First World War planes to fly by during Stouffville festival

Mark your calendars, Stouffville, this year’s Whitchurch-Stouffville Strawberry Festival is jam packed with too many events and activities to count.

First held in 1984, the festival has become York Region’s second largest event attracting 25,000 visitors each year. This year is no different, as events are planned for Canada Day and throughout the weekend of June 30 to July 3.

Coinciding with the festival is the unveiling of two plaques commemorating Captain Roy Brown, the Canadian RAF pilot and Stouffville resident who shot down the “Red Baron” during World War One. The commemoration will feature a fly-by (weather permitting) of two First World War-era airplanes conducted by the Great War Flying Museum.

“I think it’ll be a great experience,” said Gleyn Beatty, a member of the Heritage Advisory Committee. “They’re really like flying lawnmowers, they don’t go quickly and they don’t fly high. They’re very easy to see.”

In addition the fly-by, an exhibition dedicated to Captain Roy Brown will be on display at 19 on the Park. The exhibition features different artifacts, medal replicas and displays explaining the life of Roy Brown.  The exhibition features contributions from the Roy Brown Society, Canadian Aviation Hall of Game and the Royal Canadian Military Institute.

The fly-bys will be held on Friday and Saturday.

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