Things are looking up for White Rock today 鈥� or, at least, it鈥檒l be worth looking up in White Rock this afternoon, specifically starting around the 3:15 p.m. mark.

That鈥檚 when the Canadian Forces鈥� Snowbirds will return to the skies over Semiahmoo Bay with a brief salute for the city, as part of Operation Inspiration, the cross-country tour that was created last year as a way of inspiring hope during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scott Harrold, co-ordinator of the Snowbirds Fly for CH.I.L.D events, said Friday morning (July 16) that today鈥檚 display will play out over the White Rock Pier after the 鈥榖irds do their rounds over several other Lower Mainland communities.

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The visit is part of a cross-country tour to raise money and awareness for the CH.I.L.D. Foundation, which funds research for children suffering from Crohn鈥檚 disease, ulcerative colitis and liver disorders.

Taking off from Vancouver International Airport at approximately 2:45 p.m., they鈥檒l fly over English Bay, False Creek and the Pitt Meadows area , then zip towards 91原创 and South Surrey 鈥� being sure to include numerous hospitals on their flight path 鈥� before 鈥渨hipping around鈥� to White Rock.

鈥淲e鈥檙e actually going to be lining up right on the pier,鈥� Harrold, a White Rock resident, said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e probably going to be doing one pass at that point, and we鈥檙e definitely going to be doing a manoeuvre鈥� a maple-leaf burst.鈥�

The window to see it all play out is small 鈥� it鈥檚 scheduled to happen sometime between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. 鈥� but it will be worth it, Harrold said.

In past years, the Snowbirds鈥� visits to White Rock have drawn tens of thousands of people to gather along the city鈥檚 waterfront and hillsides to take in an aerobatic performance of approximately 45 minutes. This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings, the show cannot go on to the same degree.

鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping that local residents have an opportunity to enjoy it鈥� (but) we have to continue to respect the public health orders 鈥� that鈥檚 really the message that we want to deliver,鈥� White Rock Mayor Darryl Walker said last week.

Harrold described the visit as a salute to White Rock, the CH.I.L.D. Foundation and the city.

鈥淭here will be a bit of emotion, to say the least,鈥� he added, referring to the tragedy last year that prompted cancellation of the Operation Inspiration tour 鈥� the death of Royal Canadian Air Force public affairs officer Capt. Jennifer Casey.

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Harrold said he spoke to Casey the day before the May 2020 crash.

鈥淲e were talking about White Rock,鈥� he said.

Her death 鈥渏ust echoed through the entire team, I think almost through the entire country,鈥� he continued.

鈥淟ike anybody, Jenn would want us to continue this. She鈥檚 definitely shining a light on this.鈥�