calgary is slated to be their last before the grounding.
As engines quiet and the CT-114s are set aside, the long shadow of the Snowbirds’ low passes and tight formations will linger over Toronto’s lakefront memories. For now, residents and fairgoers will have to adapt to air shows without one of the nation’s most recognisable aerial teams until the Siskin II era resumes demonstrations in years to come.
Reporting from Toronto.
