The director of Airshow YQG, scheduled to take place later this month, says the event has been cancelled after the Snowbirds pulled out of the show.
"The Snowbirds contacted us to inform they would be cancelling their appearance and non-aerobatic performance at our airshow," says Director Paul McCann. "Subsequent to this, the Airshow YQG Planning Committee met and made the decision to cancel the show."
A statement from the committee says the Snowbirds are cancelling other shows in Canada and in the U.S. as well.
"Although we are disappointed, we understand and trust that their decision was difficult, but the right one to make," says Canadian Historical Aircraft Association President John Robinson.
A statement from the Department of National Defence says the while the Snowbirds have had several well-executed shows and practices early in the season, the team lead decided additional training is needed to address "deviations from position in formation."
"A reduced training period, hampered by poor weather which continued into the show season, resulted in numerous cancelled practices. As a result, more training is required before the Snowbirds resume their 2017 schedule," says Major Patrick Gobeil, team lead.
The team has returned to their home base at CFB Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
McCann says airshow officials were contacted directly by the Snowbirds who told them all appearances in the month of May would be cancelled. The planning committee met Monday night.
Advance ticket holders will receive a full refund.
The show was planned for May 27 and 28.
McCann says the committee would like to hold a future event in Windsor but has not decided if it will schedule it in 2018 or hold off until 2019.
He says it is particularly disappointing because Major Bassam Mnaymneh, from Windsor, was expected to perform with the Snowbirds. However, he admits the committee fully understands and supports their decision.