North Bay Armed Forces Day celebrated virtually this year
There were no loud cheers or parachuting demo team at North Bay’s Lake Nipissing waterfront this year. Despite all this, Wednesday marked North Bay's Armed Forces Day, one of the largest military celebrations in the country.
"It gives us the sense of pride of the uniform that we wear. Today is the day to recognize our members for what they do," said 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base Commander Col. Mark Lachapelle.
Under normal circumstances, the military men and women of 22 Wing/CFB North Bay would put on air displays at the waterfront in front of a roaring crowd. But, this Armed Forces Day is a bit different as celebrations move online.
The City of North Bay and 22 Wing released a video highlighting the work the Royal Canadian Air Force and the United States Air Force do on base. North Bay Mayor Al McDonald is honouring his military family in his life.
"My dad was a fighter pilot and his job was actually intercepting Russian bombers as they came over the polar cap," McDonald said.
His two grandfathers also fought in WWII.
As part of Armed Forces Day, base personnel and the city asked people to wear red to honour those who don the uniform.
There are 600 men and women from both the Royal Canadian Air Force and the United States Air Force located at the Canadian Forces Base in North Bay. They are responsible for 24-hour surveillance and identification of 200,000 flights per year approaching Canada and North America. But Lachapelle says there are also many members behind the scenes who play a key role as well.
"The focus is always the mission, but we have additional roles in supporting that mission, whether you're a cook or doing the medical support to our members," he said.
Besides their normal duties as aerospace guardians, base personnel has been out in the community taking part in events. Most notably, the 22 Wing Cares Food Drive at Christmas time. This food drive collects food and money donations for the food bank.
"They coach hockey and sports and get involved in our community and we're very proud to have them here in our city,” McDonald said of the local military members.
While the base is slightly disappointed it couldn't hold an armed forces bash because of the ongoing health crisis, Lachapelle said the team is working with the city in hopes of hosting a huge celebration next year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Her SUV was stolen in Montreal. A Good Samaritan on Facebook helped her get it back
Just as she had feared, a restaurant owner from eastern Quebec who visited Montreal had her SUV stolen, but says it was all thanks to the kindness of strangers on the internet — not the police — that she got it back.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.