The air show : a worthwhile effort

Those who have never experienced the Bagotville International Air Show (SAIB) can hardly imagine the importance of this event for the people of the region and the entire CFB Bagotville community.

As time flies by for the presentation of SAIB 2024 on June 22 and 23, preparations are accelerating, disrupting the regular operations of many units and mobilizing hundreds of soldiers for this major event.

“We will have almost 1,100 military personnel working during the show to provide logistics and services. This is without counting a few hundred other members who will be busy with demonstrations or presentations during the show for their unit. It’s a little less crowded than during the last event, so we had to reorganize the functions a little to be able to accomplish everything during the two days of activities,” explains the Director General of SAIB 2024, LCol Nicolas Parent.

All military personnel who are not assigned to other operational tasks will be assigned to the air show. “For us, the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd as well as Monday are workdays for all military personnel. They will receive tasks through their chain of command, and during the month of June the final details will be communicated to everyone,” adds LCol Parent. But the air show is not just an opportunity for the regional population to visit CFB Bagotville and attend aerial demonstrations. This event is a primary means of fundraising for the base fund, nonpublic funds intended to support troop morale.

It is thanks in part to the SAIB that the base can offer, in collaboration with several regional partners, low-cost leisure and tourist activities for members of the Bagotville community and their families.

The funds raised also allow members of the Bagotville community to have access to sports facilities at no cost.

“Each edition of the SAIB allows us to contribute between $120,000 and $150,000 to this fund intended for the moral and physical well-being of members and their families,” confirms LCol Parent.

In this same spirit of supporting families, this year the SAIB is providing families with a tent along the track so that they can enjoy the show.

To date, nearly 1,500 military spouses and children have expressed interest in a place in the family tent. Everyone is entitled to a day of their choice (Saturday or Sunday) so it is essential to reserve your place. It is the military who must make the request through their chain of command.

More than 150,000 people are expected at CFB Bagotville as part of SAIB 2024.