Saskatoon salutes Canadian heroes with picnic in the park

Watch above: veterans were honoured at the “Picnic in the Park with Heroes”

SASKATOON – Canada Remembers in Saskatoon has taken honouring the veterans to new heights since it’s inception in the mid 90’s. This year an air show wasn’t possible but instead a “Picnic In The Park with Heroes” was held.

It used to be a premier event drawing 33,000 to 35,000 people over two days but as the years have passed, the Canada Remembers Our Heroes ‘Air Show’ has scaled down.

“A lot of people came to see the air show to see the Snowbirds, to see the C-F 18 hornet or the aircraft on display on the ground but I’ll tell you what, when they left after experiencing the parade of veterans and talking with some of the people why the event was even in place, they left in a different frame of mind and that’s all we’re trying to accomplish today,” said Brian Swidrovich, Canada Remembers ‘Picnic In The Park with Heroes’ volunteer director.

The crowd might not have been massive but the message to support and honour veterans was at Canada Remembers ‘Picnic In The Park with Heroes’.

“It’s important, it gives the younger generation an idea of what the soldiers have done and what the people of Canada have done,” said Jack McKay, a Korean War veteran and parade marshal.

Military scheduling conflicts grounded the air show this year but taking back to the skies in 2015 is important for a number of reasons.

“It’s the 45th anniversary of the Snowbirds, it would be the 20th year of the Canada Remembers event here in Saskatoon, but more importantly it’s the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and a lot of our aging heroes definitely won’t be around for a 75th anniversary,” said Swidrovich.

“Next year’s very important, we’re going to try our best to still produce what probably will be the final air show in Saskatoon in 2015,”

3,000 by 5,000 clear feet is needed for an air show. While it’s still on the fence for next year, officials say it might be something they have to do outside of Saskatoon.

Saskatoon hosted it’s first air show in 1995 and is the only location sanctioned across the country to use “Canada Remembers.”