The new Public Affairs Officers for the Canadian Forces Snowbirds says he knows he has big shoes to fill.

Capt. Gabriel Ferris has been in the role for a couple of months and tells NL News he knows it will be tough to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Capt. Jenn Casey.

“I don’t plan on replacing her at all. It is hard taking the position after her, but I’m more than honoured to be able to step in the same shoes that she did,” Ferris told NL News.

Capt. Casey, a Halifax native, was killed when her Snowbird Tutor jet she was in crashed shortly after takeoff from Kamloops Airport on May 17 of last year during Operation Inspiration.

It was Capt. Casey who came up with the idea for Operation Inspiration – the Snowbirds cross-country tour to lift the spirits of Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There’s no replacing Jenn. I did work with her a couple times before, I was a Public Affairs Officer at CFB Bagotville, so I did a couple of air shows there,” Ferris added. “It is big shoes to fill. She was something special in the field of air shows.”

The Mayor of Kamloops, Ken Christian, told NL News the city will make an announcement about a permanent memorial to Capt. Casey next week, on the one year anniversary of her death.

“We are still actively working on that and we’ll have an announcement on or around the anniversary of the crash on May 17, so watch for more information on that,” Christian said, on NL Newsday.

Ferris meanwhile says the legacy of Capt. Casey will be honoured by the Snowbirds during the 2021 airshow season. The team made “an emotional” to Kamloops last week while heading west to CFB Comox for spring training.

“[We were] happy to come back to Kamloops. It is hard, but we’re happy to come back and see the population,” he added. “We know you want to show your love and we really appreciate that.”