Le bombardier Loic Racicot, de la BFC Shilo, présente un drone militaire lors de la Journée des Forces armées canadiennes, au Musée de l’entraînement aérien du Commonwealth, à Brandon, le 1er juin. (Photo : K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media)

K-J Millar
Shilo Stag Media

Canadians, now more than ever, need to defend the sovereignty of the nation and invest in the Canadian Armed Forces, Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement on June 1, marking Canadian Armed Forces Day.

« In an increasingly dangerous and divided world, the new government will rebuild, rearm and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), » he said. « We will rapidly procure new equipment and technology, secure the Arctic, build our defence industrial capacity, create new partnerships, and support our people by making the Armed Forces a lifelong career.

« We are indebted to those who serve and affirm our responsibility to serve them in return. »

Numerous CFB Shilo CAF members spent the day at the Commonwealth Air Training Museum in Brandon, showcasing technology, including drones, anti-aircraft artillery, and military vehicles, to more than 100 attendees.

Stephen Hayter, executive director of the Commonwealth Air Training Museum, said the days events were family-oriented, featuring a bounce castle, games, hot dogs, pop, a browse through the museum, and aircraft on display. While vintage aircraft flights were originally scheduled to occur throughout the day, the Manitoba wildfires affected the flights due to poor air quality and visibility.

For the past few years, the museum has celebrated Armed Forces Day in tribute to the CAF, he said, as the museum has always had a direct link and connection to the Royal Canadian Air Force.

« We’ve always felt the importance of celebrating the sacrifice. Armed Forces Day brings the focus not just to the RCAF but to the Army and the Navy. It says we should take a moment to respect and honour their sacrifice and the ongoing need for our military because it ties in beautifully with who we are and what we do, » Hayter said.

« We are grateful for the connections we have with CFB Shilo and the RCA Museum. »

Hayter explained that Southern Manitoba is exceptionally fortunate to have both the Commonwealth Air Training Museum, with its unique backstory, and the RCA Museum, which owns the second-largest military collection in Canada. That is something the public can take pride in, and it is unique to our area, » he said.

Le bombardier Kott, de la BFC Shilo, a présenté l’artillerie antiaérienne au Musée de l’entraînement aérien du Commonwealth, à Brandon, le 1er juin. (Photo : K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media)

Les membres de la BFC Shilo ont participé à la Journée des Forces armées au Musée de l’entraînement aérien du Commonwealth à Brandon, le 1er juin. (Photo : K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media)

Les membres de la BFC Shilo ont participé à la Journée des Forces armées au Musée de l’entraînement aérien du Commonwealth à Brandon, le 1er juin. (Photo : K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media)

Travaille sur les prouesses des drones, le sergent Maki et le bombardier Rancicot de la BFC Shilo ont participé à la Journée des Forces armées au Musée de l’Instruction aérienne du Commonwealth à Brandon le 1er juin. (Photo : K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media)