Snowbirds to keep name despite violating federal language law
Canada’s air force won’t be changing the name of the Snowbirds aerobatic team despite a complaint that alleges the nickname violates federal government language laws because it is an English-only term.
The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages received a complaint in April 2012 about the Snowbirds name painted on the team’s Tutor jets as well as the unilingual acronym CAF on the wings. CAF stands for Canadian Armed Forces.
The complaints sparked discussion at the highest levels of the air force, according to military documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen under the access-toinformation law.
Dealing with the CAF lettering was not seen as a problem, but altering the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron’s Snowbirds nickname was a major issue.
Air force commander Lt.Gen. Yvan Blondin was told by his staff that the Snowbirds name originated from the creation of the air demonstration unit in 1971. A “Name the Team” contest was held at the local base elementary school in June of 1971 and the winner was a Grade 6 student by the name of Doug Farmer, according to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
Since then the nickname has become a national symbol, the officers added in their December briefing note to Blondin.
“‘Les Snowbirds’ are without a doubt equally known in French Canada and enjoy a similarly evocative positive meaning, even in French,” the general was told. “Changing the name of the Snowbirds at this time would represent the end of a national symbol, potentially provoke adverse reactions among the public and require a massive re-branding effort.”
After an investigation, the language commissioner’s office wrote the air force and recommended that 431 Squadron’s Snowbirds nickname be changed when a new aircraft fleet was purchased for the team, the military documents pointed out. The language watchdog also recommended the RCAF ensure that the next nickname be bilingual.
In addition, the office recommended that the Department of National Defence add the French equivalent for RCAF on the aircraft.
Air force spokesman Maj. Steve Neta said in response to the language commissioner’s recommendation, the Tutor aircraft were given a new paint scheme in the spring. The aircraft now have “RCAF” under one wing, and “ARC” or Aviation Royale Canadienne under the other.
In December, RCAF commander Blondin responded to the other issue noting, “Given the long heritage of the term ‘Snowbirds’ as a national icon, their immense recognition coast to coast, including among French Canadians, and the fact that it is a trademarked name directly associated with 431 Squadron, I do not intend to rename the Team during the lifespan of the Squadron.”
“With that in mind, if there becomes a future requirement to create a new demonstration squadron, the RCAF will make every effort to select an emblem that is in accordance with the Official Languages Act (OLA),” he added.