HIGH AND MIGHTY

Aerial acrobatics dazzle crowds at Canadian International Air Show

“Inspiration” was the message at the Canadian International Air Show on Saturday.

Returning for its 67th year as a part of the Canadian National Exhibition, the show featured 15 performers, including the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and other international daredevil pilots. They will be soaring and gliding over Lake Ontario through the Labour Day weekend.

Vanessa Martin comes to the air show every year and brings her daughter Atiya, 6. Martin says the planes are “absolutely breathtaking” with what they do in the sky.

Martin, who has a friend who is a pilot, says she wants to show Atiya that it’s possible for her to become one as well, if she wants to.

“It just opens it up to young girls as well, that they can join a profession typically known to be male dominated,” Martin said.

Indira Thackorie, a pilot and public affairs officer with the fan-favourite Snowbirds, says inspiring girls is the highlight of her career.

“It’s a huge responsibility, being that person little girls are looking up to. When my voice goes across the PA system, my voice is reaching thousands of little girls,” Thackorie said.

She says she gets many messages from moms on Facebook, saying she was a huge inspiration for their kids. It’s something she takes very seriously.

“It’s such a huge honour. To me, I’m just doing my job but I know it’s making a difference. It’s so awesome,” Thackorie said.

As a kid, Mike Wiskus was told he shouldn’t dream of being a pilot, in part because he struggled with math. But at 15, Wiskus had enough of the naysayers and walked to a local airport and begged for a job washing planes, just to spend time hanging around the aircraft and the pilots.

“There’s so many people who put you down, versus giving you a chance to think that ‘maybe I can.’ The simple fact of the matter (is that) the people who put you down, they’re the ones with the problems,” he said.

MELISSA RENWICK/TORONTO STAR The Canadian Forces Snowbirds are among the 15 daredevil acts appearing this weekend at the Canadian National Exhibition.

MELISSA RENWICK PHOTOS/TORONTO STAR The Canadian Forces Snowbirds wow the crowd during the first day of the Canadian International Air Show at the CNE. The show continues through the weekend.

BERNARD WEIL/TORONTO STAR The Breitling Jet Team, left, is one of many performers at the air show. Framed by the Toronto skyline, the Snowbirds, right, send the city a message in smoke.

For many children, watching performers such as the Canadian Forces Snowbirds can be a source of inspiration.

Erika Chiasson, left, and Maya Maurice are lifted up by their fathers for a better view of the planes at the air show.

Mike Wiskus flies the Lucas Oil Pitts just a few metres above Lake Ontario. He got his start as a pilot as a teenager, washing planes.