Kamloops, BC—Fulton Field Park, part of the Tranquille Gateway Improvements Project, is complete, and residents are invited to join monument artist Sarah Holliday as she shares her story about the design of the art structure and the park itself.

The meet-and-greet event will take place at 10:30 am on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Fulton Field Park on Tranquille Road, where Holliday and fabricators from Raw Elements Design will share their inspiration for the memorial and answer questions about the creation and installation process. Parking is limited, and attendees are asked to carpool or park at the Aviation Way Dog Park lot at 2725 Aviation Way.

A private dedication ceremony with military personnel and local dignitaries is also planned.

The awe-inspiring memorial art display—a 1:1 ratio of a Royal Canadian Air Force CT-114 Tutor Snowbird—was installed at Fulton Field Park in April this year, adjacent to the Kamloops Airport, as a tribute to fallen Royal Canadian Airforce Captain Jenn Casey.

The monument is inspired by the heartfelt tributes that appeared along Fulton Field following the tragic plane crash in May 2020. The plane is a mosaic of maple leaves held together by branches, suggesting an emotional connection among Canadians, lifted upward in memory of a hero. Angled as if in flight, the memorial points to Jenn’s spirit, soaring above us with bravery, determination, and selflessness.

Fulton Field Park boasts many beautiful amenities, including the art piece, a newly constructed multi-use pathway, carefully selected tree and flower varieties, rocking Adirondack chairs, and accessible picnic tables. When complete, the Tranquille Gateway Improvements Project will also encompass roadwork and infrastructure upgrades, including utility work and the completion of a sidewalk and multi-use pathway on Tranquille Road south of the Kamloops BC SPCA to Crestline Street.

The City had long planned to construct a park to commemorate John Fulton, a decorated World War II veteran killed in action in 1942, after whom the airport lands—Fulton Field—are named. The park had been included in City plans since 2012 and gained more cultural and community significance after the Snowbirds tragedy. More recent park plans included memorializing the two Canadian veterans who have such strong ties to Kamloops.