Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he was deeply saddened to hear of the death of a Canadian Armed Forces member after a Snowbird’s plane crashed in Kamloops BC.
Captain Jenn Casey, a public affairs officer, and a former reporter and anchor with Quinte Broadcasting and Quinte News was killed and pilot, Captain Richard MacDougall was injured Sunday when their Tutor jet went down shortly after takeoff, crashing into a residential area.
In a statement, Trudeau said the Snowbirds represent the very best of Canada and demonstrate excellence through incredible skill and dedication.
The aerobatic team had been touring the country to boost morale during the pandemic.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Captain Jenn Casey is well known to most of us at Quinte Broadcasting and Quinte News. She moved to the Quinte region with her husband, who was a military member, in 2013 and joined our news team for one year starting in August of that year. Listeners and readers at that time would have known her as Jennifer Howell. Jenn brought endless energy and good humour to everything she did. She loved sports and being with people. She was incredibly bright and her smile could light up a room. There can be no doubt she was a real credit to the Canadian Forces. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and team members. Jenn will be missed.
BELOW IS A BIOGRAPHY SUPPLIED BY THE RCAF AND SNOWBIRDS
Captain Jenn Casey is from Halifax, Nova Scotia. She joined the Canadian Armed Forces in August 2014 as a direct entry officer. Prior to joining she spent several years working in broadcast radio as a reporter, anchor, and producer in both Halifax, NS and Belleville, ON.
She has a Bachelor of Arts from Dalhousie University, a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of King’s College, and a Masters of Interdisciplinary Studies from Royal Roads University.
Her first assignment as a Public Affairs Officer was at 8 Wing Trenton, the Royal Canadian Air Force’s home of air mobility. She spent the 2018 season with the CF-18 Demo Team, travelling North America and the United Kingdom with the NORAD 60 jet. Captain Casey joined the Canadian Forces Snowbirds in November 2018.
