Click below to listen to an audio montage of Armed Forces Day 2024:
A few thousand people took time on Wednesday to recognize the efforts of all military personnel currently serving in the city.
They gathered at the North Bay Waterfront for Armed Forces Day and had the opportunity to watch an air show featuring the CF-18 Demonstration team and Canadian Forces Snowbirds.
Mayor Peter Chirico encouraged the busloads of students at the event to show their appreciation for our local military members.
“I’m going to ask you to all say, in your loudest voice, thank you to each and every one of our serving members [and] retired members who MP [Anthony] Rota says keep us safe at night,” Chirico said as he counted down for the students. “Three…two… one…. THANK YOU!”
22 Wing Commander, Colonel Richard Jolette, says local military members know the North Bay area is there to support them.
“Mayor Chirico, thank you to you and the City of North Bay for being amazing hosts to 22 Wing every single day,” he says. “This city and its residents, all of you, have played a pivotal role in the Air Force’s journey. We are extremely appreciative of the amazing support that we get.”
This was the 12th in-person Armed Forces Day with the theme celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Vandi Salimi, whose father is a veteran corporal, is a grade 8 student at École secondaire publique Odyssée.
“This day is a representation of all the efforts put by the members of the military and their families for 100 years,” Salimi says. “100 years of pride, honour and sacrifice.”
The event also featured static military displays and entertainment from the 22 Wing Band and North Bay’s Cory Marks, too.
The SkyHawks parachute team was unable to jump because of wind conditions.
